Where is Val Thorens ski resort located?

Val Thorens stands apart from more traditional Alpine ski villages as an impressive modern project, built from the ground up as a haven for skiers and fulfilling their every wish and need. You will have access to more than 600km of interlinked slopes - an intermediates playground with plenty of greens for beginners and adventurous off-pistes for those looking for a challenge. From the astonishing height location of 2,300m to the certainty of snow and doorstep skiing, this sunny resort area is the perfect setting for a truly luxurious ski holiday.   

Get in touch 

Our team of luxury holiday experts will plan for you a completely bespoke luxury ski holiday in Val Thorens, personally arranging everything from luxury accommodation to dinner reservations, chalet chefs, or transportation. Oxford Ski Company has handpicked a stunning selection of luxury chalets and hotels in Val Thorens for you to choose from.  

Piste Map

Explore our Val Thorens ski resort guide below. 

Luxury ski holidays in Val Thorens: What to expect

A luxury ski holiday in Val Thorens is sure to meet every expectation, with incredible skiing, dramatic mountain scenery, contemporary luxury accommodation, and sumptuous dining experiences - including 10 Michelin-star restaurants. This award-winning resort (World Ski Awards 2019 ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’ and ‘France’s Best Ski Resort’) is the most visited ski resort in Europe, with well-heeled clientele travelling in from all over the world.

The unparalleled location at the highest point of the Three Valleys ensures an impressive amount of powder snow, despite the sunny slopes. Even when other resorts are affected by short winters, Val Thorens is completely snow-certain. Guests lodging in our ski-in/ski-out lodgings in Val Thorens will be perfectly positioned to enjoy the Three Valley slopes from dusk to dawn. 

Closest airports to Val Thorens 

• Geneva (GVA): 2h 20m / 200km
• Lyon (LYS): 2h 20m / 200km
• Chambery (CMF): 1h 35m / 120km
• Grenoble (GNB): 1h 50m / 150km
  
  

When is the best time for skiing in Val Thorens?

French resorts are generally open from December to April, but the high altitude of Val Thorens sees skiers hitting the slopes as early as November. Expect excellent snow conditions throughout the season, with December and February busy with holidaying families and festive activities, and January with the quietest slopes and deepest snow.  

Our Luxury Ski Chalets and Hotels in Val Thorens  

Expect nothing but the best from a luxury ski holiday in Val Thorens. Our team of luxury holiday specialists visit Val Thorens every year to keep abreast of any new developments in the town and in the Val Thorens luxury chalet and hotel scene. We meticulously inspect and look into the lodgings we can arrange for you, connecting with the chalet owners and hoteliers to guarantee a truly luxurious experience for our guests. 

Luxury catered chalets in Val Thorens

Our stunning selection of Val Thorens luxury chalets are thoughtfully fitted with wellness facilities and superb amenities while keeping you closest to the pistes. We can find the perfect accommodation for you, suitable for everything from large family gatherings to an intimate group of friends. Take your pick from chalets with soft furnishings and home cinemas, heated pools, and cigar rooms. 

We offer fully catered chalets in Val Thorens, such as the La Datcha Val Thorens which sleeps 15, as well as self-catered chalets, such as the Chalet Golden Jubilee which sleeps 10. 

Luxury Ski Hotels in Val Thorens

We have hand-picked a selection of four and five-star hotels in Val Thorens that can be viewed below. These impressive hotels are the height of luxury, including the four-star hotels which offer excellent value for money. Ski hotels in Val Thorens are well known for their ease of access to the slopes and the sumptuous amenities available, from sumptuous spa treatments and indoor pools with a view, to supervised kids' clubs and restaurants with sun terraces.   

Please click on the links to view details of the fine hotels that we have selected for you to choose from. You’ll find all the information you require, including room details, location, facilities, and pricing for this ski season. 

• Hotel Altapura - 88 rooms and suites 

This luxury five-star hotel features a nordic chic atmosphere and an unmatched ski-in, ski-out location, with the Plein Sud chairlift passing out the front door. Guests are offered unique, panoramic mountain views, a birch forest-themed spa, excellent family facilities, luxury dining, and quirky après ski.

• Hotel Koh-I Nor - 63 rooms and suites 

The Persian phrase “Koh-I Nor” translates to ”mountain of light”, and the Hotel Koh-I Nor lives up to this name by opening up the building to as much light as possible through spacious rooms and stunning views. It’s the highest five-star hotel in Europe, at an altitude of 2,364m.   

• Hotel Le Val Thorens - 80 rooms and suites

This ultimate ski-in, ski-out hotel is located right on the slopes, close to the lifts, and at the centre of the contemporary resort. Hotel Le Val Thorens features two traditional restaurants serving local specialities and a spa with an indoor swimming pool featuring wide open views of the nearby slopes.  

• Hotel Fitz Roy - 72 rooms and suites

This centrally located five-star hotel offers a traditional and warm Alpine environment with a contemporary and elegant touch, perfect for friends and family gatherings alike. The Hotel Fitz Roy features one of the oldest dining establishments in Val Thorens with a sunny south-facing terrace. 

Skiing in Val Thorens: What to expect

Val Thorens sits at an impressive altitude of 2,300m, ensuring incredible snow quality throughout the season. From the resort, skiing elevation increases significantly with the highest skiable peaks, Pointe du Bouchet and Cime de Caron, at 3,220m and 3,200m respectively. You may also find 2007 snow cannons along the Three Valley ski area that help guarantee the snow coverage.  

Val Thorens is the perfect destination for skiers of all levels, with a number of green and blue runs for beginners and intermediate skiers as well as challenging runs for our most experienced skiers. On top of the incredible skiing, try zooming down the longest toboggan run in Europe, which is six kilometres in length and a nonstop 45-minute descent. 

