Imagine waking up to a view of snowed peaks, clean alpine air, and countless opportunities for sporting adventures. It’s Les Menuires, a picturesque gem nestled in the Three Valleys region of the French Alps. Known for its superb skiing, stunning scenery, and unique culture, this mountain is the perfect destination for winter sports adventure enthusiasts. Les Menuires consists of five smaller settlements: Croisette, Brelin, Preyerand, Fontanettes, and Reberty.
However, Les Menuires is not just a ski resort; it is a paradise for thrill seekers, nature lovers, and those looking to escape to a world of snowy bliss. Whether you are a passionate skier, Nordic running enthusiast, mountaineer, trail runner, or hiker, you will find something for yourself here.
In this guide, I will reveal to you the charms of Les Menuires’ nature and how to organize the perfect winter adventure.
Breyers Valley
Les Menuires is not just a ski destination; it is also a peaceful place to stay. It is located at an altitude of 1850m. In addition to the center, there are many food and souvenir shops, as well as restaurants.
We chose this place because, besides the good options for active vacation, it offers a peaceful atmosphere in the evening. We planned our stay from January 10 to 18, 2025, which was an excellent choice. Towards the end of our stay, the snow cover began to decrease.
We booked accommodation in Les Gentianes, located about 1 km from the center of Les Menuires. You can get to the center by bus or on foot along a well-maintained path. The specificity of this place is that all the accommodations are located on the hill. From the Chalet de la Masse valley, there is a free open cable car that you can use to go up or down to the Les Bruyeres valley.
Purchasing ski passes for 3 Vallees
You can download the Les 3 Vallées app for information on purchasing ski passes, as well as the locations of lifts and pistes. Tickets for cable cars and gondolas can be bought for both skiers and hikers. Also, tickets can be purchased through the app itself. You can collect the card from the machine in the center of Les Menuires, in front of the building where ski passes are sold.
There are three options for purchasing a ski pass:
- Ski pass for one day for 64 euros for Les Menuires and 79 euros for all three valleys
- Ski pass for four hours in one day in the amount of 55.50 euros for Les Menuires and 70.50 euros for all three valleys
- Ski pass for two days in the amount of 158 euros for all three valleys
- Ski pass for six days in the amount of 395 euros for all three valleys
Planning hiking routes
Before traveling to France, I reviewed the terrain map and roughly planned the hiking trails. However, I did not make strict plans because the winter conditions for hiking are different.
For the first day, I planned a walk in the valley of Les Menuires to explore the terrain and find hiking trail markers. With 10 minutes of easy walking, you can go downhill from Les Gentianes to the Les Bruyeres valley. In the valley, there are specially arranged and separated paths for pedestrians and Nordic skiers. All trails are well marked, and a map showing all the trails is available.
The groomed trails in the valley for hiking and Nordic skiing are circular and accessible to everyone. They are relatively flat and about 3 km long. Part of the trail runs along the Dorron de Belleville lake and river. This scenery provides a pleasant experience: listening to the stream and enjoying the view of the surrounding snowy hills. Since we were at high altitude, the temperature was below zero. It was fascinating to watch the frozen water droplets as the streams flowed along the trail.
Transportation options
Another interesting feature is the possibility of riding various models of cable cars and gondolas. There are about 160 in total for all the Three Valleys. This variety of lifts and gondolas allows skiers to explore all three valleys: Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, and Les Menuires.
There is a bus service in the Tri-Valley area to Val Thorens, Saint Martin, and Les Menuires. The timetable and stops are on the website LesMenuires.com. To track buses in real-time and view departure schedules, you are recommended to install the Zenbus app. The app is easy to use and shows buses near you.
I was surprised by how physically active people were there. In addition to skiers, you can often see runners and mountaineers. In such an environment, you naturally feel inspired to get outside and be physically active every day.
There is a well-equipped shopping place in Les Menuires, which includes pharmacies, food, and souvenir shops. Given that the Sherpa store is more expensive and has a smaller selection of products, we decided on the Carrefour market.
Since we were based in Les Gentianes, we walked about 1 km to the center of Les Menuires using a well-maintained and relatively flat path.
