View of chalets at Les Menuires ski resort with snow-covered mountainside, 3 Valleys, French Alps.

Les Menuires

Les 3 Vallées, Savoie, French Alps

In the Vallée des Belleville, just south of Moûtiers. The road up the mountain is a long and winding one but significantly less so than for those continuing onwards to Val Thorens.

Capable lifts haul skiers smoothly to drop in on Méribel, which in turn offers rapid access to Courchevel.

There’s the worthwhile option of dropping in on nearby Saint-Martin de Belleville, or heading considerably higher in and around Val Thorens.

Group of skiers above mountain restaurant with snowy background.

The Ski Area

  • Lies at the heart of the world’s largest ski area.
  • Easy access to linked areas.

The 3 Vallées are billed as The World’s Largest Ski Area, and we’re not about to disagree. Neither will you; unless you’re in for the season, there’s little danger of skiing it all out – but you can have a whole lot of fun trying.

The local Les Menuires/Saint-Martin lift-pass offers plenty of varied terrain, but since the whole point of skiing here is to have access to the whole Three Valleys area, you’ll probably regret not going for the full lift-pass.

That said, skiing in this sector is not without its own rewards. You’ll find the gentler terrain on the side of the valley which borders Méribel, along with some long runs over towards Saint Martin de Belleville (the Red/Blue-graded Jérusalem being a particular favourite). There’s also a good-sized Fun Park beside the Sunny Express chairlift.

Across the valley things are a little steeper below the Pointe de la Masse (2804m), although apart from a couple of Blacks there’s nothing to intimidate most intermediates and is now much more beginner friendly with more blue pistes accessible from the top. The ascent is now a lot faster with a new high-speed gondola taking skiers and pedestrians to the summit in just 8 minutes. There's also a completely restyled top station with the restaurant 2800 and an exterior snack bar on a large sunny terrace with panoramic views. Also good to know that three old lifts have been dismantled, sold and recycled.

Resort Information

Altitude : 1400m - 2850m
Les Menuires
Pistes Total:
110 km
12 Green
40 Blue
22 Red
8 Black
Ski Resort Lifts : 30
7 Magic Carpets
5 Draglifts
11 Chairlifts
3 Cabriolet
8 Gondolas
Trois Vallées
Pistes Total:
600 km
48 Green
135 Blue
119 Red
33 Black
Ski Domain Lifts: 166
38 Chairlifts
1 Funitel
33 Gondolas
2 Cable Cars

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Skier passing recent chalet-style village development at Les Menuires.

The Ski Village

  • The high-rise image of Les Menuires has been softened by more recent developments.
  • A great family destination, there's plenty of ski-in ski-out options.

You’ll make worthwhile savings on accommodation and dining out by choosing to base yourself here in Les Menuires, rather than in Méribel or Courchevel – and you get to share exactly the same vast ski area. True, there was a time not so long ago when the high-rise image of the developments around La Croisette, Brelin and Preyerand was something of a handicap, but recent years the Les Bruyères and Reberty areas have softened things with a more traditional, Savoyard chalet feel.

This more authentic mountain vibe has since spread to La Sapinière, Reberty 2000, Les Balcons des Bruyères, Les Hameaux des Marmottes and Les Airelles. Result: Les Menuires is now a nice place to be, and has some very stylish services, too.

Staying There

Value for Money Accommodation Dining Out Nightlife Village Charm

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Family of skiers, Les Menuires ©Gilles Lansard

Why go skiing in Les Menuires ?

Skiing from this side of the Trois Vallées will suit those looking for worthwhile savings, without the need to commute to and from the ski area; it’s all right there on your doorstep. What you won’t find, though, are sheltered, tree-lined pistes, but this might not be an issue for you.

We’d say that it’s a logical choice for keen skiers who want speedy access to Val Thorens (but in a less exposed setting) or families and mixed-ability groups who value the range of facilities, which include a large Fun Park. And those who just can’t leave their social network (or business) connectivity behind will appreciate the multiple (payable) WiFi zones around the resort areas.

