Val Thorens

Val Thorens, at 2,300 metres above sea level, is the highest ski area in Europe and as part of the Trois Vallées ski area, which includes Meribel and Courchevel, it has the largest lift network in the world. This purpose built resort is recognised as a ‘Famille Plus’ resort, which is your guarantee that there is plenty of activity for children and the staff know how to treat them well. There’s also a great deal to do for adults, with shops, restaurants, bars and the La Folie Douce après club on the slopes. Val Thorens has spectacular views – from the top of Maurienne and the Thorens tram you’ll see the summits of France, Switzerland and Italy.

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Difficulty

Beginner	25%
Intermediate	60%
Advanced	15%

At a Glance

Terrain Area

600+km

Summit

3,230m

Mt. Vertical

1,430m

Season

Nov-May

Lifts

Food & Bars

60+

Accommodation Val Thorens
Skiing & Boarding
Activities
Getting There

Accommodation Val Thorens

Val Thorens has a good choice of accommodation in the village, with much of it ski-in-ski-out. Being purpose built, this resort offers a variety of accommodation to suit your needs and budget; from catered chalets and self-contained apartments through to hotels, some of them more luxurious than others. Val Thorens is exceptionally convenient with apartments, hotels and chalets within easy distance of the Place de Caron – or main street – which is where many of the shops, restaurants and bars are located.

Skiing & Boarding

If you’re looking for expansive groomed runs, challenging off-piste areas and reliably fantastic snow, Val Thorens is your dream destination. As Europe’s highest resort, with an altitude of 2,300 metres, here you’ll spend much of your time above the tree line exploring 600km of piste that makes up the Trois Vallées. Much of Val Thorens (65%) is designed for intermediates with long runs connecting the resorts of the Trois Vallées – the longest is an excruciating 12km! But being a ‘Famille Plus’ resort, there are also plenty of gentle slopes on which first timers can hone their skills – Les Menuires at the base of the mountain is particularly protected. For advanced skiers Val Thorens offers some incredible off piste areas to explore, particularly if you take advantage of a guide. Be sure to give the terrain parks a go and the snowpark where you can be filmed on the jumps.

Activities

Val Thorens is purpose designed for extreme action on and off the mountain. This purpose designed resort is a winter playground with snow mountain biking, snow scootering and ice driving, all on tap. Here you can also go snow-shoeing, and cross country skiing in pristine powder. Val Thorens is home to Frances longest toboggan track as well as a 1300m zipline that stretches from the top of Orelle (at an altitude of 3,230m) across the valley to the Funitel de Thorens (altitude 3,000m). The Tyrolienne travels at a heart-racing speed of 105km/h and you’ll be harnessed in with your skis or board strapped to your back. If you’re feeling a little more relaxed, Val Thorens has 12 alpine restaurants just waiting to impress, as well as a huge selection of restaurants and bars in the village centre. There’s also an Aqua Spa with swimming pools, spas, saunas and steam bath.

Getting There & Around

To get to Val Thorens fly into Geneva or Lyon for a three hour transfer by road or into Chambery or Grenoble which is just two hours from the village. Buses run from the airports into Val Thorens. It’s also possible to catch a train from London, Paris or Chambery to Moûtiers, which is 37kms from Val Thorens.