Preyer and Breyers
After rough planning, I decided on a longer trail for the second day: about 13 km with 270 m of ascent (GPX link). The OsmAnd application helped me plan.
The route starts from Les Gentianes, goes downhill to Preyerand, and returns along the Dorron River to the Breyers Valley.
As for public restrooms at the lifts and trails in Breyers Valley, there is a toilet at the Pointe de la Masse lift. Another toilet option is cafes located along certain trails and summits, which you should research in advance.
Interesting routes can also be found in apps like Wikiloc or Strava. However, they should not be taken seriously because hiking in winter is more demanding due to different conditions.
It is important to note that for winter hiking, you must bring at least 1 liter of water and some snacks. It is also recommended that you consume enough water for rehydration after longer hikes and magnesium.
Reberty
Above the village of Les Gentianes is Reberty, at an altitude of 2000m. This part is recognizable by the fact that the road to the top of Reberty and the ski slope form the shape of a fir tree.
If you start from the village of Les Gentianes (GPX track), the ascent to the top is about 2.5 km long and 260 m uphill. Climbing above the village’s top offers a beautiful view of the lower part of Les Menuires and the surrounding hills.
In the afternoon, we visited the sports center in Les Menuires. This facility offers a spa, swimming pool, and gym. The pool is affordable at 9 euros per person, and the spa facilities are 22.5 euros. To use the locker, you need to deposit 1 euro. Another option is to ask the receptionist for a token so that you can retrieve the key from the inside of the locker.
We chose the pool, which is surrounded by glass, so you can see part of the ski slope and the hills. The pool is 130 cm deep, and the water temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius. The spa center’s content is not better compared to what I am used to in Serbia. However, it is a good option for relaxing the muscles after a day of activity in the snow.
Val Thorens
This day is for a visit to Val Thorens. The bus that goes from Saint Martin to Val Thorens stops at the main station in Les Menuires, opposite the sports center. The bus ride is free and is primarily intended for pedestrians and Nordic skiers.
If you are a skier based in Les Menuires but want to ski in Val Thorens or Saint Marie, you can rent a ski storage space there. That way, you can get to those places by bus as a pedestrian.
The trip to Val Thorens takes about 15 minutes. Val Thorens is located at a higher altitude of 2300m compared to Les Menuires. It is characterized by narrow streets with numerous restaurants and shops. Due to the large number of trails intended for both beginners and advanced skiers and boarders, it is a very popular place.
Val Thorens hiking routes
As for pedestrians, it was possible to walk from the center of Val Thorens to the lower station of the gondola and back uphill. The climb is not easy, but it is accessible compared to other peaks. The trails that I found on the Val Thorens map were not accessible in reality. If you don’t like a longer hike, you can always walk 1 km uphill from the center of Val Thorens to the lookout (trail one on the map).
Although I expected more, after spending three hours in Val Thorens, I decided to return to Les Menuires. Comparing these two places, Les Menuires is a better option for pedestrians, so I finished my daily planned hike there. (GPX track)
While staying in the Three Valleys, the great option is to take your operator’s roaming package so that you have internet everywhere. Another option is to buy a SIM card in Croatia or Slovenia. In the accommodation where we stayed, the internet costs EUR 5 per day, so it was not a useful option.
Purchasing pedestrian passes for 3 Vallees
Unlike the previous days, I set aside this morning for a gondola ride.
Pedestrians have the option to buy a pedestrian pass (ticket) for the gondola ride. Before purchasing a pass, you should pay attention and check which gondolas and cable cars you can ride as a pedestrian.
There are three options for purchasing a gondola ticket if you are a pedestrian:
- The ticket for one ascent is 12 euros
- The ticket for two climbs is 20 euros
- The ticket for the whole day of riding the gondolas in the Three Valleys is 29.50 euros
- You need to buy an all-day pedestrian pass to ride the Pointe de la Masse gondola.
The ticket for the ascent includes a return to the gondola downhill. The plastic card for the gondola ride is not charged; it is only the order of the desired number of rides.
You can order and pay for the card via the 3 Vallées app. The card is picked up at the machine or bought directly from the machine. There is also an option to purchase and collect passes at the ticket office.
