Snowboarding in the Trois Vallees

The Trois Vallees in the French Alps is the largest skiing area in the world. It comprises three valleys, as the name suggests, and a single ski pass covers you for all three. The three valleys – Courchevel, Meribel, and Val Thorens – all all connected by ski lifts and gondolas but it would take you half a day to work your way from one side to the other. Most days we tended to pick one valley and stay in it for the day. Over the course of a week you get to see all of it, more or less, but there are always more runs and off-piste areas to explore.

This year we were based in the village of Meribel Village (which, confusingly, is not exactly the same place as Meribel). Meribel Village is a satellite village to the main centre of activity, either a short bus ride away or you can ski there via the Golf chairlift. The great advantage of not being in the main town is that there no queues at any time of day. Also, from our chalet to the chairlift was a walk of about 200 metres, with a rest stop on the way for the all-in-one bakery/coffee shop/pizzeria to stock up on a packed lunch.

I’ve added some photos of this trip over on the gallery.