Moutiers station: shuttle bus or private transfer?
Shuttle bus, coach or private transfer from Moutiers station: all three exist, and none of them suits everyone. Scheduled coaches leave from the bus station just outside the train station for the main ski resorts. A private transfer costs more for one person, but its fixed price is shared by the group: eight people in a van to Val Thorens pay €180, or €22.50 each.
Shuttle buses from Moutiers station
What people call "the shuttle" in Moutiers is in fact a set of scheduled coach lines. They leave from the bus station in the train station car park, and tickets are sold on the Altibus platform. Altibus makes it clear that it is a booking site, not a transport company: the coaches are run by Alpbus and Doucy Bus.
For winter 2026-2027, Altibus lists six lines from Moutiers:
- S61 to Doucy
- S62 to Valmorel
- S63 to Les Menuires and Val Thorens
- S64 to Méribel
- S65 to Courchevel
- S66 to Champagny-en-Vanoise and Pralognan-la-Vanoise
Coach timetables and fares change every season, so check them with the operator, on the Altibus timetable pages, before you build your train plans around them. Altibus also advises checking the return stop and time printed on your ticket.
Where the coach works well, and where it does not
The coach has real strengths. For a solo traveller with one bag and a pair of skis, it is usually cheaper than a taxi. On routes from railway stations sold by Altibus, the ticket includes one piece of hand luggage, one hold bag and one pair of skis or a snowboard at no extra charge.
Its limits come down to timing and drop-off point. The coach keeps to its timetable: if your train is late, you aim for the next departure. It drops you at a stop or at the resort bus station, and you still have to reach your accommodation on foot or by the resort's own shuttle where there is one. A line serving several resorts also stops on the way, as the S63 does at Les Menuires before Val Thorens. And it uses the same roads as everyone else, so a busy Saturday slows it down just like a car.
Cost per person of a private transfer
Our prices are per vehicle, not per person. The base price covers 1 to 3 passengers; each extra passenger adds €10, up to 8. Divide the total by the number of travellers and you get the real cost per head. Examples at weekday prices:
- Val Thorens: €130 for 2, so €65 each; €180 for 8, so €22.50 each
- Les Menuires: €100 for 3, about €33 each; €150 for 8, so €18.75 each
- Méribel Centre: €75 for 3, so €25 each; €125 for 8, about €15.60 each
- Courchevel 1850: €90 for 3, so €30 each; €140 for 8, so €17.50 each
- Valmorel: €70 for 3, about €23 each; €120 for 8, so €15 each
A winter weekend surcharge applies on Saturdays and Sundays, and a return transfer can be booked in one go. Every destination and pricing rule is on our prices page.
When a private transfer is the better choice
A private transfer wins in a few clear cases:
- there are four or more of you, or a family with young children: child seats and booster seats are provided on request;
- you have plenty of luggage, a pushchair or several pairs of skis;
- your train arrives late or might be delayed: we track its arrival time using the train number you give us;
- your accommodation is a long way from the coach stop: the driver drops you at the door;
- you want a return time that fits your train, not the coach timetable.
Your driver meets you outside the station with a sign bearing your name, the price is known before you book, and you pay the driver directly. How the pick-up works on the spot is explained on our Moutiers train station page.
When the coach is still the best option
We will say it plainly: the coach is often the right call for a solo traveller or a couple travelling light, arriving during the day and staying close to the stop. It also makes sense when your plans are flexible and you can wait for the next departure without stress.
Before you decide, compare three things: the coach fare for everyone in your party, the wait between your train and the coach, and the walk from the stop to your accommodation with your suitcases. If that adds up, take the coach. If not, one fixed price for the whole van settles it. More tips for the journey up the valley are in our practical guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shuttle bus from Moutiers station to Val Thorens?
Yes, line S63 runs from Moutiers to Les Menuires and Val Thorens, with tickets sold on Altibus. Timetables and fares change every season, so check them before booking your train and leave a margin in case of delays.
Where do the coaches leave from at Moutiers station?
From the bus station just outside the train station, in its car park. Altibus recommends checking the return stop and time on your ticket and asking the driver to confirm if in doubt.
Can I find a free taxi at the station without a booking?
Yes, if a taxi is free at the rank outside the station. Ours is there all winter, but it may be on a job when your train arrives, especially on Saturdays. Booking guarantees a vehicle and a fixed price.
Is the bus faster than a private transfer?
Generally not: it uses the same road and makes stops along the way. A private transfer leaves as soon as you are settled and drops you at your door, which saves the walk from the stop with your bags.