Les 3 Vallées (the Three Valleys) is snow sure and high-altitude, with an efficient lift system and 600 km of well-groomed pistes. So it has a huge amount to offer even the most demanding skiers and snowboarders.
Les 3 Vallées at a Glance
Seven resorts and 600 km of linked pistes on one pass, with 85% of the ski area above 1,800 m.
The pass is pretty pricey at €421 for 6 days, and the far ends of the area are a long way apart.
Key Facts
Top lift
Vertical
Lifts
Pistes
Ski area
Season 2026/27
Nearest airport
* Dates when the links between the valleys are open. Val Thorens–Orelle opens 21 Nov and closes 2 May. Transfer times are a typical private transfer in good conditions; allow extra time on winter Saturdays.
Pistes by Difficulty
Beginner (green)
Intermediate (blue)
Advanced (red)
Expert (black)
Plan Your Trip
Ski Holiday Deals
Ski Rental (-10%)
Airport Transfers
Where to Stay
Off-Piste Guiding
Travel Insurance
Where to stay in Les 3 Vallées
Les 3 Vallées has seven resorts on one pass. Méribel is the most central; Brides-les-Bains is the budget way in.
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Pick your base
- MéribelRight in the middle, with quick links to both ends of the area.See places →
- CourchevelFrom the grand hotels of 1850 to traditional Le Praz.See places →
- Val ThorensHighest resort, at 2,300 m, with mostly ski-in/ski-out beds.See places →
- Brides-les-BainsSpa town at the bottom of the Olympe gondola to Méribel. The cheapest base.See places →
Local tip: Planning to ski the whole area? Stay in Méribel, in the middle valley. From Val Thorens or Courchevel, the far end is a long day out.
Self-catering? Browse apartments and chalets in Les 3 Vallées →
The Skiing
Les 3 Vallées has a good mix of beginner to advanced skiing. It’s best for intermediates and experts who love big distances, since one pass covers 600 km of linked pistes.
Freeriding
Advanced skiers and boarders have some epic terrain to explore. Head over to Courchevel and take on the Grand Couloir, a super-steep thigh burner. Otherwise, take a guide and strike out beyond the safety of the pistes. Les 3 Vallées’ off-piste highlights include the Couloir Croix des Verdons and the Creux Noirs.
Budding freeriders should head to Courchevel for inter-piste fun. And when it’s low vis, make a beeline for La Tania and Les Menuires, where the tree runs will keep you riding.
Our off-piste ski guiding partners offer one-day and multi-day experiences in Les 3 Vallées. They suit skiers and snowboarders looking to explore its vast lift-accessed terrain. Its huge vertical, varied aspects and endless freeride options make it one of the Alps’ best places to ski off-piste. So take a guide – you’ll ski better lines, stay safer, and get far more out of your day.
Les 3 Vallées offers exceptional lift-accessed off-piste skiing. Think steep couloirs and wide-open powder bowls, plus long valley descents linking Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens.
With a qualified guide, you’ll access the best conditions on the day. Your guide will also tailor the day to your ability, the snow conditions and your objectives. That’s true whether it’s your first venture into off-piste skiing or you’re a convicted powder junkie.
Leave the pistes behind and unlock the best snow in Les 3 Vallées! Book an off-piste guide
Freestyle
4 snowparks with kickers and rails for every level offer plenty of scope for freestylers. Courchevel has the Family Park and Méribel-Mottaret the Open Park (plus the Bump’N’Jump). You’ll also find the Pixel Area in Les Menuires and the VT Park in Val Thorens. For 2026/27, the Méribel-Mottaret park gets a new look and new signage, too.
Pistes
Beginner skiers have 50 green runs and 137 blue runs. Plus, Courchevel’s ‘Easy Rider’ zones make life even easier if you’re new to the sport. Easy Rider pistes are nice and wide with a gradual incline. So they’re just what you need as a first-timer finding your feet.
Intermediates have endless possibilities to explore the entire domain. Plan your day around the 137 blue runs and 113 red runs. They take you from 3,230 m down to 1,100 m, a whopping 2,130 m vertical drop!
