Getting from Meribel to Val T

Hi Guys,
Little bit of advice if I may. Last time I was in Meribel, I didn't manage to get to VT only Courchevel, La Thania and Mont Vallon. The day we tried there were lift closures due to high winds so we didn't risk it.

Question is how easy is it? How many lifts etc. How long does it take? - is it worth the effort? etc, I seem to remember being so impressed with Courchevel last time that we skied most days over there but obviously going back this Feb, I thought it's got to be worth trying to get to VT just to see it?

Any comments very gratefully received.

Getting over to Val Thorens from Meribel isn't difficult, several routes over, some you pass through Les menuires but you can get directly to Val Thorens.
Is it worth the effort? That depends on what you like to ski. It is a very open and exposed ski area, so can be much colder and windier than Courchevel, and quite bleak.
But being generally high holds the good snow, for me this is the attraction. Late season spring skiing when Meribel valley is full of flowers brings out the best in Val Thorens.

For me the hidden gem of the whole Val Thorens valley is Pointe De la Masse above les Menuires. I love this mountain, good skking, generally much quieter than the rest of the valley as it is not on a route to anywhere and holds the snow well due to its aspect.
La Masse is well worth the effort in my view, whereas fighting all the way to the Cime de Carron may not be.
Hope this helps.

Kempojj,
I've stayed in VT for two ski holidays, and Courchevel for one. VT definitely has much better quality snow (not artificial, icy, or slushy) but Courchevel is much more sheltered and it's nice ski-ing past trees. I found the runs longer in VT but in Courchevel there are more branches off and it's really well sign posted so there are lots of minor different routes to the various villages (which are also connected by the free ski bus).

We skied over from VT to Courchevel in a group lesson when I was only a lower intermediate (couldn't do blacks then) and it wasn't too difficult. So if you're only going from Meribel you should manage it easily.

Overall, we preferred Courchevel (which is why we're going back there) and last time we didn't bother to go over to Meribel because there was so much to ski in the Courchevel area itself and we didn't have to worry about the links closing.

If you get stuck in VT because the links close, I'm pretty sure there is a (paying) bus back to Meribel. When we were in VT all the lifts completely closed on our last day, because of the wind, and the tourist board was advising that there were public buses over to Courchevel, which was still open, although I would think it would be quite a long journey.

Ally

Hi getting over to VT is very easy from Mottaret take the Plattierrs gondala get off at Plattierrs 2 (not the top)
Head left to the Cote Brunne Chair,then ski direct down to VT .
To get back take 3 Valleys 1 Chair, then Bouquetin gondala then ski back to Meribel. Lift time about 40 min each way.
Goff

) Thanks Guys - Much Appreciated.

OldAndy wrote:
For me the hidden gem of the whole Val Thorens valley is Pointe De la Masse above les Menuires. I love this mountain, good skking, generally much quieter than the rest of the valley as it is not on a route to anywhere and holds the snow well due to its aspect.
La Masse is well worth the effort in my view, whereas fighting all the way to the Cime de Carron may not be.
Hope this helps.

Id have to agree with this statement. I really enjoyed skiing La Masse in the mornings with the sunshine on our faces... Im going back to Val thorens on the 29th jan and this yr i was wanting to ski over the back of La Masse, have you ever done this and if so where does it finish?

Thanks

crispyapplepie wrote:

OldAndy wrote:
For me the hidden gem of the whole Val Thorens valley is Pointe De la Masse above les Menuires. I love this mountain, good skking, generally much quieter than the rest of the valley as it is not on a route to anywhere and holds the snow well due to its aspect.
La Masse is well worth the effort in my view, whereas fighting all the way to the Cime de Carron may not be.
Hope this helps.

Id have to agree with this statement. I really enjoyed skiing La Masse in the mornings with the sunshine on our faces... Im going back to Val thorens on the 29th jan and this yr i was wanting to ski over the back of La Masse, have you ever done this and if so where does it finish?

Thanks

Sorry can't help with that - I know over the back is the Maurienne Valley and there is a lift back up to above Val Thorens but I haven't ventured further than the Masse pisted area .

no problem, i'll create a new post im sure someone will know.