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Orelle – Cime Caron Gondola
The Orelle – Cime Caron link climbs from the Maurienne to the summit in two sections. It replaces the 3 Vallées Express, withdrawn after 25 years.
Remontees · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Two-section gondola
Access
Paid
Best season
Summer (4 July – 30 August 2026)
Town
Orelle
Winter access
open
What is Orelle – Cime Caron Gondola
The Orelle – Cime Caron link climbs from the Maurienne to the summit of the Cime Caron in two sections: 4,997 m to Plan Bouchet, 87 cabins and 1,462 m of ascent in 13 minutes, then 2,235 m to the top, 44 cabins and 820 m of ascent in under 7 minutes.
It replaces the 3 Vallées Express, withdrawn after 25 years of service: any page or map still citing it is out of date.
Do not confuse it with the Cime Caron cable car, which reaches the same summit but from Val Thorens, in the commune of Les Belleville. Two machines, two sides, two communes, two calendars — and on 29 and 30 August 2026 the crossing between them is announced closed.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Type
Two-section gondola
First section
Orelle → Plan Bouchet: 4,997 m, 87 cabins, 1,462 m of ascent, 13 minutes (secondary sources)
Second section
Plan Bouchet → Cime Caron: 2,235 m, 44 cabins, 820 m of ascent, under 7 minutes (secondary sources)
Capacity and speed
Up to 2,500 people/hour, 7 m/s (secondary sources)
Arrival altitude
"3,200 m" per one source; our cable car page records 3,193 m (BEA-TT), 3,186 m elsewhere, and 3,195 m for the summit. Likely a rounding.
Summer 2026
4 July to 30 August 2026, 7 days a week, 09:45–16:15. Last departure from Plan Bouchet towards Val Thorens 16:00, last from Cime Caron towards Orelle 16:15.
Val Thorens link
No link between Orelle and Val Thorens on 29 and 30 August 2026 (Les 3 Vallées), even though the Orelle lifts run.
Replaced machine
The 3 Vallées Express, withdrawn after 25 years of service
Coordinates
Price
Dogs
Accessibility
When to visit
When to visit
4 July to 30 August 2026, every day. Two dates deserve attention: on 29 and 30 August the Orelle lifts run but the crossing to Val Thorens is announced closed.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Open (cleared road)
Winter infrastructure
Alpine skiing
Snow panorama
Clear Mont-Blanc view
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
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Gallery
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When does the Orelle – Cime Caron link run in summer 2026?
Les 3 Vallées announce Orelle open 7 days a week from 4 July to 30 August 2026, running 09:45–16:15.
Is this the same as the Cime Caron cable car?
No. The Cime Caron cable car climbs from Val Thorens, commune of Les Belleville; this link climbs from Orelle in two sections. Two different machines to one summit.
How high does it go?
One source says 3,200 m, but our cable car page records 3,193 m per the BEA-TT, 3,186 m elsewhere, and 3,195 m for the summit itself. The 3,200 m figure is likely a rounding.
Can you cross to Val Thorens?
Yes, except on 29 and 30 August 2026: Les 3 Vallées announce no link between Orelle and Val Thorens on those two days, even though the Orelle lifts are running.
Does the 3 Vallées Express still exist?
No. It was withdrawn after 25 years of service and replaced by this link. Pages citing it as a means of access are out of date.
Sources
Sources & verification
- Orelle Val Thorens Les 3 Vallées — ouverture estivale des télécabines
- Orelle Val Thorens Les 3 Vallées — été montagne
- Orelle Val Thorens — télécabine d'Orelle et télécabine Orelle-Caron, les coulisses
- Les 3 Vallées — ouvertures été 2026
- Les 3 Vallées (presse) — mobilité et connexions inter-vallées
- Val Thorens — accès Orelle, la fulgurante ascension
- Infosnews — nouvelle liaison entre Val Thorens et Orelle
- Plampraz — nouvelle connexion Orelle-Val Thorens pour remplacer le 3 Vallées Express
- Remontées-mécaniques.net — TCD10 d'Orelle (Doppelmayr)
- les3vallees.com
- data.geopf.fr
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Free
Col du Télégraphe
Valloire
Pass at 1,566 m between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Valloire, open all year. The fort, ten minutes' walk away, opens in summer only, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Free
Col de la Loze
Courchevel
Pass at 2,304 m between Courchevel and Méribel, reserved for bicycles: cars banned. 7 km on the Méribel side, 6.5 on the Courchevel side, a 23% wall.
Free
Col du Chaussy
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne
Pass at 1,533 m above the Maurienne, famous for the Lacets de Montvernier: 17 or 18 hairpins depending on the source. 14 km at 7.5% to the top.
Paid
Cime Caron Cable Car
Les Belleville
From 2,320 m to about 3,190 m above Val Thorens. New cabins since 22 November 2025. Summer 2026: 4 July – 28 August, 9:45am–4:15pm, last ascent 3:45pm.
Paid
Pointe de la Masse Gondola
Les Belleville
Gondola to 2,804 m above Les Menuires, closed Thursday to Saturday inclusive. Glass-floored cabin and machine-room access included with the pedestrian ticket.
Paid
Mont Vallon Gondola
Les Allues
Arrives at 2,952 m above Méribel, commune of Les Allues, in 8 minutes. Three lifts to chain from Méribel-Mottaret. Summer 2026: 4 July – 29 August.