Snowsure: 4.8
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Val Thorens is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Val Thorens Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 21, 2025
Guy from
Austria
Guy from
Austria
We visited Val Thorens 15th to 22nd February (half term) and had a fantastic holiday. We had a family group of 6, in a range of ages from 8 to 61. The ski resort has something for everyone. We were blessed with magnificent sunny weather and lots of snow.
We stayed in Le Cheval Blanc apartments that are located right on the slopes, with operator Crystal Ski. The trip up from Chambery airport is long (over 3.5 hours), but once in VT that’s quickly forgotten. The big advantage of VT in these days of uncertain weather, is the elevation. With the village set at 2300m, the resort is very snow assured. From the apartments you can quickly travel to 3 adjacent high quality ski resorts - Les Menuires, Meribel and Courchevel. The lifts and facilities in all 4 resorts are modern with very efficient double access 6 man chair lifts.
The only slight challenge was the occasional long queue for the lifts but that was due to the half term holiday. But with over 500km of slopes to explore there are lots of quieter areas. I’d recommend parts of Les Menuires and the Orelle area. All in all, it’s a fantastic ski resort that won’t disappoint.
February 04, 2024
Baz from
United Kingdom
Baz from
United Kingdom
Val Tho is probably one of the best resorts in the world, and definitely in the top 5 in Europe, if not the best. It is very high at town centre, which keeps it snowsure for the season, even when it is, let's face it, very warm for the time of year. It's another year where the resort prep of pistes is very high standard, as you would expect. Not just in VT but also the rest of the area. Snow quality is still pretty good even though it hasn't snowed in a while now and has been warmer than you may expect through late Jan.
The VT Park has had some investment over the last while and they've been putting in land shaping to help if they don't have a lot of snowfall. This season though they've got a lot to be fair. And they've done a great job with it. Shaping is their usual very high standards, and they've got a good balance with options to help people get into it, so smaller, medium, large and booter. There are some cool smaller features around that people are enjoying, like a mushroom type thing at the bottom of the park, which is very popular, and a medium sized hip. It's good to see tha park as popular as it is at the moment in Val Thorens. It should be showing the operator it is an investment worth every penny they put into it. It always provides a memorable spectacle for people even just to watch, and remember long after their trip.
You would have to say, all in all, Val Tho is rightly a top pick. And the way things are going with global temperatures rising, you would say this top pick will remain so owing to its high altitude across the entire area on the VT pass.
April 18, 2022
Baz from
United Kingdom
Baz from
United Kingdom
What can you say about VT? Well, it is a world class resort centre for sure. Excellent facilities and of course being at the base of the resort is 2300m it is one of the most snow sure resorts in the Alps. The variety of terrain is excellent, and for the lower standard skier or boarder / novice the resort is actually perfect in many respects. There are a couple of free lifts in the town which you could easily use to get your kids finding their feet. But also there is plenty of easy enough skiing round the town to keep a beginner going and help them enjoy getting started. For the intermediate and expert VT has lots to offer with numerous really nice long blue runs and reds, and the south facing Goitschel black run, which can be excellent when pisted the night before. Off-piste, if you get a good snow season, is tremendous and lots of it. It will track out very quickly though as the high capacity uplift and popularity mean you could lose fresh tracks by lunchtime particularly during busy periods. Also worth mentioning is the Orelle valley, which a lot of people don't seem to check out. It is the only south facing valley in Les 3 Valleys, and was always one of my favourite places to go as the runs there are also really rather nice. Plenty of positives then.
There is however, one not so positive. The Val Thorens Snowpark. It used to be one of the premier parks anywhere in the Alps I would say, with usually 3 lines of 3 kickers which were 5m, 10m and 15-18m lines. Now it seems there is way less investment in the development of the park, and the same across Les 3 V so if you like this part of skiing you're likely to get disappointed now. In 2019 there was only one XL jump setup which had two options on it as usual. No L size (10m) line, and only small jumps and rails around other than that. This season it looks the same with only one main kicker setup. It really isn't what you should be able to expect of somewhere you'll be paying over 1000 Euros if you want a season pass, or 300 notes for a 6 day pass. They really should be doing better than this, as the parks are always a very popular area in any resort.
On-mountain facilities are pretty decent with sheltered picnic areas for pack lunches, and lots of options for food around. There are also plenty on mountain toilet options, one set at the top of the Plateau lifts, some at the top of La Morraine gondola, and some more at the Cairn/Carron gondola station. The Face West restaurant right in the centre of town is, I would say, perfect for an apres-ski feed and beer. Its a bit pricey, but the view out is better than any other such place in the Alps, I would contest, and it gets the afternoon sun beautifully with it's westerly aspect. A beer is about 10 Euros, Croque Monsuire with fries the same, pizzas are 20 Euros and are nice, and their crepes are superb.