Gondola ride Breyers 2
Of the options offered, I decided to take the gondola up to Breyers 2 at an altitude of 2850m. On the way to the top, there is a possibility of getting off at the intermediate station Breyers 1. The drive to Breyers 2 takes about 10 minutes and climbs 1000 m. At the top, there is a wonderful view of the surrounding mountain massifs. On the spot, there is a cafe where you can relax.
One useful piece of information during the stay was that you can pay by card in any place.
Hiking to Montee du sentier Bernadette
After going down in the gondola, I started hiking to the Montee du Sentier Bernadette. From the center of Breyers and back, the total distance is 11 km, with about 300 m of elevation difference (GPX track). The road to the viewpoint is nicely maintained and marked. The real pleasure comes when you reach the part of Berlin with the hotels and take the well-trodden path to the viewpoint. The path from the asphalt is relatively flat, so this route is recommended for everyone.
When you reach the viewpoint, you can rest on a bench. From there, it spreads the view of Les Menuires and the surrounding villages. Since the way back from the viewpoint was downhill, I took the opportunity to run.
For a more comfortable hike, bring trekking or hiking poles and wear well-worn, comfortable, and waterproof shoes.
Lake Lou
One of the attractions of Les Menuires is hiking to Lake Lou from the Breyers Valley. Lake Lou is located at an altitude of 2050m. The entire path to the lake is in the shade, so as soon as you climb a little, it gets cooler. The trail has a climb, and along the way, you can enjoy the view of the surrounding hills. I gave up going to the lake itself because it was quite cold, and I didn’t like that I didn’t see other pedestrians on the way.
After descending into the valley, I decided to try the hiking trail that starts in the valley near the bridge. Although it is not maintained, the trail is relatively good for hiking. However, I didn’t want to push myself too much, so I gave up when, after 1.5 km, a really steep climb started. The path to the lake, which I had originally taken, was better but quite deserted.
Le Bettex
For this day, I planned hills and lengths. When I got down, I continued in the direction of Le Bettex.
I headed downhill towards Saint Martin, which is 5.5 km from Le Bettex. However, I had to return early because I would have to wait two hours for the bus to Les Menuires. You should follow the bus departure schedule so that you don’t have to wait too long for the return transport.
The path from Les Menuires to Le Bettex and Saint Martin is well-maintained and leads downhill along the river. For the return from Le Bettex, I chose a path that goes through the woods on the other side of the river. This path is a little uphill and allows you to avoid going back on the same route with a steeper climb.
Stream Ice Cubes for hydration
The day was significantly warmer, and I didn’t bring more than a liter of water. Eventually, I had to hydrate myself by taking ice cubes from the stream. This is a good option when it’s winter, and you’re left without water.
The entire route that I hiked and ran a little was 16 km with 450 m of ascent. (GPX track)
General impression of Les Menuires
During these six active days, I covered 82 km and 2600 m of altitude difference through hiking and running. Staying at an altitude of 2000 meters is a challenge in itself and has a beneficial effect on health. As I spent an average of 4 hours outdoors every day, I enjoyed nature and silence. The surrounding peaks and the sound of the stream were so soothing. For the first time, I didn’t need to listen to music while training. During our stay, temperatures dropped to -6 degrees and even lower at higher altitudes.
The winter Alps combine harsh but beautiful landscapes. They take your breath away and fill you with gratitude for being there. At the same time, they cause a slight awe for the magnificent views of the surrounding peaks.
Francuska kultura se značajno razlikuje od naše. U početku mi je bilo veoma nezgodno da se prilagodim njihovoj kulturološkoj zatvorenosti, kao i odbijanju da govore engleski jezik. Prvog dana sam shvatila zašto mnogi kažu da su uobraženi, i sama sam upala u zamku da ih ne podnosim. Međutim, važno je biti otvoren i prijateljski nastrojen. Potrudila sam se da pohvatam neke jezičke i kulturološke fore i ponašam se u skladu s “pravilima kuće.” Oko trećeg dana sam se uklopila i uvidela njihovu prijateljsku stranu. Dopada mi se i njihovo promovisanje ekoloških proizvoda i održivog ponašanja.
Finally, the French Alps are a destination that every nature lover should visit and experience. I plan to go back there again one day.
