What You Need to Know About Val Thorens
Skiing is one of the most popular activities in the world, and whether you’re a ski season veteran or hitting the slopes for the first time, selecting the right ski resort is always one of your biggest decisions.
The Alps is the biggest and most popular mountain range in Europe, with ski resorts spanning the region in numerous countries, most famously Switzerland and France. Choosing the right resort for you and your needs is extremely important in order to ensure you maximise your experience, and here at Alpine Fleet we can help you do exactly that.
We provide leading shared transfers and private transfers from Geneva Airport to ski resorts across the Alps, our work has seen us gain a thorough understanding of all of these resorts including Val Thorens.
One of the most popular, Val Thorens is a great choice for skiers of every ability, and it’s also packed with amenities that can be enjoyed away from the slopes – including the popular Après-ski tradition.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide to Val Thorens, outlining everything you need to know about this wonderful resort.
Read on to find out more.
Where is Val Thorens?
Val Thorens is in the French Alps and is easily accessible from Geneva Airport.
More specifically Val Thorens can be found in the stunning Tarentaise Valley which is in the Savoie region of southern France. Nestled in the Belleville Valley of this area, it is part of the wider Three Valleys ski area which is one of the Alps’, and the world’s, largest and most interconnected ski regions.
The best way to get to Val Thorens is via Geneva Airport, and we’d always recommend using shared or private transfers. However, we’ll go into greater detail on how to get to the resort a bit later on in this article.
The history of Val Thorens
Unsurprisingly due to its alpine location, skiing in Val Thorens has been going on for decades and, unofficially, even centuries.
In fact, there is evidence of humans skiing down its significant slopes dating back to around 2,000 BC. Artefacts from Iron Age communities have been excavated in the area which went on to become densely populated with the presence of pastoral farmers.
However, its modern existence as a world-famous ski resort only really began to take shape in the 1970s. Prior to this, in the 1960s, Val Thorens was predominantly a place of agriculture but at around a mid-point of the decade, this began to change.
Entrepreneur and engineer Pierre Schnebelen realised the potential Val Thorens had, and went about trying to persuade local authorities to allow him to transform it into a ski resort. His plans were initially met with resistance as the reputation of alpine and winter sports was not positive. The urbanisation of these areas was considered to be damaging to the region’s natural beauty, however, Schnebelen’s persistence paid off and the lower resort of Les Menuires in Val Thorens was built in 1967.
By 1970, more and more resorts had opened their doors and Val Thorens was establishing itself as one of the Alps most popular regions. In 1971, the first ski lifts were introduced and a ski school was opened by former coach of the French women’s ski team, Jean Bergenger.
Throughout the intervening decades, the region improved exponentially with the introduction of hotels, chalets and hospitality venues for guests. Moreover, ski lifts were modernised and these days even feature wait times to make the experience more comfortable for guests.
How high is Val Thorens?
If reaching some serious altitude is your aim, then Val Thorens is the perfect ski resort for you.
This is because Val Thorens is the highest resort in the whole of Europe and one of the highest in the entire world. The lowest part of the region sits at a staggering 2,300m, a height which many resorts would be proud to boast. However, if you make your way up to the highest peak you will find yourself confronted with Cime Caron which stands at a massive 3,230m!
While altitude is not everything with a ski resort, it can certainly make the experience more exhilarating and thousands of people come from all over the world to experience the heights that Val Thorens has to offer.
How to get to Val Thorens?
As mentioned earlier, Val Thorens is located in the French Alps and can be reached fairly easily via Geneva Airport.
Once you’ve landed you’ll have a range of options on how to get to the resort itself. Heading south, it only takes around two hours and 20 minutes from the airport to the resort, and hire cars are available.
However, navigating the alpine roads without experience can be challenging, so using transfers to and from the airport is often the preferred option for visitors. Shared transfers and private transfers are both available, with you able to choose which type as well as the size depending on you and your party’s needs.
Is Val Thorens good for beginners?
If you’re a beginner and going skiing for the first time, it’s normal to be a bit apprehensive before hitting the slopes.
However, Val Thorens is one of the best ski resorts for beginners due to its vast number of skiing areas. This means that there is a diverse range of pistes available, with options for people of every ability to enjoy.
More specifically, Val Thorens is home to 20 green runs (easy) and 60 blue runs (intermediate) for people to enjoy. This means that if you’ve only just got to grips with the skill of skiing, you still have a variety of options to choose from where you can hone your skills at a safe and steady pace.
Furthermore, there are five completely designated beginner areas, so you won’t have to worry about being hurried along by those who may be a bit more experienced. It’s also worth taking some classes at one of the region’s ski schools where you’ll be taught the basics by world-class teachers.
The main beginner area can be found at the centre of the resort and there is often free drag lifts available to get you there.
Is Val Thorens expensive?
Skiing can be an expensive hobby.
From hiring equipment to paying for accommodation, the costs can soon add up.
However, is Val Thorens expensive compared to other options?
In short, not really.
When you select Val Thorens as your skiing destination, you can expect to pay a similar amount of money as you would at any other resort in the Alps. Due to the size of Val Thorens, there is a wide range of places to eat and stay, meaning that most people’s budget can be catered for.
There are, however, a number of things you can do to keep costs down and mitigate how much you are spending.
Be sure to rent all of your equipment in advance. While you can hire the stuff you need from the resort, this is typically at a higher cost and it’s fairly easy to book your equipment online before you travel. As well as saving costs, this also means you won’t need to worry about getting what you need when already out on the slopes.
You can also book self-catering accommodation which will help keep your food and drinks cost down. Local restaurants and bars can become something of tourist hot spots, and it’s likely to be cheaper to cater for yourself.
Finally, using transfers to and from the airport is always cheaper than hiring a car.
Is there snow in Val Thorens?
Snow is pretty much a prerequisite of any skiing trip, and while some resorts may need to utilise artificial snow to make sure everywhere has the correct level of coverage, this isn’t the case at Val Thorens.
This is because the resort is one of the most snow-rich regions in the Alps, and gets around 556cm of snow each year. Plus, the typical year will see 45 days of snowfall in Val Thorens.
This means the conditions are always perfect for skiing, snowboarding and any other alpine activities you have in mind.
Visit Val Thorens with Alpine Fleet
If you’ve decided to visit Val Thorens for your next ski trip, or your first one ever, Alpine Fleet is here to help.
We’ve spent many years providing quality shared transfers and private transfers from Geneva Airport to Val Thorens. No matter what you require, we’ll do our very best to cater for your needs, discussing your needs with you and providing seamless transport options to the resort.
For more information on how to get to Val Thorens, click here to read our previous blog on the topic, and check out our in-depth guide to skiing in Val Thorens.
For more information on the range of transfers we offer, get in touch with our team today.
