Valmorel Ski Resort, France

Overview of Valmorel

The main village within France's Grand Domaine ski area and predominantly purpose built, featuring lots of accommodation properties with excellent ski-lift access. The village is largely pedestrianised with a perfectly serviceable amount of shops considering the size of resort. Scratch the surface and you'll find that Valmorel embodies the beauty of simplicity and a traditional mountain lifestyle. Authentic architecture surrounded by wild landscapes and 165km of family-friendly ski slopes for all skill levels to explore.

3 Things We Love About Vallomorel

1. Family-friendly and very French village resort often overlooked by British skiers
2. Created in 1976 at 1,400m, Valmorel is one of the few purpose-built resorts in France with classic Savoyard design
3. It’s blue and green heaven for beginners and low intermediates, with mainly wide motorway runs from 2,030m in Valmorel

Skiing and Boarding in Valmorel

With a superb range of ski slopes for beginner and intermediate skiers especially, Valmorel is ideally suited to families. Its slopes make up the majority of the Grand Domaine ski area (95km out of 165km) within which there are four villages and skiing stretching from 1350m to 2300m altitude. There are four dedicated beginner areas within the Grande Domaine, making it easy to step onto a pair of skis for the first time. And for children, there are a variety of play areas scattered around the slopes including a Pirate Village in Valmorel. If you're after a little more difficulty, Grande Domaine also features four 'Freeride' zones of largely intermediate steepness. These are areas of unpisted terrain within the ski area which come into their own especially when the snow is fresh.

Lift Passes in Valmorel

Although you can opt for a local pass covering just the Valmorel and Doucy areas (95km of slopes), for not much more you can get a Grand Domaine Package, giving you unrestricted access to the Valmorel, Doucy and Saint-François-Longchamp ski areas, 165km in total.

Activities in Valmorel

As well as skiing there are other activities on offer in and close to the village:

• Snowshoe tours
• Ice skating
• Snowmobiling
• Air Boarding (like an inflatable luge!)
• Husky sledding
• Ice climbing
• Spa Treatments
• Paragliding

Après Ski in Valmorel

Valmorel isn't well known for its après scene - it's a pretty sedate resort from that perspective but there are lots of places to enjoy a cold beer, hot chocolate (or something in between) after a ski day...

• Le Cafe de la Gare - Popular with the younger crowd and open until 2am, Le Cafe is a small venue with a cracking bar, friendly staff and a fun atmosphere.
• Hotel du Bourg - Enjoy the refined setting of the fireplace bar and sip a cocktail or two or maybe wrap up and indulge in a choco-rhum on the terrace...
• The Drinking Trough - If variety spices up your life, you will revel in their selection of over 50 beers, 100 whiskeys, 60 rums and 25 gins!
• The Sound Pub - A great place to watch live sport, and open into the evening with live music and DJs if you have your dancing shoes with you.

Places to eat in Valmorel

Within the village you'll find a variety of eateries serving a nice mix of cuisines. Here are a few:

• Oxygen - (Les Avenchers) Holder of a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2020, this restaurant is a gourmet delight with a refined menu and extensive hand-picked wine cellar.
• La Marmite - Traditional dishes and regional specialties made with quality produce. A warm and friendly atmosphere showcasing quality home-cooking.
• Le Perce Neige - Looking for an authentic and family-friendly pizzeria with a huge menu that won't break the bank? Head to La Perce Neige.
• La Flambée - Raclettes, Crepes, waffles and drinks. Traditional fare, perfect snacks for keeping hunger at bay 'til the evening meal!

Family Features Valmorel

There are some good facilities focussed on families in resort, here are a some you may find useful:

• Kids Club & Ski School - ESF operate the kids ski school in Valmorel. 'Piou Piou' is for children from 6 months to 6 years to learn to ski (or just have fun in the snow!). Full and half day childcare is available. Pre booking essential.