Latest posts for the topic "Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?"

Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:12:03 GMT

Hello, I am an advanced skier and this will be my first time on the Alps. I will be staying in Val Thorens.

What is the quickest way to ski from Val Thorens to Courchevel? We are planning to spend one day on another ski resort. Would you recommend Courchevel or Meribel? How long would it take on average?

Thanks in advance.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:15:26 GMT

The 3-Vallees lift system is so efficient that you'll be popping in and out of Courchevel, Meribel, Les Menuires and the Maurienne area without really noticing it!

Don't limit yourself to Val Thorens - explore the whole of this massive area. It's very easy to do.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:41:49 GMT

I would just caveat LOTA's reply by saying that 3 Vallees is SO big, it will still take you a while...you have to ride the lifts up, ski down into the center valley (Meribel), then ride up to the ridge on the far side, and then ski down into Courchevel. That will probably take at least 90 minutes or so depending on lift lines, so allow an early start to get back to Val Thorens. It's a great area...enjoy!

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:43:11 GMT

Forgot the other part of your question....if you are an advanced skier, I'd pass right through Meribel and head for Courchevel.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:07:06 GMT

From Val T ski down to the Plan Sud lift, take that and then the Bouquetin lift and drop into the Meribel valley.
Take the Lac de la Chambre red (superb run) down to the Plan Des Mains lift (this avoids Ours blue which is flat in places - lots of poleing) and then Rossignol then Martre blues down to the Pas Du Lac 1&2 lift.
Drop into the Courchevel valley, choice of runs from there.
You can do it in about an hour if you keep a decent pace up.

As Lota says it's easy to get about so don't limit yourself.

The following are all musts for a week in 3Vs:
La Masse for quiet pistes and great off piste runs close to lifts.
4th Valley so picturesque.
Cime Caron highest point in area with runs to match.
Glacier fantastic run with great off piste.
St Martin great long crusey runs including Jerusalem red run.
Mont Vallon awesome long reds and off piste bits.
Grand Couloir scary entry, fantastic run.
Suisse and M blacks, brutal bumps!
Jockeys black down to Le Praz in the trees.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:17:49 GMT

andyhull wrote:
4th Valley so picturesque.

Eh? 4th Valley in the 3V? :roll: :XD:

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:49:04 GMT

Iceman wrote:
Eh? 4th Valley in the 3V? :roll: :XD:

Been a while since I've been to Val Thorens, but it used to be a bit of a "secret". You used to have to do a bit of a cross mountain hike to get to it, but I think it is now fully linked.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:53:22 GMT

The fourth valley, the Maurienne, has been lift linked from Val Thorens for some time now.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:59:37 GMT

:( Shows how long since I was there.

Thinking about it, it was last century, and it was 2000 or 2001 when I was last in the 3V when we stayed in Courchevel.

Maybe it's time to go back and see what has changed :twisted:

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:20:12 GMT

The Combe de Rosael black run off the back of the Cime Caron is the more interesting way into the 4th valley. Just a little squiggle on the piste map it's actually quite a long run.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:04:14 GMT

We sometimes take the Rhodos lift from Meribel and the chair the Loze to go over the Col de La Loze rather than Saulire. Its a quicker way because there are less lines/queues we find. Skiing down to La Tania or Le Praz allows you to get the Dou des Lanches back up to the top for either a cruisy blue or (often closed) Black down into Meribel Villages. Be sure to do Mont Vallon - superb views and runs down.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:09:41 GMT

As the others said, as you are an advanced skier, you will be skiing all over the 3 Valleys everyday so make sure you buy yourself a 3 valleys ski pass. We live right on the other side of the 3 valleys in Courchevel 1650 and it takes about 1 hour 40 mins to 2 hours to reach the centre of Val Thorens. The area is huge and half the fun is exploring everywhere. I hope that you love it as much as we do! Bon ski.

Re:Skiing from Val Thorens to Courchevel?

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:57:17 GMT

Thank you so much guys. I'm sure I'll enjoy every minute of it!

What are the top 5 runs in the 3V area?