It is not only skiing, it is a sense of freedom

Last year, I went skiing in Les Trois Vallées, in the French Alps, for the first time. It was a precious experience for me, a lifetime experience: since Les Trois Vallées is not only skiing, but also a sense of freedom, calmness and connection with nature. And priceless: the atmosphere of happiness for being among the skiers from all over the world, people with the same energy and passion. Smile is a universal language on the pistes and all around them. Since it is France! Since these are the Alps!

Les Trois Vallées — three magic snow valleys: Courchevel, Méribel and Belleville making the largest interlinked skiing region in the world, with over 600 km of trails running through forests, snowy plateaus with a view of the highest summits of the Alps…

Les Trois Vallées, it is a beauty of contrasts: on one side, there is a huge, impressive skiing area with hundreds of kilometres of pistes, and on the other – warm, traditional mountain communities which preserve the authenticity. I am conveying to you, in as many words as possible, the atmosphere of days-long tour along the famous magic valleys of the French Alps.

The feeling of being on top of a snowy mountain

I feel free! Fear can be stimulating, but the satisfaction comes only when the adventure ends. When you are high up, you only think how to get down, and when you are at the bottom, the only thing you wish is to go up again… It becomes a real addiction.

Les Trois Vallées constitute a balance between grandiose skiing infrastructure and Alpine tradition. It is a place where you can experience “mega-domain” with hundreds of kilometres of trails, and in the same evening feel the family warmth, tranquillity of local houses, fairytale atmosphere of traditional mountain villages and fantastic authentic cuisine. For guests, this means from quick days on the high cliffs and steep slopes, breaks in the sunshine on the deckchairs at the bottoms of the slopes, and socializing in the hors-sac halls (picnic rooms) on the piste.

Courchevel is the most exclusive valley and a symbol of luxury: shiny hotels, star-reaching restaurants, and there are also boutiques selling Chopard, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Moncler and Chanel items enabling luxury shopping directly off the slope.

Horsedrawn carts take the guests through winter villages, while skiin, skiout concept makes every moment spent there a memorable experience. When it comes to construction activity, in Courchevel the same principle is observed as in the other two valleys, but the offer in its hotels and services are more luxurious, adjusted to demanding guests.

It is not even that I getting myself in danger, since I always have control, but I get out of my comfort zone, I outdo myself, I live completely for the current moment. There is this same feeling of pride when you cross the new boundaries of your own capabilities and see what progress you have made.

Méribel, located in wooden Alpine villages, exudes warmth and tradition, and the trails wind through the forests, ideal for family and average skiers. In Belleville valley, Val Thorens — the highest ski resort in Europe — offers panoramic views and reliable snow cover, while Les Menuires and Saint-Martin de Belleville preserve the authentic mountain spirit. Orelle is the fourth gem valley of the Trois Vallées. A place where you can experience large terrain, but with quieter villages and more authentic feeling of the life in mountains. It is accessible only by a gondola lift. Orelle is called the last “secret back door” to this huge Alpine area. Hidden from the crowds and noise, it seems like a quiet oasis where the Alps breathe more slowly and where the landscapes reveal themselves only to those who approach them with respect. Unobtrusive and authentic, this valley offers a feeling of discovering the world which has not yet been fully discovered — more silent, more intimate side of the Three Valleys.

In this region, there are about 183 cableways, and the network of trails includes 336 km of blue, 204 km of red and 60 km of black pistes, plus tens of kilometres of skitouring routes.

The highest peaks

- Cime Caron – 3.200 m, panoramic observation point above the valleys

- Aiguille de Péclet – 3.561 m, spectacular ridges

- Pointe du Bouchet – 3.230 m, peaceful panoramic peak

The longest piste, from Cime de Caron, coming down for the incredible 12 km, offers the feeling of freedom which is rarely offered in the mountains.

Skiing here is not just a sport — it is a meditation in white, dance with gravitation and ritual of beauty.

No matter whether you glide along an easy blue slope, feel the adrenalin on a black one or explore high ridges, Trois Vallées offer an experience which is both adrenalin and poetry.

Les Trois Vallées — three magic snow valleys: Courchevel, Méribel and Belleville which make the highest interlinked skiing region in the world, with over 600 km of pistes which meander through the forests, snowy plateaus with a view of the highest summits of the Alps…

The history of the region starts in 1946 with the foundation of the Société des Trois-Vallées, while the development of modern ski resorts started in 1970ies. Courchevel was designed as a luxury skiing area, while Méribel and Belleville were developed in accordance with Alpine tradition.

The region capacity is around| 140.000 beds, which makes it a globally attractive wintyer holiday destination.

We often organized our breaks as “picnics” – not necessarily for having meals in a restaurant, but using the designated “salles hors sac” (picnic areas) on the slopes. Also, coffee, warm beverages, beer, wine… in the cafés at the bottom of the slopes costs the same as in this country along the coast during the summer season, perhaps even less.

Breath-taking figures

Les 3 Vallées boasts 334 pistes of various level – from the green and blue to red and black.

There are over 160 lifts (of various type: gondolas, chairlifts, traction cable cars), which ensures the accessibility of every piste and they are all interlinked

It stretches on over 105 km² of unspoilt nature, with 25 peaks available to skiers, including some exceeding 2.500 m.

In order to maintain the snow cover, there are about 2.823 snow canons for artificial snowing.

The longest trail, from Cime de Caron, comes down the incredible 12 km, offering the sense of freedom which is offered by just a few mountains.

And yes, Les 3 Vallées need not be “the most luxurious skiing destinations for the riches people alone” since it is possible to go skiing there even without having a substantial budget, if you plan it well.

Skiing in Les Trois Vallées has opened a totally new dimension to me – the pistes are wide, perfectly prepared, but there is always a possibility to choose even an offpiste adventure. The snow is soft and powdery, deep enough for you to feel to be “carried” down the slope with every snowflake, but still stable and secure for playing and exploring.

Of course, the adventure was not only on the piste. The kindness and professionalism of the personnel along the trails and around them, the atmosphere in the mountain chalets and the charm of Alpine villages added a special dimension to this trip. Courchevel and Val Thorens are a combination of adrenalin and glamour – while you are on a slope, in the heart of competition and adrenalin downhills, at the foot of the mountain you are in for socializing with the people from all over the world with the same passion – skiing.

Courchevel is not just a sports arena — it is also a glamorous destination and a home to the world’s jetset, luxury mountain houses/chalets and fashion events, which makes the whole region a stage for sport, adventure and glamour.

Les Trois Vallées has taught me one more thing: every piste, every summit and every view become a memory you wish to repeat.

It is not surprising that these mountains are inspirations to big planetary competitions, and to those looking for perfect destination for winter, luxury and magic. In Courchevel, on the ÉmileAllais stadium, every winter floodlights come on for ladies’ World Cup night slalom race, while men’s downhill and SuperG races on the legendary L’Éclipse slope take the breath even to the most experienced skiers. Val Thorens is a regular host to the Ski Cross World Cup, and Méribel shows the amazing power of Paralympic skiing. This season (2025/2026), Les Trois Vallées will host the adrenalin Freeride World Tour, while Courchevel celebrates 80 years of the mountain spirit of luxury and sport.