Val Thorens offers world-class skiing and boarding but is still very accessible for beginners as the nursery slopes are centrally located in the village with lots of moving walkways to help move skiers around.
The Boismint sector has slopes facing the resort and catches the early sun so is ideal for the first runs of the day on the cruisy blue and red runs. The Cime de Caron is the highest point and gives access to some challenging black runs and is the starting point for several off-piste itineraries. It is also the access point for Rosael and the slopes of Orelle, the 4th Valley. From the viewpoint, at the top of the Cime de Caron, you can see 1,000 peaks so it is worth the trip up for the view alone! For wide, cruisy blue runs head for the Moraine sector, and for challenging reds take the Peclet lift which rises to 2296 feet (700 m) to the glacier. Ski the sunny slopes of the Plein Soleil area in the afternoon where you’ll find some lovely blue and red runs and fantastic après ski at the Folie Douce on the way back down to the resort.
The off-piste skiing is fantastic and the high altitude allows the snow to stay in great condition making it a good choice for those with less experience. The Pierre Lory Pass run has gentle slopes and can be accessed from the top of the Col chairlift. For the more experienced there is the Lac du Loup with its 1,400m vertical and stunning views. For those happy to hike up there are the wonderful long runs over the Gebroulaz glacier down in the Meribel-Mottaret valley. There are a number of ski schools that offer great introductory off-piste courses for the uninitiated and guides for the more experienced.
Ski down the valley to Les Menuires where good skiers will love the red and black runs on La Masse and don’t miss the opportunity of going to St Martin de Belleville to see a beautiful, authentic Savoyard village. It also has some great lunch-stop restaurants.
Snowboarders and freestylers are well served in the area and lifts are mostly chairs and gondolas making life easier for boarders. There are specialist schools for those looking to learn or improve their technique. The Snowpark in the Plateau sector has 90 000 m² area divided into four zones: beginners, intermediate, expert and a Jump’Air (shock absorbing stunt man’s mattress). There are different modules: whoops, wall ride, tables, and handrails. There is also a Boardercross in the 2 Lacs sector, which offers skiers and snowboarders a complete range of thrills and spills.
Access to Meribel-Mottaret is straightforward and it is easy with a little route planning to ski in all 3 valleys in a day – just keep an eye on the weather and lift closing times for the return as a taxi back ( the only option when the lifts are shut) can be expensive.
Val Thorens Ski Resort Statistics
Skiable Terrain | 600 km of piste |
Vertical | 2,130 m (6,988 ft) |
Top Elevation | 3,230 m (10,597 ft) |
Base Elevation | 1,100 m (3,608 ft) |
Average Snowfall | 600 cm (19.6 ft) |
Beginner Terrain | 17% |
Intermediate Terrain | 39% |
Advanced Terrain | 34% |
Trails | 328 |
Winter lifts Total | 183 |
Gondolas Trams | 35 |
Chair Lifts | 69 |
Surface Lifts | 64 |
Longest Run | 3.2 km |
Snowmaking | 2,100 + cannons / 40% runs covered |
Season Opens | November |
Season Closes | May |