Les 3 Vallées Piste Map
The Les 3 Vallées piste map covers all 7 resorts and 600 km of linked pistes on one sheet.
Les 3 Vallées Ski & Snowboard Guide
Les 3 Vallées, in the northern French Alps, is officially the world’s largest linked ski area. It has 169 lifts as well as 600 km of skiing on 337 marked pistes. So it’s the biggest of all the French Alps ski resorts.
Jump to: Courchevel | La Tania | Méribel | Brides-les-Bains | Les Menuires | Saint-Martin-de-Belleville | Val Thorens | Orelle
It’s high altitude, snow-sure terrain with 85% of the ski area above 1,800 m. Unsurprisingly then, Les 3 Vallées is home to Val Thorens, which bills itself as Europe’s highest ski resort. Its highest lift brings skiers and boarders up to 3,230 m.
When nature falls short, over 2,800 snow cannons fill the gaps, covering 55% of the ski area. So you can book your ski holiday confident that there will be snow even in the lower resorts.
The modern lift infrastructure quickly and efficiently connects you to the various resort sectors. So it’s quite feasible to ski a different resort every day of the week.
Les 3 Vallées Ski Pass
All 7 resorts of Les 3 Vallées are accessible with a single lift pass. Unsurprisingly, being the world’s largest ski area, it’s pretty pricey. But you could ski all week here and not do the same run twice.
In 2026/27, for example, an adult pass costs €84.20 a day or €421 for 6 days. In low season (5–18 Dec and 10–18 Apr), 6 days cost €378.50.
Skiing from Méribel to Val Thorens
Allow about an hour to ski from Méribel Centre to Val Thorens. To start with, ride the Tougnète 1 and Tougnète 2 lifts out of Méribel. Then take the Granges chair and the Côte Brune gondola into Val Thorens.
Courchevel
The Courchevel ski resort in the French Alps is a collection of six Alpine villages — Courchevel 1850, Courchevel 1650 (Moriond), Courchevel 1550 (Village), Courchevel 1300 (Le Praz), La Tania and Saint-Bon 1100. An efficient bus service also links all six villages.
It’s an area of remarkable scenic beauty where you can enjoy some spectacular views, including that of Mont Blanc. The Saulire cable car takes you up to La Saulire, the resort’s high point at 2,740 m. Once there, you can access 150 km of pistes and some epic off-piste descents.
Courchevel has a reputation for being a very pricey resort, but in truth, only Courchevel 1850 has astronomically high prices. The other resort villages, however, are way more affordable.
Courchevel Skiing Guide | Go >
La Tania
Sandwiched between Courchevel and Méribel, La Tania makes a great base from which to ski Les 3 Vallées.
You’ll find excellent high-speed pistes and great freeride terrain with loads of natural hits. The amazing tree runs also make La Tania by far the best place to ski in bad weather. Plus, with easy access to Méribel’s snowparks and Val Thorens’ steep couloirs, there’s no shortage of skiing and boarding whatever style you’re into.
La Tania is officially one of Courchevel’s villages, so its 150 km of pistes are the whole Courchevel sector. However, its low altitude means the snow isn’t always as good as in higher resorts. That said, La Tania stands out as one of the cheapest ways to enjoy Les 3 Vallées. It also has easy access to both Courchevel and Méribel.
Méribel
Located in the heart of Les 3 Vallées, Méribel is the most central of all resorts. It’s also one of the few resorts that truly caters for all types of snow sport enthusiasts. It’s beautiful, has a huge ski area and is well serviced with state of the art lifts, hotels, restaurants and après.
Méribel has quick and easy access to six other fabulous resorts in Les 3 Vallées. So skiers and boarders can enjoy a massive 600 km of pisted runs. As a result, Méribel makes an ideal base for exploring Courchevel and Val Thorens. It’s also handy for the smaller resorts of La Tania, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Les Menuires.