In Val Thorens and the Three Valleys ski domain, you can expect the following ski terrains and conditions: 

Ski terrain in Val Thorens

• Pistes: 150km in Val Thorens alone/600km across the Three Valleys
• Resort height: 2300m
• Longest run: 12km 
• Skiing Elevation: 1260-3230m
• Green: 13%
• Blue:  39%
• Red: 38%
• Black:  10%
  
  

Snowfall levels in Val Thorens

• Snowmaking coverage: 25 %
• Average snowfall: 84 cm each year 
• November: 29 cm
• December: 79 cm
• January: 75 cm
• February: 47 cm
• March: 51 cm
  
  

Val Thorens ski lift information

In Val Thorens alone you may find a total of 31 lifts, including magic carpets, draglifts, chairlifts, gondolas, funitels, and a cable car. These lifts interlink across the Three Valleys area, and around 180 lifts will be available to you, including: 

• Gondola: 35
• Chairlifts: 64
• Drag lifts: 44
• Cable car: 5
• Magic Carpets: 20 
• Funicular: 3 
  
  

Val Thorens lift pass cost

You can expect the prices for a Val Thorens and the Three Valleys six-day lift pass to be from £197 to £295 for an adult and £165 to £236 for a child. Prices will vary depending on a number of factors. Please contact a member of our knowledgeable team for accurate prices on your luxury ski holiday. 

Intermediate skiing in Val Thorens

With the 600km of varied terrain to tackle, skiing in the Three Valleys from Val Thorens is pure bliss for those at an intermediate level. Near the resort, you will find plenty of easy reds and blues, such as the wide piste below the Moraine chairlift. Take a lift to the top of Cime de Caron peak for long runs and breathtaking views. Don’t forget to check out the Boismint area below the town. Here, you will find quieter slopes and quick lift queues. 

Advanced skiing in Val Thorens

The range of slopes in Val Thorens is unmatched, with challenging mogul fields in La Masse and endless off-piste adventures to be found on the Chaviere or Peclet glaciers. Truly advanced skiers will have a blast trying their hand at the infamous Couloirs of Courchevel or the steep Cîme de Caron black run.  

Off-piste skiing

Val Thorens is set in a huge ski bowl, surrounded by 6 large glaciers. Take an off-piste tour with an expert to guide you to endless fields untouched of powdery snow The available off-piste adventures start from a number of the peaks, one popular route starting from the top of the Col chairlift and leading down into the Maurienne Valley. 

Val Thorens skiing for beginners

Most nursery slopes are found just meters from your lodgings, with free magic carpets to reach the gentle, sweeping blues by the resort. Val Thorens is a perfect location for first-time skiers to get their footing - taking it slow on the nursery slopes before reaching out to the easy-going terrain located above the town. 

Val Thorens for families 

Families are well looked after in the Val Thorens and the Three Valley area. Gran a seasonal guide from the local tourist office for up to date information on activities that the whole family can enjoy - from a dedicated children’s area to a family toboggan run.  

The best après ski in Val Thorens

From quirky and buzzy bars located in the Val Thorens luxury hotels to three late-night clubs, this resort sparks to life at night with some of the best après ski scenes in Europe. 

The Folie Douce

One of the smaller Folies, this famous après ski location is known as “the dance floor at the top of the world” and is where you will find most Val Thorens skiers partying after a ski-filled day on the mountains. The Folie Douce is easily accessed from the piste under the Plein Sud chairlift and offers live music from 14:00 - 17:30. Enjoy the outdoor sofas, with cosy duvets and huge pillows to keep you warm.  

The Frog and Roast Beef

If you’re looking for après ski that starts a little earlier, check out the Frog and Roast Beef - the highest pub in Europe. This English venue attracts a young crowd and is known for its table-top dancing, loud music, and “Yard of Ale” challenge. 

Cafe Snesko

This Dutch bar starts the party from around 18:00 to 20:00 with the bar staff joining in to sing along to classic songs and playing drinking games. Cafe Snesko gets even rowdier later on in the night with the ceiling and bar (literally) set on fire.

Malaysia

Malaysia is the largest nightclub in the Alps and attracts some of the most well-known names in the DJing world. Don’t be fooled by its hut-like appearance on the outside, the real party is located completely underground.  

Val Thorens boutique shopping

If you’ve finished skiing early, well before the après starts, why not take the opportunity to go shopping? Take a stroll through the Val Thorens shopping centres to find an enchanting array of window displays and artisan shops. Here, you will find high fashion pieces, sports goods, alpine jewellery, homeware, and local produce.

Luxury dining in Val Thorens

There are around 60 restaurants located around the Val Thorens resort, boasting ten Michelin stars and two restaurants that have been awarded three Michelin stars. We would recommend the two Michelin-stared Val Thorens Jean Sulpice. Try the chef's signature dishes such as snail ravioli and salt crust pigeon. For a more relaxed meal, try La Maison. Enjoy the cosy, Alpine ambience and take a lunch break here on their open sun terrace.  

Winter activities in Val Thorens

There are plenty of things to do in Val Thorens other than skiing. There are two zip lines available to race down with stunning views of Val Thorens, such as the 1,800m zip line that hurtles towards the resort or the Tyrollienne zip line that holds you 250m above the ground. If you’re looking for even better views, try paragliding off a 3,000m altitude platform. Other thrilling winter activities in Val Thorens include the speedy toboggan run, the 225m-long ice circuit, snow-biking, ice-climbing, and even ice-diving.   

Looking for something a little slower-paced? Spend a relaxing evening at the cinema, go bowling, or enjoy the brand new sports centre. 

Oxford Ski Company recommends…

See below a quick list of Val Thorens essentials and some of our favourite recommendations: