What's New in Val Thorens This Winter

Val Thorens is always a developing resort and this Winter is no exception with lots to offer.

This year sees the launch of the new ‘VTPass’ offering exclusive access to a resort expert 24/7 who you can call to help arrange anything from flowers as a birthday surprise to a days heli-touring - they can do it all! Also as an added benefit anyone who purchases the pass prior to the resort opening will be invited to ski one day before the official open day. Additional benefits are that there is free WiFi throughout your stay (for two devices) along with discounts and offers for activities. You will be allocated a personal online area where you can manage all your requirements for your stay. The cost is just 25 euros. Speak to the tourist office to get one. 

Ski Cool are offering a great service this season to reduce the cost of shared ski lessons. All you need to do is log onto their site and by inputting your requirements you can find like-minded skiers at your level staying at the same time with which to share your ski lesson. If you manage to find some ski buddy’s the cost is just 63 euros per hour to divide between the number of participants. This is also great for solo skiers looking to socialize on the slopes. The same ski school are also happy to share their language tips with their bilingual instructors teaching languages as you ski. 

As part of a five year collaboration investment plan between the slope maintenance team and Setam you can this year play around on the ‘fun slopes’. There is now a new 900m course with over 50 obstacles such as snow tunnel, bridges, spirals and banked turns. You can find it next to the ‘Deux Lacs’ chair in the centre of Val Thorens. As part of the same initiative they have also created a new seven hectare ‘easy to ride’ area to develop Freestyle with specially adapted springboards so learners can practice jumps. The Val Thorens snowpark has also had a full redesign.

There is a great campaign this winter in Val Thorens to prevent food wastage. Julie Gosselin who is apparently known as the ‘seasonal fairy godmother’ is offering to collect any unused, non-perishable foodstuffs from holidaymakers and Tour Operators to be redistributed to the ‘Restos du Coeur’ food bank. All you have to do is leave any unused foodstuffs in the lobby of P0 and P2 car parks. A fantastic new initiative worth taking advantage of.

If you find that taking the family to the ski shop for fittings on arrival day is too stressful then Cameron Robb via United Ski Delivery is this season providing ski equipment delivered direct to your Chalet or hotel. Apparently he will also come out to the slopes if necessary! 

The well known restaurant, Chez Pepe Nicolas, was previously only accessed on foot or via an off-piste route when conditions allowed however this season a new piste has been created on the Plein Sud sector with the Chasse red run connecting the Pluviometre run to Boulevard Cumin. Much better than the ski boot hike up to the restaurant for the past couple of seasons!

Anyone who likes to be up and at ’em will enjoy the new dedicated ‘safe run’ for ski tourers open daily from 7am to 9am then from 5pm to 8pm. The specific slope area will change over the course of the season to create variety. If you are not sure what you are letting yourself in for there is also a free taster session every Tuesday between 7am and 8.30am with the Mountain Office running group sessions to advise on both technique and cardio training for beginners. Registration is just required the evening before.

If you are looking for a unique experience in Val Thorens this winter then try the Dynafit Ski Leopard Track sessions which involves a walk at dusk up the mountain with an hour of climbing and ends with a well-deserved glass of mulled wine and a bowl of French onion soup at the Chalet de la Marine. The journey back down takes place under the stars! The price is just 29 euros all inclusive or 10 euros excluding equipment hire.

Heliskiing is the ultimate ski experience and has not really been readily available in Val Thorens previously. This year you can treat yourself to a helicopter flight and freeride session between the Belleville and Maurienne valleys. Just be aware that you do need to know what you are doing on skis and ensure you fall into the category of ‘expert level Class 4.’ The daily rate is 1,500 euros for a flight for four people.

If you think that you are pretty quick on skis then challenge the time of Jean-Frederic (World Cup and Olympic gold medalist) on the Jean-Frederic Chapuis World Cup stadium which is a 1.4km course with five cameras along the way. There is a timer system to see if you can beat the record of 1m11s32!

The New 5* Pashmina hotel in Val Thorens along with spa and fantastic restaurant also offers a unique opportunity to spend the night in their brand new ‘igloo pod.’ Which is a glass cocoon sat on the roof of the hotel for an unforgettable night under the stars!

Finally at the peaks of Cime Caron and Col de la Chambre you will find two new telescopes to get up close and personal with the great outdoors. You can also try and get your holiday snaps featured on the Val Thorens ‘Fancams’ this year which will show the resorts favourite tagged photos posted on instagram and Twitter.

We'll see you in resort from the 21st November!