Val Thorens Resort Overview

Located in the Savoie region in the northern French Alps, Val Thorens is the highest point of The Three Valleys, the world’s largest interconnected ski area! Sitting above the tree line at an altitude of 2,300m, it is officially the ski resort with the highest village in Europe, so it has incredibly reliable snow cover both at resort level and on the slopes.

Val Thorens is connected to the neighbouring ski resorts of Méribel, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, La Tania and Courchevel to make up The Three Valleys ski area which offers over 600km of terrain to explore and is home to six glaciers. 90% of the runs in Val Thorens sit above 2,000m and the resort enjoys a long season, typically staying open until early May.

Val Thorens is a compact, 1970s purpose-built resort comprising of luxury hotels and budget-friendly apartments. While the resort may not be as charming as some of the smaller surrounding traditional alpine villages, it isn’t as imposing as many other purpose-built ski resorts, making for an inoffensive middle ground and with the majority of accommodation being ski-in-ski-out it is incredibly convenient.   

Skiing in Val Thorens

With 600km of pistes to discover in The Three Valleys, Val Thorens is a skier’s paradise. The snow-sure slopes cater to skiers of all abilities and the resort has an efficient and expansive lift system. There are more than five beginner areas in Val Thorens around the lower slopes, including an ‘easy rider’ zone with four magic carpets. The resort also offers a beginner lift pass which allows access to eight lifts. 

Intermediate skiers will enjoy the wide rolling blues and reds in the Moraine and Peclet areas. There is also plenty of challenging terrain in Val Thorens to keep advanced skiers entertained. The more difficult slopes in the resort tend to be higher up and there are several challenging black runs dotted across the high-altitude ski area. Confident skiers can get their legs burning and hearts racing on the Plan D’Leau mogul field and embark on a speedy descent down the steep pistes around Orelle, often dubbed the ‘fourth valley’. 

When it comes to snow-sure off-piste skiing, it doesn’t get much better than Val Thorens. One of the most popular off-piste routes is the Lac du Lou off the Cime de Caron, complete with hair-raising terrain and breathtaking views. Glacier de Thorens and the Orelle Valley also offer excellent off-piste skiing. 

Is Val Thorens Family-friendly?

Val Thorens is an excellent ski resort for families. Its multitude of ski-in-ski-out accommodation provides easy access to the slopes, which means no complaints about carrying skis! Val Thorens is a great ski resort for beginner skiers, so children learning to ski will have plenty of safe areas to practise on. Val Thorens is a ‘Famille Plus’ certified ski resort and offers discounted lift passes for families. The resort also boasts a family snow park and free sledging areas with magic carpets. Off the slopes, Val Thorens is home to several family-friendly eateries and a host of family-friendly activities including zip lining, dog sledding and a leisure centre fit with a fun park and swimming pool.

Après-Ski Scene in Val Thorens

Val Thorens is a great ski resort for après ski with a party atmosphere that starts on the slopes. The hugely popular slope-side Folie Douce has daily live performers that ensure a raucous atmosphere, but be warned, you have to ski back down to the resort! Bar 360 is another popular slope-side après ski venue which has a reputation for its incredible DJ sets and panoramic mountain views and it benefits from a more gentle ski home. 

Back in the resort, France meets England at the Frog Pub, which is a popular spot for a beer or two before moving on to Cafe Snesko, an animated Dutch bar with live music. Make sure to end your night at Le Malaysia, the largest nightclub in the Alps. Built beneath the slopes you’ll be skiing on during the day, it boasts world-class DJs who will keep you glued to the dance floor all night long. 

Val Thorens is also home to some fantastic eateries with most restaurants clustered around Rue de Caron, Rue du Soleil and Péclet. Popular spots include; Il Gusto for fresh, regional cuisine with unbeatable views, Chalet de la Marine for a cosy mountain lunch setting and the highly-acclaimed two Michelin star restaurant L’Oxalys for an elevated evening in the mountains. 

How to Get to Val Thorens

The quickest way to get to Val Thorens from the UK is by plane. The closest airport is Chambery which is less than a two-hour transfer from Val Thorens, followed by Grenoble (2h20), Lyon (2h20) and Geneva (2h45). There are no direct train routes to Val Thorens. The closest train station to Val Thorens is Moûtiers which is a 50-minute bus transfer.  

Val Thorens Insider Tips 

• Head to the top of the Péclet gondola to watch the sunset before skiing back to the resort!
• Enjoy a ride on the longest toboggan run in France (6km)
• Have a drink at the highest pub in France – the Frog!
• The season opening and closing parties are not to be missed!

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