The Ultimate Guide to Les Menuires Ski Resort France 2023-2024
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Oh the French Alps, you have won our hearts. Throughout the year you go through the seasons and with each season brings a set of unique experiences for us all to enjoy. Hiking the alps through fields of wildflowers in the summer or climbing a Via Ferata and then comes winter offering cosy moments by the fire after a day adventuring on the slopes.
France is home to some of the best ski resorts that offer snow sure conditions throughout the season and an incredible network of pistes and lifts. Les Menuires presents a ski experience that will give you great snow conditions (some of the best we have ever experienced!), many non-skier activities and a great affordable option for many to experience skiing for the first time.
If you’re looking for a resort with a more traditional aesthetic, read our guide to skiing in Megève, or perhaps you want a quieter setting with great winter hikes and the chances to spot wildlife, read our guide to the Jura mountains in France.
This guide will share with you our experience of staying in Les Menuires with what is on offer in terms of skiing or snowboarding, other non-skier activities and useful things to know if you plan to stay in your campervan or motorhome.
Where is Les Menuires Located?
Les Menuires is a ski resort located in the French Western Alps in the 3 Valleys ski area, the largest ski area in the world. Les Menuires is within the Belleville Valley, Savoie region and is situated between neighbouring resorts Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Val Thorens on the D117.
All three neighbouring ski resorts are linked via ski bus and if you purchase a Three Valleys ski pass you are able to ski the whole area. Les Menuires ski resort is close to the Italian border and south of Albertville and Geneva taking around 3 hours to drive from Geneva airport.
What is Les Menuires known for?
The ski resort of Les Menuires was purpose built in the 1960’s as part of the Snow Plan (Plan Neige), as it was seen as a great location for skiing. Les Menuires sits at an elevation of 1850 metres which makes it a high-altitude snow sure ski resort, you are guaranteed snow throughout most of the ski season. The unique and practical architecture makes it a more modern resort in comparison to other nearby traditional resorts such as Megève.
How to get to Les Menuires?
By Air
The nearest airport to Les Menuires is Chambery Airport, which only takes approximately 1.5 hours yet you are limited on the choice of flights. Whereas Geneva airport has more flight options and takes around 3 hours to drive to Les Menuires.
By Private transfer
If you don’t fancy driving up the mountain roads and having to deal with the stress of snow chains or snow socks, although the roads are well-ploughed and gritted, there are other options available to get to Les Menuires. You can book a private shuttle service with various companies including Alps2Alps, Ski-Lifts and Mountain Rescue which provide a door-to-door service to your accommodation.
By Bus
There is also an option to get a bus from the AltiBus service which runs from most nearby airports including Geneva, Chambery and Lyon. It is recommended you book your tickets online in advance. The most expensive option would be to hire a taxi or private minibus to Les Menuires.
By Car/Campervan
We drove our campervan up the windy mountain roads to Les Menuires which took us around an hour from Albertville. Make sure you drive up the D117 from Moûtiers, following the road signs to Les Menuires and do not drive up D96, this route is narrow and not suitable for driving in winter.
If you are driving from Calais, the toll route will take just over 9 hours and the non-toll route takes 13 hours. On our way, we stopped through Belgium, Luxembourg and the Jura mountains. There is an aire which caters for around 80 campervans and facilities include electricity, water and waste disposal at an additional cost (more info in the campervan and motorhome section).
There are car parks in Les Menuires, most of which are free if they are uncovered with covered paid parking in town. Once you are in the resort, you won’t need your car so if you are able to come by public transport or shared transport this would be the best option.
How to get around Les Menuires?
The resort is well connected with many cable cars, lifts, pistes and paths that make the resort easy to get around. One of the highlights and huge positives of this resort is how quick and easy it was to get from one side of the valley to the other, all connected by pistes and cable cars for both skiers and pedestrians. There are also a number of free shuttle buses that run between Les Menuires and Val Thorens; these services run from the local bus station opposite the leisure centre.
All uncovered car parks are free and once you are parked up, you can make your way around the resort either by skiing (the resort is 100% accessible by ski) or use the most of the many free shuttle buses between the different districts within Les Menuires La Croisette, Reberty 1850, Reberty 2000, Les Airelles, Les Fontanettes and Les Bruyères and there are also shuttles that run from the villages including Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Val Thorens.
