RECOMMENDED SKI ITINERARIES FROM MARMALADE

Welcome to the Three Valleys! We want you to get the very best out of this absolutely epic ski terrain. Whether you’re a first-timer, regular or seasonnaire there is always so much more you can experience here. We can guarantee you will never tire of skiing here, but to help deliver on this promise we want to share with you some of the Three Valleys best kept secrets. That’s why we’ve called upon our friends at the fabulous Marmalade Ski School to give our guests expert and exclusive ski itineraries for you to enjoy. Sssssh it’s our secret…

MARMA-LAD INSTRUCTOR – Greg’s ski to late lunch with plenty of miles and vertical! 

• From the Chaudanne take the new Legends chairlift and scoot across to Tougnette 2. Warm up along the Cretes then down the blue Jerusalem to the bottom of St Martin 2 lift, heading up to rejoin the top of the Tougnette.

• Head down to Granges chair and up to the top. Take Alouette and ski down to the bottom of Mont Vallon. Up to the top of Mont Vallon in the gondola, then take the brilliantly long Combe du Vallon all the way to Mures Rouges chair. Up this chairlift then straight up the next which is Plan des Mains. And then straight up next lift which is the Bouquetin chair.

• From here head down Allemands to the Mont de la Chambre lift. Up here to the top Côté Brune then down the blue run Mont de la Chambre. Jump onto the Chasse run and follow this to a late lovely Chez Pepe lunch!

MARMA-LAD INSTRUCTOR – Quentin’s choice for a full days ski on a nice sunny and fine day for intermediate skier (blues and easy reds).

• Take the F&P  bus to the Chaudanne for first lifts.

• Get the Saulire Express lift and head to the top soaking up the beautiful view and get a picture with the gorilla (if he’s still there!). Head down Creux to warm up the legs, hopefully a wonderful corduroy run. Go to the very bottom and take the Roc Mougnier lift on the right, heading to Courchevel 1650, take the Ariondaz, followed by the Marquis to the very bottom.

• Get the Ariondaz bubble back up to go to the Bel Air restaurant for a yummy hot chocolate or coffee before the first red of the day.

• Take the red Bel Air down to Chapelets chairlift, take the chair and then take the nice red down to the left called Chapelets. Re-take the lift, but this time turn off to the right taking the blue Gentiane. N.B: Avoid the red run Roc Mugnier as this is always icy.

• You will end up at the bottom where you can now take the chairlift Aiguille du Fruit. At the top go right on the Courchevel Altiport blue run to the Cave Des Creux restaurant for a 1pm lunch (pre-booking is a must).

• After a delicious lunch, a full belly and slightly tired legs head down to the bottom of Pralong chairlift, take the lift, and then do the nice and wide Biollay all the way down to Courchevel 1850. Go through the tunnel in 1850 heading to Plantrey chairlift, at the top of the chair go right down the Arolles to the chairlift Dou Des Lanches.

• At the top take Boulevard de la Loze (check that it is open!) and enjoy the lovely view. Then ski all the way down Blanchot through Méribel Altiport, finally head onto the Lapin for the home straight.

• Pop to the Lodge Du Village for an après beer before heading home to eat some yummy afternoon tea!

MARMA-LAD INSTRUCTOR – Del’s morning blaster!

• A morning of pisted skiing and ideal for those who want to clock up some miles, turns, speed, vertical descent and burnt calories. A good morning of skiing which should give the legs a solid work out and make lunch a very welcomed break.

• Hopefully, and generally, all pisted runs so you can let the skis run a little but put some effort in to make the skis turn properly and always keep an eye on safety if you’re skiing fast.

• Get to the top of the Saulire Express by 09.30 to get ahead of the crowds, making sure you are on the very first lifts.

• The opening run is a biggie! Top of Saulire all the way to Le Praz, almost 1.5km of vertical descent. Follow the red run under the Courchevel cable car, go past the bottom of cable car and cruise the green all the way into 1850. Under the bridge and toward Le Praz making sure you steer left and not right down to 1550. Keep going past Plantrey chair lift and take Brigues all the way to le Praz. If you are faced with an option to take another run just keep taking the left path and it will take you all the way to the chairlift in Le Praz.

• That’s run 1 done and if you’re up for the challenge then do it from top to bottom in one hit trying to ski your best the whole way down. Believe me your legs should be asking for a respite!

• Head up the Forêt chairlift and enjoy the rest. From the top go past the Bouc Blanc restaurant and take Folyeres all the way down to La Tania. Plenty of rolls and pitches to keep you entertained on the way down. Or alternatively, if the red has been pisted, then take this one all way to bottom.

• From the bottom take the La Tania bubble back up. Take a short ski back down the same red but only the top section till you arrive at the Bouc Blanc chairlift. Then up to the top of here.

• Your next stop is Courchevel 1550 and the Tovets chairlift but it’s your choice, either down the Dou de Midi which follows the Plantrey chairlift then keeps going all way to 1550. Or take Loze Est back down to 1850, under the bridge then veer right to take the runs down to 1550. Steer yourself more toward the left hand side of this run as it is usually the best pitch and snow.

• Head up Tovets then take the easy glide round and head up the Plantrey chairlift. From the top we are heading back to Le Praz. Preferred routes are either Jean Blanc, Jockeys or Murettes, depending on what has been pisted. Jean Blanc is a black run which starts from the top of the Plantrey chairlift and descends all the way to Le Praz. Jockeys and Murettes start from below the La Tania bubble so take a run to there then let the descent commence.

• From Le Praz it’s back up the two chairlifts – Forêt and Bouc Blanc – to the ridge between Courchevel and La Tania. From here it’s your pick. Either Le Praz or 1550 again.

• From either run get yourself back up to the top of the same spot then you can decide again – this time it’s lunch. We’d recommend Bouc Blanc or Soucoupe (depending on your budget). Both brilliant for their own reasons but quite different so depends on what style of lunch you would like. It is always advisable to pre-book. Enjoy a wellearned lunch.

• In the afternoon if the legs still need some work then head back to Meribel over the Col de Loze. The Dent de Burgin -Renard – is a great afternoon blaster, as is the top section of the George Mauduit in Meribel Saulire section.

Enhance your skiing experience even more by…snapping up one of the Marmalade team to give you the ultimate ski experience. Not only are they some of the finest ski instructors in the Alps, but they are Three Valley experts, passionate and most of all fun. We seriously recommend booking one of their team to either lead you on their own itineraries to get the very best out of them; for technical pointers; for off-piste guiding; beginner lessons; or simply for queue jumping and blasting around with great company! If you want to book a session with them then ask one of your chalet team or Resort Manager. You won’t be disappointed!