Courchevel NYASH! (with)
The trip to the 3 Valleys (3D) has been dreamed of for a long time, but somehow it didn't grow and in the end it was decided to go!
Well, to go without any worries and even for the New Year / Christmas, we decided to use a bus tour from "Vlado Tour". A little tiring, but quite carefree trip turned out; )
After crossing the border we reached Budapest and walked around the center for a couple of hours.
Then there were two transit nights, the hotels were selected quite competently, food and accommodation were at their best. The first hotel in Ljubljana (breakfast and room for 5+), then - New Year's Eve stop was in Milan. The hotel is a little worse, but close to the city center.
31st and 1st walked around Milan, the weather was cool, but no precipitation.
HP was greeted in the Duomo Square with thousands of colorful crowds.
The next day was a tour: the girls - a little shopping: some boutiques were open, also pleased the Afro-Italians on the street layouts)), and my little one went on a trip to the Duomo (surprisingly, there was a long queue)
On the evening of the 2nd, after arriving at the grocery store in Albertville, we arrived in Meribel Mottare. There began to pour fluffy snow and our bus got a little stuck - we had to push / warm it up))
We were dropped off right next to our hotel "Le Boulivar", immediately handed over the keys and about half an hour later we were in the room with the clutches. Room about 25 square meters. m, a little too small, but quite warm and a lot of all kinds of dryers in it. What was missing was a washing machine ((Cabinet for equipment and sale of ski passes - right in the lobby of the apart-hotel. Ski-in / ski-out.
The only thing I didn't like at once - the lifts open late - at 9.00. And the transitions to other valleys are usually after 10-11 am…
Ski passes cost 274 euros / 6 days (we had a discount - 250).
1st day = good weather and we waved to Val Thorens. We immediately rode in the Orel area and climbed several glaciers (I will not load the names of the tracks)
2nd day = acquaintance with Courchevel.
For some reason, the direct lift from Meribel was closed until 11 (although the weather was cloudless and snowless) and we had to get through La Tanya. What impressed me the most: poor preparation of slopes in 3D in general and black trails in particular - they just do not prepare (50% so exactly) and therefore had to spend a lot of time overcoming unwanted obstacles. And there were a lot of small stones on the slopes - a little scratched skis / boards.
That's what the black on Chainrossa (Courchevel) was, the approaches in La Tanya and up in Curachavel were in a slightly better condition - everywhere hills / mogul and virgin plumage
I ADVISE to take up to 3D skis for freeride or semi-freeride, or snowboards; ) On thin track skis you will feel quite uncomfortable…
Day 3 - clear again! We went again to ride Courchevel (1650) and go down to the elite tskt 1550. Finally, the French prepared the slopes - the top and center. We took pictures near the bears and below. On Courchevel 1650 - the same picture: hills / puff / freeride… At about 2 o'clock the weather started to get worse and we went home. Docked at Meribel…
4th day - the weather got worse: snow / fog - went to Val Thorens. Direct access is closed. I had to get through Le Menuire. There we rode on horseback again (the upper chairs were all closed) and gradually returned home.
Day 5: It's snowing / blowing again… but all the crossings are hospitably open - we went to Val Thorens again (we didn't go up to the Boucher Glacier last time).
Again, all the tops are closed, it has snowed even more, visibility has deteriorated… Sitting in a cafe and drinking tea for 4 euros decided to go home to his valley (it was around noon).
And here we had the most important surprise: the crossing from Val Thorens was closed, the interactive map showed the open crossing through Le Minuire and we rushed there. It was already raining hard. Surprisingly, Rock2 was also closed and we were advised to get by bus / taxi. We moved to the center of Le Menuire again. Beads go only to Val Thorens and to Sant Martin.
The interactive map shows again that the transition to San Martina works (to Meribel). Arriving in San Martin, we heard from the shopkeeper that the second part of the passage is also closed (glowed open). There, at the bus stop, we met two Poles from our hotel, who were in the same situation.
The Poles told us that they had already called 3 taxi services - all of them called the same price - 150 euros to get to Meribel ((but one of their travel agents promised them a bus trip to Meribel from San Martin… standing for 15 minutes I saw a big bus to Mutyr and raised his hand to stop… strangely enough he stopped, the driver got out and invited us to go to Mutir, and from there to Meribel.
The bus was filled to the brim with injured skiers of different nationalities from different valleys - all wet and exhausted and such) everyone was put up at some stop to wait for another bus… In short, somewhere around 18.00 we finally got tired and happy (s) went to the room))
Day 6: bad weather again - it's raining (snow on top), quite strong. Transitions are all closed.
We rode in our village (in Mottar). By 12 o'clock completely wet, went to change clothes / drink coffee in the room.
During the day I was on the hill again - the rain continued to hit, but all the crossings to Val Thorens / Courchevel were again hospitably opened))
Remembering the experience of the past day, I did not take advantage of this hospitality and continued to ride in Mottar.
Surprisingly opened Wallon (all 5 days was closed) and I went there. The steeper the track was full freeride with almost zero visibility)), the second - a little wasted… shorter ride to 15.30 in Mottar, completely wet, tired and satisfied (s) I returned to the room…
Return road: it was a bit more tiring - we didn't stop in Milan (just dropped off those returning by plane) and immediately went to Ljubljana. About 9 pm they were in a bowl.
We were waiting for a luxury hotel in Mexico with brand new rooms and comfortable beds; )
We left home in the morning, crossed the border quickly in the evening, had breakfast at a roadside restaurant and got on the bus again. We were already in Kyiv in the morning.
The total budget of the ski pass is somewhere between 800-850 euros per person
Advantages of 3Valines:
1. very beautiful, just fantastic scenery, especially in sunny weather!
2. enough snow even on HP.
3. local flavor.
Disadvantages:
1. Lifts open late and close early.
2. There is no direct bus service between the valleys in case the lifts close.
3. Poor slope preparation after snowfalls.
The rest is insignificant…
Tips: Take freeride / semi-freeride skis or boards and preferably have a few days to spare for skiing (in case of bad weather)
Good luck. Glory to Ukraine (c)!
П. S. I will gladly listen to questions / wishes and answer them if possible; )
Finally, a few more photos of the charming 3 Valleys...