What to know before visiting Les Menuires?
When driving in France during winter in the Alps you must have one of the following; winter tyres, snow socks or snow chains. This is now a legal requirement when visiting France in snow chain areas which are signposted and is for your own safety and for the safety of others.
The main roads were clear when we visited however, the side roads can get covered in snow and ice especially during heavy snowfall so before you go make sure you know how to fit your snow chains and whether your snow socks fit your tyres.
A useful tool is to check the road conditions for the route to Les Menuires including roadworks, road conditions and whether it recommends snow tyres for a section of road which is very useful to know.
When is the best time to visit Les Menuires?
The weather in Les Menuires ski resort benefits from beautiful snow conditions throughout the ski season, you can’t go wrong when you visit. The benefit of a high-altitude resort such as Les Menuires is that there is guaranteed snow during the season and is considered a snow-sure resort.
However, if you are able to travel outside of the school holidays then the best time to visit is recommended in March and April where you’ll enjoy warmer weather and fewer people on the slopes.
Before planning you’re trip, we’d recommend checking the snow forecast website which is a useful tool for looking at current and forecast predictions for Les Menuires.
What is it like to Ski or Snowboard in Les Menuires ski resort?
Les Menuires is part of the Trois Vallées ski area which has over 600 km of pistes, making it one of the largest ski areas in the world! Les Menuires ski area has 160 km of slopes and has many areas to cater to all abilities including dedicated beginner slopes to fun areas designed for everyone to enjoy.
The lowest part of the resort sits at 1800 metres which guarantees snow throughout the winter season. Les Menuires has the great advantage of easy access to both sides of the valley, offering you the chance to enjoy sun-kissed slopes throughout the entire day.
The ski season dates for Les Menuires resort typically open from the beginning of December into late April.
We hired our snowboarding gear from Intersport Preyerand in Les Menuires, it’s worth noting if you are hiring gear that they close from 12:30pm to 3:30pm most days apart from Friday when they reopen at 2pm and are open until 7pm for you to return your gear.
The ski season for Les Menuires resort opens from the beginning of December into late April, for the 2023/2024 season, it will be open from 9th December 2023 until 19th April 2024.
Les Menuires ski resort is beginner-friendly with many easy slopes and has marked Easy Rider routes for you to enjoy. If you are a beginner skier we would recommend booking a ski lesson with ESF Les Menuires who will boost your confidence and skills in no time!
Check the live Les Menuires webcams to see the real-time snow conditions and help you plan your day exploring the slopes. It’s also worth checking the snow forecast for the predicted weather during your stay.
How Expensive is LEs Menuires Resort?
The ski season for Les Menuires resort opens from the beginning of December into late April, where a day pass for Les Menuires is from €48-€60/£40-52 depending on the dates. The ski pass for Les Menuires also includes the Saint-Martin-de-Belleville area and for 3 Vallées is from €60 to €75/£52-£65.
For beginners, there is an Easy Rider pass which can only be purchased at ski pass sales desks in the resort and costs €33, giving you access to lovely gentle slopes to practice your skills.
There are options to get reduced rates if you purchase your one-day lift pass online on Saturdays and the resort offers discounts for groups of 3 or more people and families.
For rental gear, a snowboarding pack from Intersport costs on average €26-€30/£23-26 per day which includes boots, a helmet and board. They offer discounts for rentals that are longer than 5 days and you can expect to pay around €190/£165 for a whole week.
Les Menuires is a great option for those on a budget, with affordable ski passes and rental gear options in addition to the range of self-catering accommodations, making it one of the most affordable resorts in the Three Valleys ski area.
We stayed in the campervan Aire and it was only a 5 minute walk to the nearest cable car which takes you up to the La Croisette area and the central part of the resort. One of our favourites was to start the morning catching Boulevard de la Masse. This run leads to the recently opened Pointe de la Masse cable car which climbs 1000 metres in 8 minutes and the sun hits this side of the valley in the morning making it the ideal spot to start your day. At the top, you’ll find an impressive viewing platform and we really enjoyed the views from Bouquetin, a blue run that connects to the Vallons run into the valley.
