Les 3 Vallées snow forecast

Skiing in Les 3 Vallées

Les 3 Vallées bills itself as the largest linked ski area in the world, with about 600 km of marked pistes spread over three parallel valleys in the Tarentaise. Around 85 per cent of the terrain is above 1,800 m and the top lifts reach 3,230 m, so snow is more reliable here than in much of the Alps, and the high terrain above Val Thorens usually skis well into late April.

Each valley has its own character. Courchevel, in the eastern valley, spreads across several villages from 1,300 m upwards, with good beginner zones near the top villages. Méribel sits in the central valley and is the natural hub for exploring the whole domain. The Belleville valley holds Les Menuires, with wide open intermediate slopes, and Val Thorens at 2,300 m, the highest resort in the area and often the best for snow early and late in the season. The run mix is broad, with more blue and red pistes than anything else.

Because of the altitude spread, a warm or windy day can feel very different between valleys: the high slopes around Val Thorens stay wintry when lower runs above Courchevel's 1,300 m villages and Méribel's valley floor have softened. The season normally runs from early December to late April.

Access is through Moûtiers, the rail hub of the Tarentaise, which receives seasonal TGV and other trains; Geneva, Lyon and Chambéry are the usual airports.