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Val Thorens Ski Resort

At 2,300 meters, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe and is set in the 3 Valleys, one of the largest ski areas in the world. Therefore, staying here gives you access to 600km of pistes if you buy the full area lift pass.

However, the local lift pass allows you to neighbouring Orelle, which has nearly all its terrain above 2,000 meters. You can also ski or snowboard on two glaciers, cementing Val Thoren’s reputation as one of Europe’s most snow-sure ski resorts.

Val Thorens is a purpose-built ski resort with a modern ski lift system that makes visiting the rest of the 3 Valleys very easy. It is made up of three villages, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Saint Martin de Belleville, that provide 150km of runs serviced by 50 lifts.

Even though Val Thorens is a purpose-built ski resort, it isn’t an eyesore consisting of high-rise concrete buildings. Instead, its designers made it fit in with its surroundings, and the recent investments have improved its aesthetics.

Val Thorens is a lively ski resort, popular with groups of friends, families and students. Most of the accommodation is self-catered apartments and hotels. Some of these are beautiful 4 and 5-star options offering ultimate comfort and luxury.

The groomed slopes around Val Thorens are popular with beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. You’ll love the combination of snow quality, perfect gradients, excellent grooming, and the quality lift system. If you like a long, leg-burning blast, Val Thorens is a great place to go, as some runs are longer than the map suggests.

When your legs can’t do any more, you can choose between many places to eat and drink. The restaurants range from burger bars to fine-dining establishments. Le Malaysia is Val Thoren’s nightclub and has the largest dance floor in the French Alps.

But before you head into town, why not try out the six-kilometre-long toboggan run, go ice driving, fat biking, or paragliding?

Val Thorens ski season ENDS in…

 
 

Val Thorens Accommodation Map

The Best Val Thorens Accommodation

95% of the properties in Val Thorens are ski-in ski-out with most of them self-catered apartments. You will also find some great 4 and 5 star hotels with beautiful spa facilities, bars and restaurants within them.

Residence Koh I Nor
|Val Thorens

1 to 4 bedroom apartments. The Residence Koh I Nor is a 5 star residence and was inaugurated in December 2013. The residence offers 35 apartments, which can accommodate from 2 to 8 people. All the apartments combine elegance, refinement, and a subtle blend of mountain art and interior design.

Hotel Koh-I Nor
|Val Thorens

The hotel Koh-I Nor is the highest 5 star hotel in Europe. At the top of the resort, hotel Koh-I Nor enjoys an exceptional location, with ski-in ski-out access and magical view all over the Val Thorens « white circus » and the extraordinary landscape of the largest area world “The 3 Valleys”.

Hotel Le Fitz Roy
|Val Thorens

Hotel Le Fitz Roy. The view from Le Fitz Roy is astonishing: a panorama of mountains covered with a maze of ski lifts and 600 kilometres of snow-covered pistes. In the heart of Europe’s highest ski resort, Le Fitz Roy is a magnet for lovers of mountains and natural beauty. From the lobby to the rooms, restaurants, wellness spa, and ski shop, the hotel elegantly cultivates the art of refined hospitality and comfort.

Hotel Marielle
|Val Thorens

Hotel Marielle Val Thorens boasts magnificent views of the mountains with ski-in ski-out access and on the snow front with a beautiful terrace . The Hotel Marielle is full of character and provides guests with great 4-star comfort and amenities so they can make the most of their stay: restaurant with snow-front terrace, bar, NUXE wellness centre, seminar rooms and more.

Hotel Le Val Thorens
|Val Thorens

Le Val Thorens is the story of a legend reborn. Built in the 1970s and one of the resort’s first hotels, this epic building has been completely renovated in contemporary retro style. Its huge, iconic outdoor terrace and the stunning views of the slopes are still in place, however, and the interior has kept its same thrilling energy.

Residence Montana Plein Sud
|Val Thorens

2 to 3 bedroom apartments. The Residence Montana Plein Sud has a wonderfully sunny position with breathtaking views over snowy peaks. There’s direct access to the pistes via the Plein Sud chairlift. The residence combines the charm of wood, stone and warm colours in a contemporary style. You’ll feel at home in this charming setting which has been built according to all the latest environmental and climatic standards.

Residence Village Montana
|Val Thorens

1 to 2 Bedroom + Cabin apartments. All the 4 star hotel residences and apartments have been designed to make you really feel at home. Each Residence Village Montana is situated on the piste with ski in, ski out access. The ski schools and kindergartens are nearby making your ski holiday with your children a really family-friendly one.

