VAL THORENS

With a base of 2300m, Val Thorens sits high above the tree line so the majority of the skiing here is on wide, groomed runs, with some interesting off-piste scattered around the peaks. The slopes face all directions, though with plenty of north-facing runs and two glaciers it is pretty much guaranteed good snow even late in the season.

There are some good reds and gentle blue runs, including those that link to Méribel and Les Menuires, ensuring all standards of skiers can explore beyond Val Thorens. First-timers may be miserable in bad weather due to the cold and lack of visibility. If luck isn’t on your side with the weather you can always head down to Les Menuires which has a more protected beginner area.

Over on the western side lies the Maurienne valley (confusingly, the fourth valley of 3 Vallées) and the ski area called Orelle, which is a relatively new area offering some great skiing, particularly thanks to a new six-seater chairlift. The views here and from the top of the Thorens tram are simply spectacular - it’s where you can see a thousand summits in France, Switzerland and Italy.

For expert skiers there’s some great off-piste, though enjoying these is pretty much limited to when there’s good visibility thanks to the abundance of rocks. There’s plenty within the resort that won’t require a guide, and even more to discover with a guide.

Val Thorens has some excellent terrain park facilities and often hosts top-level snowcross competitions. There’s even a video camera at the snowpark that films you jumping, shows it on a big screen and allows you to download it and show off to the world – all for free!

Just like Méribel and Courchevel, Val Thorens is accredited as a “Famille Plus” resort, meaning it fulfills certain criteria that make it family friendly. It’s great for families, in part because the resort is compact and easy to get around – with much of the accommodation being ski-in ski-out. But also because the services and activities they provide for kids are great; there are ski schools, kindergartens and childcare facilities at the base area, there’s a toboggan run, a children’s fun park at the sport center, and parts of the mountain are dedicated to kids.

Compared to many purpose-built resorts with dated properties, Val Thorens has a relatively high standard of accommodation. Most of it consists of catered chalets, apartment buildings and a variety of hotels. Several big luxury hotels have opened in the past two years. All of the hotels are based around the center of the village, and are within walking distance. Most are ski-in and some also ski-out. You can find a map of Val Thorens Village here.

Despite its high mountain location, Val Thorens still has a wide variety of activities on and off the snow, including some adrenaline-pumpers such as ice-driving, snow mountain biking, snow scootering, ski touring after the lifts close and a 6km toboggan track (the longest in France). Further, Val Thorens takes Scout’s vote for having what must be the most thrilling, extreme side activity in a ski resort anywhere in the world – the new zip-line that opened in March 2014. Stretching from the top of Orelle at 3230m across the valley to the Funitel de Thorens at 3000m, the 1300m long zip-line, called The Tyrolienne, is reportedly the highest in the world. Skiers are harnessed in with their skis or boards strapped to their backs, and they take off and experience a full two minutes of terrifying flight at speeds of up to 105km/h. It also happens to be incredibly scenic, not that anyone will be calm enough to take in the views! The ride costs €50 and, if you can stomach it, we think it’s probably worth every cent (to our great sadness, it wasn’t open the day we went).

There are some more sedate activities such as snowshoe excursions, yurt evenings, and an aqua spa area with swimming pools, jacuzzis, saunas, steam bath and relaxation areas.

The best way to get to Val Thorens is via bus transfer from the nearest main airports (Geneva and Lyon –three hours, Chambery and Grenoble – two hours) or via train to Moûtiers, 37kms from Val Thorens. There are direct trains to Moûtiers from London, Paris and Chambery. You can catch a taxi or bus from Moûtiers. Val Thorens (tries to be) a car-free environment. After unloading your car you must park in the allocated parking stations and shuttle buses return you to the resort.

There is a free bus service within the resort and linking the different villages, as well as plenty of private taxis. However once you are settled in the village you will be able to get everywhere you need on foot. As most of the pathways are covered with snow, it's advisable to bring good snow boots.

Val Thorens has one of the longest seasons in France, opening at the end of November and operating until the first week of May.