- LOCAL AREA: Les Menuires / Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
- CONNECTED AREA: Les 3 Vallées
- SEASON START & END: Early December – end April
- SKI ALTITUDE IN METRES:
- Local resort 1450 m – 2800 m / Vertical Drop- 1350m
- Connected Area 1100-3230m / Vertical Drop- 2130m
- PISTES: 50% Beginner / 50 % Expert
- Local Resort: 79 Pistes for a total of 160km (13 Green / 36 Blue / 22 Red / 8 Black)
- Connected Area: 347 Pistes for a total of 600km (53 Green / 141 Blue / 117 Red / 36 Black)
- LIFTS:
- Local Resort: 31 (Cable cars 2 / Gondola 6 / Chair lift 11 / Drag Lifts 12)
- Connected Area: 156 (Cable cars 9 / Gondola 34 / Chair lift 57 / Drag Lifts 56)
- SNOW: 50 % snow cannons
- LIFT TICKET PRICES: For price visit Online
- CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: 28km of trails
- LANGUAGE: French
- AIRPORT: Lyon: 180km / Chambéry: 104km / Geneva: 182km
- TRAIN: Moûtiers Salins Brides-Les-Bains (20km)
- SKI FACTS: 80% of pistes are above 2000 metres which means guaranteed snow.
Les Menuires, The Town
Les Menuires may be the lesser-known sibling of the likes of Courchevel and Meribel, but it certainly has a confident spring in its ski boots. Purpose-built in the 1960s at a lofty 1850 metres, it proudly overlooks the Belleville valley while serving as one of the most accessible gateways into the mighty Les Trois Vallées. This is a resort that has access to over 600 kilometres of skiing yet remains refreshingly down to earth, a place where you can enjoy world-class pistes without feeling that you must remortgage the family silver to pay for lunch.
The town itself perches on the side of the valley between Val Thorens and Saint Martin de Belleville. It is made up of five distinct settlements that cascade down one side of the mountain: La Croisette, Les Bruyères, Grand Reberty, Fontanettes and Preyerand. La Croisette forms the beating heart of the resort, a splendid slice of 1960s architectural bravado and its love of Brutalist design. Its maze of arcades offers shelter, shopping and eateries, a welcome haven when the weather decides to assert itself.
By contrast, the surrounding settlements favour chalet-style charm with pockets of shops and restaurants that ensure every skier has what they need locally. Accommodation ranges from wallet-friendly apartments to smart hotels and sumptuous chalets. We stayed at Ours Blanc, a delightful and family-friendly hotel with French bistro flair and a warm, attentive team who welcomed guests from the UK, France, the Netherlands and beyond. It proved an ideal base for exploring the region.
Les Menuires first welcomed skiers in 1964 and has been perfecting its craft ever since. Family-friendly terrain, ski-in ski-out lodgings and a lively après scene contribute to a resort that feels both established and energetic.
Les Menuires, The Skiing
The local ski area is effectively split into two. On one side lies the west-facing Col de la Chambre, the main hub for pistes that lead over into Méribel, Val Thorens and along the mountain to Saint Martin de Belleville. Higher up, you encounter a welcoming tapestry of blue and gentle red runs that would delight any intermediate. Lower down, green and blue pistes loop close to town and make life very easy for families. The pistes are famously wide and immaculately groomed, a combination that inspires confidence in all skiers.
The east-facing La Masse has an entirely different personality. This sector faces east and north east, offering fabulous snow quality as well as steep red and black runs that experts will devour with gusto. It is often quieter too, partly because it sits at the edge of Les Trois Vallées and partly because the terrain demands a degree of respect. For a truly invigorating challenge, seek out Damme Blanche, a pitch steep enough to encourage even the most seasoned skier to check their bindings twice. One can descend all the way from the summit on blue runs if preferred, though these are punchier than the blues on the opposite side.
At the top of Col de la Chambre, the mountain opens out into the wider Les Trois Vallées. It is possible to thread your way into Méribel or glide over to Val Thorens. Snowboarders should note that a few schusses exist on the Val Thorens route, so travelling with a skier friend is wise if you wish to avoid comedy scenes involving a lot of hopping.
Beginners
Beginners are particularly well served. A tidy collection of green pistes lies close to the resort, and once confidence grows, the long green La Violette beckons. From the top of the Doron and Menuires chairs, there are broad and steady pistes that help novices graduate from nursery slopes without feeling they have inadvertently signed up for the Winter Olympics.
Intermediates
Intermediates will find their spiritual home above Les Menuires and Saint Martin de Belleville. Cruising blues such as Mont de la Chambre are dreamy in good weather. A delightful circuit involves following Grand Lac, then Pelozet, then Loy, which brings you into the charming village of Saint Martin de Belleville, where lunch can easily extend well into the afternoon. We were also fond of the Allemands red merging into Les Grandes Combes, a combination that delivers rhythm, views and just enough challenge to keep you alert.
Those curious about ski touring can try the itinerary routes beginning in Les Menuires. An ESF guide will lead you on a two-hour adventure from La Croisette to the top of Roc 1, before gliding back down the piste in proud touring fashion. It is a splendid introduction to the discipline, and a reminder that ski holidays are far more enjoyable when someone else handles the tricky navigation.
Experts
Experts will gravitate towards La Masse, drawn by steep reds, blacks and excellent snow conditions. On the Col de la Chambre side, the ungroomed Liberty Ride area offers secured freeride terrain that delivers thrills without venturing into the fully wild backcountry.
Final Thoughts
Les Menuires offers terrific value, extensive terrain, a huge variety and an atmosphere that is lively without feeling overstated. Whether you are a beginner discovering the delight of a perfect turn or an advanced skier hunting fresh corduroy, this confident corner of Les Trois Vallées is more than ready to host your next alpine break.
Sustainability & Ecology
- All SEVABEL ski lifts have run entirely on hydroelectric power for the past decade, with plans underway to create an additional hydroelectric plant for even more clean energy.
- Grooming machines use eco-friendly technology and Snowsat software to measure snow depth precisely, reducing fuel consumption and cutting artificial snow use by around 15% each year.
- A new 306,000 m³ reservoir is planned to store water during high-flow periods, protecting resources in dry spells. Wetlands are also restored by plugging drainage in summer, helping maintain natural moisture levels.
- Free resort shuttles, ridesharing via the Mov’ici app, long-standing worker buses, and electric vehicle charging points all help cut car use and lower carbon emissions.
- Les Menuires creates ecological corridors, monitors emblematic bird species with GPS tags, and installs markers on lift cables to prevent collisions. A peat bog restoration project also preserves a vital carbon sink.
- The Friendly Natural Park area features educational trails, wildlife workshops, and ranger-led outings focused on species from marmots to golden eagles, encouraging visitors to understand and protect the local ecosystem.
- Since 2009, all public building renovations require energy audits. Renovation programmes have upgraded more than 2,500 tourist beds using sustainable materials, improving insulation and reducing energy loss.
- Les Belleville Valley operates a climate observatory to study snow management and future mobility. Les Menuires also belongs to the international POW (Protect Our Winters) alliance, training staff to champion climate action.
For more information, visit Les Menuires
