The Three Valleys - Skiing heaven in the French Alps

Find the best Three Valleys ski resort for you and your family

Three ValleysIf you have heard the tales of excellent skiing, dramatic scenery and vibrant nightlife, taking a Three Valleys ski chalet will sound extremely tempting. The Three Valleys is the largest ski domain the world, covering three valleys of prime skiing country in the French Alps. With a great range of ski facilities throughout the domain, the Three Valleys is the perfect destination for beginners, intermediates and expert skiers alike.

A single Three Valleys ski pass gives you access to the 330 downhill pistes, 120km of cross country skiing tracks and the 183 ski lifts across the Three Valleys domain, as well as some fearsome off-piste snowparks, which are a veritable playground for snowboarding. Family ski passes reduce costs further, as long as you intend to stay in your Three Valleys ski accommodation for at least 6 days. There are no risks to be taken on snow conditions either, as the Three Valleys have the best artificial snow making facilities in the world. However, with eight separate resorts making up the domain, which of the Three Valley ski resorts will give you the best experience?


Six of the Best Three Valleys Ski Resorts

Meribel Meribel
Taking accommodation in Meribel, France, puts you at the heart of the Three Valleys. Meribel has the best nightlife in the Three Valleys, plus evil off-piste and huge drop-offs, as well as moguls, speed runs and a snowpark.

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Courchevel Courchevel
A Courchevel ski chalet puts you in the most exclusive resort in France, where you can choose from a vast range of activities including off-piste skiing, mogul runs, almost vertical black runs and freestyle skiing. The après-ski isn't bad either!

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La Tania La Tania
La Tania is billed as a family resort due to its wide, gentle pistes. The off-piste is great though, with fearsome drop-offs and huge bowls, as well as some great après ski, so there is something to keep the whole family happy.

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Les Menuires Les Menuires
Les Menuires is ideal for intermediate skiers and snowboarders, with excellent blue and red runs, many of which come right down to Les Menuires accommodation. Les Menuires is also a family friendly resort, with plenty of activities for children.

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Val Thorens Val Thorens
Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe. You can ski to and from the front door of your Val Thorens accommodation, and there is vast off-piste potential, a central snowpark and excellent nightlife including Europe's highest pub.

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St Martin de Belleville St Martin de Belleville
St Martin de Belleville is the small, quiet and traditional Three Valleys resort. It is particularly good for expert skiers and snowboarders, especially those who would prefer to hit the slopes early rather than hit the clubs late.

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Beginners: If you have never skied before and are heading for the Three Valleys you will be well taken care of as qualified, English speaking instructors are available for group or individual lessons throughout the Three Valleys ski resorts. The best options for Three Valleys ski holidays for beginners would be to take Val Thorens accommodation or Les Menuires accommodation, as both resorts have long, wide and gentle pistes, as well as some great learner slopes.

Intermediates: What a choice! The Three Valleys ski resorts are regularly cited as the finest intermediate level ski resorts in the world, with over 50% of their pistes having blue or red status. A ski chalet in Meribel allows you to try moguls, runs of over 1,000 vertical metres, excellent off-piste skiing and a tremendous snowpark, as well as making you closest to the centre of the Three Valleys - perfectly positioned to make use of any of the 183 ski lifts in the domain.

Experts: There are some gruelling black runs located throughout the Three Valleys, but it is the formidable off-piste possibilities which excite most visitors to the Three Valleys. To get the most from the Three Valleys off-piste, buy the Three Valleys Off-Piste Guide, which has itineraries, maps, photos and route plans. As with all off-piste skiing, listen to local knowledge and always take a local guide.

Snowboarding: Courchevel chalets are the favourite accommodation in the Three Valleys for snowboarding. However, there is excellent terrain throughout the domain, and there are snowparks in Meribel and Val Thorens as well as Courchevel which offer plenty of opportunity for air, as well as half pipes and boarder-cross courses.

It is a common misconception that Three Valleys skiing holidays are hard to organize. However, there are six airports which receive direct flights from the UK within two hours drive of Meribel, at the centre of the domain. Chambery Airport is within an hour of Meribel skiing accommodation, and there are numerous cheap transfer options, including a range of well equipped mini bus services which come with knowledgeable drivers and refreshments. Flybe, Jet2 and Snowjet provide flights from ten British airports from Edinburgh to Exeter.

Featured ski properties available in the Three Valleys


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Exclusive Chalet in Meribel - self catered - fully catered also available
France , Rhone-Alpes , Savoie , The Three Valleys , Meribel
Chalet 'Les Monts' - A very cosy, comfortable and traditional Savoyard chalet with stunning views, a spacious open plan sitting/dining room with its roaring fire, a large rustic dining room table to sit 10. A fully equipped kitchen and large bal... [full details of property 68109]

Ski season rental, Central Meribel
France , Rhone-Alpes , Savoie , The Three Valleys , Meribel
Our studio apartment is an ideal ski season rental. It is located in the heart of the main resort of Meribel only 150 metres from the piste. The studio has a beautiful west-facing outlook over the village towards the Olympic Express area of the ... [full details of property 99596]

Exclusive ski and summer chalets in Meribel, 3 Valleys, French Alps
France , Rhone-Alpes , Savoie , The Three Valleys , Meribel
Chalet Rachelle is one of the finest 5* ten person ski in ski out chalets in the 3 Valleys featuring 5 double/twin en-suite rooms (4 with balconies), a large south facing living room with an open log fireplace, satellite TV, DVD, video and music s... [full details of property 14375]

Exclusive ski and summer chalets in Meribel, 3 Valleys, French Alps
France , Rhone-Alpes , Savoie , The Three Valleys , Meribel
Chalet Infusion is one of the finest 5* ten person ski in ski out chalets in the 3 Valleys featuring 5 double/twin en-suite rooms (4 with balconies), a large south facing living room with an open log fireplace, satellite TV, DVD, video and music s... [full details of property 4321]

Stunning Apartment directly on the Piste
France , Rhone-Alpes , Savoie , The Three Valleys , Val Thorens
In many ways, the apartment offers the best of all worlds. It is situated right in the heart of Val Thorens, yet with direct access on to the slopes. It is within 100m of all the shops and restaurants, yet in a quiet side street. Facing south-west... [full details of property 17994]

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