5 Things That Annoy Me When Skiing in Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées

It’s 11:45 a.m., the sun is shining on the peaks of the 3 Vallées, and the slopes are magnificent. I’ve just completed a few great runs near Courchevel, and I’m already starting to think about lunch. I’ve spotted a restaurant that looks tempting, my friends are waiting for me near Méribel, and I’d love to take a little detour to Orelle before heading back to my resort. In short, a great day of skiing ahead… as long as I don’t spend all my time trying to find my way!

I love exploring new areas, improvising a run, and letting the resort surprise me. Heading from Courchevel to Méribel, pushing on to Les Menuires, or heading to Val Thorens to enjoy a different view. But between the runs that all look alike, meeting up with friends, and planning out routes, the day can sometimes turn into an orienteering race.

Fortunately, The Les 3 Vallées app offers a new route-planning feature. I choose my destination, and the app guides me based on my skill level and which trails and lifts are open.

The goal? To spend less time figuring out where I’m going and more time enjoying the mountains. Here are the 5 situations I could finally do without!

It’s almost noon, my legs are starting to get tired, and my stomach is growling. I’ve spotted a place near Courchevel that looks tempting: Il Rifugio, for an Italian-style break between runs. Pizza, pasta, or Italian specialties… on paper, I like it all. All that’s left is to get to my destination.

Which trail should I take? Which lift should I choose? Can I get there directly from where I am? Here I am, standing on the side of the trail with the trail map in my hands, while my friends start arguing over who promised to find the restaurant.

With the route feature, accessible from the interactive map in the Les 3 Vallées app, I choose my destination and view the suggested route based on my skill level and which trails and lifts are open. No more need to take all those detours. I can finally focus on the real questions: pizza or pasta? And most importantly, should we get dessert?

“Let’s meet at the bottom of the red run!” On paper, it couldn’t be simpler. Except that everyone seems to have their own idea of which red run we’re talking about. Before long, the WhatsApp group is in a panic: “Where are you?”, “I’m at the bottom!” “Yeah, but at the bottom of which run?” And while we’re trying to find each other, the minutes tick by and the day of skiing goes on without us!

Between Courchevel and the other resorts in the 3 Vallées, the ski area is huge. There’s plenty to do to enjoy a great day at your own pace, but you still have to make sure you end up in the right place!

With the Les 3 Vallées app, I can select my destination and view the route to get there. It's handy when you're exploring an area you're not very familiar with or when you want to meet up with friends at a specific location.

That's often how the best days on the slopes begin: a run that catches my eye, a peak I've never reached before, or the desire to explore a different slope.

From Courchevel, I can set out to explore the summit of Chanrossa or La Saulire, head to Méribel, or continue on to the Belleville Valley. There are so many possibilities! But once I’m on the slopes, I sometimes find myself hesitating at a junction: which way should I go to reach my destination? Will I end up taking a detour? And most importantly, is the route suitable for my skill level?

From now on, using the Les 3 Vallées app, I choose my destination and look up a route that's suitable for my skill level, taking into account which trails and ski lifts are open. That should let me venture a little further without spending all my time trying to find my way!

We've all been there: I stop at the side of the trail, pull out my map, and try to figure out where I am and which way to go… Five minutes later, I'm still looking for the right route!

Between the intersecting trails, the ski lifts I have to hop between, and the different sectors of the 3 Vallées, I can quickly lose track of where I am. Even in Courchevel, between Les Chenus, La Saulire, and the connections to the other valleys, it’s not always easy to know which way to go.

Luckily, the Les 3 Vallées app makes my life easier: I choose my destination and let it guide me to the right spot. It's also convenient for getting to a first-aid station, a picnic area, or restrooms! This makes it easier to find your way around and enjoy the resort to the fullest, without wasting time looking at the trail map.

It's 3:00 p.m. The snow is still beautiful; I'm having a great time and tell myself I've earned one last run. Except that one little detail suddenly pops into my head: I have to go home!

When you’re exploring Les 3 Vallées, you can quickly find yourself far from your starting resort. You set out from Courchevel 1850, head to Méribel, get tempted by a run over in the Belleville area… and suddenly realize it’s time to think about heading back. Which lift should I take? Am I going the right way? Will I be able to get back to my resort before it closes? These are all questions that can quickly ruin the final runs if you haven't planned your return in advance.

With the Les 3 Vallées app, I can select Courchevel as my destination and view the suggested route based on my skill level and which slopes and lifts are open.

This makes it easier to plan your return trip and enjoy the end of the day with greater peace of mind. Because ending your day by searching for a taxi to get home is a great way to find out how much a ride in the mountains costs—but not so great for your vacation budget!

Let’s be honest: no app can replace the joy of discovering a new trail around a bend, stopping to take in a panoramic view of the 3 Vallées, or following your friends down a beautiful run. But if I can avoid unnecessary detours and hesitation at intersections, I’ll take it!

With the app's new interactive map and route feature, I can find my way around more easily and make the most of my day on the slopes. In short, less time figuring out where to go, more time having fun!