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Walking Routes in Val Thorens — 3 of Our Favourites

Discover the top Val Thorens walking trails and routes

If you're visiting Val Thorens in summer, you'll find the mountains are beautiful and green, and chances are you will want to pull on your walking boots and go for a wander or two.

Find loads of top tips and local insights in our Val Thorens Hiking & Walking Guide.

image of some mountains with green grass and trees on them and higher mountains in the distance, a meadow and trees on the mountain in the foreground

1. Hiking Routes in Val Thorens

Val Thorens has plenty of challenging and exciting hiking routes that let you explore the mountain terrain and views.

With beauitufl scenery and picturesque views you can experience everything the mountain has to offer by popping on your hiking boots. There are various mountain guides who will lead you on your hike or you can choose to tackle the trail or route on your own, just make sure you are fully equipped, prepared and have all the full details before setting off.

Below are a selection of some of the suggested hiking routes in Val Thorens. There are many more to choose from so pick up a guide or map from a magasin or information point to explore some of the other routes.

Hike 1 - Le Lac Blanc
Starting point: Rue de Gebroulaz
Duration: 3h30
This hike will take you up 479m higher into the Alps to Lac Blanc. Starting at Rue de Gebroulaz in Val Thorens you want to take the path that leads to Lac de Montaulever. The path will challenge you with some steeper inclines. Once you get to Lac de Montaulever you want to keep following the trail towards Lac Blanc, here you can stop and take in the beautiful views below. To get back down the mountain just follow the path you took on the way up. This hike is labelled IGN 18 on the walking map.

Hike 2 - Circuit des Lacs
Starting point: TC Masse 1 (Les Menuires)
Duration: 6h30
From the bottom of the TC Masse chairlift, you will take the path that leads up to your right, from here follow the path up towards Le Teurre. You will hit a fork in the road, take the path to the right and keep following it until you hit another fork where you want to take the right again. Continue onwards and upwards until you hit another fork in the trail, at this point you can head back down by taking the route to the left and walking downwards. Keep going on the long trail down until you get to another turning, take the left and when you reach the next fork take a right and you will find yourself walking back to where you started. This lovely hike and loop takes around 6-7 hours and has spectacular views of the mountain and the alpine lakes. To get to the starting point of the route you can just hop on a bus from Val Thorens to Les Menuires. This hike is lablled IGN 9 on the walking map.

image of a meadow in the alps with pink flowers and a pathway into the distance with mountains covered in green trees and grass in the background, blue sky and clouds linger above

2. Short Family Walks in Val Thorens

If you want to head out on a hike or walk with your family in Val Thorens, there are some lovely gentle family friendly routes that you can take. With the alpine views and lots to explore there is something for everyone.

There are walks and hikes that are also great for families with young children. It is always worth noting that for younger children, back packs with water and snacks are a great idea as some of the routes may have no refreshment stops during the walk.

There are plenty more trails in addition to the one below, so grab a walking map or guide from an information point or magasin for some more information.

Walk - Balcon des Tougnete
Starting point: Saint Martin 2 Lift (Les Menuires)
Duration: 1h30
A lovely short walk for families, this route will take you from the top of the St Martin 2 chairlift to the bottom of the Roc des 3 Marches lift, where you can then head back into town. Starting from the top of this lift means taking a short bus journey from Val Thorens to Les Menuires. Once there, you can get on the lift and at the top appreciate the lovely alpine views and mountains. Heading down to the left of the St Martin 2 lift take the route that goes past the beautiful Lac des Allamands. Here you can take a rest and enjoy the lakeside views. Continue on down the path to Les Menuires. The route is labelled IGN 46 on the walking map and is shared with bikers, so when walking with your family just make sure that everyone is aware of bikes on the path as well.

image of a mountain meadow with rolling hills and flowers and a chalet in the distance, with the snow covered mountain peaks in the background

3. Gentle Walking Routes in Val Thorens

If you're looking for a more gentle walking route and trail in the beautiful mountains of Val Thorens, there are plenty that you can choose from that have an easier terrain and shorter distance.

The bus service in Val Thorens will connect you to Les Menuires and Saint Martin de Belleville, so it's easy to get around to the various routes starting points and to lifts that give you access to the numerous gentle walks. Using the lifts eliminates a large amount of walking time, and will allow you to take a more gentle stroll at high altitude without having to do the often strenuous big hike to get up.

Summer passes give you the option to get on these lifts and with a much reduced price from the winter season you can set off on your gentle walk with ease. The lift system also allows for you to be easily transported back down to the resort, whizzing you down in cases of bad weather, tiredness or injury.

Below are a couple of suggestions for some gentle walks and hikes in Val Thorens, many of the gentle routes start in Les Menuires or Saint Martin de Belleville, so all you need to do is hop on a bus from Val Thorens. There are many more routes to choose from so pick up a guide or map from a magasin or information point to explore some of the other routes.

Walk 1 - Circuit des Lacs
Starting point: Rue du Slalom
Duration: 1h30
Starting at Rue du Slalom this walk will take you in a loop around some of the mountain lakes. With lovely views and mountain lakes, you can experience the mountains in all their glory. This easy route is great for people who would prefer a walk with an easier terrain and shorter distance. This walk is labelled IGN19 on the walking map.

Walk 2 - Les Pas de Cherferie
Starting point: Top of the St Martin 2 lift
Duration: 3h
This lovely gentle and easy walk starts at high altitude and then takes you down to the Saint Martin de Belleville town, where you start by getting on the St Martin lift, easily accessible via bus from Val Thorens. From the top of the St Martin 2 lift, after taking in the beautiful mountain views, head down the path that goes under the lift. Further down the path will move away from the lift taking you on a trail with lovely alpine scenery. Continue along this path until you reach the top of the St Martin 1 lift. From here, keep heading down the path and you will hit a fork where you can either take the left or the right, both ways will take you back down into Saint Martin de Belleville. This lovely walk takes around three hours with beautiful views and wildlife along the way.

About Hiking in Val Thorens

If you're visiting Val Thorens in summer, you'll find the mountains are beautiful and green, and chances are you will want to pull on your walking boots and go for a wander or two. With different walking routes and hikes you can explore what the summer mountains have to offer and enjoy the beautiful views.

The summer lifts system and passes give you access to all that the mountain has to offer and with lots of routes and trails of varying difficulty, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

When heading off on a hike or walk it is always best to get as much information about the route as possible, head to the tourist office in town and check the weather forecast to make sure you are being as safe as possible.

Walking and hiking

In the summer months, Val Thorens is a mecca for walking and hiking in the beautiful Alpine mountains. As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine, the mountains make an excellent place to head out on a hike or walk. Walking is the perfect activity for groups, families and friends. Pick from several routes ranging in difficulty, from easy child friendly walks to challenging all-day hikes. Along the way enjoy the fantastic mountain views, beautiful scenery and wildlife that is normally hidden in the winter months.

Winter walking

Val Thorens is a winter walker's paradise, with lifts giving access to the higher ground and a network of groomed trails in the winter, it's very easy to discover the resort on foot. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you set out as conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. You do not need any particular equipment, just a pair of sturdy boots and layers of warm clothing that you can take off or put on as necessary. A pair of walking poles will come in handy for extra balance on icy patches and for checking snow depth before you go striding forth. Top tip: buy ‘grippers’ for your walking boots to prevent slipping, which you can buy from most local sport shops.

For all the useful emergency services numbers head to our emergency services page and save the numbers before embarking on your walk or hike in Val Thorens.