Resort Review
The resort of Val Thorens is "the gateway" to the world's largest ski area which embraces 600km, 334 pistes, 200 ski lifts and 25 summits. It is the highest ski station in Europe (2300m), located well above the tree line but linked into the vastness of the Trois Vallees region. It boasts great snow and a long season and is especially popular for those who enjoy spring skiing in brilliant sunshine.
For the very good skier there are 34 black runs in the area as well as 334 pistes. If you are more a novice or intermediate skier, then you have no fewer than 129 blue runs with a further 52 green runs for those still finding their skiing legs! But for the better skier there are 119 red and the 34 black runs which are really challenging.
The resort is at the top of the Vallee des Balleville and you pass through the ski resorts of Saint-Martin and Les Menuires before arriving at Val Thorens so when you want to ski elsewhere for the day, nothing could be simpler. You have a choice of skiing via Les Menuires down the "spine" of the mountains to the delightful and picturesque village of Saint Martin (a good place for lunch) or to have a day-long adventure by first skiing to Meribel-Mottaret and then taking the gondola linking over to Courcheval. There is a breathtaking long run down to Courchveal 1850m and the final stages of this piste is through the trees.
Val Thorens has plenty going on in the evenings. There are shops, a super leisure centre with an adequate swimming pool, table tennis and snooker, numerous bars in the resort - some of which are run by Brits, Dutch and Danes! Night clubs ensure those who do not like an early night are well catered for but judging from the amount of skiing, most will want to turn-in before midnight and get a few hours sleep in readiness for a hard days "piste bashing" the following day. If you fancy a spot of swimming there are no fewer than eight and the sports centre is the biggest in the Alps.
For the adventurous amongst you, there is one more aspect of val thorens to be discovered. Ice-car racing. If you have ever wanted to learn how to drive - and control - a car on ice/smow covered roads, well Val Thorens has a specially designed track just for this. During the winter events with international drivers thrill the crowds with races but for the visitor, experts are on hand to show you how a car should be controlled. A great experience well worth missing a couple of hours on the piste for!
You can travel by train from the UK into the Tarentaise and then bus transfer; you can drive in around 10 hours, or there is the opportunity of flying to Chambery, Lyon or Geneve. |
