Mountain profile
150 km
Val Thorens is a purpose-built French resort in the Belleville valley, Savoie.
Savoie, France
Pistes & Runs
83 Runs
Beginner
Green
13.3%
11 runs
Intermediate
Blue
44.6%
37 runs
Advanced
Red
33.7%
28 runs
Expert
Black
8.4%
7 runs
Available 31 lifts on the routes
Mountain profile
150 km
Val Thorens is a purpose-built French resort in the Belleville valley, Savoie.
Savoie, France
Pistes & Runs
83 Runs
Beginner
Green
13.3%
11 runs
Intermediate
Blue
44.6%
37 runs
Advanced
Red
33.7%
28 runs
Expert
Black
8.4%
7 runs
Available 31 lifts on the routes
Experience the mountain
Every Skill. Every Style. Every Adventure.
Overall Rating
9.5/ 10
Build confidence
Beginners
Val Thorens has proper beginner zones and gentle options, but because it's high and largely above the tree line, bad weather days can feel bleak and visibility can be tougher than in more sheltered resorts.
Refine your technique
Intermediates
Widely described as best suited to confident intermediates, Val Thorens has lots of progression-friendly terrain and easy access into Les 3 Vallées when you want variety.
Push your limits
Advanced
Val Thorens is strong for advanced skiers thanks to steeper sectors (including some notable black run areas) and, importantly, quick access to expert terrain across Les 3 Vallées. Also, freeride/expert coverage for the wider ski area is rated very highly by resort testers.
Master every descent
Snowboarders
For snowboarders, Val Thorens is a top-tier option given its modern lift-served terrain and dedicated freestyle infrastructure, which includes a snowpark and fun zones. Snowboarders can also access the snowparks across Les 3 Vallées.
overview
Everything You Need To Know About Resort
Val Thorens is a purpose-built French resort in the Belleville valley, Savoie. The village sits at 2,300m with ski areas reaching 3,230m. The resort is semi-pedestrian and can be crossed on foot in approximately 20 minutes. During the winter, free shuttles operate within the resort and to some car parks. The resort also promotes marked pedestrian paths for getting around on foot and for short walks from the village.
Val Thorens sits in the Val Thorens–Orelle ski area, which totals 150km of slopes. It has 83 runs served by 31 lifts, with 99% of the area above 2,000m. Val Thorens also belongs to the wider Les 3 Vallées network, which boasts 600km of pistes, accessible via day links to Méribel and Courchevel.
The resort is located on a natural cirque surrounded by six glaciers, so views are a huge part of the experience. From the summit of Cime Caron, there is a 360° view across the French, Italian and Swiss Alps, with Mont Blanc among the peaks. The Col de la Chambre viewpoint sits at 2,850m and can be reached via the Pionniers chairlift and the Funitel 3 Vallées.
Having opened in January 2025, the Caron 3200 building at the top of Cime Caron provides an enclosed space at 3,200m with a restaurant, snack bar, wine bar, screening room, souvenir shop and a rooftop terrace.
Aside from skiing and snowboarding, Val Thorens offers a wide range of activities. Cosmojet is a 6km toboggan run – the longest in France – open to everyone aged five and over. La Bee is a double zipline that covers 1,800m with a top height of 65m. Tandem paragliding, ice driving, snowshoe outings and snow mountain biking are also available.
Indoors, the Sports Centre – Le Board – includes a swimming pool, a wellness area, sports fields, a fun park and fitness spaces. The wellness area features two balneotherapy pools, three saunas and a hammam, plus a cold water well and rest area. The centre was renovated for the resort’s 50th anniversary in 2022, and its roof is designed in the shape of a snowboard.
In the village, shops include food minimarkets, bakeries and pastry shops, regional product shops, sports shops, as well as a book shop. There are also outlets to purchase items such as tobacco and beauty products.
Evening venues include bars such as The Frog and Roastbeef Pub, Bar Le 360 and Le Malaysia nightclub. Slopeside venues include La Folie Douce Val Thorens: one of the world’s most famous après-ski destinations. The Church of Val Thorens, in the centre of the resort, holds winter season services as well as concerts and children’s shows.
