Travel times from Moutiers station to each ski resort
Travel times from Moutiers station to the ski resorts range from about 10 minutes for Brides-les-Bains to nearly an hour for Val Thorens. Our figures reflect what we see in normal conditions, with a loaded van on a clear road. On winter Saturdays and snowy days, allow longer.
Belleville valley: the longest climb
The Belleville road leaves Moutiers and climbs steadily to the head of the valley. The higher the resort, the more hairpin bends you get.
- Saint-Martin-de-Belleville: about 15 km, 25 to 30 min. Saturday: the shortest run in the valley, so the least time spent in any queue.
- Les Menuires: about 27 km, 35 to 45 min. Saturday: all the Val Thorens traffic goes this way too, so keep some margin.
- Val Thorens: about 38 km, 45 min to 1 hr. Saturday: our longest climb from the station and the most exposed to jams; for the way home, leave the resort early.
A single road serves all three resorts, so a slowdown just outside Moutiers affects everyone, whatever their destination.
Méribel and Méribel-Mottaret
For Méribel, you leave Moutiers via Brides-les-Bains, then the road climbs the Allues valley. Timing depends mainly on which part of the resort you are staying in.
- Méribel Centre: about 18 km, 25 to 35 min. Méribel Village takes a little less, Méribel Altiport a little more. Saturday: the same road carries traffic up and down, so add some margin.
- Méribel-Mottaret: about 25 km, 35 to 45 min. Saturday: you drive through Méribel before carrying on to Mottaret, so allow extra time for that stretch.
If your accommodation sits at the very top of a district, add a few minutes to these times.
Courchevel and La Tania: five villages, one climb
For Courchevel, you first follow the Bozel valley, then the road climbs from one village to the next. Each level adds a few minutes.
- Courchevel Le Praz: about 17 km, 25 to 30 min. Saturday: the first village on the road, reached before the longest part of the climb.
- La Tania: about 22 km, 30 to 40 min. Saturday: allow a similar margin to Courchevel Village.
- Courchevel Village 1550: about 21 km, 30 to 40 min. Saturday: a reasonable margin is enough.
- Courchevel Moriond 1650: about 22 km, 30 to 40 min. Saturday: the road keeps climbing past the Village, so give yourself a little more time.
- Courchevel 1850: about 25 km, 35 to 45 min. Saturday: the highest of the five villages and the one where we advise the biggest margin.
Bozel valley: from Brides-les-Bains to Pralognan
The Bozel valley has the shortest runs from the station, then stretches out towards the Vanoise national park.
- Brides-les-Bains: about 6 km, 10 to 15 min. Saturday: even when busy, this one stays short.
- Bozel: about 13 km, 15 to 20 min. Saturday: as far as Bozel, you share the road with everyone heading up to Courchevel.
- Champagny-en-Vanoise: about 18 km, 25 to 35 min to the village; Champagny-le-Haut lies further up the valley. Saturday: traffic thins out after Bozel, but a margin still helps.
- Pralognan-la-Vanoise: about 27 km, 35 to 45 min. Saturday: a long road that ends in the mountains, so set off without rushing.
Valmorel and Doucy: down the valley first
Valmorel and Doucy are the only destinations where you first head back down the valley, towards Aigueblanche, before climbing to the resort.
- Valmorel: about 18 km, 25 to 35 min. Saturday: the first part follows the main valley road used by every holidaymaker arriving or leaving.
- Doucy: about 20 km, 30 to 40 min. Saturday: a small resort, but the same valley stretch at the start, so keep the same margin as for Valmorel.
This unusual direction sometimes puzzles passengers following the route on their phone, but it is the normal way up.
What lengthens travel times: Saturdays, snow, arrival in resort
Our times apply to a clear road. Three things can stretch them:
- winter Saturdays, when most holidays start and finish: traffic in the Tarentaise can make the journey much longer, both up and down;
- snow: on a snowy day everyone drives more slowly, and the climb sometimes means following the snowploughs;
- arriving in resort: some resort centres are pedestrianised, so drop-off is at the nearest accessible point to your accommodation.
For the way home, leave your resort with a margin that covers all this, and a wider one on a Saturday. Other practical questions, from trains to luggage, are covered in our guides to reaching the ski resorts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Moutiers station to Val Thorens?
About 45 minutes to 1 hour for roughly 38 km in normal conditions. It is our longest climb. On a winter Saturday or a snowy day it can take much longer, so allow a margin, especially for the trip back down.
Which destination is closest to the station?
Brides-les-Bains, about 6 km away, or 10 to 15 minutes' drive. Next come Bozel, at about 13 km, then Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Courchevel Le Praz, both roughly 25 to 30 minutes away.
How much time should I allow to get back to the station on a Saturday?
We do not give a single figure, because it varies from one Saturday to the next. Tell us your train time and when you would like to leave: if it looks too tight to us, we will suggest an earlier departure.
Are travel times the same outside winter?
The distances do not change and our ranges remain a good guide. Outside winter there is usually no snow on the road and no mass Saturday changeover, and weekends are charged at the base price.