Val Thorens, which is located in Tarentaise Valley in Savoie in the French Alps, is the highest ski resort in Europe at 2,300 metres. It is situated in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville commune in Savoie department. The resort is part of the three valleys (Trois Vallées) linked ski area (includes over 600 km of piste), which is the largest linked ski area in the world. The ‘purpose-built’ Val Thorens, being the highest resort, has snow cover throughout the year. The dominant summit of Val Thorens is Aiguille de Peclet (3,562metres).

However, skiing here in poor visibility can be difficult here owing to the fact that the terrain is located all above the trees.

Skiing at Val Thorens:

Trois Vallées is one of the world’s finest winter sports area featuring pistes suitable for all kinds of skiers ranging from beginners, intermediate to experts as well as the off-piste skiers. The beginners (including the boarders) can try out the gentle runs near the resort. The intermediates on the other hand, can ski on the wide and relatively undemanding pistes, all connected by an extensive lift network. Combe de Caron, a long and difficult black run from the top of the Cime de Caron cable car, can throw a challenge to the advanced skiers. There are three lift passes in Val Thorens to choose from: Val Thorens-Orelle, Belleville Valley and Trois Vallées. There are also ski schools in the form of Ecole de Ski Français (ESF) and Ecole de Ski Internationale Prosneige. It is very important to keep in mind the timing of the lifts for missing the last connecting lift can prove costly for taxi fares are too high here. The skiing season at Val Thorens runs from late November until early May.

Other activities:

• Snowshoe outings organized by Val Thorens Nature and ESF.
• Snowmobiling by Val Tho Motoneige
• Ice driving lessons
• Engage in activities at swimming pool, sauna, steam room, tennis, squash and badminton courts at the Galerie de Caron sports centre.
• Classical and jazz concerts on Tuesday evenings at local church.
• Movie watching at Le Lac Blanc.
• Child care:
  Children aged three and above are given skiing lessons. There are also crèches/nurseries at Le Montana (for children from three months) and Le Roc (for children from 18 months). The sports centre has a trampoline and bouncy castle for the kids. ESF also organises torchlit descents for the children during school holidays.
• Shopping:
  Galeries de Caron and Péclet have shops selling wintersports gear. Alpine Beaufort cheese, cured game and other delicious Savoyard specialities are available at La Belle.
• Oxalys is a good place for eating out
• Après ski:
  Skiers can refresh themselves with live music atTango. Frog and Roast Beef, O’Connells Pub, Rhum Box Cafe, Underground, Le Tango, Ski Rock Café, Red Fox Pro Neige are popular pubs. Val Thorens boasts the highest après-ski in Europe. Croisette area of Les Menuires has a nightclub called New Pop while in Bruyeres there are Taverne and Leeberty. Brewskis is focal point of all things après ski in St Martin.
• Eating out:
  Val Thorens has around 50 restaurants, mostly French. Oxalys and La Joyeuse Fondue are notable ones.

Accommodation:

• Fitz Roy
• Le Sherpa
• Le Valset

Reaching Val Thorens:

• By air:
  The nearest airports to Val Thorens are Geneva (159 km), Lyon (193 km) and Chambéry (112 km). Alpski bus service from Geneva airport, Satobus from Lyon airport and Transavoie bus service is available to reach Val d’Isère.
• By rail:
  Moûtiers (37 km) is the nearest railway station to Val Thorens. Regular bus service connects the two terminals.

Getting around:

Cars are not allowed at Val Thorens, which is largely a pedestrian resort. Free shuttle service, is however, available between car parks and accommodation. There are also local taxi service in the area, like A.B.C Taxi and Etoile des Neiges Taxi.