Selected as the world’s best ski resort for the sixth time at the World Ski Awards, with the superlative services offered, Val Thorens keeps having impressive statistics explaining its success.
Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe, located near the head of the Belleville Valley at 2300m. Considering that the first ugly apartment blocks were built in 1971 and French Olympic ski champion Christine Goitschel described it as “like living in the Wild West”, it’s very difficult to think how this resort has changed and developed into a sophisticated and attractive resort.
Since its height can be prone to strong win, this doesn’t occur in late season, the resort is well prepared in the event of the bad weather. They added a leisure park (bowls and snooker), an ice driving circuit and a huge sports center, where you can practice tennis, table tennis, volleyball, soft games, and swim in the swimming pool.
Val Thorens opened about 40 years ago, this ski resort nowadays attracts skiers and boarders, including a young international crowd that loves the impressive terrain park and lively bars, one of the most famous is the Folie Douce. Folie Douce is located on the slopes above the ski resort where you can enjoy music from 2.30 pm until the lifts close. For skiers wanting a stylish bolthole, Val Thorens now has an ultra-luxury chalet where you can stay: La Datcha Val Thorens .
Val Thorens looks better than many other French resorts since the construction has been mostly low-and mid-rise and its altitude guarantees snow cover from November to May. The ski resort has a great location at the head of the Belleville Valley, surrounded by dramatic peaks creating spectacular scenery.
There are two shopping malls right in the upper half of the village on the Place de Peclet. From here, you can reach the chalet-style Plein Sud through a road that runs across the hillside where you will find many luxury chalets.
The ski slopes suit everyone from beginners to experts and it is linked into a vast network of trails across the well-known Méribel, Courchevel and Maurienne valleys. Among 140km of pistes only in Val Thorens, with the Trois Vallées, there are 600km of pistes to explore. For ski passionate you can reach Courchevel from Val Thorens through lifts and paths on the pistes, spending a day exploring and venturing in this area.
Nearest airport: Chambéry, 90 minutes (122km), Geneva, two hours, 30mins (200km).
Nearest train station: Moûtiers 45 minutes (37km). A regular shuttle bus runs from the train station to Les Menuires and Val Thorens.