All in all, it is a great resort with lots of options and plenty of snow sure capability. The only downside may be park skiing if that's on your agenda, but there's always Austria and Switzerland where they seem to want to keep that alive and inspiring.
December 25, 2019
Stephen from
United Kingdom
Stephen from
United Kingdom
Very much a good skiers resort. Just back from a week before Christmas. At 2300m so feels Arctic at times (especially noticed when you ski back from Meribel or Courchevel). No trees in sight but plenty of high quality skiing with great snow. Stayed at Les Balcons which is ski in-ski out for a good skier (just off a red piste). Lovely apartments with gym, pool, supermarket and ski hire in the complex. Highly recommended.
June 07, 2016
Alex
Alex
We went there with Skikot, a famous travel brand in Belgium who were really good. We had a small (perhaps too small) room for 4 pers. at the foot of the slopes and the ski lift. We all had a wonderful time in the sunshine; nice for the après-ski at the Folie douce! The resort was also good for the nightlife with a large amount of bars, restaurants,... The ski area is available to any ski level, from the beginners to the pros. It's really good if you go there with friends who's got different skiing levels. I recommend it to everyone.
January 04, 2014
Visitor from
Germany
Visitor from
Germany
Val Thorens was a great holiday; we highly enjoyed it. However, we had one bad experience at the store "Top Photo". This place seems to be not so "Top". Worst photo shop ever! Sold me an overpriced, wrong memory card for a GoPro camera and on complaint just laughed and tried to ignore me. I highly recommend not to go there!
February 10, 2013
Jools from
France
Jools from
France
Val Thorens: highest point in 3 valleys ski area with links to Orelle in the 4th valley. Great snow, fantastic skiing, fabulous restaurants, good bars, slightly high prices but quality costs. There is accommodation of all types for all budgets so costs can be kept fairly low. For real skiers/riders it can't be beaten.
January 14, 2011
Kevin Jones from
United Kingdom
Kevin Jones from
United Kingdom
Stayed at St Jean de Maurienne in the Maurienne valley and used the access to Val Thorens from Orelle. Big advantage is that the telecabine from Orelle starts from about 900m so no having to struggle up and down the road to the 3-Valleys in a snowstorm and having to put on chains. The telecabine rises to 2400m over a run of 5km. The link to Val Thorens is at 3000m so one has to be aware of the developing weather. St. Jean is only 3 hours from Geneva or Lyon using RN and two hours or less on the autoroute. Plus it is very cheap, only 400 Euro for six nights half-board at the Hotel Nord. Of course, there is a lack of apres-ski but this was compensated by the Michelin guide food. If one needs a change from Val Thorens there are 18 other resorts in the environs of the Maurienne valley. La Norma and Val Frejus are the easiest to get to and provide enough skiing above 2000m for a very good days skiing. Expensive day pass at 39 Euros but as commented by others the lifts and perfect snow ensure value for money.
December 07, 2010
Deyan from
Bulgaria
Deyan from
Bulgaria
I am often amazed by comments putting a lot of importance on the looks of a resort. Granted, a little traditional village always looks better than a purpose-built monster but the latter has many advantages: less distractions, incomparable practicality, closeness to the pistes, price...
If you are like me - crazy about skiing and not about the "accessories" around it, you will love Val Thorens. The pistes are open, wide, long, not too busy and incredibly well groomed - perfect for long carving turns that will put a smile on your face for a very long time. The views are amazing. The snow is reliable. The off-piste is everywhere. And this is pretty much all a skier needs.
Bottom line is this - if you go there for the skiing itself Val Thorens/Orelle/Menuires is truly amazing. If you go skiing because you want to show off that nice brand new jacket or because you want to experience traditional French culture then go somewhere else.
March 20, 2010
Geoff from
United Kingdom
Geoff from
United Kingdom
March 6th to March 13th. Had a great week in VT (Val Thorens) with excellent piste conditions; well groomed and cared for. Excellent company in the chalet. Very little fresh snow but the cold conditions assisted in preservation of the piste. Prices are catching up with the rest of the Three Valleys but you can still get a beer for 5€ if you look around, cheaper if you can get deals through your travel co. The Scandanavians were noisy as reported in other reviews, but its all good humoured and they provide the best bar nightlife. A bit of shouting at 3am but never too bad. Our Chalet had door to door skiing and was only a 10 minute comfortable walk to the main shopping and bar areas. This is a great resort with vast amounts of skiing. The off-piste was just about ok but you can see it would be fantastic and easily reachable following a big dump of snow, especially in the Arolle area. If you ski far, try to avoid lunching in Courcheval - so expensive - it cost me 26€ for a cheeseburger and another 6.5€ for a diet coke. A rip off but that's where the idle rich like to play (or dare I say just pose). You will not be disappointed with VT, it's a great resort and surprisingly charming and cosy.
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