Best places to ski in the Three Valleys – a local’s guide
Let’s imagine the scene… It’s your first time in the Three Valleys. You’ve arrived at your chalet, sorted your skis and boots, got your lift pass, and you sit down with a brew or a beer to look at the piste map…
With such a vast area with 600km of marked pistes to explore, where do you even start?!
Let us shed some light on the situation!
First things first, the Three Valleys piste map…
Best places to ski in the Three Valleys
A little local knowledge goes a long way when you arrive somewhere new, so let us give you some tips on places to go, runs to try out and restaurants to head towards during your stay in the Three Valleys:
1. Saint Martin de Belleville
Easy to access for intermediates, make Saint Martin in the Belleville valley one of your destinations for the day. It’s a crowd-pleaser, with pretty scenery and nice rolling blue runs.
Great for: Intermediate/cruisy blue skiers.
Best run: Jerusalem – a classic Three Valleys piste.
Best bar/restaurant: Le Corbeleys for the friendly service, decent value and sunny setting.
2. Courchevel Moriond
At the Eastern end of the Three Valleys, Moriond makes a good destination with its unfailingly quiet slopes, rolling blues, and off-the-beaten track reds (try Rochers and Chapelets). It is often sunny so makes a nice spot for a picnic – benches at the top of Signal chair. It’s possibly a bit flat for snowboards, but the Canyon de Yepa takes you into another world – it’s a piste through a deep, tree-lined valley.
Great for: Quiet, rolling pistes
Best run: From the top of Roc Merlet all the way down to the village
Best bar/restaurant: Le Bel Air or the Ferme just under the Signal chairlift – on a sunny day, you’ll never want to leave.
Courchevel Moriond’s Bel Air restaurant
3. Pointe de la Masse
With truly incredible views, you can’t miss a trip up to la Masse during your Three Valleys trip. At 2904m altitude, you can see for miles, and with the new decked terrace showcasing all the prominent the mountain peaks surrounding you, it’s a must-do on a sunny day. There’s even a blue run down from the top, so it’s not only for red run skiers.
Great for: Photo opportunities.
Best run: Try your powder turns on the Liberty Ride.
Best bar/restaurant: Le 2800 restaurant at the top, or if you’re just after a quick bite, try their snack bar.
Views from the top of the world (well, La Masse…)
4. Mont Vallon
Meribel’s highest point is Mont Vallon at 2952m high. Take the gondola up and choose from the two red runs from the top. Campagnol is the more popular option, because Combe de Vallon turns into a flat blue at the bottom. Avoid this one if you’re with boarders, or in a hurry, but the ambience in the forested part of the Tueda natural reserve is lovely if you’re just cruising. It’s surprisingly not especially busy up here, so a great option for school holiday weeks.
Great for: Reliably good snow and avoiding the crowds
Best run: Campagnol (try and do it without stopping if your legs are feeling tough!)
Best pitstop: Le Plan des Mains for a seat in the sunshine (there’s a restaurant and snack bar)
5. Col de la Loze
Most people go between Courchevel and Meribel valleys via Saulire, so the Col de la Loze makes a quieter option, above La Tania and Meribel Village, with some nice blue runs making it less intimidating for intermediates. It’s also a take off point for paragliders, and since the road was completed a couple of years ago, it has featured on the Tour de France mountain stages – hence the bike!
Great for: Watching paragliders take off
Best run: Don’t miss Pic Bleu (but watch out for dragons!)
Best pitstop: Le Nid is a little triangular hut which is a great picnic spot.
Watching paragliders from Col de la Loze in the Three Valleys
6. Orelle
Somewhat confusingly, Orelle is the fourth valley of the Three Valleys… But don’t let that stop you from making a visit, because once you have your ‘ski legs’ in, and you have a clear, sunny day, this should definitely be on your bucket list. Basically, you haven’t skied the Three Valleys unless you’ve skied the fourth!
Great for: A long day out.
Best run: Lory, and if you have time, head up Ors Bouchet as well
Best restaurant: The self-service Chalet Chinal Donat makes a cheery stop
Views into Meribel from Col de la Loze
Other top destinations to put on your Three Valleys bucket list
Quietest blue runs in the Three Valleys
- Lapin, down to Meribel Village
- Tete Ronde, in Val Thorens from the Peclet Funitel
- Choucas from Cherferie in Meribel
- Montagne Russes in Courchevel Moriond, from Pyramides draglift
- Granges in Courchevel Moriond draglift
- Biollay in Courchevel 1850 (stick to the right of the snow cannons for the quietest spot)
- Cospillot from the bottom of Pralong down to Courchevel Village
- Folyeres down to La Tania
Best views/photo spots in the Three Valleys
- Col de la Loze, La Tania-Meribel
- Mont de la Challe, Back to the Wild
- Top of La Saulire, Courchevel-Meribel
- Roc de Fer, Meribel
- Mont Vallon, Meribel
- Cime Caron, Val Thorens
- Pointe de la Masse, Val Thorens
Best Three Valleys runs for advanced skiers
- Try the Meribel or Val Thorens snowparks
- Eclipse World Cup run, from La Tania to Le Praz (3.3km long with average gradient of 37%)
- La Face Olympic run, Meribel
- M, from the top of Vizelle/Marmottes lifts
- Grand Couloir – for experts only! Average gradient: 49%
- Leo Lacroix from Col de la Chambre/Cote Brune is 1.6km long
- Combe de Rosael from Cime Caron: 500m vertical drop over 2km
- Cascades, Val Thorens. This piste has never been groomed!
Further reading……
- Best places for wildlife spotting
- Best activities for children
- Best restaurants in the Three Valleys
- Best places for a picnic
- How to ski the Three Valleys on a budget
For intrepid explorers only – the legendary Grand Couloir in Courchevel
Looking for a chalet for your Three Valleys ski holiday?
We can also help with accommodation! We have chalets in the Three Valleys resorts of Meribel, Courchevel and La Tania.
Ski Magic’s Chalet Loden in Meribel
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