Make the most of early season skiing

Enjoy an early season ski break this year

Imprint: By Ian Huyton, Updated 25 June 2026

Here's some more great reasons to make that early ski season trip.

Traditionally the winter ski season begins the last weekend of November or the first weekend in December, and for those of you lucky enough to be there you can count yourselves among the first skiers of the winter.

The start of December can be a great time to ski, the temperatures are usually cold and the snow can be fantastic. The potential downsides are that the snow cover might be poor on the lower slopes and only the main lifts tend to be open.

A lot of your decisions will depend on snow conditions and lift opening. It's important to keep an eye on the forecast, but whether it's sunshine or snow if the temperatures are cold enough, for sure the resorts will have their best snowmaking efforts in operation on the lower slopes.

Whatever the weather, you'll find enough snow to give your legs a good warm up.

Budget Hotels in Val Thorens

For those opening their doors to guests in early December, you may well be offered a lovely discount for being this year's guinea pigs as they try out their new chalet staff. Hotels and apartment rental companies can also be a little bit more flexible on duration of stay at this time of year.

Le Machu Pichu Apartment Residence

Location
Val Thorens

Residence Le Machu Pichu is a newly refurbished 4* residence at the heart of the 3 Valleys, the highest ski resort in Europe.
Les Temples du Soleil Apartment Residence

Location
Val Thorens

Take a deep breath and let go. The mountain air will fill your lungs. Your eyes will be dazzled by the stunning alpine landscape. As the days go by you'll feel increasingly relaxed.
Le Tikal Apartment Residence

Location
Val Thorens

The Pierre & Vacances Le Tikal Residence at Val Thorens has been entirely refurbished, and offers high quality apartments. It lies at the entrance to the resort close to shops and leisure facilities (including a sports centre with tennis courts, a watersports area with swimming pool and a fitness centre with sauna, hammam and jacuzzis). Slopes can be accessed directly on skis.
Le Gypaète Apartment Residence

Location
Val Thorens

Your residence in the centre of 300 km of marked trails.
Le Sherpa Hotel

Location
Val Thorens

This cosy and warm hotel offers a great spa to relax after a day on the slopes. Located in a traditional wooden chalet.
Le Portillo Hotel

Location
Val Thorens

This hotel offers 20 rooms and 40 apartments with ski to the door access. There is also a gourmet restaurant with south-facing terrace and a pleasant lounge bar.

Ski Hire in Val Thorens

At this time of year the ski hire shops have just gotten all their new skis and snowboards ready for this winter's customers. This a great opportunity to take some time to chat to the experts, they will unusually have some time, and try something new. And if you don't like it, take it back and swap for something else.

Ride & Style

Location
Val Thorens

In the centre of Val Thorens, this shop brings together top snowboarding brands like Volcom, Vans, Capita, Union, Deeluxe, Salomon, Thirty Two, Beyond Medals, Jones and more.
Les Balcons

Location
Val Thorens

Intersport Les Balcons in Val Thorens offers high-quality ski and snowboard equipment, clothing and accessories for all levels. Their expert team ensures comfort, safety and performance, whether you’re hiring or buying gear for your holiday.
Snowberry

Location
Val Thorens

Want to rent skis or snowboards in Val Thorens? Just visit the Skiset Snowberry store!
Les Balcons Bas

Location
Val Thorens

Hire skis and snowboards at the beginning of the street Les Balcons, 50 m to the residence Altitude, Val 2400 et Chalets du Soleil. Save time and money by booking online with Intersport. Have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive and hit the slopes straight away!
Peclet Ski Service

Location
Val Thorens

Pierre and his team welcome you to their new shop for your ski hire in Val Thorens. They look forward to welcoming you throughout the season so they can share their passion for the mountain with you!
Chalet des Neiges

Location
Val Thorens

No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your first skiing day.

Ski Schools in Val Thorens

Not all tour operators are up and running in resort until just before Christmas, so the resorts tend to be quieter, which means it'll just be you, some locals and day trippers. With this in mind the lift pass companies often do special rates for those coming to ski before Christmas, and you can get a private ski lesson booked in to make sure your skills on the slopes are in top condition before the season really gets going.

Group ski lessons

This ski school offers group ski lessons for both children and adults, catering to all ability levels. Their group lessons provide a great and affordable way to improve your skiing in a safe, social and supportive environment.
Group ski lessons

Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British ski schools in France and is renowned for its fantastic instructors and excellent customer service.
Private ski lessons

This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
Private ski lessons

Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
Group ski lessons

Their children group lessons are based on making learning to ski fun and are limited to six children per group for the best learning experience.
Group ski lessons

This company offer group ski and snowboard lessons throughout the winter season for all ages and abilities.

Nightlife in Val Thorens

Early season temperatures tend to be colder, and the forecast is for snow. So, pop into a cosy mountain restaurant or bar and order a well-deserved mulled wine to warm up, or make your way down to one of the bars and hotels at the foot of the slopes.

At this time of year, resort staff outnumber holidaymakers in the bars. It's opening party season and there is something going on almost every night. News usually travels by word of mouth, so pop into a bar for après ski, get friendly with the staff and find out where the party is later on. With fewer people about than in peak season, you will find some busy bars, some quiet ones and some that are still closed.

See our Nightlife Guide

Downunder Sports Bar

Location
Val Thorens

Downunder Sports Bar sits right in the heart of Val Thorens and is a go-to spot for live sport, cold drinks, and a buzzing social atmosphere. Open day and night, it’s the kind of place where ski boots are welcome, the screens are always on, and there’s something happening from the moment you walk in.
Favela Bar and Restaurant

Location
Val Thorens

Favela is Val Thorens’ go-to destination for Latin American street food and lively après-ski fun. Situated on the resort’s famous bar street, it’s the perfect spot to relax, eat, drink, and soak up the vibrant mountain atmosphere.
The Frog Bar

Location
Val Thorens

The Frog Bar in Val Thorens, Europe’s highest pub, has been a favourite since 2007, offering a lively mix of great food, drinks, and entertainment. Famous for serving the best British pub food in the resort, it’s the place to enjoy hearty favourites that hit the spot, from juicy burgers to loaded nachos, all made to satisfy even the hungriest skiers.
Igloo de Thorens

Igloo de Thorens Bar offers one of Val Thorens’ most memorable mountain experiences, combining alpine scenery with a truly quirky setting. Built entirely from snow and ice over the course of ten days, the igloo is crafted by hand, day and night, to create a magical winter hideaway high on the slopes.
Klub Summit Nightclub

Location
Val Thorens

Klub Summit in Val Thorens is where the party never stops. Located on the famous bar street, they’re open nightly from 23:00 until 05:00 AM, with DJs spinning the best commercial music - from house to pop to disco - all night long.
Café Snesko Bar

Location
Val Thorens

A Val Thorens institution going from strength to strength with each season. Although a Danish bar through and through, its reputation has steadily grown with all nationalities and it has gained recognition as one of the very best après-ski bars outside Austria.

Things to do in Val Thorens

In addition to skiing and opening parties, there's always plenty to do away from the slopes, such as ice skating, husky sledding or some early present shopping at the Christmas market.

See our Activity Guide

Village Igloo aperitif and dinner

Location
Val Thorens

A dining experience like no other! A spectacular and unique 180m2 ice grotto, bar, restaurant and mini hotel in Val Thorens, where you'll enjoy a typical Savoyard cheese fondue or aperitif in a unique setting.
Hydrospeeding

Location
Bourg-Saint-Maurice

This activity is accessible to those comfortable in water, no need to be a professional diver or swimmer, you just have to be smart at using the water movements, obstacles and waves.
Rafting In The Alps

Location
Bourg-Saint-Maurice

White water rafting is accessible to all who love the natural environment and who are in search of a bit of adventure. These excursions will leave you with some unforgettable memories.
Helicopter tours

Location
Bourg-Saint-Maurice

A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
Heliskiing/boarding

For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
Aqualudique Centre

This fitness and wellbeing centre incorporates sunken benches in the pool, a space dedicated specifically to children, a river, water jets, jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, pampering treatments and massages.