Val Thorens at a glance
- Ideal for
- Long season: from late November to early May
- Groups and friends going out in the evening without a car
- Intermediate to expert skiers aiming for the 3 Vallées
- Less suitable if
- Modest budget: €73.50 a day
- Older chalets: resort built in the 1970s
- Staying in the valley: Moûtiers station is 40 km away
Weather, snow and webcams in Val Thorens
MET Norway forecast, updated daily at 1 am and 9 am.
Snow report · Avalanche bulletin
Where to stay in Val Thorens
Recommended hotels for your budget
Budget
Comfort
Upscale
What to do in Val Thorens besides skiing
Val Thorens piste map and ski area
Beginners: VT Family Park and 4 easy routes · stay in the Soleil district, near lessons
OpenSkiMap data · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), unofficial. Official piste map
Val Thorens lift pass prices
| Lift pass | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Val Thorens-Orelle · 1 day | €73.50 | €60.20 |
| Val Thorens-Orelle · 6 days | €367.50 | €301 |
| 3 Vallées · 1 day | €84.20 | €69 |
| 3 Vallées · 6 days | €421 | €345 |
2026-2027 prices · Free under 5 · 6 days for the price of 5 · official ticket office
Ski rental and lessons in Val Thorens
Book your skis before you go
- 5 Skiset shops in Val Thorens, near the lifts
- Equipment, shop and dates chosen online, in a few minutes
Skiset (5 shops) and Snowrental (10) · rent near your district to head home on skis
Ski lessons and schools
| Lessons (2026-2027 season) | Price |
|---|---|
| Children's lesson ages 5-12, 5 or 6 mornings | from €245 |
| Piou Piou age 3, 5 or 6 mornings | from €245 |
| Private lesson, 5 mornings of 2h45 | from €1,100 |
ESF nursery from 3 months; Piou Piou from age 3 at the Montana garden, at the bottom of the resort. · Online booking closes 3 days before ESF lessons start: plan ahead.
When to ski in Val Thorens
Best time: 5 Dec → 18 Apr (3 Vallées)
Getting to Val Thorens
On site
Maison de Val Thorens, 818 Grande Rue, 73440 Val Thorens
Where to eat and unwind in Val Thorens
La Folie Douce at the top of the Plein Sud chairlift · Festival'Tho (ski and electro) in late March
Restaurants in the resort
Fondue, raclette and regional dishes, view over the glaciers
📍 Soleil, rue du SoleilStarred restaurant with 30 covers, booking essential
📍 Slalom, Pashmina hotelMountain restaurants
Spa and relaxation
Similar resorts
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ResortFlorian Pépellin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons🇫🇷 Valloire
ResortDimiTalen, CC0, Wikimedia Commons🇫🇷 La Plagne
ResortJorchr, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons🇫🇷 Tignes
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Frequently asked questions
When does Val Thorens open in 2026-2027?
Val Thorens and Orelle open on 21 November 2026 and close on 2 May 2027. The rest of the 3 Vallées opens on 5 December and closes on 18 April. These dates are provisional and depend on snow conditions.
Can you get to Val Thorens without a car?
Yes. The TGV reaches Moûtiers in under 5 hours from Paris, then a bus or taxi takes you up to the resort in about 1 hour. In the resort, a free shuttle serves the districts.
How much does a week's lift pass cost?
The 6-day Val Thorens-Orelle pass costs €367.50 for an adult and the 3 Vallées pass €421, at the price of 5 days. A child aged 5 to 17 pays €345 for the 3 Vallées, and under-5s ski free.
Is Val Thorens suitable for beginners?
Yes: the resort has the VT Family Park and the 3 Vallées list four easy routes from Val Thorens. From the Balcons district, beginners must take the shuttle to reach the green runs; the Soleil district is the closest to lessons and children's gardens.
What is the altitude of Val Thorens?
The village is at 2,300 m. The ski area rises to 3,230 m at the top of the 3 Vallées, and the Cime Caron peaks at 3,200 m.
What is the best time to ski in Val Thorens?
The whole 3 Vallées ski area is open from 5 December to 18 April. Val Thorens lets you ski earlier (from 21 November) and later (until 2 May) than its neighbours, but only part of the ski area is open at both ends of the season.
Sources and method
Resort profile: les3vallees.com, booking.valthorens.com, skiset.com, alti-mag.com, fr.wikipedia.org
Areas: reservation.valthorens.com, booking.valthorens.com
Accommodation: booking.valthorens.com, hotelpashmina.com, hotelmarielle.com, altapura.fr, les3vallees.com
Lift passes: les3vallees.com, skiinfo.fr, alti-mag.com
Snow and season: les3vallees.com
Ski area: les3vallees.com
Equipment rental: skiset.com, snowrental.com, esf-valthorens.com
Getting there: les3vallees.com, booking.valthorens.com, altibus.com
Restaurants and activities: les3vallees.com
Webcams: les3vallees.com
Reports: les3vallees.com
Ski holidays: travelski.com, snowtrex.fr
Runs and lifts: OpenSkiMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (AWS Open Data). Forecasts: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Snow on the ground: Météo-France, automatic stations (Open Licence 2.0). Schools, restaurants, spas and practical information: venue websites and tourist office.
Photos: DimiTalen, CC0, Wikimedia Commons · Florian Pépellin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons · Photo Michiel / Pexels.
Some links are partner links: we may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.