Choosing a ski pass in Val Thorens mainly comes down to whether you want to stay on the local slopes or explore the wider 3 Vallées ski area.
The Val Thorens-Orelle pass covers around 150km of pistes, with almost all the ski area above 2,000m. It's a substantial ski area in its own right, with plenty of terrain for beginners, families and experienced skiers.
The 3 Vallées pass opens up around 600km of linked pistes, connecting Val Thorens with Méribel, Courchevel, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and other parts of the ski area.
For a short break or a family learning to ski, Val Thorens-Orelle may be all you need. For a week-long holiday, particularly if you're a confident intermediate or advanced skier, the extra freedom of the 3 Vallées pass can be worth paying for.
There is also a one-day Vallée des Belleville pass, which covers Val Thorens-Orelle, Les Menuires and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville without including the whole 3 Vallées area.
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.
High season Adult Lift pass prices - Winter 2026-2027
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?
Val Thorens-Orelle if…
3 Vallées if…
you're staying for a short break and want to ski locally
you're staying for most of a week
you're a beginner or lower-intermediate skier
you're a confident intermediate or advanced skier
you're travelling with children who are likely to stay close to the resort
you want to explore different resorts during your holiday
you don't expect to venture into the wider 3 Vallées area
you enjoy long days on the mountain and covering plenty of ground
you'd rather spend less on lift passes and keep the rest of your holiday budget flexible
you want to avoid worrying about whether a particular lift or route takes you outside your local pass area
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Located in the Residence Forum next to the Le Portillo Hotel at Place de Peclet, you can pick up lift passes, lift information and more at this office.
This Lift pass office is located in the centre of Val Thorens near to the tourist office and opposite the Centre Commercial Caron, on Rue de Caron, inside the Olympiades building.
Find out all about what is happening in the Val Thorens area and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
A number of events take place over the winter and summer months in Val Thorens and the Belleville valley in which it sits. From ski cross championships and music festivals to a mountain bike race that takes place across the whole of the Three Valleys, the Trois Vallées Addict Tour, and the occasional Tour de France stage, you'll find something to keep you entertained during your stay.