In late 2017, my parents, sister, and I traveled to the snowy town of Val Thorenc in the French Alps for a few weeks of skiing and snowboarding. Val Thorenc is a gondola-accessible town that offers skiers and snowboarders access to some of the highest peaks in all of France.
Val Thorenc is also the home of one of the most well-known ski resorts in the world: Val Thorens.
Val Thorens was formed back in 1956 by the construction of a single ski lift and is now home to over 70 ski lifts. There are 108 kilometers of slopes covering over 1,838 acres of terrain.
Val Thorenc is also home to several other ski resorts including the smaller, but no less popular, Les Gets.
Val Thorenc is known for its high-altitude powder snow, steep slopes, and vast expanses of alpine meadows. Moreover, the town and its surroundings are also known for being one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe.
Val Thorenc is a small town, so we only had the opportunity to visit for a few days. However, this did not stop us from experiencing as much of the town as possible. We went on hikes, visited the local wildlife, sipped hot chocolate by the gondola, and even went snowmobiling.
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The journey to Val Thorenc
Our trip to Val Thorenc was unforgettable. We had an opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful places in Europe and also snowboard for some time.
The town of Val Thorenc is small. However, there are still plenty of activities to do, including taking a scenic walk around the famous gondola, skiing or snowboarding, or going on a lookout for wildlife in the mountains. If you’re interested in visiting Val Thorenc but don’t have time to visit the rest of France, this is your chance!
Val Thorens is known as one of the world’s best ski resorts with 108 kilometers of slopes covering 1,838 acres and offering steep slopes and abundant powder snow. The town also offers 3 different ski resorts: Les Gets (smaller but no less popular), Val Thorens (the bigger brother), and Bompas-St Jorasses (for those looking for a more challenging hike).
Val Thorenc
Val Thorenc is a small town, so we only had the opportunity to visit for a few days. However, this did not stop us from experiencing as much of the town as possible. We went on hikes, visited the local wildlife, sipped hot chocolate by the gondola, and even went snowmobiling.
Hiking in the Alps
One of my favorite things to do in Val Thorenc was hiking. There are many hikes that you can do while visiting Val Thorenc, but my favorites were the ones that included the nearby town of Les Gets.
Les Gets is a much smaller, yet equally beautiful town. The town is built at an altitude of 1,900 meters and is one of the highest towns in Europe. Its many ski slopes offer some of the best snowboarding in all of Europe as well as some breathtaking views.
There are also plenty of trails that lead directly into Val Thorens from Les Gets which make for a great day hike. In total, there are 162 kilometers worth of hiking trails for those who want to take a short break from skiing or boarding and enjoy some nature.
Les Gets
: A smaller, but no less impressive town in Val Thorens
This is a condensed version of our trip to Val Thorenc. We only had a few days, so we didn’t get to see everything and I couldn’t fit all of the adventures into a blog post. But, I hope this will give you an idea of what Val Thorenc has to offer.
The first adventure we did was visiting Les Gets (another popular ski resort in Val Thorenc). While it wasn’t as big as Val Thorens, it was still very impressive. The mountains were full of snow and had a breathtaking view from the top.
The second adventure we did was going on a snowmobile ride through some alpine meadows at the bottom of Mont Blanc de Cheilon. We drove along one ridge for about 30 minutes and then continued on our journey up Mont Blanc with views that don’t come around very often.
And finally, while it wasn’t one of my favorite adventures, we did visit the local wildlife at La Grande Borne d’Arveres and went stargazing at Petit Mont Pelvoux (a small mountain nearby).
Les Gets for Beginners
If you are a beginner and want to visit Val Thorenc, you’ll want to spend your time in Les Gets. This smaller town is only about half the size of Val Thorenc, but it is still home to some of the most sought-after ski slopes and terrain in France.
Les Gets is also an excellent place to visit for those who want to get a taste of the high-altitude powder snow that Val Thorens is known for.
As mentioned before, Les Gets offers 108 kilometers of slopes covering 1,838 acres of terrain. Its top elevation reaches 1,400 meters above sea level – not bad for just being a small town!
In order to reach the top of all these mountain trails, Les Gets has a network of 3 gondolas that provide access to their famous slopes.
All in all, if you are looking for a place to learn how to snowboard or someone who wants a new destination on their bucket list, Les Get should be at the top of your list.
Snowmobiling in France
Snowmobiling in France is an amazing experience that you don’t want to miss.
There are several vendors in Val Thorens who offer snowmobile rentals, and they are a great way to explore the neighboring mountains. Keep in mind, though, that it’s not advisable to rent a snowmobile if you have never driven one before. There are many variables that come into play when driving on a snow-covered mountain, including the condition of the roads, the steepness of mountain terrain, and more.
We rented a snowmobile from one of the vendors for a day and drove around some of the nearby mountains from Val Thorenc. The drive was worth it as we saw parts of the town we had missed on our hike and also got to see some wildlife along the way. We came across deer, foxes, wild boar, chamois, and even alpine ibex!
If you find yourself in Val Thorenc or nearby towns like Les Gets or Morillon for any length of time during ski season, make sure you take this opportunity to try out something new. The scenery is stunning and so is riding a snowmobile!
The Reality of Being in a Ski Town
You will probably be very excited as you plan to go skiing at Val Thorenc. But remember that you will most likely not be able to see the top of the mountain. This is due to the extreme altitude of Val Thorens and its surrounding mountains. The average elevation is 3,000 meters above sea level, which means that if you are climbing a mountain, or even standing at the base of one, you will most likely not be able to see the top.
Furthermore, Val Thorenc is a small town in France, so it can be difficult to find a place to stay during your stay there. It would also be wise to make reservations before arriving since people travel from all over Europe for this particular town.
Lastly, it’s important for skiers and snowboarders to take precautions because avalanches are common in these mountains and can happen very quickly. Be sure that you’re wearing your avalanche-safety gear (e.g., an avalanche rescue shovel) when exploring these slopes!
The Bottom Line
It’s important to spend time exploring new places. After all, it’s not often that you get to take a trip where your bank account is just as big as your travel budget. So go ahead and explore the world.