The ski resort of Val Thorens is located in the upper part of the Belleville valley, at the foot of the Peckl peak (3562 m). This is the highest mountain resort in Europe, often called the “Roof of the Three Valleys” – the village itself lies at an altitude of 2,300 meters, and the highest point of skiing starts at 3,300 meters. Such a high location ensures the highest quality of snow on the slopes, a wide variety of slopes and a long winter season. However, the winds here are quite strong, and without special clothing and experience, skiing can be uncomfortable.
Val Thorens is one of the most budget-friendly places for active winter recreation in the country – there are no such popular alpine chalets here, multi-storey buildings prevail. The resort “takes” stunning views, snow-covered hills and majestic mountains.
The village of Val Thorens was created especially for skiers. That is why the tracks and hotels are located in such a way that it is possible to ski “from the door”. And the number of other sports facilities is impressive – the longest toboggan track in France (6 km long, with night lighting), children’s and adult ski schools, a sports center with an indoor tennis and squash court, a gym, a fitness center, a climbing area . At the same time, there is enough evening and night entertainment here, and on Tuesdays (at 6 p.m.) jazz concerts take place in the Val Torrance chapel.
In Val Thorens, great attention is paid to the protection of the environment. The resort is developing taking into account all environmental requirements. Control of hydrocarbons is carried out, the movement of cars in the resort is limited, and the Mountain Riders Association attracts skiers who visited the resort to actively participate in the protection of the environment.
Val Thorens was recognized as the best ski resort in the 2016/2017 season, according to the annual World Ski Awards.
Weather in Val Thorens
Before you go to Val Thorens, find out what the weather will be like there on the selected dates.
The tourist season in Val Thorens begins in late autumn and ends in late spring. It is during this period of time that all high-altitude tracks are full of smooth and crisp snow. To make your vacation as colorful and unforgettable as possible, you need to know the weather forecast in Val Torrance in advance. Weather reports can help you with this, which tell not only the weather in Val Torrance, but also the direction and speed of the wind, the presence of snowfall.
As for the climate of the ski resort, it is quite moderate here, transitional to alpine from mid-continental. Abundant precipitation in the form of snow lasts from four to six months a year. In January, the air temperature usually drops to -10 ° C. In autumn, fog is often observed.
Knowing the weather forecast in Val Torrance for 3 days, you can understand what things should be taken on the trip. In order for the vacation to go as flawlessly as possible, it is worth studying the weather in Val Torrance in detail for a week ahead, or even further. Going to a ski resort in the winter months, there is a high probability that the weather in Val Thorens for 14 days or longer will be as suitable as possible for skiing on any slopes and tracks.
The weather in Val Thorens does not rise above + 10 ° C for 5 days in the summer months, so you can see the snow slopes and ride them even in the hot season.
How to get to Val Thorens ski resort in France
There are several ways to get to the Val Thorens ski resort .
The most convenient and popular is by plane. You will have to get to the settlements closest to the resort – Chambery (110 km), Geneva (150 km) and Lyon (180 km), and then from them – to Val Thorens. For example, a transfer from Chambery to the resort will cost 80 euros.
Val Thorens can also be reached by train. The nearest train station to the resort is Moutiers. From there, you can get to the resort by taxi or bus for 10-12 euros.
If you decide to get to Val Thorens by car, take the roads to Chambery (A43) and Albertville (A430) and then the N90 to Moutiers and the Three Valleys.
Tracks and lifts
The tracks of Val Thorens converge to the ski station and the village of Orel from eight mountain peaks and six glaciers. In total, there are about 66 descents with a total length of more than 140 km (14% “black”, 37% “red”, 31% “blue” and 18% “green”), and almost all of them are located at heights of more than 2000 meters, which means that mostly suitable only for experienced skiers. Several routes (only “black” and “red”) have been laid through the high mountain passes, which allow you to ski from Val Torrance to other resorts of the Three Valleys, and the slopes of the Pointe de Torrance peak (3266 m) are famous for their spacious virgin fields. Only in the lower part of the valley, at altitudes from 1,800 to 2,300 meters, there are about one and a half dozen “blue” and “green” slopes available for beginner athletes.
The routes are served by 31 lifts with a total capacity of about 52,000 people per hour. Moreover, it is in Val Torrance that the largest suspended lift in Europe is located – CARON (the cabin is designed for 150 people), which lifts skiers to the highest point of the Cime de Caron valley (3200 m), from where a beautiful circular view of the French, Italian and Swiss Alps opens – only about a thousand peaks! And the Funitel cable car, which goes from the valley to the foot of the Funitel glacier, lifts up to 3 thousand skiers per hour.
There are ski schools, equipment rental and even a kindergarten for small guests of the recreation area.
Ski schools in Val Thorens
At the Val Thorens ski resort, you can learn to ski. To do this, all you need to do is enroll in one of the four schools specialized for this purpose. Experienced ski instructors will show in detail the basics of downhill skiing and, if necessary, give lessons in downhill skiing not only in French, but also in English, German or other languages.
