About Val Thorens ski pass prices

Season dates in Val Thorens

Val Thorens-Orelle ski season runs from 21 November 2026 to 2 May 2027. Les 3 Vallées ski season runs slightly less from 5 December 2026 to 18 April 2027.

How much are ski passes in Val Thorens?

A €3 hands-free card is required for a first purchase. Prices are lower during some early- and late-season periods.

Which Val Thorens ski pass should you buy?

What does the Val Thorens-Orelle pass include?

The local pass covers around 150km of pistes across Val Thorens and Orelle.

Val Thorens is particularly attractive for early- and late-season skiing because of its altitude. Almost all the ski area lies above 2,000m, and the scheduled season runs from November into May.

There is terrain for a wide range of abilities, from gentle beginner areas to long blue and red runs, challenging black pistes and more demanding skiing for experienced visitors. For many holidaymakers, this is plenty for a week. You can explore the local mountain without feeling that you need to cover a huge distance every day.

The local pass is also the better-value choice if your group includes beginners or children who will spend much of the holiday in ski school.

What does the 3 Vallées ski pass include?

The 3 Vallées pass gives you access to around 600km of linked pistes across one of the world's largest connected ski areas.

From Val Thorens, you can explore towards Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, then continue into Méribel and Courchevel. There is a huge variety of terrain, from high-altitude slopes and wide cruising runs to tree-lined pistes lower down the valleys.

The main benefit is flexibility. You can choose where to ski according to the weather, snow conditions and how adventurous you feel, rather than staying within the Val Thorens-Orelle area.

For a confident skier spending six days on the mountain, the extra €53.50 over the local pass may be money well spent. The full-area pass is less compelling if most of your time will be spent on the same local slopes.

The Vallée des Belleville one-day pass

There is a third option for anyone who wants to ski beyond Val Thorens but doesn't need the whole 3 Vallées area. The Vallée des Belleville pass covers Val Thorens-Orelle, Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. The one-day adult rate is €79.

This can be useful if you want to explore another part of the valley for a day. However, the price difference from a one-day 3 Vallées pass is only €5.20 at the standard main-season rate.

Can you upgrade a Val Thorens-Orelle pass to 3 Vallées?

Yes. If you have a Val Thorens-Orelle pass valid for at least two days, you can buy a one-day 3 Vallées extension at the lift-pass ticket office.

Four-hour ski passes

A four-hour pass is a good option if you're arriving late, taking a shorter session or don't want to ski for a full day. The four hours begin when you first use a lift. If you're only planning a short session, compare these prices with the full-day rates before buying.

Beginner ski passes in Val Thorens

Beginners don't need to pay for the whole ski area straight away. Four magic carpets are free to use in the beginner areas. Once you're ready to progress beyond them, the EasyRider beginner pass gives access to five additional lifts and selected green and blue runs.

These beginner passes are available only at the lift-pass ticket offices in resort. They offer a substantial saving compared with the standard local day pass and are useful for first-time skiers who are still learning the basics.

Once you can ski more widely around the mountain, the standard Val Thorens-Orelle pass becomes the more practical choice.

Family ski passes in Val Thorens

Val Thorens has a useful family offer called Family Flex. It allows every eligible member of the family to pay the child rate, including adults.

The offer applies to both Val Thorens-Orelle and 3 Vallées and is available for consecutive passes lasting between six and 21 days.

To qualify:

• there must be at least three people, including at least one child
• the group can include up to two adults aged 18 to 74 and up to six children aged 5 to 17
• everyone must buy a pass for the same ski area and duration
• payment must be made in one transaction

For a family with two adults and two children, the saving can be significant compared with buying standard adult and child passes separately. It is worth checking the Family Flex price before purchasing individual passes.

Children under five ski free, although their pass must be collected at a ticket office with proof of age.

Deals and discounted ski passes in Val Thorens

Saturday ski-pass discounts

Saturday is a particularly good day to look for an online discount. The offer is available online only and must be purchased by 23:59 on the Friday before the ski day. The 3 Vallées discount is especially worthwhile: it brings the cost of a full-area Saturday pass below the standard price of a local Val Thorens-Orelle day pass.

If your arrival or departure day falls on a Saturday, check this offer before buying a standard day ticket.

Pedestrian passes in Val Thorens

You don't have to ski to enjoy the mountain. Pedestrian passes are available for people who want to take in the views, walk at altitude or meet friends at a mountain restaurant.

The six-day and season products are 3 Vallées pedestrian passes. There is no six-day pedestrian pass for Val Thorens-Orelle alone. Some individual lifts can also be used with separate pedestrian tickets. Pedestrian passes are sold at lift-pass ticket offices. The six-day 3 Vallées pedestrian pass can also be purchased online.

Check which lifts are open and accept pedestrians before setting off, and follow the marked walking routes rather than ski pistes.

Cross-country ski passes in Val Thorens

Cross-country skiing is another option if you want to spend time on the snow without buying a downhill ski pass.

Val Thorens has around 4km of prepared cross-country trails, suitable for classic and skating styles. The trails are free to use, so no downhill lift pass is required just to ski them.

There are further Nordic trails lower down the Belleville Valley, including around Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. A trail map or guide booklet is available from the local Tourist Offices.

If cross-country skiing is the main activity for your day, check the trail conditions and access arrangements before heading out.

Annual and season passes in Val Thorens

If you're staying for a large part of the winter or live nearby, a season pass can be better value than buying daily tickets. Discounted prices are available for under-30s.

There are also part-time season passes for people who ski regularly but not every day. 

The Val Thorens-Orelle 2-days-out-of-7 pass allows two days of skiing per week, consecutive or not, from Monday to Sunday.

The 3 Vallées Skiflex pass includes ten lift passages per week, with additional passages charged separately. It can suit local skiers who tend to ski shorter sessions rather than full days.

For a typical holiday, a six-day pass will usually be more appropriate than a season product.

Ski pass insurance in Val Thorens

Lift passes don't normally include full winter sports insurance.

Val Thorens offers Carré Neige insurance for €3.50 per person per day. It covers specified rescue and evacuation costs, medical expenses and other eligible costs under the policy terms.

You can buy the lift company's insurance or use your own winter sports policy. Check that your cover includes mountain rescue, medical expenses and the activities you plan to do.

European visitors should also carry a valid EHIC or GHIC where applicable, but these are not a substitute for winter sports insurance.

Where to buy ski passes in Val Thorens

Ski passes can be bought online in advance or at the lift-pass offices in Val Thorens.

Ticket offices include the central office in the Olympiades building, the Forum Joseph Fontanet office, the Rue du Soleil office, and the offices near the Cairn-Caron gondola and Péclet Funitel. Automatic machines are also available for collecting some online orders.

Buying online is convenient if you already know which pass you need. It also gives you access to the Saturday online discount, which isn't available at the ticket office.

If you're unsure whether to choose Val Thorens-Orelle, Vallée des Belleville or 3 Vallées, check the area coverage carefully before buying. The Vallée des Belleville pass is only available for one day, and an accidental trip into Méribel with that pass would require an extension.

A €3 hands-free card is required for a first purchase. Keep it for future visits, as compatible cards can be reloaded.