Voted Best Family Resort 2015 by the Word Snow Awards, Les Menuires certainly went down well with our guest writer Paddy Daly and his young family who stayed in a catered chalet at Reberty. Read the Discover Les Menuires feature.

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Skiing There

Beginners / Families Intermediates Advanced / Expert Mountain Scenery

Snowboarding

One snowpark and five fun zones including Pixel Areas and Roc n' Bob sledging run.
1 Snowparks
1 Snowboarder Cross


Handiski...

  • Accessible buses and a taxi with access for handicapped passengers
  • 50% discount for the disabled person and their companion for Les Menuires/Saint Martin de Belleville ski passes (conditions apply).
  • Adapted accommodation - call the Tourist Office for personal advice and recommendations.
  • Accessible public toilets in the resort centre at La Croisette, next to the tourist office.
  • Specialist instructors and range of equipment (provided by ESF)

icon-smileyYes please...

  • 3 Vallées ski experience is justifiably world-famous.
  • Terrain for just about every level, even on the highest slopes, from raw novices to demanding experts.
  • Easy access to linked areas.
  • Guaranteed skiing with 51% of the ski area covered by snow-making and all slopes above 1800m altitude.
  • Still a more affordable option than some of its higher-profile neighbours.
  • It’s not only the under 5s who get a free ski pass - the whole family skis at the children’s rate with a Family Pass.
  • Two leisure and wellness centres plus 10 spa areas open to all.
  • A family-friendly resort, Les Menuires has been awarded the Famille Plus label and has the largest children's ski creche in France welcoming babies from 3 months old.

icon-frowneyYes but...

  • This much skiing doesn’t come cheap - but do you really want to miss out on skiing legendary terrain available with the full 3V lift-pass?
  • Rubbing shoulers with modern chalet-style buildings, the architecture from the 1970's may not be to everyone's taste. However, the resort’s historic ‘Brelin’ cruise-liner style building on La Croisette was awarded the ‘Patrimoine du XXe Siècle’ (20th Century Heritage) label in 2003, whilst its contemporary clock tower won the first ever Prix d’Architecture Métallique (Prize for Metallic Architecture) in 2000.

icon-winkingOur Tips

  • Explore the excellent terrain nearby, including fine runs down to the charming Saint-Martin de Belleville, a great lunchtime destination.
  • Visit outside of school holidays for uncrowded pistes and fewer queues, especially if you want to explore the whole of the 3 Valleys.

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Practical Information

Tried and testedChalet-Hotel Kaya

Reberty 2000
73440 Les Menuires

Skier entering mountain hotel restaurant with chalets at Les Menuires.

Enjoying a slope side position in the Reberty sector of the village, Hotel Kaya offers contemporary elegance with spacious rooms and suites sleeping up to 4 people. There’s a wonderful pool and ‘spa bio’ - massage and care treatments using organic products (suitable for children from 7 years).
The Hotel has its own restaurant ‘Le K’ serving a delicious and beautifully presented menu of traditional savoyard flavours with modern flair. We enjoyed a light lunch of grilled chicken and Tomme de Savoie salad, Omble Chevalier (mountain lake fish), followed by Moelleux au chocolat.

Enquiries and bookings:
Ski Collection
023 9289 0960
reservations@skicollection.co.uk


Belambra Club Les Bruyères

At the foot of the slopes and in the heart of the resort, this new all-inclusive residence by Belambra Club de Vacances includes: buffet meals, kids’ club for children (ages 3-5) all season long, and for ags 6-17 during the French school holidays, family-friendly après-ski at the end of the day, luggage store, personal ski lockers, panoramic terrace-solarium and direct access to the slopes.

Info and booking: reservation@lesmenuires.com or +33(0)4 79 00 79 79


PowderNShine Catered Chalets

A selection of ski-in, ski-out chalets located at 2000m in the traditional, piste-side Reberty Village above Les Menuires, giving fast and direct access to the vast 3 Valleys ski area. Powder N Shine chalets offer gourmet food, exceptional service and sumptuous accommodation. Read about a typical family stay in a chalet located in Reberty village in our feature Family Ski Resort

See details of the chalets in Les Menuires or +44 (0)207 164 6356 (UK) for info.