In addition to downhill skiing, there is an opportunity to learn snowboarding, freestyle, freeriding, go on organized snowshoe hikes or participate in night skiing with torches.
You can visit such a specialized school with children. Individual lessons at such an educational institution will cost 49 EUR. There is also the possibility of purchasing a group three-day course for 89 EUR. The price category for studies varies depending on which school you choose to study.
Val Thorens has Europe’s longest six-kilometer toboggan run, Le Toboggan.
The slopes of Val Thorens are very convenient for skiers – they are wide, with convenient turns, perfectly lit and divided into the following zones:
- Borgne with blue and two black tracks. The highest point is 2850 meters. In addition, from here you can reach the ski resort of Meribel by going down Lac De La Chambre .
- Peclet with red, blue and green tracks. The highest point is 3101 meters.
- Thorens for extremes with the steepest and longest black track Combre De Cardon.
- Bouchet with a border cross course. There are two glaciers here – Du Bouchet and De La Pointe Renod.
- Cascades zone of the most significant sizes. There is a large snow park here.
SPA procedures in Val Torrance
If there is time for a ride, then you need to find time to relax and improve your health.
When going on vacation, you must enjoy all the charms of the chosen resort to the maximum. Val Thorens spa resorts can reward you for hard work throughout the year, as well as replenish your vitality. The time of rest on a ski holiday is characterized by an extreme, festive and unfussy atmosphere at the same time, where you can please your soul and body with all kinds of procedures.
The sports spa center of Val Torrance will provide everyone with a range of services, including restorative pools, massages, hammams and jacuzzis, which will help you fully enjoy your vacation. This is the only place in the resort where Solfeggio massage is available, which can improve the shape and silhouette of the body, as well as relax it.
The most popular spa services of Val Thorens include the impression shower, the salt wall, the ice fountain and the solarium. In numerous massage rooms, you can get rid of accumulated stress, anxiety, and aggression.
The main sights of Val Thorens
The town of Val Thorens is rich in its many years of history, so it has many places that would be of great interest to vacationers. With the advent of a new era, traces of the former were left on the buildings, and its own style of architecture and art appeared.
The main attractions of Val Thorens are its mountains. A large number of all kinds of tracks and picturesque landscapes of the French Alps impress with their grandeur and scale. It is in order to admire the local beauties that crowds of vacationers come here. On the map with sights of Val Torrance, one cannot fail to note the slopes and the highest points, from which views of amazing beauty open up. In clear and snow-free weather, you can even see the top of Mont Blanc from the highest point of this mountainous area.
Mountains in Val Thorens
One of the most popular places in this resort is the amusement park for snowboarders, which has jumps, hills, ditches and chutes. The scheme of Val Thorens with attractions, the highest slopes and routes to them can be bought directly upon arrival here.
Sights of Val Thorens with names do not need intrusive advertising. In this region, everything has been done so that the vacationer could move from the noisy, gassed metropolis to a cozy corner of the earth, which lives its own life and obeys only nature. A description of the sights of Val Thorens and its beauty cannot be put on paper or expressed in words. This beauty must be seen.
Val Thorens: with children
Val Thorens belongs to the family of resorts marked by the Famille Plus brand. And despite the rather significant height of the resort, children of any age are comfortable in Val Torrance. A large part of the village is exclusively pedestrian, without cars, apartments and hotels can be reached on skis, and an entertainment program is provided for small guests every day. Above the resort is the largest toboggan run in France, 6 km long (open every day until 3:00 p.m. and three times a week in the evenings), a lift brings sledders to the top. In the sports center of the resort, there is a children’s center with an area of 600 square meters – trampolines, bouncy castles, a dry pool, game modules and a playground.
Hotels and ski passes in Val Thorens
The approximate cost of accommodation and recreation in Val Torrance is a little cheaper than in other resorts of the Three Valleys, and the hotels are located in such a way that you can easily reach the nearest lift if you ski right by the door of the hotel. A one-day ski pass Val Thorens – Orelle will cost 37 euros for adults (13-59 years old), 32 euros – for pensioners (over 59 years old) and 26-28 euros for children aged 5 to 12 years, six-day – 178- 182, 151-155 and 125-127 euros, respectively. The ski pass Vallee de Belleville (common for the entire Belleville Valley, 330 km of slopes) costs 220-225 euros for adults, 187-193 euros for senior citizens and 165-169 euros for children, and valid for 13 days – 455-475, 368-386 and 332-350 euros, respectively. The general Trois Vallee ski pass for the entire region is sold on general terms.
The ski season lasts from the end of November to the beginning of May, but already in November and until the beginning of July you can ski on the Pekl glacier.
In the immediate vicinity of the skiing areas of the Val Thorens ski resort, there are many hotels, most of them with access to the slopes.
