Val Thorens

The Val Thorens ski area

The ski season in Val Thorens usually runs from mid-November to the end of April. Val Thorens is part of the expansive Three Valleys ski area, offering 600km of perfectly groomed pistes.

The Three Valleys ski area covers the neighbouring resorts of Meribel, Courchevel and Les Menuires. The result is an exceptional range of ski slopes from gentle greens for the budding beginner through to challenging blacks for the seasoned pro.

With fast, modern ski lifts, Val Thorens and the surrounding ski area offers an accessible and compelling ski experience.

What lift pass do I need?

There are two different ski passes on offer:

Les 3 Vallées Area Ski Pass: Covers Val Thorens, Orelle, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Meribel, Brides les Bains and Courchevel.
Val Thorens-Orelle Local Ski Pass: Covers Val Thorens & Orelle.

For most skiers and snowboarders, the full Three Valleys area lift pass is the one to get. Of course it does come at a higher price point, but it’s absolutely worth it for the exceptional amount of ski area.

The local only pass would be more appropriate for total beginners, who will likely be sticking to the gentle green and blue slopes for the majority of the week.

Best ski runs

Beginners can hone their skills on the Cairn run towards Les Menuires. With its wide and gentle slopes, it’s the ideal place to practise those turns.

For the intermediates, take the varied Allamande red run from the top of 3 Marches down to Les Menuires. It offers a compelling combination of steep sections, twisting passages, and long shusses.

Those with more experience can test their skills on the steeper slopes of Cime de Caron, including the red Col de l’Audzin. Skiers and snowboarders after a challenge can try the black Combe de Caron run, complete with stunning views as a backdrop.

Or there’s the black Combe Rosael which runs through beautiful Orelle (often referred to as the ‘fourth valley’). It’s not one for the faint-hearted though and best avoided if the snow conditions aren’t perfect.

Off-piste and backcountry

Val Thorens provides plenty of easily accessible off-piste opportunities. Due to the altitude and excellent snow conditions in Val Thorens, powder days can usually be enjoyed well into the spring.

The Pierre Lory area offers a good taste of off-piste skiing that’s relatively moderate and close to the slopes. It can be accessed from the top of the Col chairlift and ends in the Maurienne Valley.

For something a bit more challenging, the Vallon Du Lou is a large valley which offers some exhilarating backcountry skiing to the lake at the bottom. For off-piste skiing that’s further afield, there are plenty of guided tours you can join.

Snow park

The Val Thorens snowpark can be accessed via the Moutière chairlift. Conveniently there is a drag lift to take you back to the top of the park, saving you the chair lift queues.

Home to some big kickers, the VT snowpark is a great place for pro freestylers to hone their tricks and stunts. Due to the good snow conditions in the resort, the kickers stay in good shape all the way through the season.

Runs in the park are colour coded based on difficulty, following the same system as the slopes: green (easy), blue (medium), red (difficult) and black (very difficult). There are five zones: 800m long boardercross, three freestyle zones and a Jump’Air (the giant air bag).

Key features of the Val Thorens snowpark include a jump table, corner, big air, wall ride, handrail, half pipe and whoops.

Beginners and ski-school

One of Europe’s best ski resorts for beginners, Val Thorens offers plenty of wide, gentle slopes close to the centre of the resort. There is a great beginner area right next to the town, complete with magic carpet lifts – so no need to negotiate drag lifts.

There are lots of forgiving blue runs dotted throughout Val Thorens, making it a great ski resort to learn how to ski or snowboard.