Here 4 the Apres

Les 3 Vallées is the largest connected ski resort on earth! It has about 600 km (370 miles) of ski slopes, with 25,916 skiable acres which is bigger than the five largest ski areas in North America combined. It is serviced by 183 ski lifts transporting 260,000 skiers per hour.

While being at a resort this large gives almost endless ski options. Figuring out how to get from resort to resort isn’t as easy as it sounds because trail maps can be a bit confusing. A trail could look downhill, but in reality could be a catwalk running the opposite direction. Or a section could be so flat, its just better to take another lift up. I’ve listed what were the most convenient ways to get from resort to resort. I mentioned in a previous post that I would consider myself a strong intermediate skier, so the routes I am recommending are mostly blues, and could be catwalks, which I know snowboarders tend to complain about.

How to get from Val Thorens to Orelle?

Ski down the main beginner run in Val Thorens, you’ll pass Cascades lift, Peclet Gondola, Plein Sud Lift, and then see Les 2 Lacs on your right. Take Les 2 Lacs lift up, turn right off the lift. Ski down Linotte run (blue). There will be a very long flat after this so make sure you gain some speed to get down to the Grand Fond Gondola. Once you get to the top just follow the signs down Orelle valley, there are plenty of blue run options. This valley is much less crowded than Val Thorens with mostly very wide blues and a couple reds and blacks.

To get back to Val Thorens from Orelle, there is only one lift that takes you back, which is OR3 Rosael lift, and then just follow the signs back to Val Thorens.

How to get from Val Thorens to Meribel?

Take Plein Sud lift which will be on your left going down the main bunny hill. Turn left when you exit the lift. You’ll need to go behind and past Pionniers lift to either the 3 Vallees life or gondola. Alternatively, you can take Pionniers lift up, turn left, and head to the same 3 Vallees lift or gondola. When you exit, turn left, but you’ll need to take a very sharp right onto the catwalk that takes you to Meribel. It is pretty easy to miss, below is an image of that entrance to the catwalk down Lac de la chambre (blue) run. To get down to Meribel-Mottaret village 1750m, I know you think, by looking at the map, you can cruise down past Plan des Mains lift, but its a really long flat with mobs of people lining up for the list, so you won’t get enough momentum to get across. Its better to take Plan des Mains lift, and take Sittelle (blue) run, which empties into Martre (blue) run, which will get you to Meribel-Mottaret.

If you want to get down to Meribel Centre which is a larger town with more food options, I would take Pas du Lac 1 Gondola, getting off at the halfway point. Taking Chardonneret (blue) run which will take you past the midway point for Saulire Express Gondola, which is always the location of La Folie Douce Meribel Courchevel. From there, there are lots of options, just keep following signs that say Meribel Centre.

To get back to Val Thorens from Meribel Mottaret, I take the Plan des Mains, and follow the ridgeline run with signs to Val Thorens and the Cote Brune lift. The times I’ve taken this lift, there is always a mob of people trying to get on. No real lines set up, so you’ll have to be aggressive, like a NYC taxi driver.

How to get to Courchevel from Val Thorens?

Val Thorens to Courchevel will take a bit more time because you have to cross Meribel to get to Courchevel, so make sure you give yourself enough time so you can enjoy it! Start with the same route to get to Meribel, Plein Sud or Pionniers lift > 3 Vallees lift or gondola > tight right turn onto catwalk > Lac de la chambre (blue) run > Plan des Mains lift > Sittelle (blue) run > Martre (blue) run > Meribel Mattaret. Then take the Saulire Express Gondola all the way to the top of Courchevel at 2740 m. There are many options down but they mostly all lead you down to Courchevel 1850 m, just keep an eye out for the signs. If you’re lucky on your way down the Altiport run, you might actually see a plane taking off from the airport. It is considered one of the most dangerous airports to fly out of because the runway is short, ending off a cliff. If ski past the 3 gondola station heading back up, you’ll see a tunnel, and you can ski through there to ski down to Courchevel-Le Praz at 1300 m. Skiing from the top of Courchevel 2740 m to Le Praz means you skied a vertical drop of 1440 m or 4725 ft without taking lifts. If you skied that far, you deserve lunch at Azimut, which is a reasonably priced Michelin Star restaurant in Courchevel-Le Praz worth checking out. Don’t worry its completely acceptable to wear ski gear to lunch there.

Got lost and ended up in Les Menuires!

Sorry I can’t tell you how to get to Les Menuires from Val Thorens because I can’t remember how we got there … Let me ask you: would you consider yourself a map person or more like a “choose your own adventure” skier? I’ve always gotten the most joy out of being a “choose your own adventure” person, so unless I need to get somewhere at a particular time, I just follow my joy! This is how we ended up in Les Menuires instead of Val Thorens when we were trying to get back from Meribel.

This being said, we couldn’t resist taking a rest in the sunshine and enjoying a prosecco! (only 5.50 Euro back in 2020!)