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Valmorel Ski Resort
This mignonne ski station can be found hidden away in the heart of the Tarentaise mountains - just over the hills of the 3 Valleys in the beautiful French Alps. Only about 90km from its closest serving airport, you can fly into Chambéry for the speediest access. Most of our holidays include transfers with your flights but, if you’re organising your own travel, there are local companies on our Valloire Transfers page. If you’re travelling by train from Chambéry, descend at Moûtiers-Salins, Bride les bains’ station for buses and taxis transporting you and your luggage directly to your accommodation.
To be compared to a mountain hamlet, Valmorel offers charming accommodation with crackling firesides to cosy up around. Buildings made from traditional Alpine wood, slate and stone are sprinkled around the traffic free, snow-clad streets. Take a stroll through this tranquil haven of a town set apart from the rest of the world, ducking under arches as you enter fromageries selling local Savoyard cheeses, and boulangeries for French patisseries that dreams are made of.
This resort is ideal for family ski holidays or groups of first time skiers and boarders looking for terrain away from the crowds. Snow fun can be had in the form of dog sledding, ice climbing and cross-country skiing. If you fancy a break from the cold, head inside and thaw out with soothing spa treatments and swimming at the resort’s selection of spas.
35 lifts operate in this resort alone, with 50 providing wider access to the 6 day ski pass’ Grand Domaine, comprised of Valmorel and St François Longchamp. Friendly blue and green runs common in Valmorel are found again in St François Longchamp, challenging beginners with new slopes to conquer every time. 6 snow parks and boardercrosses have been designed to keep intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders entertained, along with an array of short, sharp slopes to master.
Stats & FAQ
Location: France, Alps.
Established: 1976
Open: Mid-December to mid-April
Downhill: 100km
View our detailed Valmorel snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Valmorel snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Chambéry (CMF) | 90km, 1 hour 15 minutes |
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| Top Altitude: | 2832m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1400m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1400m |
| Longest run: | 4km |
| Slope Orientation: | N NW |
| Vertical Drop: | 1250m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1250m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 100km |
| Beginner slopes: | 71% |
| Intermediate: | 20% |
| Advanced slopes: | 9% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €211.90 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: 3 Valleys, Les Sybelles, Brides les Bains, Les Menuires | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Valmorel
The good people of this Alpine village have designed a debutant area dedicated to new skiers who can learn and progress at their own pace without the added worry of speedier skiers interrupting carefully controlled snow ploughs. Some lovely green and blue runs in the ‘la Belle’ area offer long, tree-lined trails.
On the Col de la Madeleine, intermediates can find a web of red and blue runs. Take the ski lift to the other side of the mountain with the Grand Domaine ski pass for access to further reds at Saint Francois Longchamp. Classified red: Gollet’s snowpark of kickers, boxes and half-pipe are entirely for intermediate skiers’ pleasure. Weave in and out of competitors on the Col’s red snowcross.
By way of black runs, advanced skiers should head to the Pointe du Mottet for a masterful descent and the powdery good stuff. Follow a mountain guide for rocky off-piste from here to the Col du Mottet. The Ecole du Ski offer a new kind of thrill in the form of speed-riding - join them at Col du Gollet for a faster way to fly with a kite powered ride.
Let Valmorel entertain with its boardercross and snowpark at Arenouillaz for beginners. Find the blue classified Charmette in Doucy boardercross with the Grand Domaine pass. From the Riondet lift, experts can find a snowcross of their own at 2592m high.
In terms of snowboarding, beginners will find the debutant area the perfect cushion for the first few days. A sea of blue runs can be accessed by the Pierrafort gondola, almost eliminating the need to use any drag lifts. Intermediate and advanced ‘boarders are Col de la Madeleine-holics for its thrilling runs and off-piste. Head to the St Francois Longchamp area with the Grand Domaine ski pass for more long runs with less of the drag lifts.
Valmorel Apres Ski
The calm of this doll-sized resort is broken at night by the Sound pub and club, very popular with the 20 somethings. Lovers of a cheesy night of dance music, themed parties and spirits, this cheese has never smelt so good. The perfect venue if you’re looking for a mad one: party until 5 am when the club closes, then grab a freshly baked morning croissant from the boulangerie on your winter walk home. For a Latino twist on an Alpine bar, salsa your way over to the lively Jimbo Lolo for some Tex Mex, Tequila and inevitable karaoke.
A meal of local cuisine for all the family to enjoy can be found at Le Petit Prince. Stumble upon this converted chalet restaurant cooking up only the best of Grandma’s recipes for a night so warm and cosy, you’ll believe you’re in the comfort of your own home. Share a cheese raclette with charcuterie and potatoes where there’s a melting pan for everyone! At La Table du Berger, couples can find a cheese fondue for 2, for more romance than Lady and the Tramp’s bowl of spaghetti. Restaurant Les Clarines also serves up smashing Savoyard fare, right at the end of the Rocher piste (there's also a happy hour each day, and weekly karaoke...).
