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Most important are Espace Killy, Paradiski and the Trois Vallées which collectively house the most popular resorts in the Alps. Queen of these is Courchevel, which presides over Méribel, Val Thorens and the rest of the Trois Vallées. Courchevel 1850 has some of the most sumptuous accommodation and best-known gourmet restaurants in the Alps, and miles of skiing for all levels. Espace Killy – Val d’Isère and neighbouring Tignes – provides good intermediate to advanced skiing with some spectacular off-piste for the experts. A relatively new ski circus, Paradiski, adds the final flourish to this spectacular region, made up of the purpose-built resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne which are now linked to create one impressive snow playground. |
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Courchevel
Courchevel is made up of four separate villages set across the mountainside at different altitudes. 1850 is the highest and the most cosmopolitan, 1650 is more ‘French’ and consequently more wallet-friendly, 1550 is quiet but well located for the skiing. 1300 – Le Praz – is popular with British families.
My favourite skiing is above 1650 – it’s off the Trois Vallées circuit and remains wonderfully crowd-free even at peak times. Snowboarders have lots of natural hits throughout the area as well as a terrain park at Plantrey. |
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Tignes
Tignes majors on ski convenience, reliable snowcover and demanding quality. You can ski here for 10 months of the year. However, it wins no prizes for architectural beauty.
The focal point of the skiing is the Grande Motte, reached from Val Claret by funicular through the rock. From the top of the train, a cable-car takes you up to the top of the glacier, gateway to some spectacular off-piste terrain as well as some of the longest pistes in Europe.
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Credit: OT Tignes
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Glacier skiing |
If you’re looking for snow-sure resorts where you can safely find some skiing at both ends of the season, the Tarentaise is the place to go. Both Val Thorens in the Trois Vallées and Tignes offer dependable glacier skiing.
If the slopes are busy in Val you can head down the road to quiet Sainte-Foy. If you prefer a rural farming village as your base then try the hamlet of St-Marcel with its one tiny shop and a church. It’s 1km from the lifts and from St-Martin-de-Belleville, but is best known for its tiny wood-beamed hotel, La Bouitte, which houses a Michelin-starred restaurant.
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Les Arcs
Les Arcs is made up of four purpose-built villages set at different altitudes above the valley town of Bourg-St-Maurice. Arc 1600 – popular with families with small children – can be reached directly by funicular from the town’s TGV station. Arc 1800 is the largest and best-placed for the skiing. Arc 1950, developed by Canadian resort builder Intrawest, is much the smartest and most comfortable. Arc 2000 is a bleak outpost with easy access to the pick of the off-piste.
The ski area is linked to that of La Plagne and together they offer 425km of all kinds of terrain, but most of it is devoted to motorway-style intermediate runs.
Les Arcs has always pioneered all that is new in winter sports, including snowboarding in Europe. The terrain park is situated between Arc 1800 and Arc 1600. Les Arcs has a near-vertical speed-skiing track which has been the setting for a number of world records. |
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Val d'Isere
Val d'Isere is a high-altitude resort with reliable snow and a modern lift system. It’s fine for beginners, strong intermediates and experts, but not great for wobbly second-weekers. Its eight access points up the mountain mean that even during high-season queuing is never a real problem. It has some of the finest and most easily lift-accessed off-piste in Europe. Consequently it is a cultural and social melting pot for serious skiers and riders from all over the world.
The town itself has undergone a continuing facelift in recent years. What was once a bland strand of apartment buildings, sports shops, and hotels is now positively attractive with an upwardly mobile image.
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Meribel
Meribel is a sprawling, but attractive resort containing the largest number of luxury rental chalets in the Alps. It competes with Val d’Isère for the title of the most popular resort in Europe for British visitors; a knowledge of French is entirely unnecessary.
This is the geographical heart of the Trois Vallées with easy lift access towards Courchevel and La Tania in one direction, and to Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, and Val Thorens in the other. It has good beginner slopes and two terrain parks.
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See also
Intro | Connections | Off Peak Hours | Virtual Tour | Piste Maps | Snow Report
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FLIGHTS
For Espace Killy (Val d’Isère, Tignes), Paradiski (Les Arcs, La Plagne), The Trois Vallées (Méribel, La Tania, Courchevel)
Lyon (F)
Chambéry (F)
Geneva (CH)
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HOTELS
Courchevel Olympic, Courchevel 1850
Les Chalets du Forum, Courchevel 1850
Les Alpages de Chantel, Les Arcs
Village Montana Apartments, Tignes
L’Ecrin des Neiges, Tignes
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