There’s also easy access to extensive off-piste skiing in Méribel itself. The Couloir Tournier is a marked black run and part of Les 3 Vallées’ Vertical Experience. Méribel bills it as the most challenging descent in the resort. Access it from the top of the Saulire Express gondola (expert skiers and boarders only). You’ll also find more outstanding powder alongside the Combe du Vallon piste. To access, head over to Méribel-Mottaret and take the Mont Vallon gondola.
There’s no shortage of thrills in Méribel. But the Les 3 Vallées pass gets you even more challenging off-piste in the neighbouring resorts, particularly Val Thorens.
Brides-les-Bains
Spa town Brides-les-Bains was part of the 1992 Olympic village. The Olympe gondola links it to Les 3 Vallées skiing, and takes about 20 minutes to reach Méribel.
Brides-les-Bains is a great value resort in comparison with its more famous neighbours. There’s also plenty of affordable accommodation, making it popular with bigger groups and families.
Nestled in the trees at 600 m altitude, the resort is still quite quiet, with après-ski mainly focused on a few hotel bars.
Les Menuires
Purpose built Les Menuires village is at an altitude of 1,850 m and has all the advantages of a ski from your door resort.
Les Menuires’ main attraction is the quality of the skiing. Access to Les 3 Vallées is a big plus. But Les Menuires ticks a lot of boxes in its own right. The pistes are varied, the lift system is modern and efficient, and the snow record is superb.
Together with Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Les Menuires has 81 pistes totalling 160 km of skiing. La Masse gets the morning sun, while Mont de la Chambre gets the afternoon sun. Les Menuires is particularly well suited to intermediate skiers and boarders.
Les Menuires Skiing Guide | Go >
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is known for its high quality chalet accommodation, friendly atmosphere and gourmet cuisine.
It’s home to La Bouitte, which won a third Michelin star in 2015 and holds 2 in the 2026 guide. Add some great farm-to-table restaurants, and the village has gained a reputation as the gastronomic capital of Les 3 Vallées.
It sits just below Les Menuires at 1,450 m. This central location gives quick access to Méribel and the rest of Les 3 Vallées.
To finish the day, you can ski back to the village on some beautifully gentle off-piste terrain from the top of the Saint Martin Express lift.
Val Thorens
Welcome to the highest resort of Les 3 Vallées. With the village located at an altitude of 2,300 m, it bills itself as the highest ski resort in Europe. Its lofty altitude means you’re almost guaranteed good snow, and there are also some spectacular views down the Belleville Valley.
Val Thorens has terrain suitable for all levels, from beginners to experts. It offers you an unforgettable skiing and snowboarding experience in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Its lifts peak at 3,230 m, and there’s some outstanding off-piste and ski touring terrain.
Some excellent independent ski schools and guides favour Val Thorens, because it has good snow from November to early May.
Val Thorens Skiing Guide | Go >
Orelle
Orelle sits at the far reaches of Les 3 Vallées, in the spectacular Maurienne valley. It’s the easiest access point to Val Thorens and the rest of the ski area.
The 3 Vallées Express gondola, rebuilt in 2021, takes just 15 minutes. It climbs from about 890 m to 2,350 m at Plan Bouchet. Then, you can take the Bouchet chairlift up to 3,230 m.
Orelle shares its ski area with Val Thorens, offering 150 km of high altitude skiing. And a Val Thorens–Orelle pass costs less than a full Les 3 Vallées ski pass. At the top of the 3 Vallées Express gondola is an area dedicated to beginners and children. From there, the Orelle-Caron gondola or the Bouchet and Peyron chairs take you up to ski over to Val Thorens. That opens up the whole of Les 3 Vallées.
Les 3 Vallées Gallery
Practical Information
Opening dates
Lift passes
Nearest airports
Tourist office
Les 3 Vallées Skiing FAQ
Les 3 Vallées links 7 resorts: Courchevel, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle. So yes, Méribel is one, and it sits right in the middle. La Tania counts as part of Courchevel. One pass covers 600 km of pistes and 169 lifts across all of them. Start with our guides to Méribel and Courchevel.
