Ultimate Beginner Skier’s Guide to Val Thorens
When clients hear “Europe’s highest ski resort,” they often picture Val Thorens as some sort of extreme sports playground where only the fearless dare to tread. But nothing could be further from the truth. At 2,300m, this purpose-built snow-sure resort has one of the Alps’ most gentle beginner setups – complete with four free magic carpets that’ll have you sliding before you’ve even bought a lift pass.
I’ve watched countless first-timers take their initial wobbly descents here. They all benefit from the cleverly separated learning zones, and the super-easy blue runs to progress onto. The beauty of Val Thorens is you don’t need to venture anywhere near the speed-demons, when you first start learning.
Where to start (from scratch)
The Castor and Pollux magic carpets form the heart of the beginner zone. They’re covered conveyor belts (horizontal escalators) which protect you from the weather while mastering the basics. All the ski schools tend to start you off here. Just around the corner, the Musaraigne carpet is an even quieter alternative. If you’re a nervous adult, I would recommend area as it’s often calmer away from the kids’ lessons.
For your first few days learning, there’s no need for a lift pass at all. The four free magic carpets (Castor, Pollux, Musaraigne, and Campagnols) give you plenty of terrain to learn on. Our family clients save hundreds on the first two days just on these areas. Don’t buy your beginners lift pass until they’re ready to ski further.
After the magic carpet runs (usually by day two or three) the EasyRider zone is next, with 50% discounted passes. This covers four key lifts including access to 2 Lacs (confidence-building green run) that’s been made even more accessible with a new gondola replacing the old chairlift.
Making Sense Of The VT Ski School Maze
There are seven ski schools and over 400 instructors in peak season. Here’s where the ski holiday experts at SNO recommend to learn with.
ESF Val Thorens is the biggest ski school, and was started in 1972 by Jean Béranger, one of the resort’s original pioneers. They employ up to 300 instructors with an impressive 263 speaking English. ESF meets at Rond Point des Pistes each morning at 9:15. Groups up to 12 in the morning sessions (9:15-12:00) and 10 in the afternoons. The afternoon times get later as the winter days get longer. Early season 2:00-4:30, then 2:30-5:00 from mid-season onwards.
Prosneige has around 40 instructors and groups are capped at eight. They also have Chalet Les Planches, which is a 200m² on-slope base, where you can warm up between runs. They take kids from age 2 (younger than most) and also do adaptive skiing with specialist equipment like the Tessier DualSki.
Ski Cool has been run by the same family since 1981, and has 20 instructors. They have a Share N’Ski program which is good for families, where up to five of you can share the cost of a private lesson.
Private lessons cost between €60-80 per hour, and between €450-850 for a full day. I recommend booking a full day lesson if you want to explore the Three Valleys. Your instructor becomes your guide, showing you runs you’d never find alone.
Where’s best to stay in VT for beginners?
Val Thorens’s compact layout means “ski-in/ski-out” is genuinely how most of the resort works. Chalets and hotels along rue du Soleil put you closest to the learning areas. We suggest novice skiers taking kids book accommodation near Place Caron, to minimise walking and carrying skis.
The five-star luxury hotels like Altapura and Pashmina are really terrific. Great spas, Michelin-starred restaurants and family facilities like kids’ clubs and connecting rooms.
In the mid budget, Village Montana is a nice balance between lively and family-friendly. Hotel Le Sherpa, around since 1976, has genuine Savoyard character and amazing raclette.
At the budget end Hotel Val Chavière with its bunk bed rooms and our huge selection of apartments are great. We have ski-in/ski-out studios from £700 per week in low season, and “low season” in Val Thorens still means great snow. Self-catering works well as the supermarkets are reasonably priced.
Browse: Val Thorens chalets – Val Thorens hotels – Val Thorens apartments
Choosing Your Val Thorens Ski And Boot Rental Shop
Equipment rental in Val Thorens is convenient but pricey, unless you know the trick of pre-booking (ask my team about the SNO discount online). Intersport has the most locations, closest to the ski school meeting points. You can click through from the SNO page for an online discount.
Black Ski has good locations, including one 50m from the ESF kids ‘Piou Piou’ club, and they also deliver to apartments.
