Val Thorens

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At 2,300 metres altitude, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe. Its slopes are linked to the 600km of the 3 Vallées. Initially made up of numerous shared-ownership buildings, it has recently moved upmarket. It has fine addresses, a gourmet restaurant and 14 hotels, 9 of them luxury.

📌 Northern French Alps – Savoie

Val Thorens

📏 Altitude: 2300 m

🎿 Alpine skiing: 600 km

🌟 Resort style: High-altitude resort

💰 From 73.5 €/day (2026-2027)

58 green

132 blue

112 red

37 black

📅 Open 21 November 2026 to 2 May 2027

Overview of Val Thorens

At 2,300 metres altitude, Val Thorens is the highest resort in France, situated at the end of the Belleville valley, within Les 3 Vallees, between Orelle, Les Menuires and Meribel. Architecturally, the resort does not stand out for any particular style — but one always marvels at the astonishing quantities of snow that accumulate on its rooftops during the season. Here, snow settles from November to May (and it snows almost every month of the year). Val Thorens represents the pinnacle of skiing in France: high-tech ski lifts, wide runs groomed to perfection and incredible high-mountain landscapes. The resort is fairly upmarket, with fine hotels, gourmet restaurants, trendy canteens and brasseries — including 9 luxury hotels, a Club Med and a Michelin-starred restaurant. The resort nonetheless remains fairly accessible, with many apartment rentals and a good choice of snacks and restaurants. Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe, is perched at 2,300 metres at the heart of the 3 Vallees, surrounded by summits rising above 3,000 metres. The ski area extends from 1,800 to 3,230 metres, guaranteeing optimal snow conditions throughout the season.

Our review — Val Thorens

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Ski area — key figures — Val Thorens

🌟 High-altitude resort (Savoie)
📏 2300 m Village altitude (3230 m Top altitude)
🎿 339 runs

17.1%

38.9%

33%

10.9%

🚠 28 ski lifts

Power moment^*: 20374 km.sk/h (Major resort)

Average lift age: 19 years

Get directions to Val Thorens

When to visit

Val Thorens in summer

In summer, Val Thorens is a very different destination. At 2,300 metres altitude, those seeking coolness or good value for money come for walking and to find a quiet corner — though with a slightly urban edge. Despite this, there is plenty to do on site: mountain biking, hikes in preserved valleys, brewery visits, pools and wellness. In summer, the thinking shifts more to the scale of the Belleville valley. Below Val Thorens, you find Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, as well as the wild Encombres valley and a few preserved small hamlets. While many accommodation providers and shops are closed in summer, private rentals and a few local businesses do open.

🎯 Things to do in summer:

✅ Road cycling • ✅ Downhill MTB • ✅ Enduro MTB • ✅ Hiking • ✅ Glacier hiking

Val Thorens in winter

In winter, Val Thorens becomes one of France’s ski capitals, with a prime position at the heart of the 3 Vallees — France’s and the world’s largest ski area. The resort has a lively party scene and fine upmarket hotels. It is also one of the longest-season resorts in France, open from late November to early May. Beyond skiing, there is no cross-country skiing or snowshoe areas here. However, several ski touring routes are available and 4 pedestrian paths are provided for walkers. 10 ski lifts are also accessible to pedestrians.

🎯 Things to do in winter:

✅ Alpine skiing • ✅ Ski touring • ✅ Snow MTB • ✅ Snowshoeing • ✅ Ice diving

Skiing

Below are the 2 ski areas accessible from Val Thorens: Les 3 Vallées (alpin), Val Thorens – Orelle (alpin).

Ski area — Les 3 Vallées

⛰️ Altitudes: 1100 m – 3230 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 600 km
💰 Day pass: 84.2 €

With 600 km of runs, Les 3 Vallees is the world’s largest fully linked ski area — an exceptional territory connecting seven resorts across three great valleys, offering an unrivalled ski touring experience. Thanks to smooth links and high-performance ski lifts, skiers can travel effortlessly from 1,100 to 3,200 metres altitude across impeccably maintained runs. The strength of Les 3 Vallees lies in the unique personality of each valley and its resorts. The Courchevel Valley — elegance and diversity: Courchevel offers 150 km of wide, perfectly groomed runs. The skiing is varied and suited to all, with spectacular panoramas over the Vanoise summits and Mont Blanc. The Meribel Valley — the beating heart of the ski area: geographically central, Meribel is the natural crossroads of the 3 Vallees. Its 150 km ski area extends from the Allues forests to high-altitude summits such as the Saulire and Mont Vallon. The Belleville Valley — all faces of the mountain, with three strong-character resorts: Saint-Martin-de-Belleville (the chic and authentic village gateway), Les Menuires (renowned for its own 160 km ski area, wide progressive runs and efficient ski lifts — a ski-in ski-out resort par excellence, ideal for families, hiding the gem of the Masse sector) and Val Thorens (Europe’s highest resort at the summit, offering XXL skiing on premium runs with many summits above 3,000 m, also connected to Orelle in the Maurienne valley). Iconic summits and viewpoints: La Cime Caron (3,200 m) — 360-degree panorama over more than 1,000 Alpine summits from Mont Blanc to the Ecrins; La Saulire (2,738 m) — the historic link between Courchevel and Meribel with a spectacular plunging view; Mont Vallon (2,952 m) — Meribel’s highest skiable point with two long challenging red runs and a wild view over the Gebroulaz glacier; Le Secteur de La Masse (2,804 m) — an often quieter summit at Les Menuires with technical runs, generous sunshine and unique panoramas.

Our full guide to Les 3 Vallées

Ski area — Val Thorens – Orelle

⛰️ Altitudes: 2297 m – 3230 m
🎿 Alpine skiing: 150 km
💰 Day pass: 73.5 €

Val Thorens, the highest resort in Europe, offers a ski area of 150 km of varied and well-snowed runs. Nestled at 2,300 metres, it benefits from an exceptional setting surrounded by summits exceeding 3,000 metres. Among them, the Cime Caron — accessible by cable car — peaks at 3,200 metres and offers one of the finest alpine panoramas, with a 360-degree view from Mont Blanc to the Ecrins. The skiing is grandiose here, with long descents and routes for all levels. Depending on the time of day, you will find north, south and west-facing runs. In addition to alpine skiing, Val Thorens has a well-regarded snowpark, a boardercross and the longest toboggan piste in France. Its dynamic and festive atmosphere makes it an unmissable resort for skiing enthusiasts.

Our full guide to Val Thorens – Orelle

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