Major city · France
Val Thorens
Skiers: 3–5 days to cover the 600 km (373 mi) of Les Trois Vallées. Non-skiers: a day trip for the views, or skip unless you want high-altitude hiking in summer.Skiers: 3–5 days to cover the 373 mi (600 km) of Les Trois Vallées. Non-skiers: a day trip for the views, or skip unless you want high-altitude hiking in summer.
Val Thorens is Europe's highest ski resort at 2300 m, part of the linked Les Trois Vallées area. Its altitude guarantees snow from December to early May, and the Cime Caron cable car gives 360° views including Mont Blanc. Summer brings hiking, biking and paragliding. The resort is car-free: park at the edge and walk or ski.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (skiing), Jun–Sep (hiking and biking)
- avoid May–early Jun (muddy, many lifts closed), Nov (pre-season)
- Airports
- CMF · GNB · LYS
- Nights
- 3–5
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Val Thorens17 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Val Thorens, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyVal Thorens is safe; the main risks are altitude (2300 m – drink water, avoid alcohol on arrival), sunburn on snow, and avalanches off-piste.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers17 police · 18 fire and ambulance · 112 European emergency (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCMF Chambéry-Savoie (About 122 km (76 mi); seasonal flights in winter.).CMF Chambéry-Savoie (About 76 mi (122 km); seasonal flights in winter.).
- Getting aroundThe resort is car-free; park in Valthoparc (paid).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)
- BeerBeer (half litre)€6–9 (≈ US$7–11)
- Metro or bus rideBus from Moutiers to Val Thorens€15–20 (≈ US$18–25) (check)
- Budget bedApartment (sleeps 4), a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- Mid-range bedApartment (sleeps 4), a night, per room€250 (≈ US$300)
- High-end bedApartment (sleeps 4), a night, per room€500 (≈ US$600)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €80 (≈ US$95) · Mid €150 (≈ US$180) · High €300 (≈ US$350)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CMF Chambéry-Savoie (About 122 km (76 mi); seasonal flights in winter.) · GNB Grenoble Isère (About 195 km (121 mi); seasonal flights.) · LYS Lyon-Saint Exupéry (Year-round; about 220 km (137 mi), then bus or car.)CMF Chambéry-Savoie (About 76 mi (122 km); seasonal flights in winter.) · GNB Grenoble Isère (About 121 mi (195 km); seasonal flights.) · LYS Lyon-Saint Exupéry (Year-round; about 137 mi (220 km), then bus or car.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Best
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Mar
Best
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Apr
Best
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
May
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jun
Care*
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Aug
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Sep
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Nov
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Dec
Best
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: Jul–Sep, Dec–Apr. Mixed: Jun. Avoid: May, Nov. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Jan (−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Val Thorens: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
10 rd
Feb
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
9 rd
Mar
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
10 rd
Apr
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
10 rd
May
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Jul
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Aug
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
9 rd
Oct
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Nov
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
10 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The resort is car-free; park in Valthoparc (paid). Walk or ski everywhere. Buses connect to Moutiers and other Trois Vallées villages.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h ski, 1.5 h bus
Ski across (blue/red runs) or bus via Moutiers
Part of the same ski area; worth a day for the glitzy village and more pistes.
Door to door: About 45 min ski, 1 h bus
Ski across (blue/red runs) or bus via Moutiers
Lively resort with good intermediate runs.
Brides les Bains
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus from Val Thorens (about 1 h)
Thermal spa town; good for a rest day, but not a ski destination.
Saint Martin de Belleville
goDoor to door: About 30 min ski, 45 min bus
Ski down (red run) or bus
Traditional village with good restaurants and a quieter atmosphere.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Val Thorens centre
Ski-in/ski-out; all hotels and apartments within walking distance of lifts.
Les Menuires
15 min by ski or bus; cheaper, but you need to ski over to Val Thorens.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €80–120 (≈ US$95–140) excl. bed
- Mid
- €120–200 (≈ US$140–250) excl. bed
- High
- €200 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 5 nights × €200 | €1,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 5 days × €150 | €1,500 |
| Lift pass (6-day, all Trois Vallées)2 × €350 · check | €700 |
| Bus from Moutiers to Val Thorens (return)2 × €30 · check | €60 |
| Ski rental (skis, boots, poles), 6 days2 × €120 · check | €240 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €350 |
| Trip total≈ €385 per person per day, bed included | €3,850≈ US$4,500 |
2026 estimate in euros; flights and ski passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | €3–5 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Beer (half litre) | €6–9 (≈ US$7–11) |
| Pizza or pasta main | €15–25 (≈ US$18–30) |
| Ski rental (skis, boots, poles), 1 day | €25–40 (≈ US$30–50) |
| Lift pass (1 day, Trois Vallées) | €60–70 (≈ US$70–85) (check) |
| Bus from Moutiers to Val Thorens | €15–20 (≈ US$18–25) (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Parking is paid and strictly enforced; fines and towing for illegal parking.
- High lifts (Cime Caron) close in bad weather; check the forecast.
- Ski season ends early May; summer lifts run June–September, not all.
- Book accommodation and lift passes well ahead for Christmas and February school holidays.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 17
- Fire and ambulance
- 18
- European emergency
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Val ThorensVal Thorens
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police17
- Fire and ambulance18
- European emergency112
Embassy
The US has an embassy in Paris; most other countries have consulates in Lyon or Marseille.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Moutiers → Val Thorens: about €15–20 (≈ US$18–25), 1 h (check)
- Lift pass 1 day: about €60–70 (≈ US$70–85) (check)
- Ski rental 1 day: about €25–40 (≈ US$30–50)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bohn-zhoor)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-see)
- Combien ? — How much? (kom-byen)
- Où est le télésiège ? — Where is the lift? (oo ay luh tay-lay-syej)
- J'ai besoin d'un médecin — I need a doctor (zhay buh-zwan dun mayd-san)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Val Thorens. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Dec–Apr (skiing), Jun–Sep (hiking and biking) · avoid May–early Jun (muddy, many lifts closed), Nov (pre-season) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Val Thorens
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