The Three Valleys is the world's largest ski area at 600km. Les Menuires alone has 240km of blues — a staggering intermediate paradise at the heart of the Alps.
Les Menuires is the most underrated resort in the Three Valleys for intermediate skiers. Of its 87 runs, 47% are blue — one of the highest blue-run ratios of any major resort in the 3 Vallées. The resort officially names three legendary blues: Bouquetin in the Masse sector (top of one of the fastest cable cars in France, climbing 1,050m in 8 minutes), Roc des 3 Marches on Mont de la Chambre (wide, sunny, good snow quality — a bit steep at the start), and Jerusalem in the Saint-Martin-de-Belleville sector (easy, undulating, panoramic, ends in a traditional Savoyard village).
The resort carries the Famille Plus and Flocon Vert sustainability labels. From Geneva Airport: 2h30 by car on the A40 then A43, exit Moûtiers — closer than you think for a resort at the heart of the world's largest ski area.
Blue runs (12) tap any run to zoom in on map
Easy Blue Blue Blue+ (tough)
Preyerand Gondola
The Preyerand Gondola departs from the centre of Les Menuires village. La Violette runs from the gondola's top station back down to the village — entirely above the treeline with the full Belleville Valley spread below you.
Long, sweeping, almost flat in places. The perfect first-day run — wide as a motorway with incredible alpine views and never intimidating.
Méribel Express
On the Méribel side of the Three Valleys — you reach it by skiing over the ridge from Les Menuires (about 20 min ski). The Méribel Express chair sits at the valley floor between Les Menuires and Méribel.
Consistently pitched Méribel-sector cruiser with great valley views. One of the Three Valleys' best blues for pure rhythm and flow.
Cime de Caron
In the Val Thorens sector — the highest ski area in Europe. The Cime de Caron cable car is in Val Thorens, about 30 min ski from Les Menuires. At 3,200m you're well above everything — genuinely high-alpine terrain.
Top intermediate run in Val Thorens — long descents with high-alpine views above the treeline. Go early for untouched corduroy.
3 Marches Chair
On the Méribel side, below the 3 Marches ridge that separates Méribel from Les Menuires. Runs down toward the Altiport — Méribel's old airport (now just a flat field visible from the piste).
A Méribel local favourite. Perfect pitch, reliably groomed. The kind of run you lap until your legs give out.
Mont de la Chambre chairlift
Mont de la Chambre sits on the ridge linking Les Menuires with Val Thorens. Take the Mont de la Chambre chairlift from Les Menuires and you are on a high-altitude plateau with views across both resorts. The blue run descends back toward Les Menuires across open, wide terrain.
Les Menuires officially calls this 'a wide blue slope with good orientation for sunshine and good snow quality.' Official caveat: 'be careful at the beginning of the slope, which is a bit steep' — worth heeding for nervous skiers. After the top section opens out it is a genuinely wide, sunny blue perfect for afternoon runs. Ideal for families and for making the most of the last slope of the day to enjoy the sunset over the Three Valleys.
Saint-Martin gondola (Saint-Martin-de-Belleville village)
Saint-Martin-de-Belleville is an old Savoyard village in the same valley as Les Menuires — the Belleville Valley — sitting about 10 minutes down the road at 1,450m. It has its own gondola (the Saint-Martin telecabine) and connects directly into the Les Menuires and 3 Vallées ski area at the top. Far fewer people than Les Menuires itself. Jerusalem is a blue run that winds through the terrain above the village with views down the valley.
Described by the Les Menuires resort itself as 'an iconic blue slope that is quite easy and undulating with a breathtaking panorama — for those who want to linger while enjoying the view and the peace of the mountain.' The village of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville below is one of the most beautiful traditional Savoyard villages in the Alps. The run ends right in the village, which feels like a reward for skiing there.
3 Marches chairlift (Les Menuires upper mountain)
The 3 Marches chairlift sits at 2,704m on the ridge between Les Menuires and Méribel. From the top, a long blue run descends all the way to Saint-Martin-de-Belleville in the valley at 1,450m — over 1,250m of vertical on a consistently gentle blue. You end up in the charming old village with its church and stone houses, a world away from the purpose-built resort above.
One of the longest top-to-bottom easy blues in the 3 Vallées — 1,250m of vertical on a gentle, wide piste. The descent to Saint-Martin is gradual and beautiful. Take the Saint-Martin gondola back up or continue exploring the village.
Bruyères chairlift (Les Menuires main area)
The Bruyères chairlift is right in the main Les Menuires ski bowl, easily accessed from the resort base. The blue run here is wide, consistently gentle, and used by ski schools every morning. A perfect starting point for the day before heading to the higher blues.
The easiest and most accessible run in Les Menuires — a consistent gentle blue that you'll find yourself lapping for a warm-up every morning. Wide enough to ski side by side with friends and reliably well-groomed from first thing.
Lac Noir chairlift (upper Les Menuires)
The Lac Noir chairlift takes you to the higher part of the Les Menuires ski area at around 2,400m. The blue run from here descends across open terrain above the main resort bowl with views down the entire Belleville valley toward the valley floor.
A step up from the village-level blues — at 2,400m you get genuinely alpine terrain with far-reaching views. The gradient is still very manageable but the scale of the landscape is completely different from the runs at the bottom. Worth doing on a clear day purely for the view.
Roc des 3 Marches chairlift (high Les Menuires)
The Roc des 3 Marches area is at the top of the Les Menuires ski area, linking toward Méribel. The Renard (fox) blue run descends from this high area back toward Les Menuires with good length and excellent views. Named after the foxes occasionally spotted on the higher slopes.
A satisfying longer blue that lets you really get into a rhythm. The Roc des 3 Marches area is worth exploring for its linking potential — you can connect to Méribel from here on blue terrain and return via the Saint-Martin valley.
Granges chairlift (Les Menuires lower area)
Les Granges is in the lower part of the Les Menuires ski area, close to the base. The Granges chairlift is one of the first lifts visible from the resort base. The run winds through open terrain and light forest back to the bottom of the resort.
The most accessible run in Les Menuires for building confidence at the start of a trip. Lower altitude means it's the first to open in the morning and the last to get icy. A good choice on colder mornings before heading higher.
Masse cable car (from Les Menuires)
La Masse is Les Menuires' highest point at 2,804m, reached by the Masse cable car from the resort base. From the summit, a blue run descends across the high mountain terrain with views spanning the entire Three Valleys ski area — on a clear day you can see from Courchevel to Val Thorens.
One of Les Menuires' three legendary blues. The official resort description: 'a blue slope to be enjoyed without restraint after having taken one of the fastest cable cars in France, which allows you to climb 1,050 metres in 8 minutes.' The Masse cable car is genuinely fast — you gain 1,050m of vertical in under 10 minutes, landing at 2,804m with panoramic views over the Belleville valley. The Bouquetin run then descends from this summit level in a wide, confident arc. From the top you can see into the Parc National de la Vanoise — the resort notes you can spot bouquetins (Alpine ibex) on the surrounding peaks. Suitable for families and groups wanting a genuine high-altitude run.
Les Menuires is the best-value entry point to the Three Valleys — purpose-built but renovated, with excellent slope access and far lower prices than Courchevel or Méribel.
Family resort · Best value in Three Valleys · Easy slope access
Les Menuires offers the Three Valleys' best value — book ski-in/ski-out and you'll have 600km on your doorstep.
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