Maurienne Valley; the discovery of an Alpine skiing gem.

Valmeinier is hidden away in the Maurienne Valley of the Alps, only one valley further South of the big name resorts of Val Thorens, Val d’Isere etc., but not yet popular with British Tour firms. I predict this will change soon!

After many years of skiing in the more northern French resorts, this was the first time we had dropped down a valley and tried the Maurienne. A flight from Exeter to the chaotic but convenient Chambery Airport plus a two hour transfer to the resort saw us ensconced in our piste-side apartment within a few hours of leaving home. Miles of interesting pistes of various colours make this a true hidden gem. Valmeinier, along with Valloire, is part of the newly renamed Galibier-Thabor ski area. Make a note of that you are sure to hear much more about it. Galibier-Thabor offers 150km of downhill slopes, most above 2000m which ensures that snow conditions are usually good. Conditions in the middle of January were superb. Valmeinier is an intermediate's playground with really long rolling blue runs, over 30 red and 6 black for anyone who seeks more of a challenge. There are various well manicured snow parks around resort with some interesting whoops and jumps which even intermediates like us had a go at.

Valmeinier combines two villages - 1500 and 1800, with much of the best accommodation in the newer satellite resort of Valmeinier 1800 (mostly ski-in/ski-out apartments like ours). Valmeinier is a small, friendly resort great for families but with enough activity in the evenings to keep everyone happy. The bowling alley in 1800 is well worth a visit with friendly staff, reasonably priced beer by Alpine standards - and for the energetic it turns into a disco later. Many of the selection of restaurants around the central area of resort offer local specialties, which, as with most Alpine recipes, involves copious amounts of cheese. The neighbouring village of Valloire has a 'real' French village feel to it and has managed to maintain its traditional feel. A year round resort which the Tour de France passes through most years; on it’s way to one of the tour’s most famous climbs, the Col de Galibier. There is much activity in the village and a variety of restaurants, crêperies and bars as well as all sorts of winter activities. A great resort if you have non-skiers in your group, from the cinema to dog-sledging to paragliding!

Top Ski have branches all over the resort. Their main shop next to the main lift station employs one of the most knowledgeable foot and boot fitters in the entire alps. I have suffered for years with ill-fitting boots despite spending a fortune. Top Ski guaranteed to make my boots comfortable or I didn’t have to pay. Five visits to their very patient boot fitter and I was delighted to pay my 40Euros for perfectly fitting boots. Our party stayed in a Crystal apartment Les Ecrins des Neiges in the purpose built Valmeinier 1800, ideal ski in ski out village, but if you have non-skiers in your party plump for the more traditional village of Valloire on the other side of the domain.

Authors: Award winning journalist Conrad Sutcliffe and photographer David Morgan provide copy to a range of newspapers and magazines. Either through first hand experience of the resorts or through their team of trusted journalists. We'd love to visit all the resorts ourselves but just can't get to them all in one winter! DAVID is webmaster and writes for Mediapix, CCpix, Cloud Cover, NACC events and Mediaski - He also writes travel articles for Bsure Travel.