The snow conditions in Les Menuires were perfect, some of the best we’ve ever snowboarded in and can understand why people return year after year. In the afternoon we’d recommend you catch the cable car up Roc 1 and Roc 2 to 3 Marches at 2704 metres and make your way down one of the many runs as the sun hits this side of the valley in the afternoon.
If you’re looking for an apres-ski spot, head to Roc Seven, you’ll find a great atmosphere and every day at 2pm there is live music and performers with amazing views over the valley. If you’re looking for good food, Roc Seven serves Italian food and we would recommend the pizzas.
What non-skier activities are there in Les Menuires?
Le Break Centre Sportif
After a day adventuring on the slopes, head to Le Break leisure centre for some ultimate relaxation time. Le Break is located in La Croisette, opposite the main bus station in Les Menuires. The main swimming pool has wonderful views of the mountains and as it gets dark you can watch the snow groomers getting the slopes ready for the next day. Facilities also include a spa area for those aged 16 years and over, with a hammam, saunas, jacuzzis and a relaxing area. The swimming pool is open every day from 11:30 am till 8 pm and the spa is open at the same time but stays open until 8:45 pm.
Roc’n’Bob Sledging
A unique experience where you can slide down the mountain in a toboggan over 4 km of slopes where you have to quickly master how to turn around hairpin bends. Bring your own helmet or you will be provided with a helmet before catching the Roc 1 chairlift to the top of the starting line. The Roc’n’Bob experience only allows children over the age of 7 to participate.
Luge Toboggan
If the Roc’n’Bob is a bit outside your comfort zone or you have children under 7 years old, or you just enjoy a bit more control then the luge will be great fun. On the luge, your cart will be fixed on rails and will take you to the top where you’ll glide down the mountain at speed depending on how often you use the breaks. This was one of the best luges we’ve experienced with some great twists and turns.
Ski patrol experiences
Les Menuires ski resort makes safety their top priority and they offer unique ski patrol experiences separately for both children and adults where you can learn everything that the ski patrol staff have to consider. Children have the chance to ride mini snowmobiles and snow groomers and experience helicopter simulators. For the Adults, it's a hands-on experience where you learn what to do in the case of an avalanche, helping the dog rescue team find the casualty and once they are recovered you will watch a helicopter take them to safety.
Where are the best places to eat in LES MENUIRES?
Roc Seven
Opened in 2019, Roc Seven is perfectly located on the slopes at 2300 metres which makes it the highest Italian restaurant in the 3 Vallées. Roc Seven is a great lunch spot to break up your day on the mountain where they serve delicious Italian cuisine, including lasagne and pizza. Every day at 2 pm there is live music and everyone enjoys a great apres ski atmosphere with some spectacular views across the valley.
Is Les Menuires an eco-friendly resort?
In May 2022, Les Menuires was awarded the Flocon Vert label which shows their commitment to sustainable initiatives and it was one of the first resorts to publish its carbon footprint. This is a great achievement and Les Menuires has been working hard on transport and waste management to receive this recognition.
Some of the ways they are continuing to reduce their impact on the environment include; training snow groomers to reduce energy consumption by driving efficiently, ski lifts powered by hydroelectricity and working to set up green corridors for wildlife.
Where to stay near Les Menuires?
Les Menuires offers budget-friendly options for accommodation, making it more accessible than many other resorts. There are also 4 star hotels, with some recently opened if you are looking for a spot of luxury.
Campervans and Motorhomes in LES MENUIRES
The camping Aire in Les Menuires is in a great location, as it is a paid Aire you access it by entering your vehicle registration and the machine will give you a ticket with a code. Make sure to keep this safe as you will need it for when you leave as that is when you will pay at the barrier. The Les Menuires Aire has Flot Bleu facilities which costs €2 to fill up water which lasts 20 minutes and also allows you to empty your toilet waste.
The cost per night is €11, which is an affordable price considering you are located next to the slopes. If you need electricity there are seven terminals which cost €2 euros for every 4 hours of electricity. We had an issue with our terminal, it stopped working before the end for the amount we had paid. If this happens you can contact the service provider to have the terminal looked at and fixed.
The location is fantastic, right next to the slopes with chair lifts in walking distance, we would suggest that you have diesel or gas heating that works at high altitudes without having to rely on the electricity metres if possible.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to Les Menuires and if you’re looking at what other ski resorts are like read our Megève, Jura mountains and Tignes guides for more information.
