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Val Thorens Ski Holidays: Complete Travel Guide

Posted by: Brandon Fryer 2 years ago

If you want the ultimate ski holiday, then look no further than Val Thorens in France. It is the highest ski resort in Europe and part of the famous three valleys – the largest fully interlinking ski area in the world.

 

About Val Thorens

Located in the region of Savoie in the northern French Alps, Val Thorens is one of the most snow-sure resorts in the area due to 90% of the terrain being above 2,000 m. The ski season runs from late November to mid-May.

While the resort has been purpose-built, it is more animated than many of its French counterparts and features a great selection of shops, bars, restaurants, and nightlife.

 

Getting there

If you’re heading to Val Thorens by air, you will need to consider how you are getting from your chosen airport to the ski resort. There are four airports to pick from: Geneva, Grenoble, Lyon, and Chambery.

The transfer time from each varies, and you can decide to book shared or private transfers. Although the shared transfer is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly option, a private transfer is more expensive but considerably faster. There is also the option of hiring a car yourself, but you must be happy driving on potentially snowy and congested roads.

  • Geneva Airport: 155km, 3 hours 15 minutes.
  • Lyon Airport: 199km, 3 hours 35 minutes.
  • Grenoble Airport: 187km, 3 hours 25 minutes.
  • Chambery Airport: 122km, 2 hours 30 minutes.

The Resort

Val Thorens’ wide range of slopes makes it perfect for all abilities – including blue, red, and black. You will have access to 600km of piste if you purchase the three-valley lift pass which allows you to ski the whole of Val Thorens, Meribel, and Courchevel. There are different passes to suit your group, so do your research and buy the one most suitable for you and your level.  

Beginners are well catered for with easy access to the nursery slopes, which are in the centre of the resort and ideal for learning on. There is also access to a free drag lift and four magic carpet lifts, which means you won’t need to spend money on a full week’s lift pass. Once you’ve learned the basics, you can purchase a lift ticket and venture further afield. 

Intermediate skiers have great options too, with an abundance of blue and red runs to tackle. The large volume of piste for advanced skiers is what attracts many experts to the region. There are also further options for off-piste skiing, challenging black runs, and mogul fields.

  • Beginner runs: 41
  • Intermediate runs: 30
  • Runs: 80
  • Lifts: 32
  • Chairs: 16
  • Drags: 8
  • Cable cars: 8
  • Parks: 2

Other activities

If you’ve had enough on the slopes, there are numerous other activities for you to take part in. You can access wellness areas such as saunas, pools, and steam rooms to relax. If you prefer to get more physical, try renting a Skidoo and guide to enjoy the Alps from a different perspective.

The leisure centre offers a range of activities, such as swimming, squash, and tennis. There is a six-kilometre toboggan run around the foot of the Peclet glacier, as well as ice diving for the more adventurous.

Accommodation

The resort features convenient slope-side accommodation such as hotels, ski chalets, and apartments. In fact, 90% of the accommodation is ‘ski-in-ski-out’, making it ideal for families and groups that prefer the ease that this offers. There is also a great free bus service around the resort to aid easy transportation.

The accommodation is generally a higher standard than most purpose-built resorts, although the catered chalets in Val Thorens are for those with a higher budget. There are hotels to suit all tastes and budgets, many including facilities such as swimming pools and health spas. If you’re looking for luxury, check out Hotel Altapura - Val Thorens' first ever 5-star hotel.

There are two other villages in the valley that are connected to the main ski area: Les Menuires with chalet-style accommodation and St Martin de Belleville, which is regarded as a traditional French mountain village. 

Après and Nightlife

Another reason why Val Thorens is so popular is because of the incredible energy every day thanks to the restaurants and bars in the region. Après in Val Thorens starts early, with popular venues entertaining in the daytime with a range of DJs and bands. La Folie Douce is a popular daytime nightclub, attracting partygoers from 2 pm to 5 pm every day. Another popular bar is Le Saloon, which opens from 3 pm until late. If you want to carry the party on until the early hours of the morning, head to Malaysia – the biggest nightclub anywhere in the Alps!

iSki has a fantastic selection of ski package holidays on offer to Val Thorens. Call our experts today on 0203 8236113 to find the one best suited to you!