Brief Overview: The Three Valleys is the largest ski resort in the world. The resort is comprised of three valleys ; the Belleville valley which houses les Menuires and Val Thorens, The Meribel Valley, and the Courchevel Valley to which la Tania belongs. Both Meribel and Courchevel are connected by a road which crosses a plateau without going al the way down to the Tarentaise Valley (700m altitude) and Moutiers (700m). La Tania is on this plateau so is conveniently located between Courchevel 1850 and Meribel. La Tania is connected by free bus to Courchevel 1850 which runs every hour until midnight. La Tania is situated beneath the ridge that separates Courchevel from Meribel so while in La Tania it is very easy to ski either resort. Meribel is connected to Brides-les-Bains (800m Tarentaise Valley) by gondola.

The highest place in the ski resort, the Sommet des Pistes (3200m) is located above Val Thorens (2300) and Orelle (800m) which is a village in the Maurienne Valley. There is a gondola which links Orelle to the Sommet des Pistes, Val Thorens and the Three Valleys. During a normal snow year it is not possible to ski to Orelle or Brides-les-Bains nor are there marked runs to either place. Val Thorens offers the highest skiing and most reliable snow and extensive lift-served back-country skiing where you can even cut back in bounds without having to hike far. Meribel and Courchevel also offer extensive back-country skiing.

Why go there main advantages: The largest ski area in the world connected by a modern lift network so even though it is huge experienced skiers can get from end of the resort to the other in well under two hours. Due to a new highway La Tania is now 1hr 50 minutes from Geneva and has become the closest ski area with High Mountain skiing to Geneva. To boot it offers affordable ski-in/ski-out lodging.

Also some of the base area villages especially, La Tania, Meribel and Brides-les-Bains are close enough to Annecy and vineyards that non-skiers can use these villages as a base.

Best Time to go: January-April

Ski Area description: Glacier, bowls, runs, steep slopes

vertical drop: 1900m
snow zone: 3200m-1300m
kms of ski runs: 600
amount of terrain (including lift accessed bowls): 12000 acres

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