Is this blogpost I will show you all you need to know about Val Thorens and the 3 Valley ski-system. We will look at how to get here, things to keep in mind and general tips and ideas.
Val Thorens is one of the most famous ski resorts in the world. It’s the highest ski resort in Europe with it’s 2300m base altitude and that is important if you want reliable snow. It is also one of the largest ski systems with over 600km of pistes in the 3 Valleys area. That means huge variety, less queues and something for every level of skier.
We travelled to Val Thorens in early December to test out the conditions. And what we found was amazing!
📍 Where it is
- Located in Les Belleville valley, Savoie, French Alps
- Part of Les 3 Vallées, the largest interconnected ski area in the world
- About 2.5–3 hours from Grenoble, Lyon and Lyon
🏔️ Altitude & Snow
- 2,300 m base altitude – the highest ski resort in Europe
- Lifts reach up to 3,230 m
- Excellent snow reliability from late November to early May
- Very strong for powder and spring skiing
how to get here
The closest airports to Val Thorens is Grenoble Airport (GNB), Lyon Airport (LYS) and Geneva Airport (GVA). You can then either rent a car and drive. It’s between a two – three hours drive depending of the airport you choose. There are also busses, shuttle and private cars that will take you to Val Thorens.
Keep in mind that parking in Val Thorens is only available in garages and the cost is around 20-30 EUR per day. If you rent a car in France you will most likely have to pay extra for snow chains / snow socks. If you rent a car in Switzerland (Geneva), it will come with winter tires as this is mandatory in Switzerland. This mind be something to keep in mind.
The most affordable option is the bus.
accommodation
Val Thorens mainly consists of hotels and apartments. Hotels in Val Thorens range from comfort options to luxury ski‑in‑ski‑out experiences, many right near the lifts and village amenities.
Val Thorens has many self‑catered apartments and residences — ideal if you want a kitchen, more space, or to save on meals.
We stayed in a three bedroom apartment with ski-in-ski-out access that we found on Airbnb.com. You can also have a look at Booking.com, Agoda.com or your favourite booking site.
ski rental
There are plenty of ski rental shops in Val Thorens which makes the competition tough and the prices quite reasonable. A tip here is to check with your accommodation if they have any partnership with a ski rental shop. It’s very common. In our case, they gave us a 25% discount if we rented with Zenith Ski Shop. Expect to pay around 20-40 euros per day for skis, boots and poles.
ski pass
You have two options for the ski pass. You either go with a Val Thorens only ski pass or you can opt for the 3 Valley Ski pass to cover the whole 600 km area. The ski passes can easiest be bought on site in one of the automated machines. They are open 24/7 and you will get your ski pass immediately.
Val Thorens
The ski area of Val Thorens-Orelle covers a total of 150km of slopes.
Located 90% above 2000m altitude, the ski area benefits from a quality snow cover and welcomes skiers and snowboarders continuously from November to May.
Number of tracks:
- 12 green runs
- 35 blue runs
- 28 red slopes
- 8 black slopes
3 valleys
Made up of 7 ski resorts (Courchevel, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Orelle), all connected on skis, the 3 Valleys ski area totals 600 km of slopes. This is the largest ski area in the world!
Number of tracks:
- 53 green runs
- 136 blue runs
- 108 red slopes
- 37 black slopes
Prices for the 2025-26 season
Val Thorens only – 71 EUR per day
3 Valleys – 82 EUR per day
Food and Drinks
Be prepared that food and drinks in Val Thorens is expensive. A burger usually costs around 20-30 euros and a beer will set you back 7-10 euros. There is great Aprés-ski and some famous restaurants but be prepared to pay.
🎉 Après-ski & Nightlife
Val Thorens is famous for partying:
- La Folie Douce – legendary après-ski
- 360 Bar, Malaysia Club, Summit
- Festivals like CosmoJazz, Tomorrowland Winter, and end-of-season events
It’s one of the most vibrant resorts in Europe after skiing hours.
🍽️ Food & Dining
- On-mountain: everything from casual burgers to Michelin-listed restaurants
- In resort: French alpine classics, international food, and late-night eats
- Nearby Courchevel offers very high-end dining if you explore the 3 Vallées
last words
That’s all from Val Thorens! We had an amazing time and will for sure come back again. Everything was top notch and I must say that the prices are reasonable for what you get. Good quality snowcover, excellent ski-system and some fantastic slopes. On the official website of Val Thorens, you will find a lot of valuable information, including an interactive map (showing open slopes and lifts), snow reports, webcams and much more.
See my YouTube video from Val Thorens here:
