The Three Valleys, encompassing the resorts
shown on the lead page of this article are billed as the
"biggest ski area in the world". How does one argue or
dispute that fact. I for one am not going around
measuring the runs in every resort that makes this
statement, and there are quite a few.
Let me just say this for openers; this area can boast
ski runs of every description, accommodation for most
budgets, and night life for every taste. It is world
class skiing by any standards.
No skier will be disappointed with the selection here.
The resorts that make up the Three Valleys are
Courchevel, Meribel, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and
Mottaret.Collectively they boast six hundred kilometres
of prepared slopes that are serviced by one hundred and
seventy five lifts.
The Three
Valleys includes the highest resort in Europe, Val Thorens at 2,300m,
the world's biggest cable car, and more than 50,000 guest beds.
The whole lot is under the umbrella of one super lift pass, but it is
possible to purchase "scaled down" versions for the individual resorts
as well. The cost of the big pass is around 960 French Francs for a six
day period. There is a reduction for children.
Village wise these areas are
completely separate. It is easier to go from one to the other on skis
than it is by road. Each village is a separate entity with it's own ski
school and distinct personality. Courchevel, for example is divided into
three levels easy access with skiers conveniently into the Main skiing
Val Thorens is high above almost everything in Europe. You will be
astounded when you see what an amazing village is "purpose built" at
this level. Meribel and Mottaret are typical French "purpose built"
resorts with the major convenience of being able to ski to and from your
door. More
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