5* Hotel Koh-I Nor Val Thorens
Hotel Koh-I Nor Val Thorens 5-star hotel
The ski-in, ski-out Koh-I Nor is located in Val Thorens, the highest resort in the Three Valleys Ski Area. It offers a spa, 2 indoor pools, a terrace with panoramic views and 3 restaurants.
The rooms have a marble bathroom with bathrobes and free toiletries. The windows offer a view of the mountains or the village. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
The fully equipped spa includes a hot tub, sauna, hammam, relaxation areas and a salt wall.
Every morning, guests are offered breakfast, which can be served in the room. The hotel also has 3 restaurants serving local and international specialties. You can enjoy them on the terrace with a panoramic view of the mountains.
The hotel has a ski storage room and a ski shop. Transfer services are provided throughout the resort. Moutiers Train Station is 37 km from the hotel, while Chambery Airport is 112 km away.
5* Hôtel Fitz Roy
5* Altapura
5* Chalet des Neiges Koh-i Nor
4* Le Val Thorens
4* Fahrenheit Seven
4* Hotel Le Hameau Du Kashmir
Hotel Le Hameau Du Kashmir 4-star hotel
Hotel Le Hameau Du Kashmir is located in the Val Thorens ski resort , next to the ski slopes. A sauna and an indoor pool are available. For an additional fee, the spa offers massage and beauty treatments. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi.
The suites have a balcony with a view of the mountains, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with a bathrobe and a hairdryer. Some suites include a living room with a flat-screen TV. An electric kettle can be used in all suites.
In the morning, guests are served a buffet breakfast. The hotel’s 2 restaurants serve local and French cuisine, as well as steaks. Drinks can be ordered at the bar.
A terrace with a panoramic view and a ski shop are at the disposal of Le Hameau Du Kashmir hotel guests. Guests can use a free ski storage room. Private parking spaces are available for an additional fee and upon prior reservation. Moutiers Train Station is 38 km away
4* Hôtel Club MMV Les Arolles
4* Chalet des Neiges Hermine
3* Le Sherpa Val Thorens Hôtels-Chalets de Tradition
Le Sherpa Val Thorens Hôtels-Chalets de Tradition 3-star hotel
Hotel Le Sherpa is located in the heart of Val Thorens. It offers accommodation in a chalet-style building next to the ski lift. The hotel offers a beautiful view of the top of the Trois-Vallee ski area.
Hotel Le Sherpa is a family hotel with comfortable rooms with wooden furniture decorated in warm colors. Spend the weekend in a cozy atmosphere.
In addition to all the standard amenities, each room has satellite TV and a balcony with a great view.
For your convenience, Hotel Le Sherpa has a restaurant serving buffet breakfast and 5-course lunch. Relax by the fireplace, enjoy freshly prepared local specialties and fine cuisine in the welcoming atmosphere of the dining room.
After an exciting day spent on the ski slopes, you can relax in the lounge or enjoy treatments in the hotel’s beauty salon and spa. It has a sauna, a Turkish bath and a jacuzzi.
3* Langley Hotel Tango
3* Le Cheval Blanc
Where to eat in Val Thorens
There are many cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs in the Val Thorens ski resort , so the problem of “where to have a snack or a heavy dinner” definitely does not exist here. There are also democratic places that work until the morning – for connoisseurs of simple cuisine who understand this fun. There are more pompous establishments where you will be served roast beef and frog legs.
While vacationing in the ski resort of Val Thorens, you are sure to make your own list of favorite places for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
What to do in Val Thorens, events
The resort of Val Torrance is famous for its trails and mountain descents of varying difficulty. Spectacular competitions are held every day among ski masters and desperate snowboarders, which encourage everyone present to become the same professionals. Every year at the beginning of December, the town hosts the “Snowboard Week”. This kind of competition does not go unnoticed in Val Thorens. In order to take part in it, a lot of desperate extremes and rascals gather at the resort.
Among the entertainment in Val Torrance, it is worth highlighting free concerts of classical and jazz music. Various competitions and shows are held here every year. The most popular of all is the Andros Trophy – car racing on ice. There are so many kinds of entertainment here that a person with any passion and budget can find something that will appeal to him.
Val Thorens is famous as a resort for students and young people. Therefore, many establishments work here, if not until early morning, then until late at night, for sure. National Danish, English, French music, loud discos, billiards – and this is far from a complete list of your possible activities for the evening.
In addition, Val Thorens has sports complexes, saunas, baths, a roller center, a tennis court, a free library, bicycle paths, the opportunity to ride sleds, snowmobiles, quad bikes – so you won’t be bored.
Well, the main “highlight” of Val Thorens is the large open-air La Folie Douce, a venue for events and a disco party, located at an altitude of 2,600 meters. Connoisseurs of a more relaxed pastime can listen to jazz and the organ in the church of the resort.
Let the time spent in Val Torrance leave the most vivid memories!