What to do in Val Thorens, Les Trois Vallées

Discover what to do in Val Thorens! The highest resort in Europe welcomes you now to enjoy its ski area and the many activities available!

Val Thorens was born in 1971 thanks to Pierre Schnebelen's crazy idea to create the most faultless ski resort in Europe. At a time when winter tourism was frowned upon, Val Thorens had nothing to succeed and yet it did. Since its creation, Val Thorens has focused its development on innovation. In 1982, the biggest cable car in the world opened despite financing problems and allowed skiers to climb to an altitude of 3,200m. As tourists flocked to the Savoyard resort, a new hotel project was launched in 1985, making Val Thorens one of the most ambitious resorts in France. Ambitious and ingenious, it is in Savoie in 1995 that the double chairlifts are invented, in Val Thorens, and revolutionize the practice of skiing as well as the comfort of tourists.

40 years later, Val Thorens continues to innovate by launching a new project to update the resort's sports centre by the end of 2023.

Located on the Mont du Borgne, Val Thorens faces the Pointe de la Masse and Mont Bréquin. Crossed by the Pèclet torrent, the resort benefits from a magnificent setting thanks to the mountains that surround it, such as the Cime de Caron or the Aiguille Polset, as well as the Tuéda nature reserve.

On the cultural side, Val Thorens is part of the 3 valleys ski area and enjoys a unique gastronomy. Known for having the youngest Michelin starred chef, Val Thorens is becoming a real pillar of high altitude gastronomy and allows Savoyard cheese to be known all over France. Beaufort, a local cheese, is at the origin of many typical dishes of the region.

After this short introduction, we finally address the key question: what to do in Val Thorens. As an innovative resort, the Village does not stop at developing its infrastructures to differentiate itself but offers dozens of different activities to give you unforgettable moments. Moreover, Val Thorens does not only focus on the winter season but all year round!

During the summer season, discover the mountains, their landscapes and their relief during an exciting hike that will teach you a lot about Val Thorens and its surroundings. If you're looking for more excitement, hop on a buggy or quad bike and go on an adventure in the forests of Mont Borgne. To stay in the Savoyard heights, enjoy a via ferrata or try rock climbing in a natural environment. All these activities are perfect for discovering the setting of Val Thorens!

Now it's time to go down the mountain, so take advantage of the 1.4km long Tyrolean traverse located at an altitude of 3200m. To have fun with your family or friends, Val Thorens offers rafting or canyoning in the white waters of the Torrent Pèclet, for maximum thrills and fun.

If you feel the need for a bit of madness, discover the unusual activities to do in the resort. Try rail sledging on the 1000m Speed Mountain track and try to break speed records on your way down. If you prefer wheels to rails, discover the One Wheel during an initiation and a ride on the mountainous paths of Val Thorens. But if that's not enough for you, head for the Savoyard sky and take off in a parachute to enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent setting surrounding the resort. Back in the village, go on an excursion to the mountain pastures and learn how farmers do their job in the Savoyard heights. Finally, after the effort the comfort, take advantage of the SPA and the treatments it offers to recover from this day filled with the most pleasant activities!

Above all a winter resort, Val Thorens offers you the possibility to do a ton of activities. The ski area of the 3 valleys allows you to ski on more than 600km of slopes and to spend the whole day skiing or snowboarding. If you stay on the slopes, there are plenty of activities on offer.

Enjoy the Snow Park on a freestyle course or take off your skis and find another way to hit the slopes. Get out on a mountain bike or FatBike to explore the snowy forests on a bike tour, or hop on a snowmobile to ride the slopes. If you prefer to get some height, why not take to the skies of Val Thorens in a helicopter or microlight and enjoy a breathtaking view over the mountains, but for even more thrills book a paragliding or paramotor flight to be free in the air! One of the most famous activities of the resort is its zip line located at the highest point of the 3 valleys (3230m), launch yourself into the void at more than 100km/h above the valleys of the Maurienne and Tarentaise.

One of the great strengths of Val Thorens is the diversification of the activities to be done, and especially for the unusual activities.

For an unforgettable ride, choose a dog sledding excursion that will leave a lasting impression on you, or a ride in a snow groomer for a unique experience. For all the motorsports fans, come and drive sports cars on a snowy circuit, which will host the E-Trophée Andros in December 2022, which offers low adhesion and allows you to drift for incredible sensations! For the more novice, karts are also available and guarantee just as much fun. And no... it's still not over, how about climbing a frozen waterfall during an initiation to mountaineering or cutting through the ice covering the Lou lake and diving underneath to experience a moment out of time.

Finally, at the end of your activity-filled day, take a trip to the SPA to rest from the big day you've had and to prepare for the next day. Then book a night in an Igloo or Yurt for an unforgettable evening!

So now you are not allowed to ask yourself what to do in Val Thorens because the list of activities available is long... very long! Your only problem will be to choose where to start!