Chalets Cocoon
|Val Thorens

Chalets Cocoon, located in Val Thorens, features 10 luxurious ski-in ski-out apartments with Hot Tubs on their balconies while providing stunning views of the French Alps. Chalets Cocoon is ideally situated in the Balcons area of Val Thorens, just 300m from the centre of the resort. Chalets Cocoon opened in December 2018.

Hotel Pashmina
|Val Thorens

Hotel Pashmina is a real refuge, inspired by passionate and fascinating mountain people, pioneers and adventurers whose realizations are always beyond conventions. 42 rooms and Suites up to 70 sqm : space and light for an absolute comfort. 9 « Cosy Home » from 60 to 153 sqm : a new concept of one, two, three or four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms surrounding a living area with kitchen, dining and living room.

Hotel Altapura
|Val Thorens

Hotel Altapura. tar hotel that offers space and elegance, a reminder of the grand palace hotels. The atmosphere is Nordic-chic with a choice of noble materials such as wood and stone. Altapura has its own distinct style, featuring both subdued, festive, cosmopolitan and high-tech ambiences.

Hotel Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens
|Val Thorens

Hotel Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens boasts magnificent views of the mountains with ski-in ski-out access and a short walk from the centre of the resort of Val Thorens. The main Peclet bubble and ski school meeting point are only a short ski away. The stylish rooms, cosy bars, excellent food and friendly service are perfect for those seeking casual luxury. The ski-in, ski-out location right next to the main bubble makes Fahrenheit Seven

Residence l’Oxalys
|Val Thorens

1 to 4 Bedroom apartments. Situated at the entrance to the Val Thorens ski resort, next to the ski slopes, in a quiet, sunny area, the Residence Oxalys welcomes you into a bright, elegant décor and offers two relaxation areas with swimming pools, spas (jacuzzis), sauna, hammam and massage rooms, a lounge bar with fireplace and the new restaurant “IL GUSTO”.

Montagnettes Soleil
|Val Thorens

2 Bedroom + Cabin and 4 Bedroom apartments. Situated in the rue du Soleil, right next to the ski slopes, the Montagnettes Soleil residences offer for rental spacious, comfortable and cheerful apartments with fireplaces in the sitting rooms for apartments for 6 to 10 persons only.

Hotel Le Hameau du Kashmir
|Val Thorens

Hotel Le Hameau du Kashmir. Located at the entrance of the resort, at the foot of the ski slopes, "Le Hameau du Kashmir” 4 stars hotel boasts great views and enjoys the best of the sun. The buildings are harmoniously tiered alongside the snow covered slopes in this small, mountain hamlet, which is positioned around a little central square. The interiors are warm, designed with sophistication and in colours from the Kashmir region.

Residence Le Hameau du Kashmir
|Val Thorens

2 to 3 bedroom apartments. Residence Le Hameau du Kashmir. Located at the entrance of the resort, at the foot of the ski slopes, "Le Hameau du Kashmir” 4 stars hotel boasts great views and enjoys the best of the sun. The buildings are harmoniously tiered alongside the snow covered slopes in this small, mountain hamlet, which is positioned around a little central square. The interiors are warm, designed with sophistication

Montagnettes Lombarde
|Val Thorens

2 Bedroom + Cabin and 3 bedroom apartments. Montagnettes Lombarde. The smallest of the Group “Montagnettes” residences, situated ideally in the most peaceful area of the Val Thorens ski resort, immediately next to the slopes. With its direct southern/south-western exposure, it enjoys a maximum of sunshine. Its a perfect residence for families with children, it comprises nine cheerful, spacious apartments with an open fireplace

Val Thorens Info & Stats

Season

November 25, 2023 to May 5, 2024

Ski area

Located in a vast natural cirque surrounded by six glaciers, Val Thorens has 30 lifts and 150 kilometres of trails, including 11 green, 29 blue, 30 red and eight black.

For snowboarders and freestyle skiers, it also has a terrain park featuring jumps, rails and boxes as well as The Fun Slope – a 900 metre obstacle course with snow tunnels, bridges, spirals and banked turns.

Linked ski area

The 3 Valleys (7 resorts): Courchevel, Bride-les-Bains, Meribel, Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens, Orelle

  • 600 km – 327 runs (17% greens, 39% blues, 33% reds, 11% blacks)
  • 166 lifts

Non-ski activities

Val Thorens offers everything from burger bars to elegant French bistros, as well as a nightclub with the largest dance floor in the alps, Le Malaysia.

It also has a six kilometre-long toboggan run and activities including ice diving, ice driving, snow mountain biking, off-piste ski touring, snowmobiling and paragliding.

Location

Location & Ski Maps

Transfer time to Val Thorens:

  • Moutiers train station (closest): 45min*
  • Chambéry airport: 1hr 45min*
  • Geneva airport: 2hrs 30min*
  • Lyon airport: 2hrs 30min*

Resort altitude: 2,300m

*Transfer time is approximate, by private transfer vehicle and subject to traffic, weather and road conditions. 

