What’s on Offer in Val Thorens For This Winter?
15th September 2023
Last modified on October 13th, 2023
There is a great deal happening this winter in Val Thorens – the highest ski resort in Europe. There’s a host of new offerings both on and off the slopes.
Val Thorens has 360° views across 1,000 summits straddling the French, Italian and Swiss borders, including Cime Caron at 3,195m.
The resort is a 2 hour 35 transfer from Geneva Airport, 2 hour 20 from Lyon or 1 hour 40 from Chambéry.
Alternatively, take the train from Paris in 5 hours – TGV station Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains lies 37 km / 45 min from resort.
It is one of the most popular areas in the French Alps for British skiers & snowboarders.
Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI
PlanetSKI was last in Val Thorens at the end of last season for Snowcamp’s 3 Valley Rally :
3 Valley Rally, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI
We were in resort at the beginning of the winter too:
Val Thorens opens on 25th November 2023 and closes on 5th May 2024.
It sits between 2,300m at the summit of Vallée de Belleville and goes up to an altitude of 3,195m.
It is the highest point of the 3 Vallées ski area with 600km of linked slopes, where the entire resort is ski in, ski out.
It’s home to:
- Le Board Wellness and Swimming Centre
- Lively après-ski and party scene – Klub Summit opens until 4am
- World’s Biggest Resort Nightclub – Le Malaysia with 1,500m dance floor
- Kids Fun Park
- Sunny lunch terraces
Non-ski activities across include:
- Snowshoeing
- Ziplines
- Fat biking
- Snowmobiling
- Ice diving / free diving
- Paragliding
- Ice climbing
- Dog sledding
- Tobogganing
- Snow tubing
Le Board, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI
Le Board, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI
There is access to 600km of skiing across the 3 Vallees, all on one ski pass.
A six-day 3 Vallées ski pass costs from €375 / £323 per adult and €300 / £258 per child.
Cosmojet – the longest sledging run in France
The 6km Cosmojet slopes starts at the foot of the Péclet Glacier at 3,000m for an intense 45 minute descent.
€18.30 per person.
Highest Zipline in Europe
The Tyrolienne du Bouchet is the highest zipline in Europe.
The 1,300m ride offers panoramic views across the Maurienne and Tarentaise Valleys.
€56 per person www.orelle.net
La Bee has a tandem design so can be ridden as a pair over a 1,800m descent to Place Caron in the centre of Val Thorens.
€35 per person.
Fun Park
A giant playground at Le Board comprises 3 zones including 6 giant trampolines, large play area with slides, rolling cylinders and rope bridges and a pre-school area.
A pedal go-kart track and sports pitch complete the offering.
Save the planet
Val Thorens has strengthened its environmental credential in the following ways:
– Removal of second lifts where only one is needed
– Eco-driving training for ski-lift and snow-groomer operators
– Insulation of all buildings
– Smart heating in all buildings
– Recovery of waste heat from installation engines and converters
– Roll out programme for solar heating and photovoltaic panels
– Hydroelectric power plant project
– Geothermal energy systems for new buildings
– Best possible artificial snow management, based on a gauging device fitted to snow groomers.
– Replacement of resort’s diesel fleet with GTL vehicles (Gas To Liquid – synthetic diesel free from fine particles and sulphur dioxide.
La Grande Derniere, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI
SKI MOUNTAINEERING WORLD CUP 24 – 26 NOV 2023
For the second year running, the best climbers are returning to Europe’s highest resort to compete in a stage of the World Cup.
Inspired by cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering is considered as an adventure discipline that requires the use of mountaineering techniques (crampons, fitting/removal of skins and ski carrying).
This relatively new discipline is booming and has just become an Olympic sport.
SKI CROSS WORLD CUP 7 – 8 DEC 2023
For the eleventh year running, Val Thorens is hosting a stage of the ski cross World Cup. Four by four, the skiers will battle it out on a succession of moguls, berms and jumps.
FESTIVAL’THO 19 – 21 MARCH 2024
More than a mere Electro festival, the Festival Tho is an authentic celebration of music.
As in previous years, the Festival Tho will take up residence for 3 days in the heart of the ski area at Les Chalets du Thorens and the 360° Bar.
And lets not forget this event too:
European gay ski week heads to Val Thorens
European Gay Ski Week Image © Sunweb
For more information contact: www.ski.valthorens.com
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