Planning to ski from Courchevel to Val Thornes?
Or maybe you’re going in the other direction and wonder how long it takes.
Well, the good news is you can easily ski between the two resorts with a Three Valleys lift pass. You can ski the whole ski area from end to end, only unclipping for the odd gondola ride.
Below we will look at how to make the journey, including the lifts and runs, how long it takes, and what to look out for.
How to Ski from Courchevel to Val Thorens
It takes 4 lifts to access Val Thorens from the snow front in Courchevel 1850. You will be skiing a big distance as you will need to pass through Meribel on your route.
From Courchevel 1850, start by taking the Verdons gondola, followed by the Saulire cable car. This takes you to the top of Saulire, the mountain between Courchevel and Meribel.
From here, you need to ski down into Meribel Mottaret. Keep right as you ski from the top. You’ll see a big rock with a Meribel sign on it. Once you pass this, you’ll enter the Meribel valley. Keep left and follow the signs to Mottaret on the Marcassin red piste.
Once you arrive in Mottaret, unclip your skis and take the Plattieres gondola. Stay right when you ski away from the top of the lift. This takes you to the Cote Brune chairlift. From the top of this chairlift, you can ski straight down into the Val Thorens town, just follow the signposts.
The total journey time is around 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your ski ability.
Lifts to take:
- Verdons Gondola
- Saulire Cable Car
- Plattieres Gondola
- Cote Brune Chairlift
How to Ski from Val Thorens to Courchevel
To ski from the centre of Val Thorens to Courchevel 1850 it takes 4 or 5 ski lifts. This is a long ski route as you need to pass through the Meribel Valley before arriving in Courchevel.
From the Val Thorens town, take either the Pionniers or Plein Sud chairlift. Follow this with the 3 Vallees chairlift or gondola.
At the top of these lifts, you will be able to ski over the ridge and down into the Meribel valley. Stay right and take the Lac de la Chambre blue run. This long-run ends up at the Plan des Mains chairlift. You can take this lift and ski down another blue into Mottaret. Or continue onto the Ours green run, which arrives at the same point in Mottaret.
In Meribel Mottaret, take the Pas du Lac gondola to the top. Don’t get off at the mid station. From the top of this lift, ski lift down the Combes de Saulire red run. This takes you straight to Courchevel 1850, plus you can continue to 1550 and Le Praz.
If you want to access Courchevel 1650, you’ll need to take the Creux blue run, followed by the Roc Mugnier chairlift.
Lifts to Take:
- Pionniers / Plein Sud
- 3 Vallees chair or gondola
- Plan Des Mains / Ours green run
- Pas Du Lac
Overall the ski takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your ability. Often it can take longer at the end of the day. The pistes get bumpy, and your legs are tired. Be sure to be back in the right valley before the last lift leaves! It’s a long taxi drive from Val T to Courch!
How Long to Ski From Val Thorens to Courchevel?
It can take anywhere between 40 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes to ski between Val Thorens and Courchevel.
The quickest skiers and snowboarders can make the journey in less than 1 hour when the pistes are groomed, and lifts are quiet. It can take a lot longer during peak weeks when lift queues become long. The lifts that link the Three Valleys together are always busiest! Plus, less competent or slower skiers will take longer to descend. Often you will be skiing from the top of the mountain down into a ski resort, there are some long runs to tackle.
Most people take their time to ski between the two as they are at opposite ends of the ski area. It makes for a great day out to explore far and wide, just don’t leave it too late to get back home in the afternoon.
What Lift Pass Do You Need?
To ski from Courchevel to Val Thorens, you will need a Three Valleys lift pass. This gives you access to all of the 160+ ski lifts in the area.
Check what lift pass you have, if you have a Courchevel only or Val Thorens only pass you will need to upgrade. Accidentally skiing into the wrong valley without a full pass will require you to pay a one-time fee to get back.
Required Skiing Ability
It is a long ski between the two resorts. You should ensure everyone in your group is comfortable on a blue run and can tackle the odd red slopes. (It is possible to do it completely on blue runs).
In addition, plan ahead. Your group might ski quicker in the morning when everyone has lots of energy, and the pistes are nicely groomed. Weaker skiers can struggle in the afternoon as they get tired and the pistes get bumpy. You don’t want to miss the last lift link.
The trip is not suitable for beginner skiers.
Can You Drive or Take a Bus?
Yes, you can drive between Courchevel and Val Thorens but it is a long journey. It can take well over an hour. You need to drive all the way down the mountain road to Moutiers before driving back up to Courchevel.
There is no public bus or ski bus to travel this journey. The easiest way is to pay for a taxi if you miss the last ski lift. This will be expensive and can cost hundreds of euros.
How to Ski from Courchevel to Val Thorens Summary
Skiing between Courchevel and Val Thornes makes for an awesome day out.
It allows you to explore the Three Valley ski area far and wide. Along your journey you’ll climb to the top of Saulire, explore the sunny Meribel slopes, and enjoy endlessly long runs. For added enjoyment, track your ski stats on your favourite ski app.
You should be aware that it takes an hour or more to take the trip, so give yourself plenty of time to get there and back. Be careful if the weather is bad and the wind is strong as this can close the lift links, so look out for weather warnings at the bottom of linking ski lifts.
