Overview of Valloire & Valmeinier
Although it boasts 150km of pristine slopes, stunning scenery, charming villages and affordable prices, Valloire and Valmeinier in the Maurienne Valley remains somewhat unknown to British skiers and this makes the region a hidden gem. It is somewhat overshadowed by its neighbours, but for those seeking new pastures and more affordable skiing – Maurienne Valley could be your answer.
Galibier-Thabor now refers to the resorts of both Valloire and Valmeinier and the 2 symbolic peaks of the region.
OVERVIEW OF SKI RESORTS
Valloire
Overview of Valloire
Spread out across the Maurienne Valley is Valloire; a spectacular and traditional old French village with great intermediate skiing, plenty of off-piste options, a terrain park and excellent accommodation. You can also find a lot of action away from the slopes, or simply enjoy sitting back and soaking up the unique atmosphere found here. It is one of France’s original resorts and therefore it retains a traditional and authentic charm.
It shares slopes with Valmeinier, ensuring that there is a wide variety of runs which cater to all standards.
Best for:
- Families
- Beginners
- Intermediate
- Snowboarders
Piste Guide
There are three linked sectors at Valloire: Les Vernays, Setaz (both to the south) and Crey du Quart (eastwards) which links to the slopes of Valmeinier found in the next valley. This linked section is known as Domaine Galibier-Thabor.
It is a great place to come for beginners, with a choice of excellent ski schools, nursery slopes and an enormous selection of easy slopes for you to graduate onto when you have grasped the basics. Intermediates, meanwhile, will enjoy Domaine Galibier-Thabor with 150km of trails, including thrilling long reds on the dividing mountain ridge by Crey du Quart. There are nine black runs which are spread across the region for expert skiers, plus terrific off-piste terrain which can be tackled with a guide.
Facilities
A big part of Valloire’s appeal is the array activities and facilities off the slopes. Here you will find a cinema, ice rink, ice and snow sculpture competitions and bowling. It is also a great place for animal lovers, with milk and cheese farms, llama treks, donkey rides, sleigh rides and dog sledding.
Après
Valloire is not a party resort, but there are a handful of charming pubs, bars and two nightclubs. A few favourites include Pub l’Atelier, which sometimes has live music, and Bar Centrale. There is also a fun bowling alley, The Mafayo, which has six lanes, pool tables, karaoke and themed evenings (open until 2am). For night owls, Le Slalom/Odyssee nightclub will fulfil your needs and stays open late.
Although there is not much of a bar culture here, there is a superb dining scene with dozens of excellent restaurants. There is a heavy focus on French mountain cuisine, with La Poutre being a must-visit (especially for its speciality dish – “The Gallows”). With Italy just a few miles away, La Pizza is just one of the popular Italian eateries that comes recommended.
VALMEINIER
Overview of Valmeinier
Located at 1500m, Valmeinier is a relatively new resort, ensuring that the facilities are attractive and well-laid out without ugly concrete blocks. It features varied skiing (largely geared towards beginners and intermediates) thanks to its links with Valloire, plus a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in the resort with its agricultural and mining roots. It is also highly affordable in comparison to many other resorts, all without compromising on quality or experience on and off the slopes.
Best for:
- Families
- Beginners
- Intermediate
- Experts
- Low Cost
Piste Guide
Beginners will adore Valmeinier and they are sure to progress here thanks to over 20 novice runs, special beginner slopes, a top ski school and nearly half the entire area being ranked ‘easy’.
Intermediates will also love skiing here, with 75 trails rated easy to intermediate and plenty of long runs. The resorts provide itineraries for the area which are highly recommended. You can ski to Valloire and back with a number of runs; there is great variety, whether challenging you in terms of speed or technique.
Advanced skiers will not have as much to sink their teeth into, but there are nine black trails, a mogul field and an enormous amount of freeriding which is very popular here.
Snowboarders will also feel welcome at Valmeinier thanks to a top terrain park and tuition for novices.
Facilities
Valmeinier has many great family-friendly activities, including bowling, ice skating, dog sledding and sledging. Snowshoeing is very popular and a great way to explore the area and feel at one with nature. There are different hikes on offer including the exhilarating “Meet the Wolves” tour at night, complete with night vision binoculars.
Après
There is not the liveliest après scene at Valmeinier as it is more targeted towards families, but there are a few places to head to for a great evening. The scene is largely found at 1800, where there is a cluster of pubs, a club and many restaurants. Aux Lutins Verts is a popular choice with live music and a welcoming atmosphere, whilst the Lebowski Bowling Bar has bowling, arcade games, table football and resident DJs.
Food-wise, French and Italian cuisine dominates and there are some superb places to visit. This includes L’Estaminet for exquisite French dishes and Le Marmiton, for great kids’ options and a friendly atmosphere.
How to Get to Valloire & Valmeinier
The region can be reached from a number of airports and it will not take you too long to arrive. The closest is Chambéry (CMF), which is 110km away or 1 hour and 20 minutes from the resorts. The next closest airports are Lyon (LYS) and Geneva (GVA) at 190km, meaning that it will take around 2 hours to arrive from either. Grenoble (GRN) is another option at 199km, taking approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes to arrive.
To ensure that you reach the region in these times and for a stress-free experience, it is recommended to book a transfer with Shuttle Direct. In addition to a quick and efficient onwards journey, they can also transport your ski equipment for no additional charge.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is a leading provider of transfers across Europe from airports, cruise ports, hotels and train stations. They also have extensive experience in winter ski transfers in the Alps.
In the French Alps their range of transfer options from Geneva (GVA), Chambery (CMF), Grenoble (GNB) and Lyon (LYS) airports can accommodate all group sizes and budgets.
Book today for a professional, reliable and affordable transfer to your destination.
