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Valmorel Ski Resort

Valmorel is in the Grand Domain ski area that includes Saint-Francois-Longchamp, Celliers, La Léchère, Nâves, and Doucy Combelouviere. It’s a family-friendly ski resort sitting 1,400 meters. Many skiers often overlook it in favour of larger resorts like Val d’Isere or Tignes.

It is a purpose-built ski resort, but it doesn’t follow the high-rise buildings of many French ski resorts. Instead, it is built with traditional building materials to give it a more authentic mountain village appearance with many small apartment blocks with wood cladding.

Valmorel’s snowy streets are largely pedestrianised, and most accommodation is close to the lifts. If you stay in one of the outer hamlets, you can get around on the free eco-shuttle buses.

Valmorel’s ski area has 165km of pistes that go up to 2,550 meters. The 56 runs are serviced by 50 ski lifts and feature well-established artificial snowmaking facilities. Most runs are best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. You’ll love the highway-style runs that allow you to get up to some high speeds.

Beginners can hone their skills in the six novice areas, two of which are reserved for kids. But there is also a children’s club that entertains kids while teaching them how to ski. Advanced skiers and snowboarders will love the off-piste terrain Valmorel has to offer. The best off-piste can be found around Nâves and Massif de la Lauzière, but a guide or instructor will take you to the best runs for the snow conditions.

The family-friendliness of Valmorel is enhanced with the various kids’ activities available when they’ve finished skiing. For example, kids can enjoy sledging, air boarding, and riding quad bikes and snow scooters.

You can also relax in the thermal baths or numerous spas, Valmorel has to offer. Alternatively, you can explore the area with snowshoes, paraglider, or on a dog sled.

Valmorel isn’t known for its extensive nightlife, but there are a few bars and a nightclub to entertain you in the evenings before you head back to your luxury apartment.

Valmorel ski season ENDS in…

 
 

Valmorel Accommodation Map

The Best Valmorel Accommodation

Mostly ski-in/ski-out accommodation in stone and wood buildings no more than four storeys high.

Valmorel Ski Resort Studio Bergoend Mgm2

Residence Anitéa
|Valmorel

1 to 4 bedroom apartments. Residence Anitéa offers exceptional access to the Grand Domaine, a ski area with 165 km of slopes. This brand new property for 2018, nestles at the heart of Valmorel’s pedestrianised village. You benefit from direct access from our Residence Anitéa to the resort’s shops and activities, which are open to all and are Famille+ certified.

27
Jan
CGH Résidence La Grange aux Fées - Valmorel

La Grange aux Fées
|Valmorel

1 to 4 bedroom apartments. CGH Residence & Spa La Grange aux Fées. With its typical Savoyard architecture and its location next to the heart of Valmorel resort, you will spend unforgettable moments in a comfortable and authentic environment. You’ll also enjoy our services and high quality services as our spas Ô des Cimes.

11
Jan

Valmorel Info & Stats

Season

December 16, 2023 – April 14, 2024

Ski area

Linked to St François Longchamp to form the Grand Domaine ski area, the altitude ranges from 1,400 to 2,550 metres and is best suited to intermediates.

50 lifts provide access to 165 kilometres of trails, including 14 green runs, 25 blue, 11 red and 5 black.

Linked ski area

Le Grand Domaine (4 resorts):
Valmorel, Doucy, Celliers, St-François-Lonchamp

  • 165 km of slopes
  • 90 runs  (24 greens, 39 blues, 19 reds, 8 blacks)
  • 50 Lifts

Non-ski activities and experiences

As well as thermal baths, spas and a cinema, activities include snow shoeing, dog sledding, sledging and paragliding.

Location

Location & Ski Map

Transfer time to Valmorel:

  • Moutiers train station (closest): 20min*
  • Chambéry airport: 1hr 15min*
  • Geneva airport: 1hr 45min*
  • Lyon airport: 1hr 50min*

Resort altitude: 1,400m

*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.

Valmorel Grand Domaine ski map

Valmorel trail map
Valmorel trail map

Watch the Video

Valmorel Ski Resort Video

Valmorel is a charming ski-in ski-out pedestrian-only village built with local materials – wood, stone and slate. It is the only ski village in France with this type of beautiful architecture. This ski resort is made for families!
Watch this video to find out more…

Watch Video Now

Photo Gallery

FAQ

  • Valmorel is a charming ski-in ski-out pedestrian-only village built with local materials – wood, stone and slate. It is the only ski village in France with this type of beautiful architecture.
  • It is perfectly suited for families with the majority of slopes being blue runs (perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers).
  • It stages the world famous dog-sledding race event, La Grande Odyssée
  • Valmorel ski resort is the first one in the Tarentaise valley coming from Geneva. This means a shorter transfer time to get to the ski resort from the airport.
  • Valmorel hosts the Spartan sprint race on the 30-31 January in 2021. This is a gruelling 5 km, 20 obstacle foot race on rugged terrain to test courage, strength and determination.
  • Valmorel is a beautiful, charming little pedestrian village perfectly suited for families with children of all ages. It is one of the best family ski resorts in France for children along with Avoriaz in Les Portes du Soleil.
  • Couples or groups of friends wanting a small cosy alpine village experience with ski-in ski-out access
  • The ski area suits beginners and intermediates alike with the majority of Le Grand Domaine ski area slopes being blue runs.
  • People who love dogs and nature. Valmorel is one of the best dog-sledding destinations in the French Alps which is why it consistently stages an event on La Grande Odyssée (world famous annual dog sledding event)
  • Fitness lovers! Valmorel hosts the Spartan Sprint race and is a must do for any fitness athlete wanting to challenge themselves against the best

Stroll through the pedestrian-only village’s main street and drink in the charming village atmosphere with its boutique shops, restaurants and a handful of bars.

Valmorel, along with many other ski resorts in the Savoie and Haute Savoie region provides many winter activities to choose from such as snow shoeing, hiking and Nordic walking, sledging , electric snowmobiling for kids, fat bikes, snake-gliss, groomer rides, paragliding and many dedicated kids activities.

Indoor activities include a cinema, indoor golf (simulator), spas, wellness centre…
Discover dog sledding in a beautifully-preserved setting, between high plateaux and snow-covered forests. Valmorel will be also hosting stage 7 of the world famous “La Grande Odyssée” Savoie Mont-Blanc on 16th January 2021, a must tick on your bucket list for any snow and dog lover.

Valmorel is 1 hr 45 min drive by private transfer from either Lyon or Geneva Airport.
It’s a 20min drive from Moutiers train station, the closest train station in France to Valmorel.

Next winter, Valmorel ski resort is scheduled to open from December 16th 2023 to April 14th 2024.

There are 4 ski resorts which are part of Le Grand Domaine ski area which include: Valmorel, Doucy, Celliers and St-François-Lonchamp.

January 6th to Feb 10th 2024 is the cheapest and best time to go (low season), followed by 9th March until mid-April 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!