…Europe’s Highest Ski Resort!
When it comes to late-season skiing, it’s smart to aim high, and it doesn’t get higher than Val Thorens. At 2,300m altitude, there’s no higher ski resort in Europe, perfect for spring skiing! With the slopes climbing more than another 900 vertical metres, Val Thorens can offer skiing back to your accommodation right into May, making it the perfect choice for your late-season ski holiday or short break.
In terms of popular recognition, there’s actually no better ski resort in France, or indeed the whole world. At the recent prestigious World Ski Awards Val Thorens was voted the best resort in the world for the 9th time – that’s far more wins than anywhere else has ever achieved. It goes without saying that it was also voted the best resort in France, in this case for the 12th time.
It’s not just about the brilliant snow conditions right through to the end of the season long past the Easter holidays either. Val Thorens is buzzing in springtime as its long season which started way back in November reaches its climax.
This year The Cosmic Mountain Festival will be held from 18 to 21 April at five different venues in the resort and ski area: the Folie Douce, the Malaysia, the 360 bar, the Board and the village. Each venue will be designed and staged around a planet. It’s going to be amazing!
The festival is an exciting partnership between the resort and Delta Music Festival. Taking place over the Easter weekend, the first edition of the all-new Cosmic Mountain Festival will bring three days of
partying and music to these most iconic locations around the resort.
With the longer days and warmer temperatures, Val Thorens’ guests are not just enjoying the great ski area but also kicking back and enjoying après-ski on the sunny terraces. There are also lots of fantastic activities to enjoy on and off the slopes and a full calendar of fun-filled festivals and events right through to the last day of the season on May 4th, 2025.
You’ve Got To Ski It To Believe It
Val Thorens is not only the highest resort in Europe at 2,300m, with the longest winter season in France, from November to May, it’s also part of the world’s largest ski region, the incredible 3 Valleys domain with its unbeaten 600km of pistes. 150km of these slopes, served by fast, modern, comfortable lifts and including the highest and most snowsure runs in the 3 Valleys, are within the Val Thorens/Orelle domain.
Besides the world’s best skiing, Val Thorens offers its guests a vibrant dining, retail and apres ski scene, loads to do besides skiing and the resort hosts major international sporting events including the Ice Cross World Cup, Ski Cross World Cup and Freeride World Tour along with many music and other festivals so there’s always something going on.
There’s also a huge choice of accommodation options, from affordable family-friendly top uber-lux five stars, but all have in common that they’re ski-in/ski-out.
It’s no surprise that Val Thorens has been voted the best ski resort in the world no less than eight times.
Party On!
Val Thorens has a full programme of activities right through to the end of the season in May.
After the new Cosmic Mountain Festival, the final party weekend, La Grande Dernière, on 3-4 May will bring down the curtain on another epic season.
Celebrating the fact that Val Thorens is one of the few ski areas in France and the entire Alps that is so snowsure its open into May, La Grande Dernière is a great opportunity to party and also strap on your skis or board for one final time this season!
There’s Even More This Season
An exciting new development at Cime Caron, the highest point of the Val Thorens ski area at 3,200 meters, is set to become an attraction in its own right, as well as a must-visit for passing skiers and boarders.
After successive summers of upgrades and major investments in recent years, this winter Cime Caron will unveil a brand new building, Caron 3200, a state-of-the-art facility housing a new restaurant with 130 seats, a cosy wine bar, a rooftop with a bar and panoramic terrace, as well as an 80m2 multi-service space which can also serve as a cinema room, exhibition hall or reception area for events and seminars.
The extraordinary nature of the site meant it was important to limit the building’s energy needs and environmental impact. That wasn’t easy given the height and regular extreme weather of Cime Caron but was achieved thanks to local architects and landscape consultants ensuring it blended harmoniously with the natural environment. The building itself uses sustainable raw materials including wood, glass and stainless steel and is powered with renewable energy including thermo-solar, solar panels, heat recovery from the Orelle-Caron gondola and innovative water resource management.
The development by Val Thorens’ ski lift company SETAM will further enhance the visitor experience with these new places for meeting and relaxing further enhancing the natural attractions of Cime Caron including the breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the surrounding peaks, including views of Mont Blanc, which attract so many.
Off Slope Fun
Although best known for its exciting, snow-sure skiing and boarding for all abilities, Val Thorens also has a growing list of activities to enjoy off the slopes too. That’s especially great if you have non-skiers in your group, or if you’re looking to try something different after a morning on the slopes.
Whizzing down a zip line is always fun and at Val Thorens, you can soar over the resort in tandem on the La Bee Zip Line which flies a total of 1,800 metres before landing you in the heart of the resort.
The many other activities include tubing and snowshoeing, the latter with the option of a guided trek to Lac du Lou, located at the edge of the Vanoise National Park and not accessible by ski lift or groomed piste. The wild plain between the peaks of Cime Caron and Pointe de la Masse is a magnet for nature lovers and it’s even possible to dive in the lake, which is frozen in winter.
Experience an unforgettable 2-hour snow groomer ride, complete with a traditional Savoyard aperitif! Every Tuesday and Thursday you can join an exclusive excursion to the Vallon du Lou or the Plan d’Eau des Bruyères, and uncover the fascinating world of slope maintenance. From snow grooming techniques to avalanche management and tramlining, you’ll gain an insider’s perspective on how these winter landscapes are crafted and cared for.
You can also spend an evening and enjoy a fabulous meal in an igloo, or visit one of Val Thorens’ many fabulous spas to enjoy the wellness therapy you deserve.
The recently opened “Le Board” sports and multi-leisure centre is another great attraction in the heart of the village. With a vast 17,000 m² space you’ll find leisure and wellness areas, a co-working space, and an amazing rooftop with a vast panoramic terrace that can host up to 2,400 people at once!
When you visit you are also entitled to a free membership of Club Val Tho’ which offers the chance to experience exclusive complimentary experiences during your stay! Club Val Tho’s raison d’ être is to make holidays in Val Thorens even more unforgettable by offering over 2,000 free experiences throughout the season. Join the Club before you arrive, tap in your holiday dates, and you have the chance to win everything from dining in a gourmet restaurant to participating in torchlight descents with ski school instructors. Even if you don’t win, many other free activities are offered during the school holidays.
Look Out For The Deals
Skiing in winter is great of course, but in spring, along with those longer days, quieter slopes and milder temperatures, with the snow still excellent up above 2300m, look out for lower prices too!
Val Thorens offers attractive promotional packages making your stay even better value for money and still more affordable. These special offers include discounts on 3 Vallées ski pass during the last week of the season, accommodation, and other perks, allowing you to fully enjoy the last snow of the season without breaking the bank.
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