Shared shuttle/bus transfers have set departure times, take much longer to travel and don’t offer door to door service which is why we recommend private transfers only.

Val Thorens ski map

Val Thorens trail map
Val Thorens trail map

3 Valleys ski map

The 3 Valleys Trail Map Large 3 1
The 3 Valleys Trail Map

Watch the Video

Val Thorens Ski Resort Video

Welcome to the highest ski resort in Europe: Val Thorens (2300m), part of the 3 Valleys, the largest linked ski area in the world. With snow guarantee all winter, ski-in ski-out accommodation and undless winter activities on offer, it is no wonder Val Thorens is one of the most popular ski resorts in France, Europe and the world.
Watch this video to find out more…

Watch Video Now

Photo Gallery

FAQ

Not only is Val Thorens the highest ski resort in Europe (2,300m), it is situated in the largest linked ski area in the world – “The 3 Valleys” which boasts around 600kms of slopes, catering to all skill levels.

Due to its geographical location and reliable snow conditions Val Thorens is the ski resort which opens the earliest and closes the latest in the whole of the French Alps.

Val Thorens also has the longest tobogganing run in France at 6km and the highest zipline in Europe.

Families looking for good-value ski-in ski-out access will find it at over 90% of the accommodation in Val Thorens.

The snow is reliable during the entire winter season, including April spring skiing and Val Thorens offers a much more affordable option to the other nearby 3 Valleys resorts of Meribel and Courchevel, without compromising on the world class ski area and lift system.

Zip Lines- The zip line runs from Orelle to Val Thorens at speeds of over 100km/h and takes around 1 minute 45 seconds to reach the top of the Bouchet chair lift from the highest point in the 3 Valleys at 3,230m. There’s also a zipline right into the centre of Val Thorens village.

Other non-ski activities include: mountain biking; snow mobiles; ice driving; ice diving; paragliding; tobogganing; snowshoeing and a well-equipped sports centre with over 7,500sqm of indoor fun with indoor tennis, squash, badminton, football, a children’s fun park, 2 swimming pools, a gym and a spa area.

Val Thorens is 2hours 20min drive by private transfer from either Lyon or Geneva Airport.
It’s a 45min drive from Moutiers train station, the closest train station in France to Val Thorens.

A shared shuttle transfer from Geneva will take over 4hrs and will only drop you off at the village bus stop, not at your accommodation – not ideal if you are travelling with ski gear and luggage and don’t know your way around. Shared transfers also have set departure times wo you may have to wait a while at the airport before leaving.

Every season, the ski resort of Val Thorens organises sports events, shows and even exceptional music concerts!

  • 21-22 Nov La Grande Première, Val Thorens rolls out the red carpet for the start of the new ski season. Try out all the new models: skiing, snowboarding, accessories and much more – all for free!
  • Dec sees the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup, Andros Trophy, Ski and Boarder week, Christmas and New Year festivities
  • Mountain United – Introduction to ski touring every Wednesday evening from late November to late April, supervised by the Mountain United members.
  • Ski instructors torchlit descent – every Monday during the school holidays (08/02/2021 – 01/03/2021),

Next winter Val Thorens Ski Resort is scheduled to open from November 25th 2023 to May 5th 2024.

There are 7 ski resorts which are part of the 3 Valleys system which include: Courchevel, Meribel, Bride-les-Bains, Les Menuires, St Martin de Bellevile, Val Thorens and Orelle.

January 6th to Feb 10th 2024 is the cheapest and best time to go (low season), followed by 9th March until early-May 2024 (the shoulder season).

For Australians travelling to France to ski during our January summer holidays, we benefit from the cheaper rates on offer in the French ski resorts’ low season.  This happens to be when the French and Europeans go back to work and school after the 2 week Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Europeans and the Brits flock to the resorts through February into March (DO NOT TRAVEL from 10th Feb to 9th Mar 2024 as this is the French school holidays). The slopes are extremely busy, the queues at the lifts are long and the price for accommodation is very expensive during that time.  Even all the restaurants are booked out!

Typically, in January, the snow is dry with the largest build up. It is also the coldest time, so you will need to make sure that you dress warmly. It is still wise to choose a high-altitude resort in case mother nature has not been kind earlier in the season. Bear in mind though, that snow-making is used to supplement natural snowfall in high traffic areas.

So, not only is January the cheapest time to go skiing in the French Alps, it is also the best time to go thanks to the weather conditions, the lack of queues, more availability and choice of accommodation and you get to breathe fresh air with your loved ones, rather than with thousands of other people!