Val Thorens ski resort guide Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do in Val Thorens
Overview
Val Thorens ski resort - sitting at 2300m in the Tarentaise Valle, Val Thorens is a first class international ski rsort designed for skiers, families and people who like to have fun.
The pistes run into the resort giving ski-in / ski-out accommodation, apres-ski is varied and lively plus you have guaranteed snow. The other major plus point is that Val Thorens is connected to Les 3 Vallees system giving 600km to tour around.
Being the highest ski resort in Europe, all the skiing is above the tree line so when the clouds roll in, there is no escaping to the forest. On the plus side, many of slopes are north and north-west facing meaning the snow lasts longer giving excellent ski conditions in to May.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 2300m |
| Top lift | 3200m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 600 |
| Longest run | 8 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 118 km |
| Season | Nov - May |
| Snowboard parks | 9 |
| Heli Skiing | ✔ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✔ |
| Babysitting | ✔ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Lively |
Val Thorens Ski Area Guide
When touring Les 3 Vallees and navigating your way around 600km of pistes, there are many ski resorts that you will come across such as Courchevel, Meribel and Les Menuires. See our Val Thorens piste map page to see all the possibilities.
Beginners
Val Thorens provides beginners with gentle nursery slopes right in the centre of town and after learning the basics, the blue runs link up very well and descend back in to the resort - the perfect way to learn!
Intermediate
One of the best places in the alps for intermediate skiers with stacks of long cruising blues and reds and access to the whole 3 vallees area with an incredible 121 red pistes.
Advanced
Superb off-piste, long steep decents at high altitude make Val Thorens a challenge for even the top skiers and boarders. There are so many options but many experts head up to La Masse where there are good blacks or over to Meribel. To get the best out of Les Trois Vallées, a guide is the best option.
Snowboarding
Val Thorens has one of the best terrain parks in the Alps with 5 zones designed to cater for all levels plus there is the giant air bag to get you started on jumps!
Things to see & do
If you fancy a change from skiing or the weather is not that great then Val Thorens has plenty of other activities to keep you entertained:
- Mountain biking on the snow
- 6 km-long long toboggan track - the longest in France
- Snowmobile
- Paintball
- Paragliding
- Snowshoeing
- Rolling bubble on the snow
- Sports Centre with swimming pool
- Beauty Centres and Spas
Aprés-ski
For a ski holiday in Val Thorens, the party scene is vibrant and you won't be disappointed with very lively bars and night clubs. In contrast, Val Thorens also offers a very relaxed apres-ski for those wanting quieter evenings with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants - all within the town centre.
Children
Val Thorens provides a programme of special events for the children during the ski season including the daily creche facilities where the very young are looked after.
Featured ski chalets
Like many 1960s purpose built resorts in the French Alps, Val Thorens suffered from a lack of architectural guidelines in the early days, leading to an over-dependence on concrete! The new and renovated developments can only use traditional stone and wood.
The result is stunning, modern and cosy accommodation in the form of ski chalets, residences, apartments and hotels which match those in any other top class resorts. Prices tend to be cheaper than in Meribel or Courchevel so you get more for your money but still get direct access to the whole of Les 3 Vallées.
With nearly all the accommodation being ski-in / ski-out, it is one of the best ski resorts for young families - forget carrying the kid's skis to the bus and getting squashed, this is the real deal.
Our view on Val Thorens ski resort
Val Thorens delivers first class skiing, superb apres-ski and guaranteed snow. An ideal ski resort for families, groups and any level of skier. Intermediates will love the touring possibilities and experts will be in heaven!
If you like Val Thorens, also worth looking at is the beautiful resort of Alpe d'Huez and Marilleva-1400 in the Italian Brenta Dolomites. Both resorts offer exceptional opportunities for touring with many connected ski resorts under one lift pass.