For some time off from the fast paced life of the slopes, choose between any of the resort’s 3 spas for a day filled with nothing but pampering, calm... and then some more pampering. Stretch out aching muscles after hours of skiing with a spot of yoga at the Club des Sports des Avanchers. If a different kind of thrill is what you’re after, how about having a go at Alpine ice climbing with a mountain guide? And if you prefer your feet to be flat on the ground, the Bureau des guides lead snowshoe walks with lessons in igloo construction and destinations of dazzling mountain lakes.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Valmorel
Best time to visit & ski Valmorel
It’s a better idea to visit this resort earlier on in the mid-December to mid-April ski season as its lower pistes fall just below the 2000m bar, meaning you’ll find the best snow in the winter period. If you’re planning a trip later on in the year, 175 snow cannons help keep you on the the North-facing mountains until the season’s end. High runs from the Col du Mottet, 2403m and Pointe du Mottet, 2592m should be kept in mind for their better chances of good snow during this warmer period.
Peak Dates
It’s the whole shebang at Christmas in Valmorel, with brass bands, snow sculptures and Father Christmas galore! Visit this Yuletide for a really festive feel. Valmorel Christmas ski holidays ‣
Spend a traditional New Year in Valmorel village as the locals gather to watch a spectacle of fireworks and torchlight mountain descents. Toast to the New Year 1400m high! Valmorel New Year ski holidays ‣
A great time to be had by all this February Half Term in Valmorel. Families bond over snow fun activities of igloo making and quad biking. Valmorel Half Term ski holidays ‣
Kids will be chasing after chocolate eggs on sledges and decorating boxes this Easter in Valmorel. Snow canons keep the slopes fresh for your Spring break this year. Valmorel Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Valmorel
Valmorel is THE family resort. Visit at Christmastime for street acts and a chance meeting with Santa and his reindeer that’ll have kids dazzled. New Year brings fireworks, dancing and vin chaud (Valmorel doesn’t forget the parents!) for a celebration you’ll all be talking about in New Years to come. Have a go at seasonal après ski activities like snowshoe excursions, complete with lesson in igloo construction, for a family walk with a twist during half-term time. And for Easter, a foot-long list of events for children will have little ones bouncing around like bunnies.
The debutant area of club Piou Piou’s snow play area - complete with magic carpet - stays at the resort all year round: let Valmorel’s ski school instruct beginners here in a safe, secluded environment, before taking them around the slopes when they’re fully prepared. An indoor play area also provides much entertainment in the warm and dry. 6 snowparks and boardercrosses aim to please older kids of all levels, offering half-pipes and airbags galore. Picnic together in the Chill out Zone at lunchtime for a family friendly area with slopeside views.
Stay at Les Chalets de Valmorel apartments for easy access to the resort’s lift system, taking you and your children directly to the ESF meeting point. If your kids are still a little too young to be tearing up the slopes, Club Med’s apartments usually offer their own childcare centres, so you can book your accommodation and babysitting all in one go! With half and full board options available, catered chalet apartments are the answer to a proper week off.
Choose a family holiday with flights and transfers included for younger children: Valmorel’s closest airport Chambery, just over an hour’s transfer means little ones won’t be cooped up for long, and parents won’t be hearing the never-ending, “Are we there yet?”. Sno has self-drive holidays with channel crossing if you take pleasure in driving through the stunning French countryside. Prefer to take care of your own travel? No problem, ask us for our best accommodation only deals to sort out your dream ski holiday.
GroupsGroup Holidays Valmorel
This resort is great for groups of a mixed bag of abilities. Complete novices begin the week on the slopes’ debutant area, whilst new intermediates begin to explore the more challenging blues Valmorel has to offer. A fairly compact resort, your friends will never be far away. Ski together in the afternoon from the top of the Valette Sources lift, offering a blue descent with branches of red for intermediates to hone their skills. Confident skiers will take pleasure in the resort’s fast paced, extreme red and black runs. Hire a guide to discover all the best off piste the ski area has to offer. If you tire of all the normal ski activities, how about some speed riding?
You won’t be taking the excuse of, “But I don’t ski” when gathering your group together to book the holiday: Valmorel boasts 3 spas; horse drawn sleds; pendular flights and so much more for non-ski and other snow activities. Enjoy a big night out on the town in the resort’s Sound Bar & Club or a glass of Savoyard Chignin Bergeron around the fireside of the Hotel du Bourg’s bar. Stay in the Hotel du Bourg itself for accommodation with easy access to the full circle of night life that just can’t be beaten! If group members are taking time to make your minds up and you have a sneaky suspicion that they’ll decide to book later on, look into booking a large hotel with a likelihood of availability later on.
Apartments are an affordable option for all, with kitchenettes provided to cook up group sized meals at low cost prices. Try Valmorel’s Planchamp et Mottet Apartments, located in the heart of the resort for a short snow walk to your local bar. We’ve selected our favourite group hotels and apartments below- gather the group together and browse through to find something that suits you all.
Choose from holidays including flights and transfers, or ferry channel crossing if you’re planning to travel by car poole. Travelling in a group coming from all four corners of the UK and think it may be easier to book accommodation on its own? We offer the best accommodation only deals to complete your ideal holiday vision. Booking a group holiday has never been so simple!
Which are the best ski holidays in Valmorel?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Residence Anitea | 7 | £ 376 |
| Club Med Chalet-Apartments of Valmorel | 7 | £ 3070 |
| La Grange aux Fées | 7 | £ 361 |
| Club Med Valmorel | 3 | £ 639 |
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