Hotel Val Chaviere Val Thorens Exterior 2

Les Trois Vallées, France

Val Thorens

Europe's highest ski resort, with snow-sure, ski-from-the-door slopes that stay open until May

Val Thorens sits at 2,300 m, which makes it the highest ski resort in Europe. It's a car-free, purpose-built village at the top of the Belleville valley, and it's part of Les 3 Vallées, the world's biggest linked ski area. Almost every slope is above the treeline, so the snow is reliable from late November to early May, and it's one of the few places where nearly every hotel or apartment is close to a piste. It suits every level and has a lively, young crowd. The downsides: it's bleak and cold in bad weather, with no trees to give shelter or help you see; the modern buildings aren't pretty; it's expensive; and the transfer takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

Places to stay

For your group

Beginners 5/5

There are good free beginner areas right in the village, and the gentle Plateau slope runs through the middle of the resort. The ski schools (ESF and several independent ones) are large and run English-language lessons. Once you can link turns, there are plenty of easy blue runs. Be aware that it gets very cold and you can lose all sense of the slope in bad visibility, which can rattle nervous skiers. Inghams rates it 5 out of 5.

Intermediates 5/5

Superb. Val Thorens has lots of long, wide reds and blues, the slopes over the ridge in Orelle, and the whole 3 Vallées to explore: Les Menuires, Méribel and Courchevel. Confident skiers can do a day trip to Courchevel and back. The runs home can get crowded and churned up late in the day.

Experts 5/5

Cime Caron (3,195 m) has steep blacks and a huge range of off-piste, especially in the Glacier de Péclet and Orelle sectors, and on the Pointe du Bouchet on the Orelle side (3,230 m). Hire a qualified mountain guide for any off-piste. The wider 3 Vallées adds Courchevel's couloirs and Méribel's steeper runs.

Places to stay in Val Thorens

Cheapest first, for your dates where we have them. Tick up to 4 to compare.

  • Le Tikal Apartments Val Thorens Reception

    Le Tikal Apartments

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 3★

    • 150 m to the lifts
    • Self catering

    Sat 2 Jan, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £1,948

    for 2 people, £974 each

    Save £840

  • Hotel Val Chaviere Val Thorens Exterior 2

    Hotel Le Val Chaviere

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 3★

    • 130 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £2,062

    for 2 people, £1,031 each

    Save £900

  • Hotel Les Arolles Val Thorens Exterior 7

    Hotel Les Arolles

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 4★

    • 330 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 19 Dec, 7 nights from Bournemouth

    £2,136

    for 2 people, £1,068 each

    Save £1,380

  • Residence Les Balcons Val Thorens Exterior 8

    Residence Les Balcons

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 4★

    • 460 m to the lifts
    • Self catering

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £2,204

    for 2 people, £1,102 each

  • Chalet Noella Val Thorens Lounge 2

    Inghams Chalet Noella

    Val Thorens · Chalet · 4.5★

    • Chalet catered

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from Newcastle

    £2,258

    for 2 people, £1,129 each

    Save £1,080

  • Chalet Mathilde Val Thorens Dining Area Lounge

    Inghams Chalet Mathilde

    Val Thorens · Chalet · 4.5★

    • Chalet catered

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from Newcastle

    £2,258

    for 2 people, £1,129 each

    Save £1,080

  • Residence Le Cheval Blanc Apartments Val Thorens Exterior

    Residence Cheval Blanc Apartments

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 3★

    • 160 m to the lifts
    • Self catering

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £2,266

    for 2 people, £1,133 each

  • Hotel Koh I Nor DIAMANT NOIR Terrasse 1

    Residence Koh-I Nor

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 5★

    • 480 m to the lifts
    • Room only

    Sat 9 Jan, 7 nights from Leeds Bradford

    £2,344

    for 2 people, £1,172 each

    Save £400

  • Residence Hermine Val Thorens Exterior.Jpg. 2

    Residence Hermine

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 4★

    • Self catering

    Sat 2 Jan, 7 nights from Eurostar from London St Pancras

    £2,398

    for 2 people, £1,199 each

    Save £400

  • Hotel Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens Exterior (1)

