Val Thorens with the family: organising a successful ski holiday with children

Heading to Val Thorens with the family means choosing Europe’s highest resort (the village sits at around 2,300 metres), with reliable snow and an entirely pedestrian resort centre. Certified Famille Plus, the resort ticks every box for stress-free skiing with children, from toddlers to teenagers. Here is how to prepare a stay that is both easy and memorable.

Why Val Thorens is ideal for families

Perched at the top of the 3 Vallées ski area, billed as the largest in the world, Val Thorens offers generous snow for much of the winter, often from late November to early May depending on the season. The altitude guarantees well-covered pistes and high-mountain sunshine.

The resort holds the Famille Plus label, a national certification that recognises destinations genuinely designed to welcome children: suitable pricing, childcare services, dedicated activities and enhanced safety. The fact that the centre is pedestrian changes everything day to day: less traffic, short walks, and many ski-in/ski-out accommodations that spare you from carrying equipment over long distances.

Choosing accommodation to suit the whole family

A successful stay starts with accommodation of the right size. A spacious apartment, with separate bedrooms and a proper kitchen area, provides the comfort you need after a day on the slopes. At the Résidence Les Ancolies, most of our accommodation is ski-in/ski-out, a genuine asset when you are juggling sledges, helmets and tired little legs.

Depending on the size of your tribe, several options are possible:

• For a large family or two families together, a large family apartment for eight people offers the space you need without treading on each other’s toes.
• For a multigenerational stay, the Chalet Selaou sleeps up to ten people.
• Find all the options on the Our chalets and apartments page.

After skiing, a sauna and a hammam help relax the muscles while the children rest in the warmth.

Ski lessons for children

Learning to ski in the right conditions makes all the difference. The French Ski School (ESF) in Val Thorens offers a complete pathway for children, from their very first snowflake to advanced levels.

The youngest ones start at the Club Piou-Piou, generally from age three, in a safe, playful area where they learn while having fun. For toddlers who are not yet skiing, the resort and the ESF offer childcare and kindergarten solutions, and even care for babies depending on the facility. Older children progress in group lessons by level, with the well-known medal system (Flocon, Étoiles) that keeps them motivated and gives clear milestones.

A few practical tips:

• Book lessons several weeks in advance, especially during school holidays, as the slots go quickly.
• Plan a lunch break close to the meeting point to limit fatigue.
• Check the minimum age and required level of each option before enrolling your child.

Off-slope activities

Val Thorens is about more than alpine skiing. The resort offers a fine range of activities that families love: a toboggan run, a zip line, an ice rink, a sports centre with a swimming pool, pedestrian trails and snowshoeing outings. These experiences let you vary the fun, fill a day without skiing, or bring young and old together for the same adventure.

To organise your days and spot the season’s new offerings, the Val Thorens tourist office publishes the activities programme and the opening hours of facilities. Also think about alternating the pace: a morning of skiing, a quieter afternoon, this helps avoid the mid-stay slump that is common at altitude.

In the evening, a good shared meal rounds off the day gently. Our restaurant Le Rendez-Vous welcomes families in a warm atmosphere.

Practical tips for a stress-free stay

Altitude calls for a few simple precautions: stay well hydrated, protect skin and eyes with quality sunscreen and sunglasses, and pack warm layered clothing. In the first few days, take it easy to let the body acclimatise.

On the logistics side, book equipment and passes early, and plan your access to the resort by checking mountain road conditions. To help you prepare your visit, our team answers all your questions: feel free to write to us via the Contact page.