ValThorensGuide.com

An independent guide to Val Thorens

Walking in Val Thorens

Here, there's information about walking routes in Val Thorens, and the lifts which are open to pedestrians. 

Val Thorens probably isn't the very best resort for walkers, but in the last few years the tourist office and the lift company have made an effort to create paths for walkers. There's a walkers' map for the Belleville Valley - find a link to it on this page, or you can pick up a hard copy from the Val Thorens tourist office. 

Read about walking in Val Thorens here.

Walking in Val Thorens: map of pedestrian circuits

You can consult the resort's map of the pedestrian circuits. It shows the walking routes for the whole of the Belleville Valley.

Walking in Val Thorens: main winter walking routes

Montagnettes path

This popular path (number 7 on the map) goes from the back of the Altineige, or the garage, and shadows the boulevard des Echauds piste, arriving at the mid-station of the Bruyères telecabine in Les Menuires. Return by the same route.

Deux Lacs path

Chalet du Toboggan, Val Thorens

The Deux Lacs path (route number 10 on the map) starts near the Toboggan chalet, and runs parallel to the Espace Junior, on the right of it. Then you turn left, crossing the Espace Junior, and go downhill towards the departure point of the Moraine chairlift. From there, turn left again, on the path to the right of the Combe de Thorens, and you return to the start point at the Toboggan chalet. 

Moutière path

Also starting from the Toboggan chalet, the Moutière path (number 11 on the map) takes you on the same route as the Deux Lacs path, initially. Then, it branches off to the right, and skirts round the left hand side of one of the two lakes. It comes out onto the 'Traversée des 2 Lacs' piste near the Deux Lacs restaurant. From here, it goes along the right hand side of the Linotte piste, past the top of the Moutière chair, then downhill and round the reservoir. Once the circuit of the reservoir (with nice views of the Belleville Valley) is completed, return to the Toboggan chalet by the same route.

La Moutière chairlift is one of those which you can go up, with a pedestrian pass (see below), so you can walk down this route.

Marine path

The Marine path (number 12 on the map) starts from the top of Cascades chairlift, and is downhill only. From the top of the chair, you turn left, and the path curves round to the left, and passes back under the chair. It then goes to the Chalet de la Marine. 

Here, you cross the Dalles piste, and take the path which follows the left fork of the piste, past the Tête Ronde lake, to the Chalets du Thorens. The Combe de Thorens takes you back to the Toboggan chalet.

Walking in Val Thorens: lifts open to pedestrians

There are some exciting options for non-skiers, including a trip up to the Cime de Caron, and to the top of the Funitel Peclet, then down again in the same lifts. Then, there are certain chairlifts which you can go up (but not down) as part of a walk. See pages 14 & 15 of the lift company's price list for information about pedestrian passes in Val Thorens.

Cime de Caron trip

You can go up to the top of the Cime de Caron (3200m) as a pedestrian, from the resort of Val Thorens. Take the Cairn bubble, then the Caron bubble, then the Caron cable car. There are two viewpoints, and the Freeride Cafe, at the top.

Funitel Peclet

The Funitel Peclet is open to pedestrians, and goes up to 3000m. It's perhaps not quite as spectacular as the Cime de Caron, but quicker and easier, as it's just a single lift. The Aiguilles de Peclet restaurant is directly at the top of the Funitel. 

Maurienne Valley trip

Orelle bubble (3 Vallées Express Gondola)

Going to the Maurienne Valley starts with taking the Moutière chairlift up; you can then take the Funitel Grand Fond (a short walk from the top of Moutière) up; the Rosaël chair (again, a short walk, this time from the top of Grand Fond) down; and the Orelle bubble (official name, 3 Vallées Express) down. The Orelle bubble takes you to the village of Francoz (altitude about 890m), near Orelle, in the Maurienne Valley. This is quite a trip! 

Then take the same lifts in the other direction to get back to Val Thorens - but walk from the bottom of the Funitel Grand Fond, as Moutière is up only.

Cascades chairlift

The Cascades chairlift is open to pedestrians (up only), and you take this lift in order to do the Marine path (see above).

Moutière chairlift

Ascend Moutière chairlift, and walk down on the Sentier de la Moutière/Lacs pedestrian circuit.

Pionniers chairlift & Funitel 3 Vallées

Mont Blanc from the top of Funitel 3 Vallées

Go up the Pionniers chairlift to the Folie Douce. Continue up on the Funitel 3 Vallées for a view over the Méribel valley, and of Mont Blanc.

Come back down in the Funitel 3 Vallées. Pionneers is up only, so walk back down the path to the left of the Plein Sud piste, known as la Camille (in memory of Camille Rey, one of the pioneers of the resort). La Camille brings you out behind Chalet des Neiges Hermine.

Happy walking in Val Thorens.

Val Thorens Sports Centre

There's a great sports centre in Val Thorens, which is in the Caron shopping centre. It has sport facilities including a gym, squash courts, badminton courts, and tennis courts; an 'aqua-club' with two pools, sauna, jacuzzi, and hammam; a children's fun park; and a 'well-being' area. Read more about Val Thorens sports centre.

Val Thorens ski area

The Val Thorens ski area section covers the beginners' area, and the ski area sector by sector, including the snowpark, Skicross, slalom stadium, and off piste itineraries. 

There's also a piste map, the Val Thorens ski pass prices, and a guide to the Val Thorens mountain restaurants.