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Is St Martin de Belleville good for beginners? Yes. It can be great with it’s beautiful setting and beginner pass.
To get the most out of it, you’ll have to find the right places to ski. These may not be as obvious as other resorts but don’t worry we’ll highlight the best areas in the resort.
St Martin de Belleville can make for a lovely first ski holiday experience in its traditional village setting.
The slopes in St Martin are limited for complete beginners. However, the resort connects easily to the neighbouring village of Les Menuires.
Les Menuires offers more in terms of gentle greens and progression terrain.
St Martin has a small, convenient nursery area right in the heart of the village. This is ideal for your first days on skis.
Which Lift Pass should I purchase?
The Easy Rider Beginner Pass, priced at €37 per day for the 2025/26 season. This gives you access to a selection of calm, beginner-appropriate lifts and runs. This includes the popular La Violette green run in Les Menuires.
It’s tailored for beginners and covers a limited set of mellow lifts. Included on this is the St Martin 1 gondola, several chairlifts in Les Menuires, and access to La Violette.
Once you’re confident skiing blue runs, should you consider buying the full 3 Vallées pass. This pass opens up the entire ski area but costs more (typically around €75/day).
There’s no need to buy the biggest pass upfront. You can upgrade any time at the lift pass office or online. This lets you stay flexible while keeping your early days relaxed and affordable.
Where First-Timers Should Stay
To keep things easy from day one, we recommend staying in the village centre of St Martin de Belleville.
This puts you right next to the nursery area and close to the St Martin 1 gondola. This will connect you to the wider ski area and the Easy Rider lifts.
Staying here makes it easier to get to your ski lessons, for both adult beginner group lessons or private lessons.
Start Here: The Nursery Zone and Easy Rider Beginner Pass
Your first ski day should begin in the village nursery area. This area is served by a gentle magic carpet and is designed for total beginners. It’s a great place to get used to the basics in a safe, relaxed setting before heading higher up the mountain.
To keep things affordable and stress-free, opt for the Easy Rider Beginner Pass. This pass costs €37 per day. It’s tailored for beginners and covers a limited set of mellow lifts. Included on this is the St Martin 1 gondola, several chairlifts in Les Menuires, and access to La Violette.
When you pick up your pass, grab the Easy Rider piste map. This map highlights beginner routes and suggested progression itineraries.
You can save time on your first morning by preordering your ski pass.
If you’re arriving on a Saturday or are looking for a cheap warm-up day, don’t forget the Saturday Saver Pass. This is a €39 Les Menuires – St Martin local pass.
Easy Runs to Try After the nursery slope
Once you’ve mastered turning and stopping on the nursery slope, it’s time to explore. La Violette is one of the best beginner runs in the area.
This is a long, winding green slope above Les Menuires. On your first day, taking the free shuttle to the centre of Les Menuires may be a good idea. From here, you can take the Roc 1 gondola to the top.
La Violette is gentle, confidence-building, and long enough for you to practice turns. On this run you won’t need to fear steep sections.
As you start venturing further from St Martin, plan your route strategically. Avoid steeper and more technical runs such as Gros Tougne. These runs appear manageable, but can be too much for early beginners.
If you find yourself in Les Menuires and feeling tired, it’s much easier to take the free inter-village shuttle back to St Martin. This helps you to avoid any tricky end-of-day runs.
If you want to take the bus back from Les Menuires, it runs daily from 09:45 to 18:35.
Once you’ve mastered La Violette, try Jerusalem above St Martin de Belleville. You can get here using the St Martin 1 Gondola, straight from the town centre.
Jerusalem is a brilliant first blue to try. It’s long and cruisy and really easy to access. This gives you plenty of room to get miles under your skis. Once you’ve mastered this run, you can also ski directly from St Martin de Belleville.
Getting Around Without Stress: The Free Shuttle
If you want to travel up to Les Menuires, there is a free ski shuttle. These shuttles run throughout the day and connect St Martin with Les Menuires and Val Thorens.
These shuttles mean that if you finish your day in Les Menuires, you can hop on the bus and ride back to your accommodation in St Martin. This prevents you from having to navigate difficult terrain on skis.
The first shuttle leaves St Martin de Belleville for Les Menuires at 08:15. The last return shuttle to St Martin de Belleville from Les Menuires is at 18:35.
A Sample 3-Day Beginner Itinerary
Here’s a simple 3-day plan for beginners in St Martin de Belleville.
Day 1: Start in the village nursery area and get a feel for the snow. Book a 2-hour private or small-group lesson in the morning. Afterwards, take it easy in the afternoon with a warm drink in the village.
Day 2: Take the shuttle to Les Menuires and ski La Violette. Have lunch in Les Menuires, then ride the free shuttle back to St Martin once you’re done skiing for the day.
Day 3: Try some gentle blues like Jerusalem. Make sure to stay within your comfort zone. If you’re feeling confident, consider upgrading to the local pass for a wider range of terrain.
Booking Lessons That Actually Work
A good ski lesson early on can make or break your first trip. Choose from small-group adult beginner lessons or private sessions in St Martin. These are both ideal for no-pressure, no-rush progression. Learn more or reserve your spot on our Beginner Ski Lessons in St Martin page.
