  Airport
About ValmeinierWhere the sun of the south meets the snows of the north, Valmeinier (the valley of the mines) a small resort on a large ski area, nestles. You can choose to stay at one of two very different villages. Valmeinier 1500 is a picturesque mountain village with traditional stone houses and easy access to neighbouring Valloire, or you can try the more modern ski in / ski out accommodation at Valmeinier 1800. At 1800 everything has been though out, and the chalets are grouped in a horse-shoe shape around the valley station, so that you can reach the sun terraces of the cafes on skis. Linked with Valloire, Valmeinier has a 150 km skiable area, 70 per cent of which is above 200 m. The peaks that tower above - Les Ecrins on one side and La Vanoise on the other - are majestic, and the resort has a big choice of slopes, the wildest on the edge of great natural parks, the more playful on an authentic modern ski area Valloire. The villages aren't wild nightlife Mecca's, but there are plenty of good restaurants and bars with a very French feel. The ski region is a smaller version on the Three Valleys area - the foundation of Three Valleys was once going to be placed in Valmeinier. And although the resorts are on a much smaller scale, the dreamy pistes, broad slopes and deep valleys are not inferior to those at Three Valleys! Whether away with family or friends, if you are looking for a fun relaxing holiday with the mammoth slopes of bigger resorts and none of the crowds, Valmeinier is a perfect fit. For beginners
Beginners will find a well above average choice of runs, both for first timers and those progressing. Runs include a gentle blue which heads down from Grand Plateau to Valmeinier 1800. You can build up your confidence on the wide and gentle runs above the village that are served by the two village drag lifts, then the Jeux chair lift accesses further longer green and blue runs including the superb Petit Dejeuner and Reine des Prés runs which return to the village.
For intermediates
A selection of 51 varied blue and red pistes on the slopes above Valmeinier and Valloire make the area ideal for intermediates. The Gros chair lift in the Valmeinier sector allows access to the Genepi and Elantiers red runs which descend to Valmeinier 1500 through a vertical drop of more than 1000m. From here skiers can easily visit the skiing on the slopes above Valloire.
For the advanced
Advanced skiers will also enjoy the Cascade and Olympique pistes, two of the six blacks in the area as well as the long Grandes Droze back run to Valmeinier 1500 can present a challenge when the bumps build up and the area from Crey du Quart down into the Valmeinier Valley has some very decent off-piste. There's also a terrain park and a half-pipe.
Ski school
The French Ski School will look after you when you are just starting out at Valmeinier, easing you on to the many gentle green slopes. Whether it's your first time, or you want to take it to the next level, they are friendly professionals who will look after you well. Valmeinier has acquired the Famille Plus label for its childcare facilities, and offers free lift passes for children under 6yrs. Après Ski
Après-ski is not raging in Valmeinier, but there are still delicious restaurants and some fun bars to chill out at the end of the day. L'Estaminet is one of the best restaurants in town and is popular with the locals and tourists alike. They serve a range of excellent local dishes and have a great selection of French wines. The food is excellent and the prices relatively reasonable. Another good pick is a Glisse, who serve a range of local dishes, as well as some other traditional French dishes. La Glisse pizzeria is a delicious pizza bar which is always busy. Bar-wise, Valmeinier 1500's La Taverne is one of the best pubs in town and is popular with both the locals and tourists. It's a great place to start sampling the nightlife the town has to offer, kick back, have a few drinks and meet some people. Le P'tit Fourchon is a nice, relaxed bar, while No Comment is one of the liveliest pubs in town and is very popular with a younger crowd of locals and tourists. It is a great place to go if you're looking to party till the early hours of the morning. The atmosphere is fun and friendly, there are many drinks on offer and the prices are reasonable.
Off the Mountain
Id you'd like to hang up your skis for a day, you could try a family snowshoe outing, including nature walks (observe animals with a telescope) and finding animal tracks. If you like cheese, Cyril and Marie, who are both breeders and cheese makers, will introduce you to their herd and tantalise your palates by offering you the chance to taste their cheeses, which are refined in the heart of our mountains. You could jump on the two groomed toboggan runs near the residences, which are open all the day long, and in the evening. There's also paragliding, floodlit skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, micro flights, an orienteering course, ice climbing on frozen waterfalls, heritage outings, luge courses, bowling, football on snow, and a cinema.
Getting there
By air
The closest airports to Valloire are Chambery - Aix (100 km), Genève - Cointrin (130 km) and Lyon / Saint-Exupéry (195 km). Airport transfers
For airport connections to Valmeinier, there is a bus that will take you directly to the resort on Saturdays. By train
The nearest rail station to Valmeinier is St Michel de Maurienne/Valloire. Fast TGV trains travel from Paris to St Michel/Valloire (4hr 30) every Saturday and Sunday. There is also a TGV service from Paris to Chambéry, with direct connection to St Michel/Valloire every day. A new train from Lille to St Michel/Valloire is also available, as well as direct night trains from Paris to St Michel/Valloire. By car
Take the A43 motorway or RN6 to St Michel de Maurienne, then 12 km up to Valmeinier. GPS Coordinates:
Resort rating and reviews
Resort ratings out of 10
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Skiing Holidays in ValmeinierPhoto
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