The most underrated village in the 3 Vallees: great skiing, real prices.
Stayed here
1850 mForecast at 1850 m today: low / high, modelled snow depth, and new snow in the last 24 hours.
Yes, and it is our pick for the most underrated village. It is about as well connected as Meribel, much cheaper, and has a great skiing area of its own: a smaller valley with lots of runs to explore.
It feels like a real town rather than just a ski station, with plenty of private houses and apartments to rent. Good for families, especially young ones. The one cost is position: it sits slightly to the side, so reaching the middle of the area takes extra time.
2 day routes from here. Highlighted steps are specific to Les Menuires. Tap a profile to see it on the map.
The big crossing to the highest village in the area, with lunch in Val Thorens. It is the route that most often goes wrong, because the link is exposed and shuts in bad weather.
Check the afternoon forecast before you go. If the Mottaret link closes, the lower way back through Les Menuires often stays open. Queues are worst just after lunch.
Over the back of Val Thorens into what is really a fourth valley. Mostly long reds, not very steep but often icy and cold, and the highest lift-served point of the 3 Vallees at 3230 m.
Pick your weather. On a grey day it is cold and flat-lit; on a sunny one it is the best day trip in the area.
Drag to move, scroll or pinch to zoom. Highlighted: the lifts and runs named in each route. Pistes, lifts, forests, lakes and villages © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain from Mapzen/AWS Terrain Tiles.
Not sure Les Menuires is right? These neighbours share the same lift pass.
Fly to Geneva, Lyon or Chambery and drive up the Tarentaise to Moutiers, then up the valley. Trains reach Moutiers, but most people use a car or a transfer.