Val Thorens High altitude resort |   |
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| Resort description |
Val Thorens is a purpose built - car free resort on a sunny west facing mountainside, designed to provide accommodation where you can ski from your door. The smart architecture - since the early days - makes a massive use of wood cladding to provide an elegant atmosphere. This is the highest resort in the 3 valleys - and also in Europe - that guaranties it has great snow sure slopes. Last but not least, Val Thorens has also built its reputation on a surprisingly lively après-ski.
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Val Thorens
For
security and comfort Val Thorens is a car free
resort. There is a free bus service that runs
throughout the resort.
In
the heart of the resort is Place de Caron where most
of the shops, bars and restaurants can be
found.
Val
Thorens has earned the P’tits
Montagnards label which
guarantees quality facilities and activities for
children and their parents.
Activities
for children include a torchlight decent every
Thursday
The
classic and jazz music association organises a
concert each week at the church in the resort for
music lovers to enjoy.
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Skiing in Val Thorens
Val
Thorens has some of the
best intermediate terrain in the whole of the 3
valleys.
Intermediates
can take the big Péclet gondola to the
Péclet glacier or
the head to the Pointe de Thorens, both of which have
a good selection of red runs.
From
the Col de Rosaël
you can take red and blue runs down to the Maurienne valley known as the
‘fourth valley’, where you can ride the
chair lifts up to the Pointe du Boucher at 3230m the
highest lift served point in the 3 valleys.
Experts can
also find some good runs by taking the Cimes de Caron
cable car -queues to be expected! - which leads to some great black
runs down the front of the mountain or down into the
Maurienne valley.
For
those who want to try off piste skiing for the first
time the Pierre Lory run
is the best
For
more adventurous off piste skiers there is the famous
Lac du Lou run which has a 1400m vertical
drop.
Beginners
will find the slopes at the foot of the resort are
gentle and are good for building confidence
Val
Thorens also has great access to the rest of the 3
valleys with blue and red runs that will take you
down to Les Menuires or Meribel.
Click to view 3 Vallées
website
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Snowboarding in Val Thorens
There
is a terrain park just above the resort served by a
fast chair lift.
It
has a half pipe, jumps, tables, hips, handrails, a
boardercross course and a
sound system.
The
slopes of Val Thorens are suitable for all abilities
of boarders and the good snow is great for beginners
and cavers.
For
free riders there is plenty of off piste
opportunities.
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Cross Country Skiing in Val Thorens
There
is only 4km of cross country trails in Val
Thorens
There
is 130km of cross country trial in the whole of the 3
valleys
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Ski School
The
ESF in Val Thorens offers skiing and snowboarding for
adults or children in group lessons
They
also offer a selection of services for children under
4, these include
A
babysitting service for children aged 3-7
months
A
nursery service for children aged 18 months to 3
years old
A
children’s club for children aged 3-4
For
more information about the Val Thorens ski school
please visit: www.esf-valthorens.com
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Lift Passes
Lift
passes give you access to Val Thorens and the whole
of the 3 Vallees
For
more information about Val Thorens lift passes please
click
here
Photos
provided by the Val Thorens tourist office and taken
by A.Peirer, G.Mirande and Agence
Basile, F.Oddoux, Y.Bontoux
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| The Skiing |
| Val Thorens is part of Les 3 Vallées that many skiers rightly regard as the greatest of intermediate playground in the world. This massive lift-linked ski area is formed with the neighbouring resorts of Les Menuires, Meribel, Courchevel, and La Tania. The 3 Vallées has slopes of all extremes. On the edge of the traditional wide ski runs, the eastern side of the 3 Vallées ski area is waiting to be discovered: in the Saint-Bon valley and on the borders of the Courchevel ski area you will find sunny Moriond. The Saint Bon valley offers some of the most beautiful wooded sectors of the 3 Vallées. The western side of the 3 Vallées is represented by the Belleville Valley and at the top of the valley sits the imposing resort of Val Thorens and its circle of glaciers and peaks that reach over 3000m. Great skiing can be had from the very beginning of the season in the 3 Vallées and there is something for every one no matter your style or ability. |
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| Après Ski |
| Eating out in Val Thorens has something for all tastes and pocket, from pizzeria, Tex Mex and crêperie, to traditional and gastronomic cuisine, top of the range being the Oxalys restaurant run by celebrity chef Jean-Michel Bouvier. Bars include the wine bar Blanchot, the cellar bar Malaysia which has live bands to the quieter O'Connell's and Ruhm Box bars. Val Thorens also has 2 night clubs. |
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| Amenities |
| Val Thorens has a comprehensive selection of shops and services as you can expect. This range from food shops, bakeries, pharmacies, doctors and banks, to hairdressers, beauty salons, fashion stores, jewellery and sport shops. |
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| Activities |
| You can try the 6km high speed toboggan run with a 700m vertical drop in the Tête Ronde sector. Other activities that you can try include: snowshoeing, paragliding, driving a snow mobile, ice diving and climbing an ice waterfall. Val Thorens also has the largest sport centre in the Alps which offers a large selection of activities such as swimming, tennis, squash, table tennis, badminton and football. There are also saunas, Jacuzzis and a gym for you to enjoy. |
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| Getting there |
Driving distance: From Calais 590 miles, approximately 9hrs
Airport access: Chambery 70 miles appoximately 1hr45, Lyon 123 miles approximately 2hr45, Geneva 125 miles approximately 2hrs45 |
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| Chalet des Neiges Hermine |
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| Chalet des Neiges Plein Sud |
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| Les Balcons de Val Thorens |
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| Ski Facts |
| Village height: |
2300m(7,550ft) |
Slope range: |
1800m(4,130ft)-3230m(10,600ft) |
Ski area: |
Les 3 Vallées |
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| Piste coverage |
600 |
| Ski lifts |
200 |
| Ski runs |
335 |
| Green |
48 |
| Blue |
135 |
| Red |
119 |
| Black |
33 |
| Snow cannons |
1500 |
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| Beginners |
*** |
| Intermediates |
**** |
| Experts |
**** |
| Boarders |
**** |
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