When does the Val Thorens ski season start, when does it end and what are its highlights? For almost 30 years we have lived every winter to the rhythm of the resort, and this journal brings together everything you need to choose your dates: opening, closing, events, new features and the mountain’s commitments for the future.
When Does the Val Thorens Ski Season Start?
Thanks to its altitude, the highest of any ski resort in Europe, Val Thorens usually opens among the first in the Alps, at the end of November. For the 2024-2025 season, for example, it opened on Saturday 23 November 2024. The list of open runs and lifts is announced at the last minute, depending on snow cover. For the exact opening date of the next Val Thorens ski season, check the tourist office website.
When Does the Val Thorens Ski Season End?
The Val Thorens ski season is one of the longest in the Alps: it usually runs until early May. At the end of the 2023-2024 winter, we wrote to our guests that we had been “spoilt” with snow. That is often the case in spring in Val Thorens, when lower resorts have already closed.
The Val Thorens Ski Season, Month by Month
December
Fresh early-season snow, a festive atmosphere and quiet slopes before Christmas. Christmas and New Year weeks are in high demand: book early.
January
Dry cold means quality snow, and outside school holidays the resort is quieter. It is often the best value period.
February
Winter holidays: the resort is in full swing, with lively slopes and terraces. For this period, planning ahead is essential.
March and April
The days get longer, the sun warms the terraces and spring skiing becomes a real pleasure. Easter is a great time for families: children ski in the morning on firm snow, then enjoy softer slopes and sunny breaks in the afternoon. At this time of year, the altitude of Val Thorens makes all the difference, with snow that lasts while lower resorts start to melt. It is also a quieter, more relaxed period for couples and friends who want long days on the slopes.
Highlights of the Season
Every Val Thorens ski season features major events, with a programme that varies from year to year: ski cross and ice cross World Cups, Freeride World Tour stages, music festivals and Christmas celebrations. The resort also regularly hosts family activities. The full calendar is published every autumn by the tourist office.
New Features: the Example of Caron 3200
Val Thorens keeps investing to stay at the top. For the 2024-2025 winter, the resort opened Caron 3200, a multi-service complex at the iconic summit of Cime Caron, at 3,200 m. Projects like this partly explain why the resort has been voted the world’s best ski resort many times, as we tell in Val Thorens voted best 10 times.
A More Responsible Ski Season
The mountains are also preparing for the future. Domaines skiables de France, which represents French lift operators, has committed to aiming for zero CO2 emissions from its activities by 2037. On the slopes, that means for example new generations of lower-emission groomers, including hydrogen-powered models. And when energy prices soared in autumn 2022, resorts worked on their consumption to open as normal.
Our Journal of Past Seasons
Since this website opened, we have shared the ups and downs of every winter with you. The 2020-2021 winter will be remembered for the health crisis, when the lifts stayed closed by government decision and the mountains had to reinvent their holidays. In autumn 2022, soaring electricity prices raised fears for resort openings: Val Thorens nevertheless opened as normal and the season went well.
Summer 2023 was all about renovation: we refurbished our Silveralp apartments to welcome you in even greater comfort. The 2023-2024 winter brought generous snow right through to spring. And the 2024-2025 winter saw Caron 3200 open at the top of the resort. Every Val Thorens ski season has its own story, and we are happy to share it with our guests year after year.
Booking for the Next Val Thorens Ski Season
We open bookings for our apartments from the end of summer for the following winter. School holiday weeks go first: if your dates are fixed, do not wait. Our two Silveralp apartments, Silveralp 329 and Silveralp 330, each sleep 6 just 20 m from the slopes, from €204 per night.
Before you leave, prepare your stay with our guides: your next trip to the snow in 10 steps, choosing your ski pass and driving on the snow. And to follow the snow live throughout the Val Thorens ski season, keep an eye on our webcam.
In Short
The Val Thorens ski season usually runs from late November to early May. December for the festivities, January for peace and quiet, February for the atmosphere, March and April for the sun: everyone has their ideal period. Choose yours and book your apartment at the foot of the slopes.