Don’t buy equipment until you’ve had a few ski holidays and know you’re going to keep going. After that, buy boots (the comfort makes or breaks your holiday) but keep renting your skis.
Refuelling Is Essential When Learning to Ski
As with all ski resorts, the higher you go, the more you pay, but learning is hard work so you need to eat heartily. I think Chalet des 2 Lacs (via the gentle green run from the 2 Lacs gondola) combines convenience, quality and reasonable prices. Burgers from €18 is no more than back home.
Chalet de la Marine is perfect for progressing beginners right on the Dalles piste. The upstairs restaurant serves elegantly presented Savoyard classics, while the downstairs self-service keeps things simple and cheaper. Non-skiing family members can actually hike up here – it’s one of the few mountain restaurants accessible on foot.
Evening dining runs the whole gamut, from fondue-till-you-drop trad, to sophisticated contemporary. La Fondue in Hotel Le Val Thorens is really nice, or Le Chaudron Magique is a bit more high-end (RichT from SNO is a big fan). A beer (not a pint) is still €8 but that’s what’s known as the ‘altitude tax’.
If You Want A Break From Skiing
The 7,500m² Sports Center has most of Val Thorens’s off-slope activities. The swimming pool is good for aching muscles, and the spa saunas and jacuzzi can save your a holiday when the weather gets too wild. The kids’ fun park has 600m² of trampolines, bouncy castles, etc to keep kids entertained.
The 6km toboggan run is France’s longest and the 1,800m zip-line is really beginner-friendly.
The Igloo Village sound a bit of a tourist trap (yes it’s commercial and pricey) but watching kids’ faces when they enter the pirate-themed ice cave makes cynicism impossible. Wednesday’s fondue evenings book out, so it’s best to reserve the day you arrive on holiday.
For non-skiers, the pedestrian pass opens up the higher part of the mountain. I recommend the Cime de Caron at 3,200m on a clear day, with views of Mont Blanc and even further.
How To Get To Val Thorens And What It Costs A Beginner
Geneva is the main gateway airport and where you’ll get the cheapest flights from the UK. Sitting 159km away, the transfer takes from 2 hours 45 minutes (if you’re lucky) to 4+ hours on a Saturday in heavy-snow. Shared shuttles from €50 one-way are fine, and a €250-450 private transfer makes sense for families but most of our packages have this included. Chambéry, just 112km away, should be easier, but limited flights mean it’s mainly charter-flight territory.
A week’s package ski holiday starts from £600 self-catered to £1,350 for a catered chalet and up to £2,500 for 5-star hotels (up to £4,100 in Feb half term). Remember, don’t buy a ski pass if you’re a complete beginner.
I would say January is the best-value time to visit, with quieter slopes, lower prices, and the best snow. February half-term is by far the most popular week of the ski season, but holidays are more expensive. The SNO team loves March because of the longer days and sunny lunches, but you can still ski in late afternoon. April’s spring skiing can be glorious – you can’t beat T-shirt skiing!
Why The Altitude Matters Less Than You Think
Yes, 2,300m is high. Yes, you might get a headache on day one. But I’ve watched thousands of beginners adapt without drama. Very young children seem more susceptible but arriving a day before you ski helps. The dry air and sun (10% humidity compared to 70% at sea level) is what you must take seriously. Drink water constantly, and reapply lots of factor 50 sun cream. I use SPF 50 lip balm too, as lips get chapped and burned.
You will notice the altitude when climbing stairs or rushing for the first lift, so don’t rush. Val Thorens rewards a civilized pace, which conveniently matches how fast most beginners want to go anyway.
Why Val Thorens Works So Well For Beginner Skiers
It’s not just the altitude-guaranteed snow from November to May, or the free magic carpets, although they are ideal for learners. It’s the way you can level up gently, from your first descents on Castor to eventually cruising the entire Three Valleys.
I think maybe the best thing about learning to ski in Val Thorens is that you always have great snow conditions. That makes a really big difference at every level, but I see it making the most difference to complete beginners in their first few days on the debutante pistes.
We have such high levels of repeat-bookings at SNO, because we give good advice. We’ve booked hundreds of complete beginners into ski holidays in Val Thorens, and our amazing clients keep coming back!
Call our friendly experts 020 7770 6888 for help choosing your Val Thorens ski holiday or browse the package deals.
