Forget a ski-in, ski-out hotel, what about a ski-in, ski-out resort?
Welcome to France‘s Val Thorens, which has been declared the world’s best ski resort nine times, including for 2024/2025.
Here, no matter where you stay, the snow is never more than mere meters from your accommodation’s doorstep.
I stayed in hotels Altapura and Fahrenheit Seven and the white stuff was inches away from the trunk.
But I discovered that proximity to snow is far from the only reason this resort lives up to the hype.
There’s the height, for starters.
At 2,300m (7,545ft), surrounded by six glaciers, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe, making it reliably snow-proof. And you’ll do most of your skiing in the skies – 80 percent of the runs are above 2,300m.
The snow is so plentiful that the ski season lasts six months, the longest in Europe.
MailOnline Travel Editor Ted Thornhill strapped into his snowboard in April and explored Val Thorens (sparkling centre) – the French ski resort voted the best in the world.
At 2,300 m (7,545 ft), surrounded by six glaciers, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe
At Val Thorens you’ll do most of your skiing in the skies – 80 percent of the runs are above 2,300m
Ted outside Val Thorens’ Fahrenheit Seven hotel
We went in April, and it snowed for two days. The whole resort and all the runs were covered in the white stuff.
The landscape is another big draw. It is enchanting.
Val Thorens is the highest point of the 3 Vallees ski area, the largest in the world with 600 km (372 miles) of connected slopes catering for every level of skier and snowboarder.
The highest peak that skiers and snowboarders can reach at Val Thorens is Cime Caron (3,200 m/10,482 ft).
We didn’t make it there, but we did climb up to Col de Rosael, which is at 3,000m (9,842ft) and offers a stunning view over Val Thorens, the valley down to neighboring Les Menuires Resort (1,850 m). /6,069) and in the distance Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest mountain (4,805 m/15,766 ft).
This overwhelming view stopped our descent (and everyone else’s too).
We set off and experienced a tremendous run – a rollercoaster blue (called Fond) which, even though it was the busy Easter holiday period, we had all to ourselves, as if resort management had closed it especially for us.
Ted reveals he went to Val Thorens in April and the ‘whole resort and all the runs were covered in the white stuff’
If there’s a downside to Val Thorens, it’s an almost complete lack of trees, which means it’s not terribly fun in white-outs.
But when the sun is out, it’s awesome.
What’s more, most of the lifts start from the center of the resort in a star burst, making it immensely convenient.
And they are modern, well-organised, chaos-free lifts too, with gondolas funneling skiers and boarders into ‘pens’ in front, numbered to ensure there’s always some breathing space on the ascent.
Ted writes: ‘If there’s a downside to Val Thorens, it’s an almost complete lack of trees, which means that in “white-outs” it’s not terribly fun. But when the sun is out, it’s great’
The resort itself, while not particularly fancy, offers several above average dining and drinking options.
As with any resort, there are mediocre tourist attractions, but head to restaurants La Maison (la-maison-valthorens.fr), with its Instagrammable furry chandeliers, and Le Tivoli (www.tivolivalthorens.com), and disappointment will be very unlikely.
Out on the slopes you simply have to drink a coffee at Le Caribou restaurant at the intersection of the Genepi (blue) and Asters (red) slopes.
The views down the valley to Glacier de Thorens are charming.
As for places to stay, I can wholeheartedly recommend the aforementioned Altapura, with its indoor-outdoor pool and epic bedrooms, and Fahrenheit Seven, with its glorious terrace views and funky decor.
Val Thorens – this is a resort at the height of its powers.
TRAVEL FACTS
Ted was hosted by the Val Thorens tourism office. Visit www.valthorens.com.
Advantages: Snow for sure, epic scenery, great hotels, great restaurants, slick infrastructure.
Disadvantages: Lack of trees means white-outs are especially frustrating here.
Resort rating out of five: 4.5.
TO GET THERE
The best way to reach Val Thorens from the UK is via Eurostarwhich runs a ski train service to the French Alps departing on Saturdays and returning on Sundays.
It stops at Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-Les-Bains (for Val Thorens), Aime-la-Plagne, and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Visit www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/france/ski-train#Journey.
If it’s booked out, take a Eurostar to Paris and then a TGV from Gare de Lyon.
Eurostar fares from London start at £39 one way in Standard, or £70 in Plus.
