December in Val Thorens: What's on and weather

Opening day usually falls late November, giving Val Thorens one of the longest ski seasons in Europe due to its altitude 2,300m in resort and 3,200m at the very top peak. The piste bashing teams work hard to keep the pistes ideally primed, ready for the crowds, when the majority of the lifts will have opened.

And, remember, with that altitude it's very very cold, with temperatures averaging from a high of -3°C to a low of -12°C, with around 11 days of snowfall. Make sure thermals are high on your Christmas list.

Christmas and New Year is a popular time for families so the slopes are noticeably busier as soon as the holidays begin. Fortunately, the Trois Vallées ski area is so vast, that even in high season you can find quiet slopes and minimal lift queues. Here are our insider's top tips for the school holidays:

1. Group lessons are the best option in the busy period, as private lessons are almost impossible to book - unless you got in early. Make sure to get your ski and snowboard lessons booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.
2. If you're not in ski school, be an early bird. Arrive at the lifts before they open so that you get up and away before the ski school classes set out around 09:15.
3. Ski over lunchtime when the slopes are calmer (between 12:00 and 14:00) whilst the French take a leisurely lunch break.
4. Avoid the queues and make the most of your time in the mountains by pre-booking your lunch reservation - some restaurants offer a Click & Collect service.  
5. Seek out the peripheral areas. Take advantage of the lack of queues on the popular Cime Caron cable car and enjoy the magnificent red runs from its 3,200m summit, then venture to the furthest point in the Three Valleys, the hidden fourth valley of Orelle, and enjoy its spectacular scenery and long blue runs.
6. Get off-piste. Competent off-piste skiers can book a local mountain guide and explore the vast off-piste areas in the valley or even go touring to find complete solitude in the backcountry. 

If, like a lot of people, you like to follow several hours of exercise with several hours of drinking, especially during the festive season when many of the bars and clubs are opening up. And you can hit up any of a number of local après-ski sessions - on the piste, the après hot spot is the famous La Folie Douce, and down at the bottom of the slopes, you'll find a range of eateries and bars offering great music, delicious food and happy hours. For late night entertainment, the clubs hold special nights on most days of the week.

New Year's Eve

Always a big night in Val Thorens, the village is full of revellers who tend to congregate for the countdown to midnight, let off some fireworks and pop Champagne corks. The restaurants will be busy, so it would be best to make a reservation to ensure you can get a table, and many of the bars and clubs are ticket-only, so if there's somewhere you plan to see the New Year in, make sure you've planned ahead.

Family fun for everyone

Christmas is synonymous with school holidays. As hundreds of children and their families descend on the pistes, the valley puts on a show for them. There are lots of activities to keep the little ones entertained on and off the mountain. Try your hand at one of the longest toboggan runs in Europe, jump on a snowmobile or head to the ice rink for a skate and music. 

Christmas in Val Thorens

With so many families visiting the area for the festive season, there is a real child-like excitement as the big day draws ever closer, and usually there's an opportunity to spot the main man himself meeting and greeting people around the village. You will enjoy a magical week of Christmas festivities including a sound and light show and events and animations for children.

Aside from the festive celebrations, this is still a mountain town… the lifts will all be open and there will be winter sports events and competitions taking place up on the slopes, so make sure you look out for what's on and where.

For more happening in Val Thorens in December, check out our events calendar here.