Dizzying heights: areas designed for you to challenge yourself in total safety

Dizzying heights: areas designed for you to challenge yourself in total safety

  • Day
  • Winter

ADOPT A VERTICAL ATTITUDE AT THE HEART OF LES 3 VALLÉES 

To experienced skiers, freeride enthusiasts and freestyle lovers, the world’s largest ski area offers somewhere unique to seek thrills.

Vertiginous slopes,

Mogul-filled couloirs,

Legendary runs that have made their mark on world skiing history,

Classic snowparks for having fun in total safety…

Les 3 Vallées provides almost infinite options for challenging yourself and friends and delighting in a ski day filled with amazing thrills!

Here, we’ve compiled 13 exceptional areas dotted across the different resorts in the Les 3 Vallées. Designed for experienced skiers and adrenalin junkies, they all feature on the “Ski & Challenge Zones” piste map. From Courchevel to Méribel, from Val Thorens to Les Menuires, pepper your ski day with these vertical playgrounds.

Powder snow, vertical drops, moguls… for connoisseurs: synonyms for joy!

Méribel resort
Méribel resort 3 Valleys

Courchevel - Laboratory of Thrills

Vertical Experience – Le Grand Couloir

Vertical Experience – Le Grand Couloir

Atmosphere: A taste of the extreme. It’s THE steepest run on the Les 3 Vallées ski area. A long, safe couloir accessible via a vertiginous mountain crest!

The technical side: 33° average gradient, with one section verging on 39°.

Access: Via the Saulire Express gondola lift.

Freeride Lab

Freeride Lab

Courchevel Saulire Sector

Atmosphere: A dream-like place that deserves its reputation! Only accessible by touring skis or on foot, after around a 20-minute climb. Offering two ungroomed – but safe – runs for the best possible freeride experience. Another option for freeriders accompanied by a professional: the Creux Noir cirque and its diverse range of couloirs and off-piste zones.

The technical side: Two runs, boasting vertical drops of 600 metres and 1,000 metres.

Access: Via the Pas du Lac or Saulire Express gondola lifts.

L’Éclipse – Piste des Champions

L’Éclipse – Piste des Champions

Courchevel Loze Sector

Championnats du Monde de Ski Alpin à Courchevel
Éclipse run

Atmosphere: A run that truly deserves its name: in 2023 it hosted the biggest athletes in world skiing during the Alpine Skiing World Championships. A legendary run that’s among the most demanding in the skiing world!

The technical side: Almost 1,000 metres of vertical drop over 3.3 kilometres. It’s one very steep wall after another through the forest, broken up by less steep sections, all the way to the hamlet of Le Praz at an altitude of 1,300 metres.

Access: Via the Chenus gondola loft or the Bouc Blanc chairlift.

The Vertical Experience Challenge Slope in Méribel, in the Saulire sector: guaranteed thrills!
Vertical Experience - Saulire Sector in Méribel

Méribel - Thrills in every sectors

Open Park

Open Park

Méribel Mottaret Plattières Sector

Atmosphere: A dream snowpark dedicated to keen - seasoned - freestylers.

The technical side: With a high level of difficulty, two very long series of alternating modules: kicks, rails, hip, and tubes…

Access: Via the Plattières gondola lift. The Châtelet chairlift runs every 10 minutes.

Back to the wild

Back to the wild

Méribel Mottaret Roc de Tougne Sector

Atmosphere: Far off the beaten track, in the heart of nature, with the bonus of uninterrupted views over Mont Blanc! An unforgettable experience to immortalise on the giant wooden module awaiting you at the summit.

The technical side: Two north-facing unmissable runs - Bartavelle (black run) and Julie (red run): they always have excellent quality snow!

Access: Via the Combes and Roc de Tougne chairlifts.

Vertical Experience - Ibex

Vertical Experience - Ibex

Méribel Mottaret Bouquetin Sector

Atmosphere: Similar to the “Vertical Experience” category runs, the Ibex offers a vertiginous descent through a safe couloir. Particularly narrow at the start, it widens as the descent goes on, letting you cross the finish line at full speed!

The technical side: A 600-metre run, with a 300-metre vertical drop.

Access: Via the Bouquetin chairlift.

Vertical Experience

Vertical Experience

Méribel Saulire Sector

Vertical Experience in Méribel in the heart of Les 3 Vallées: a challenging but secure couloir

Atmosphere: A wild, high mountain feel. Fairly wide but still one of the steepest couloirs in Les 3 Vallées!

The technical side: A technically challenging couloir that’s 530 metres long with a 208-metre vertical drop, boasting an average gradient of 30°, with some 37° sections.

Access: From the Chaudanne plateau, take the Saulire Express gondola lift to the summit.