    Hotel Fahrenheit Seven

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 4★

    • 150 m to the lifts
    • Bed & breakfast

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £2,412

    for 2 people, £1,206 each

    Save £700

  • Village Montana Apartments Val Thorens .Exterior

    Village Montana Apartments

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 4★

    • 120 m to the lifts
    • Self catering

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £2,544

    for 2 people, £1,272 each

  • Chalet Chloe Val Thorens Lounge 8

    Inghams Chalet Chloe

    Val Thorens · Chalet · 4.5★

    • Chalet catered

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £2,578

    for 2 people, £1,289 each

    Save £320

  • Hotel Le Sherpa Val Thorens Exterior

    Hotel Le Sherpa

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 4★

    • 410 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £2,722

    for 2 people, £1,361 each

    Save £160

  • Hotel Les Trois Vallées Val Thorens Exterior 2

    Hotel Des Trois Vallees

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 4★

    • 210 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £3,482

    for 2 people, £1,741 each

  • Hotel Koh I Nor DIAMANT NOIR Terrasse 1

    Hotel Koh-I Nor

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 5★

    • 480 m to the lifts
    • Bed & breakfast

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £3,600

    for 2 people, £1,800 each

    Save £700

  • Hameau Du Kashmir Val Thorens Exterior 5

    Hotel Hameau de Kashmir

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 4★

    • 320 m to the lifts
    • Bed & breakfast

    Sat 9 Jan, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £3,616

    for 2 people, £1,808 each

    Save £800

  • Residence Montana Plein Sud Val Thorens Exterior

    Residence Montana Plein Sud

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 5★

    • 150 m to the lifts
    • Self catering

    Sat 10 Apr, 7 nights from London Heathrow

    £3,658

    for 2 people, £1,829 each

  • Hameau Du Kashmir Val Thorens Exterior 5

    Residence Hameau de Kashmir

    Val Thorens · Apartment · 4★

    • 300 m to the lifts
    • Self catering

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £3,826

    for 2 people, £1,913 each

    Save £700

  • Hotel Altapura Val Thorens Exterior 2

    Hotel Altapura

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 5★

    • 160 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 12 Dec, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £4,008

    for 2 people, £2,004 each

    Save £900

  • Hotel Le Fitz Roy Val Thorens Exterior

    Hotel Le Fitz Roy

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 5★

    • 320 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 3 Apr, 7 nights from London Gatwick

    £4,808

    for 2 people, £2,404 each

    Save £1,560

  • Hotel Le Val Thorens Val Thorens Exterior 2

    Hotel Le Val Thorens

    Val Thorens · Hotel · 4★

    • 280 m to the lifts
    • Half board

    Sat 19 Dec, 7 nights from Edinburgh

    £5,740

    for 2 people, £2,870 each

    Save £1,580

Where you'd stay and ski

Runs are coloured by difficulty. Pins show places to stay and how far each is from the nearest lift station, as the crow flies.

Map key
  • Green: easiest
  • Blue: easy
  • Red: intermediate
  • Black: difficult
  • Orange: off-piste route
  • Lift
  • Place to stay

For orientation only, not live lift or piste status.

Mapped pistes in Les Trois Vallées
542 km
Village
2300 m
Top lift
3221 m
Transfer
3 hrs from Geneva (also Chambéry, Lyon or Grenoble)
6-day lift pass
€421 per adult
Season
21 November 2026 (Val Thorens–Orelle); full 3 Vallées from 5 December 2026 to 2 May 2027 (Val Thorens–Orelle); 3 Vallées links close 18 April 2027

Other scores

Snowboarders 5/5

Mostly chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars, so there are few drag lifts. There's a well-regarded snow park and plenty of off-piste freeride terrain. A few flat sections, such as some links towards Les Menuires and Méribel, mean scooting along. Inghams rates it 5 out of 5.

Non-skiers 2/5

Options include the large Val Thorens sports centre and Aquaclub pool, an alpine coaster, a zipline (La Bee), winter walks, and a 3 Vallées pedestrian pass (about €95 for 6 days in 2026/27) so non-skiers can ride the lifts to mountain restaurants. But there's no traditional village to wander around and no low-level valley scenery, and the shops are mostly ski shops.

Families 4/5

Ski-from-the-door stays, a car-free centre, free beginner zones, and ski schools and childcare that work well. Under-5s get a free lift pass, but you still need to collect one. The minuses are the cold and high altitude for very young children, the lack of trees and things to do off the slopes on bad-weather days, and the high prices. Book ski school early for school holidays.

Après-ski 5/5

One of the liveliest resorts in the Alps. The famous La Folie Douce is a slope-side party with DJs from mid-afternoon. There are plenty of bars in the village and late-night clubs, including the high-altitude Malaysia. It's popular with young British, Dutch and Belgian groups. It's quieter options exist, but light sleepers should avoid places right next to the bars.

Snow reliability 5/5

The village is at 2,300 m and the lifts reach about 3,200 m, with a lot of snowmaking and small glacier sectors (Péclet, Chavière). Val Thorens–Orelle runs from 21 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, the longest season in Les 3 Vallées. The best months are January to March. December has very short, cold days, but even then the snow cover is usually good. In late April the snow can be slushy in the afternoon, but it's still reliable. The main risks are wind, extreme cold and bad visibility rather than a lack of snow. Glacier skiing is minor, and there is no summer skiing.

Scores and notes are our own research from 23 October 2026, not customer reviews. Tap a score to see why. Snow reliability is about the resort in general, not a forecast for your week. Sources: valthorens.com, valthorens.com, les3vallees.com, les3vallees.com.

Insider tips

  • Beginners should buy the Val Thorens–Orelle pass (or use the free beginner areas) instead of the full 3 Vallées pass
  • Pack a face mask or buff and goggles that work in low light; it's often the coldest resort in the Alps
  • Drink lots of water and take it easy on night one to help with the altitude
  • Orelle's south-facing slopes are often sunnier and quieter
  • Pre-book ski school and equipment hire for school holidays
  • Head home before the late-afternoon rush on the busiest runs into the village
  • Buy Carré Neige insurance with your pass

Worth knowing

  • No trees: in snow or flat light it's hard to see, it gets very cold and windy, and lifts can close
  • Not a pretty Alpine village; it's mostly modern blocks and chalet-style buildings
  • Expensive, from food and drink to lift passes and hotels
  • The transfer takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours, and the last stretch is a winding mountain road with Saturday traffic
  • The altitude (2,300 m) can cause headaches or poor sleep for some people on their first nights
  • Very busy in school holidays and at February half term, with crowded runs back into the resort
  • Beginners will only use the free beginner areas at first, so a full 3 Vallées pass is wasted on them in week one
  • There's little to do if you don't ski