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Ski resorts in Les Trois Vallees

Les Trois Vallees is situated approximately 160kms from Geneva, in the famed Savoie region of the French Alps. It is one of the worlds largest ski areas, comprising seven resorts: Courcheval, Meribel, Les Menuires, La Tania, Orelle, Val Thorens and Brides-les-Bains.

Each of the villages is different, and visitors should select the resort of their choice according to their needs. Meribel is the prettiest of the ski resorts in Les Trois Vallées, with traditional, Savoyard chalets made from wood and stone. Les Menuires is less attractive but the most cost effective.

Courcheval is the largest and most prestigious of the resorts, built on four different levels. It is sophisticated and fashionable, with a lively nightlife. Val Thorens is situated at the heart of a huge circle dominated by six glaciers. It also has the distinction of being the highest ski resort in Les Trois Vallées, and one of the highest in Europe.

Situated in the Maurienne Valley, between Saint-Michel and Modane, the Orelle Gondola resort enables a quick and easy access to the Trois Vallees ski areas, and also offers a small ski area of its own. La Tania is a welcoming resort set in the midst of a forest. Brides-les-Bains is primarily a spa resort, and although ski passes and equipment can be organised here, you will need to go higher up to gain access to the slopes.

Nightlife differs from one resort to the next, with Courcheval offering the most vibrant after-dark scene. Accommodation is varied, with an enormous variety of styles and price ranges.

The ski season at Les Trois Vallées runs from December to April, and the region is accessible by car, plane, train or bus.

Skiing in Les Trois Vallees

Les Trois Vallees is situated in the French region of Savoie, in the Alps, and is one of the worlds largest and most prestigious ski destinations, offering 600kms of pisted terrain. It is made up of seven resorts, each with its own distinctive flavour: Courcheval, Meribel, Les Menuires, La Tania, Orelle, Val Thorens and Brides-les-Bains.

Les Trois Vallees provides skiing suitable for all levels of experience. Together, the resorts offer a spectacular 600kms of pistes in total, connected by over 200 lifts. Of the 328 runs, 56 are geared to beginners, 120 to intermediates, 115 to advanced skiers, and 37 to experts. Les Trois Vallées also offers extensive opportunities for off-piste skiing. The area is covered by over 1,500 snow cannons, which can make over five million cubic metres of snow throughout the season to improve the condition of the pistes if necessary.

The 328 groomed ski slopes make up an area of approximately 600kms, linked by over 200 lifts, and the region offers about the same area of off-piste routes. The skiing at Les Trois Vallées is especially suitable for intermediate (120 runs) and advanced skiers (115 runs), but there are also 56 runs for beginners, and 37 extremely challenging black runs for experts. Additionally, there are almost 130kms of cross-country skiing trails through scenic landscape.

The ski season at Les Trois Vallees runs from December to April. The area can be accessed by means of plane, train, car or bus.

Apres-ski in Les Trois Vallees

Many of the resorts feature a bubbly après-ski scene, with an array of restaurants, bars and clubs peppering the area. Courcheval is the most fashionable of the resorts in Les Trois Vallées, and is particularly well-known for its vibrant nightlife.

Off-slope and après-ski activities are plentiful. Snowshoe trekking is popular, and visitors can make their own way along the marked paths, or request a guided trek. Between them, the ski resorts at Les Trois Vallées offer ice-skating, indoor swimming, mono-skiing, snowshoeing and parasailing. There is also hang-gliding, bowling, wall-climbing, squash, fitness centres, cinemas, concerts and libraries.

There are numerous off-slope alternatives to skiing in Les Trois Vallees, with each resort offering its own range of activities and facilities. These include: ice-skating, indoor swimming, mono-skiing, snowshoeing, parasailing, hang-gliding, bowling, wall-climbing, squash, fitness centres, cinemas, concerts and libraries. Snowshoe trekking is also popular, with a number of marked paths meandering through exquisite Alpine scenery.

There is no danger of becoming bored in Les Trois Vallees. Apart from the extensive skiing area, there are many authentic Savoyard villages to visit. Small shops stock regional produce and crafts; while the restaurants offer a wide variety of dishes to cater for every taste. There are also a number of interesting baroque buildings in the area, and the thermal springs at Brides-les-Bains are the perfect place to ease aching muscles after a hard stint of skiing.

Transportation to Les Trois Vallees

Les Trois Vallees is situated 160kms away from Geneva. The journey from Geneva by train or road takes three to four hours. The most convenient way of reaching the area is by taking a train from Paris or London (via Eurostar) to Moutiers Station, only 30kms away, and taking a bus or taxi to your chosen resort in Les Trois Vallees.

Driving to Les Trois Vallees is the least advisable transport option, as bad weather conditions combined with congested roads can often turn the journey from Geneva or Lyon into a four- or five-hour ordeal. However, if you do decide to drive, Les Trois Vallées is accessible by means of the A43 motorway to Albertville, and the RN90 to Moutiers.

The most convenient way of reaching Les Trois Vallees is by taking advantage of the direct London-Moutiers Eurostar service, and a bus or taxi from Moutiers to the resort of your choice. Alternatively, it’s possible to take a train into Paris, and connect with a local train from the capital to Moutiers. Train travel is affordable, efficient and comfortable, and considering the fact that Les Trois Vallées is a lengthy distance from any international airport, it is by far the best transportation option.

Air transportation to Champéry, Lyon or Geneva airports, with alternative transport to the resort is another option, but not advisable, as the journey from any of these destinations to Les Trois Vallées is long and arduous.

Eurolines buses run to France from most major cities on the European continent. You can then take local transport to Les Trois Vallées. This is the cheapest option, but also the least convenient.

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