A beautiful skiing resort in Europe has been named the best in the world for the second year running.
Val Thorens in France regained the title at the World Ski Awards. It’s won the title an astonishing nine times in past 12 years.
Verbier, in Switzerland, won the award in 2021 and 2022. Kitzbühel in Austria claimed the title in 2015.
However, Val Thorens in the French Alps has been named the world’s best every other year since 2012. The resort’s director, Vincent Lalanne, said: “This distinction rewards the collective effort of the Val Thorens teams and partners.
“We warmly thank our loyal international clientele for their support. This title commits us to continuing our quest for excellence and conviviality.”
Val Thorens, with its elevation of 7,546 feet, is the highest ski resort in Europe. It is part of the Three Valleys (Les Trois Vallées), the largest linked ski area in the world, located in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Val Thorens offers direct access to over 600 km of interconnected pistes in the Three Valleys network. And, thanks to its altitude, it has reliable snow coverage from November to May.
New additions this year include two new ski tours – the Petite and Grande Sud – as well as a new blue-run piste. The resort will host the Ice Cross World Cup this December for the first time and then the Freeride World Tour for the first time in eight years.
As well as pistes, Val Thorens boasts a snowpark for freestyle skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. And, off the pistes and slopes, the resort is well known for its lively après-ski scene – with various bars, restaurants, and events.
The resort regularly hosts international skiing and snowboarding competitions, as well as music festivals – and special events like the season-opening and closing parties.
While Val Thorens is in France, the closet airport is actually at Geneva in Switzerland. The closest train station is at Moutiers – shuttle services or taxis are available to the resort.