What's New in Val Thorens 2021-22
10th November 2021
An independent guide to Val Thorens
10th November 2021
The latest changes and developments in Val Thorens in advance of the Winter season 2021-22.
New cable cars in Orelle will allow access from the Maurienne Valley to Val Thorens on foot and with luggage.
The idea is that if you arrive from Italy, or simply wish to avoid driving up the Belleville Valley, you can park in a free car park in Orelle, and use cable cars to reach the resort of Val Thorens. It also allows non-skiers to go to the top of the Cime de Caron from the Maurienne side.
As shown in the graphic above, the cable car trip would be: Orelle bubble (up) > Orelle-Cime Caron bubble (up) > Cime Caron cable car (down) > Caron bubble (down) > Cairn (up).
The old 3 Vallées Express bubble as been replaced with the new Orelle bubble. It leads to Plan Bouchet at the bottom of the Orelle (Rosael) ski area. The new lift takes 13 minutes instead of 15 minutes in the old one.
From the top of the Orelle bubble, you can switch to the brand new Orelle-Caron bubble, which goes to the top of the Cime de Caron in 6 minutes 50 seconds.
The whole trip takes 45 minutes.
The graphic below shows the access routes to Val Thorens.
There's to be a new ski touring zone in Val Thorens, called the Borgne. It's up to your right when you reach the top of the Pionniers or Plein Sud lift.
There won't be any lifts, but there will be a groomed slope to go up, and a groomed slope to descend. Alternatively, you can go down off piste.
An advantage over other off piste routes is that the area will be made safe from avalanches.
The Col chairlift dates from 1994, and is the last non-detachable chair. The lift company is looking into replacing it, but can't operate the current lift in Winter 2021-22.
The Col piste will be made safe from avalanches and pisted, so that anyone who wishes to walk up there with touring skis can do so.
The Hôtel Marielle is in the lower part of the resort, the rue du Soleil. It has been renovated and extended, and is re-opening as a 4-star.
Features of the new hotel include a sauna, steam room and massage rooms, a cocktail bar, and a kids' area with table football and arcade games.
The hotels Val Thorens, Fitz Roy, and Pashmina have also been renovated and improved.
The Igloo Village is back in the Combe de Thorens, with a bar serving all day. Savoyarde meals on Wednesday evenings, and there are two bedrooms (€350 per night for two people).
There's a new laser warfare game in parking P1.
'Since the planet has become inhospitable and 97% of life on earth is lost, the goal is simple: shoot the other team as many times as possible, eliminate them, and guarantee your spot in one of the last refuges on earth...'
Sound like fun to you?
There's an ice rink, La Patinoire, at Place Péclet, open from 3 to 9pm every day, weather permitting. They sell hot chocolate and pancakes.
Read more about what's new in Val Thorens in Winter 2021-22 in the Press Pack.
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. Most of the demonstrations are performed by my friend and fellow Val Thorens ski instructor Marina.
Read more about Skiing Made Easy.
Buy Skiing Made Easy as an ebook in the Amazon Kindle Store or the paperback on Amazon. Also available as an ebook on Apple Books and in the Google Play store.
'This is the book I wish I'd had when I started skiing' - Amazon reviewer.
BCA Tracker 4 Avalanche Safety transceiver.
£304.99 on Amazon as at 10th November 2021.