The ski resort of Les Menuires in Les 3 Vallées
Les Menuires: A Mountain Oasis in Les 3 Vallées

Les Menuires - Stylish sensations and desires for freedom

Pixel Area – Snowpark and boardercross

Pixel Area – Snowpark and boardercross

Les Menuires

Atmosphere: An area dedicated to fab freestyle moves! Regular or goofy, you can take a snap of your finest jumps at the snowpark’s photo spot.

The technical side: An incredible zone filled with moguls, rails, and kicks to suit all tastes and styles. Not to mention the boardercross for going up against your skiing or snowboarding pals. And for those who are only just discovering the discipline, there’s a fully equipped easier-to-access blue area so they can experience their first freestyle thrills!

Access: Via the Becca or Sunny Express chairlifts.

The zipline in Orelle, located between Val Thorens and Orelle: thrilling and dizzying sensations
The Bee - Val Thorens Zipline

Val Thorens and Orelle - Thrills at the Summit

VT Park

VT Park

Val Thorens

Atmosphere: A legendary snowpark in the small world of freestyle. Whether experienced in the discipline or simply curious, it’s a must-visit. Come and be blown away by skiers defying the laws of gravity!

The technical side: Over a 70,000 m2 surface area, 3 different ability routes alternating tables, boxes, and rails. Redesigned every season, a hip quarter delights experienced amateurs, as does the Jump Air for carrying out daring jumps.

Access: Easy return journeys via the Plateau’s two ski tows.

The Orelle zip line

The Orelle zip line

Orelle / Val Thorens

Atmosphere: A feeling of total freedom, in the silence of the mountains, as you fly over the Bouchet glacial valley.

The technical side: Launch yourself at 3,230 metres in altitude for a flight that lasts 1 minute and 45 seconds at almost 100 kilometres an hour. A high intensity experience!

Access: Via the Bouchet chairlift. The zip line is located at the top, on the Orelle mountainside.

The FunSlope

The FunSlope

Orelle

Atmosphere: Curves, bumps, waves, jumps, and more - a fun track for the little ones... and their adult companions!

The technical side: This track offers an entertaining experience with its twists, turns, bumps, waves, and jumps throughout the course, making it a playful trail for young skiers and their grown-up companions.

Access: To access it, take the Peyron chairlift, followed by the Croix d'Antides trail.

The Igloo Village

The Igloo Village

Orelle

Atmosphere: Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of Plan Bouchet, located at the arrival of the Orelle cable car. The Village of Igloos offers a variety of family activities, including fun toboggan runs, an exploration of the igloos, and memorable family moments in the picnic area.

The technical side: The toboggan runs are safe for thrilling descents suitable for all ages, enhanced by an exciting tunnel. Explore the igloos with their ice sculptures and magical atmosphere. Additionally, enjoy the well-equipped picnic area for a delightful outdoor meal.

Access: The Village of Igloos is to the right of the Orelle cable car, near the beginners' area. Access is free, but make sure to supervise the younger ones for a safe and enjoyable experience.

Why ski in Les 3 Vallées?

The 10 good reasons

The 3 valleys: the largest ski area in the world
Every winter season, Les 3 Vallées ski area attracts enthusiasts from all over the world, who are eager to get going on this multi-facetted, limitless playground. Snowsports lovers seeking the reassurance of a skiing and snow cover guarantee throughout the winter season…

Discover why they choose to settle in the 3 Valleys area...
Discover
The 3 valleys: the largest ski area in the world

An easy plan

Les 3 Vallées has created a whole range of skipasses to meet every need: you can ski on your own or with a group or family, for one day, a weekend, a week’s holiday or for the entire season.

Buy your skipass online before you arrive to gain time: buy your 3 Vallées skipass online to be the first on slopes, easy and comfortable. Less wait, more ski!

Buy your skipass online

To enjoy this exceptional itinerary and the entirety of Les 3 Vallées ski area in the best possible conditions.

WEATHER FORECAST

Knowing the snow conditions and weather forecast for the next 3 days in the seven 3 Vallées ski resorts is a real help when organising an unforgettable holiday in the heart of the largest ski area in the world.

Weather Forecast

WEBCAMS

Here you will find all the webcams in Les 3 Vallées ski area. These cameras are situated at strategic points in each of the ski resorts and provide a mine of useful information so you can prepare and make the most of your ski outings!

Webcams

SKI RUN AND LIFT OPENINGS

Each day, you can check what Les 3 Vallées has to offer you by viewing live information on the opening conditions and the times and state of the lifts, ski runs and links.

Ski run & lift openings

To prepare for your off-piste skiing day, consult the Avalanche Risk Estimate Bulletin. These information are essential in order to evaluate your off-piste outing. If you decide to do off-piste, think about to be accompanied by a mountain professional.

Avalanche Risk Estimate Bulletin

Check Les 3 Vallées app for access to live info when you’re on the ski area (ski run and ski lift opening times, opening times for links between Les 3 Vallées, weather forecasts…)

App 3 Vallées