Striking off the N90, the arms of the Trois Vallées terminate in three major winter resorts offering some of the best skiing in the Alps. They moonlight during summer as rather half-hearted outdoor activity centres and bases for the Pare National de la Vanoise, but really come into their own with the first decent snowfall of winter.

Starting in the west, Val Thorens/ Les Menuires is the highest resort in Europe with excellent conditions which virtually guarantee snow well into March (glacier skiing). In the middle valley, Méribel retains several charming fragments of the old village amongst its largely purpose-built chalet accommodation; the skiing is generally intermediate or easy. At the tip of the eastern valley, Courchevel is the most sophisticated of the trio.

Further along the N90 towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice, there are two other notable resorts: Les Arcs and La Plagne. Both are modern, thoughtfully designed and recommended for beginners, intermediates and families.