Review of Val Thorens, France

**High Altitude Skiing at its Best**

Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe, with the village at 2,300m and a large part of the ski area at very high altitude. Several lifts take you above 3,000m, which is a major advantage for snow reliability, particularly at the beginning and end of the season.

The ski area offers something for every level. The Péclet and Moraine sectors are excellent for high-altitude skiing, while Cime Caron is well worth visiting on a clear day for the views and some great skiing. The Boismint sector is also a good choice when you want to get away from the busiest central slopes.

The lift system is generally modern and efficient, although strong winds can occasionally affect the highest lifts. Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays can also be very busy, so skiing early in the morning is a good idea during those periods.

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Val Thorens is the direct connection to the Three Valleys. From Val Thorens, the ski areas of Les Menuires, Méribel and Courchevel are all very easy to reach on skis. This makes it simple to explore a huge variety of pistes across the Three Valleys during the day before returning to Val Thorens.

The resort itself is compact and largely pedestrian, with free shuttle buses, and most accommodation offers very easy access to the slopes.

Restaurants and lift passes are not cheap, but that is probably the main downside.

For snow reliability, altitude, variety of skiing and easy access to the enormous Three Valleys ski area, Val Thorens remains one of my favourite places to ski.