An independent guide to Val Thorens
For many people, off piste is the very best of skiing and boarding. From the joy of fresh powder snow to the feeling of freedom and solitude in the back country, nothing beats a day out away from the pistes and lifts.
Val Thorens is a great place to ski off piste, together with the connected ski areas in the Belleville Valley and the 3 Valleys.
Here, you can find out about some of the best off piste itineraries in Val Thorens and the Belleville Valley.
There are risks involved in off piste expeditions. It's essential to have a knowledge of, and respect for, the mountain environment.
Read more on off piste safety considerations.
For a more in-depth look at the subject, Skiing Made Easier has a chapter about Avalanche and Mountain Safety.
It's available from ValThorensGuide or on Amazon.
There are two guidebooks to the itineraries of the 3 Valleys, both bi-lingual (written in French and English). Unfortunately, they seem to be out of print and hard to get hold of.
Les Clés des 3 Vallées (The Key to the 3 Valleys) by Didier Givois is a very good, if expensive, book. It was first published in 2006.
It is listed on amazon.co.uk (affiliate link) but often shown as unavailable. You could try amazon.fr, where it is frequently available through third party sellers.
It might possibly be available in one of the shops in Val Thorens.
Otherwise the old classic is the Vamos guide, Les 3 Vallées Hors Pistes (The 3 Valleys Off Piste), written by Philippe Baud and Benoit Loucel.
It is small enough to take with you on a day out, unlike the large hardback Givois book. The latest edition was published in 2004.
Again, it can be hard to get hold of a copy.
Local instructors and mountain guides know the area, and have seen the evolution of the snowpack over the winter season. With them, you can have a safer and more enjoyable off piste experience.
The high mountain guides in Val Thorens can be contacted through the main ESF office in Place de Caron. A guide is usually present at the ski school office from 5pm.
The ESF Neige et Montagne web pages represent the high mountain guides and the instructors specialising in off piste.
The Bureau des Guides website has details of the excursions offered by high mountain guides in the Belleville valley, as well as contact and booking details.
The equipment you need depends on the itinerary you're doing. The basic kit you always need is:
You can rent or buy off piste equipment at Zenith Ski Shop in Val Thorens.
Read more about equipment on the off piste safety page.
These are some of the main off piste routes from or near Val Thorens.
The Vallon du Lou is a big valley without any pistes or lifts. There are various routes down the valley to the lake at the bottom - the Lac du Lou.
There's now a refuge by the lake where you can have a drink or lunch.
Read more about the Lac du Lou off piste itineraries.
The Pierre Lory itinerary is in Orelle. It's fairly easy, not too far from the pistes, and doesn't take very long. The skiing can be great fun when the snow is good.
Read more about Pierre Lory.
One of the most spectacular days out from Val Thorens is Pralognan, but there is more walking in it than there used to be when the Col chairlift was there.
After a trek up from the top of the Moraine chairlift, you ski off piste, walk up again, then ski for many kilometres to arrive at the Refuge du Roc de la Peche. From there, continue on cross-country ski trails to Pralognan.
Read more about Val Thorens to Pralognan off piste.
The Combe Sans Nom is a very enjoyable outing in the right conditions.
It starts from the top of the Cime de Caron, heads SSW into Rosaël, and ends at the Maurienne chair.
Read more about la Combe sans Nom.
There are lots of great Belleville valley off piste itineraries, many of them starting from La Masse in Les Menuires.
In general, they're not particularly steep and deep, but are perfect for getting away from the pistes, lifts, and people, and into beautiful snowy landscapes, close to nature.
This route used to start from the top of the Lac Noir chair until it was removed. Now the Pointe de la Masse telecabine is the one to take.
There's little walking involved, and you get a great ski down the Combe des Yvoses.
Read more about les Yvoses.
This charming itinerary starts from La Masse, and involves a walk up La Gratte. The best skiing is from La Gratte into Le Geffriand.
Read more about le Geffriand.
This itinerary begins the same way as the Geffriand, with a walk up La Gratte and a ski down into the Geffriand.
Then, though, touring skis are required to get up to the ridge by the Col de la Fenetre. From there, there's a great ski down to le Chatelard.
Read more about the Col de la Fenetre.
The Olympic Express chairlift takes you up to a peak on the ridge called Le Verdet (2294m). There's a wide open expanse of slopes, and you can ski to the right of the wood (le Bois de Goffay).
Arrive in the village of Béranger. You need to have booked a taxi, or have a friend to give you a lift, to travel the 3-4km to St Martin de Belleville, and the ski lifts.
This itinerary begins with a ski from the top of the Olympic chair, along the ridge to the Roc de Fer. There's then an enjoyable ski down the Creux de la Stetta, past the stone chalets at Les Granges, and through the trees to the Raffort bubble station. Quite low altitude, but great in winter when there's fresh powder.
Read more about the Raffort off piste itinerary.
Skiing Made Easy is a Kindle ebook and paperback. It's a practical guide to learning to ski, based on many happy seasons of ski teaching in Val Thorens.
'This is the book I wish I'd had when I started skiing' - Amazon reviewer.
Read more about Skiing Made Easy.
Buy the paperback direct for the best price. Or buy the paperback on Amazon or the Kindle ebook (affiliate links).
Skiing Made Easier is the follow-up to Skiing Made Easy, and covers technique beyond basic parallel turns - carving, short turns, bumps and off piste.
Read more about Skiing Made Easier, buy the paperback direct, or buy the paperback on Amazon or the Kindle ebook (affiliate links).
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mammut Tour 40 Removable Airbag 3.0.
£641.70 on Amazon at the time of writing (affiliate link).