VAL THORENS
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
Located in Les 3 Vallees in France the stunning resort of Val Thorens is the highest ski and snowboard resort in Europe offering endless skiing and snowboarding opportunities, excellent snow conditions and a vibrant village.
Val Thorens Skiing and Snowboarding
The skiing and snowboarding terrain at Val Thorens is exciting and demanding with countless extreme off piste options, open powder fields, cliff drops and steep chutes as well as very long linking groomed trails and gentle beginner areas. All the terrain is above the tree line and serviced by a fast and efficient lift system.
Val Thorens is part of Les 3 Vallees which are the largest interlinked resorts in the world with 600 kilometres of endless marked trails plus unlimited off piste terrain. You could ski or snowboard Les 3 Vallees terrain for weeks and not cover it all. For information on Les 3 Vallees click here
Lift passes can be purchased for just the Val Thorens valley or for the entire Les 3 Vallees area. In the winter of 2006/2007 a new 'Hands Free' ski pass was introduced to Les 3 Vallees and Val Thorens which automatically enables lift access without staff manually checking passes ensuring less crowd congestion.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
Advanced skiers and snowboarders love the off piste terrain at Val Thorens. The Val Thorens village is in a central bowl within the valley; the village has a 360 degree view of the surrounding peaks enabling you to pick your off piste route down from the comfort of a distant restaurant sun terrace before you even strap on your skis or snowboard and head up the lifts.
The most challenging and steepest chutes, cliffs and off piste terrain can be found all the way along the upper ridges of Val Thorens from the Col de la Montee Du Fond area to the peak of Mont Brequin.
From the top of the Cime Caron Cable Car turn left to access the untouched, challenging and vertical Combe de Caron run that runs down to the top of the Caron Gondola.
The Cascades Chairlift has some excellent moguls underneath it and winding fast runs above it on the Peclet Glacier. Another mogul riddled steep run is the Marielle run under the 3 Vallees 2 Chairlift.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediates can happily cruise around the entire resort of Val Thorens on fun long linking groomed trails.
Start the day off with some fast GS turns down the freshly groomed Moraine trail before heading down to the winding Moutiere trail. The Boismint Chairlift, at the base of the Moutiere trail gives access to naturally rolling and steeper trails like the Blanchot trail that links with the Tetras trail ending at the base of the Plan de L’eau Chairlift.
Confident intermediates can happily tackle the advanced Col de l’audzin trail on the upper slopes under the Cime Caron Cable Car.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Beginners learn to ski or snowboard on the gentle and wide slopes next to the Val Thorens village.
Once confidence grows try some lengthier groomed trails under the 3 Vallees 1 Chairlift. Catch the Plein Sud Chairlift to access the 2 Lac Chairlift for an even longer and steeper run down the Chalets trail.
Val Thorens has five ski and snowboard schools with bilingual instructors offering group, private and day long lessons for all ages and ability levels. Also on offer are off piste lessons, guided tours and Terrain Park lessons.
Val Thorens Terrain Park and Halfpipe
For the 2007/2008 winter season the new and improved terrain park has been moved from under the 2 Lacs Chairlift to the Plateau area accessed by the Moutiere Chairlift.
The snow park has five zones; a challenging and fast boardercross course, a jumps zone, and a beginner, intermediate and advanced freestyle area with rails, tabletops, kickers and a well cut halfpipe.
Other Activities at Val Thorens
Other activities at Val Thorens include ice driving, snow shoeing, paragliding, snowmobile tours, hiking and scenic flights.
Val Thorens is home to the longest tobogganing run in France measuring six kilometres in length and five meters in width. The scenic run is parallel to the Tete Ronde trail taking an average time of forty five minutes to toboggan from start to finish. The run is defiantly worth doing for the awesome views and the fast speed!
Off the slopes enjoy ten pin bowling, going to the cinema, swimming in the Val Thorens Sport Centre pool and receiving massage and beauty treatments.
Shopping at Val Thorens
The Val Thorens village has over eighty shops stocking the latest ski and snowboard equipment and rental gear, fashion boutiques, gift and souvenir shops, photography and art galleries, eyewear shops, pharmacies and newsagencies.
There are also well stocked grocery markets, patisseries (bakeries) cheese shops, wine shops, delicatessens and butchers shops.
Val Thorens Restaurants
Val Thorens has restaurants, bistros and cafes scattered throughout the village all serving beautiful French cuisine and local Savoyard specialties.
Go with a group of friends to La Fondue Restaurant, it is ‘the’ place to go for cheese fondue and raclette; the restaurant is small and cosy and the atmosphere fun and loud!
The Montana Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. At lunchtime have a quick snack on the huge slopeside sun terrace or wait until dinner inside the warm restaurant to sample some excellent local meat, fish and cheese delicacies.
Le Sherpa Restaurant serves delicious five course gourmet French cuisine as well as having speciality food nights where guests can sample Savoyard dishes, raclette and fondue dishes and local grilled meats. The restaurant has a homemade dessert buffet and an excellent international wine list.
Go to Chalet de la Marine for an enjoyable lunch on the sundeck. Try the bacon cheese and cream tart followed by either the roast chicken or local sausages accompanied by a big glass of cold beer!
Val Thorens Nightlife
Val Thorens comes alive at night with packed trendy bars, English pubs and funky nightclubs staying open until the early hours of the morning.
The Frog and Roastbeef pub claims to be the highest English pub in Europe. It opens early for après ski drinks everyday accompanied by live music then serves tasty pub meals before clearing the tables for great fun late night tabletop dancing!
The Ski Rock Café has a cheap and crowded happy hour every night while Le Tango has some of the best live music in the village.
The popular Underground Nightclub hosts international bands and DJs throughout the season with fantastic dancing, tasty cocktails and a broad mix of international guests every night.
New for 2007/2008 at Val Thorens
For the 2007/2008 winter season the new and improved terrain park has been moved from under the 2 Lacs Chairlift to the Plateau area accessed by the Moutiere Chairlift.
The snow park has five zones; a challenging and fast boardercross course, a jumps zone, and a beginner, intermediate and advanced freestyle area with rails, tabletops, kickers and a well cut halfpipe.
In the Val Thorens village there is a new ten pin bowling and leisure centre. La Bicicleta has eight bowling lanes, pool tables, a games room, internet cafe and an Asian restaurant and bar.
More About Val Thorens
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Statistics |
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Elevation |
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Average
Snowfall |
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394 inches |
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Lifts |
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29 |
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Trails
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Terrain
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Halfpipe |
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1
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Terrain
Park |
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1 |
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Resort
Website |
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