Officially, yes. Les 3 Vallées is billed as the world’s largest linked ski area, with 600 km of pistes, 169 lifts and 7 resorts. An independent 2019 measurement put it at 543 km and still ranked it first. Pistes run from 1,100 m up to 3,230 m, a 2,130 m vertical, and 85% of the area sits above 1,800 m. Compare it with other French Alps ski resorts.
An adult Les 3 Vallées pass costs €84.20 a day or €421 for 6 days in 2026/27. In low season (5–18 Dec and 10–18 Apr), 6 days cost €378.50. Prices are fixed by period, not dynamic. Only skiing one valley? Local passes cover single sectors such as Courchevel or Val Thorens–Orelle. Full Epic Pass holders get up to 7 consecutive days included. See our ski deals too.
The links between the valleys are open 5 Dec 2026 – 18 Apr 2027. Val Thorens and Orelle open earlier and close later, running 21 Nov 2026 – 2 May 2027, so they’re your best bet in late November or early May. Some lower sectors finish sooner: La Tania and Courchevel Moriond close on 11 Apr. Low-season pass prices apply 5–18 Dec and 10–18 Apr. Read our Val Thorens guide.
Chambéry is closest, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 to Méribel by private transfer in good conditions. Geneva is 2 h 15 – 2 h 45; allow extra time on winter Saturdays. By train, Moûtiers is the station, with coaches up to the resorts. Orelle is reached from the Maurienne side instead. Book airport transfers or compare ski resorts nearer Geneva.
It depends on how you ski. Méribel is the most central, so it’s the best base for covering the whole area. Val Thorens, at 2,300 m, is the most snow-sure. Courchevel suits experts, with the most varied terrain. Les Menuires is good value for intermediates and families. On a budget, look at La Tania or Brides-les-Bains, at the foot of the Olympe gondola.
Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your ski holiday to Les 3 Vallées, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
Hi, what is the longest uninterrupted string of runs you can do in the Trois Vallées? And what string of runs let you rake up the maximum vertical in one go? Thanks for all this info and the beautiful pictures.
Hi Freddi, thanks for your comment!
The 3 Valleys is one of the areas I know best, so hopefully I can help you out… You do have to think of it as three separate valleys (Courchevel, Méribel and Val Thorens) and then aim for the best top-to-bottom run in each. Here’s what I recommend: In Courchevel, take the Chanrossa chair up to the Col (2540 m), then ski Jean Pachod, Altiport and Biollay down to Courcheval Le Praz (1300 m). I prefer the runs off the other side of the Chanrossa (Roc Merlet, Pyramides, Signal) but you can’t ski down to Le Praz from there…
In Méribel, it’s hard to beat a Saulire (2740 m) down to Méribel Centre (1450 m). You can combine some off-piste with some reds or blues and all roads lead to Rome, so at the risk of mixing metaphors, you can choose your own adventure. The other great run in Méribel is Mont Vallon. I prefer the Combe du Vallon side, just because the off-piste is so good. You can link that in with a blue and a green to get back down to Méribel Centre, but I think it’s better to take the chairlifts back up to Bouquetin.
In Val Thorens, the biggest vertical drop is probably from Cime Caron (3200 m) to Les Menuires (1850 m). I like to link the Col de l’Audzin red with the Gentiane blue. And, when you’re up in VT, don’t miss the opportunity to drop over the back into Orelle. The Lory blue run has to be one of the most scenic runs in The 3 Valleys.
Hope that helps, have a great trip!
Matt
Thank you so much for the prompt and detailed description!
You’re very welcome, Freddi!
Hi, we’re heading to Meribel in February, just wondering how easy is it to get from Meribel up to Val Thorens?
Thanks!
Hi Jamie, thanks for your comment! It’s pretty easy to get over to Val Thorens but it does take about an hour from Meribel Centre. There’s a few ways to go, but the way I like is to take the Tougnète 1 cable car, followed by the Tougnète 2 chair, then drop down towards Les Menuires and take the Granges chairlift followed by the Cote Brune chairlift. From there you can ski down into Val Thorens. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back over to Meribel at the end of the day, as a taxi is super expensive (speaking from experience!).