3 great hidden runs in the Three Valleys

16 Feb 3 great hidden runs in the Three Valleys

Ashley Kay of First Tracks Ski Coaching shares his 3 “hidden gems”…

The Three Valleys ski area offers a winter sports playground spanning over 1400km². Those who have skied in the Three Valleys will know that there are a multitude of runs for all levels and that although you can easily and quickly find your way around the main runs it takes time to really get to know the area in detail.

Here are three pistes that are off the beaten track and are nice and quiet even in busier weeks. These three runs tend to be runs which either have a discrete start point or are hidden from the view of people coming up the lifts.

1. Intermediate level – one of the prettiest runs that I’ve discovered over the years is “Villages” which leads onto the “Raffort” slope in the Meribel valley. The run is quite narrow and winds down through pine trees and then orchards of apple and cherry trees. At the bottom of Raffort, cross the road and catch the Olympe bubble back up to Meribel la Chaudanne.
2. Intermediate and advanced level – Another great quiet run, this time in Courchevel, is “Altipôle” which starts next to the highly-recommended restaurant; La Cave des Creux. This run was created about 3 years ago – it’s not very long but fantastic to carve on as it’s groomed every day and is often deserted!
3. For beginners a nice “excursion” run is the beautiful and scenic slope that goes to the Clos Bernard Restaurant in Meribel. Starting by the “piste des animaux” at the bottom of the Loze chairlift, the ski down takes you through the forest and you can stop for a hot chocolate or lunch at the Clos Bernard Restaurant, hidden in the trees. We do however recommend doing this run with a guide or instructor to avoid getting lost. The ski and very short walk to get back to the main slopes can be avoided by taking the horse drawn sled!

More on skiing the Three Valleys including piste maps and our recommended restaurants.

First Tracks Ski Coaching is the official ESI Ski School in Courchevel specialised in private ski lessons and ski guiding. Contact First Tracks if you’d like help planning your ski lessons – they pride themselves on their bespoke lessons and flexible approach.