Let me begin by stating an indisputable fact about the sport of skiing: If thou considerist thyself a skier, thou must make pilgrimage to the Alps during thy lifetime.
Why? It’s the cradle of the sport. It’s the epicenter of off-piste and mountaineering, and the Mecca of après. The ski resorts of the Alps are unfathomably massive and staggeringly beautiful. France’s 3 Vallées is no exception. A grand domain comprised of five connected ski areas—Courchevel, Meribel, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, and Orelle—the 3 Vallées is the largest ski area on the planet. You’ll ski high-alpine powder with expansive views, cruisey 3,000-vertical-foot groomers, chutes, bowls, glaciers, and even an occasional tree stash. You’ll enjoy fabulous French cuisine and party hard. Plus, lift tickets are just over half the price of a pass at most major resorts of the US. The French have really figured this whole skiing thing out.
Photo: Keri Bascetta
