© Val Thorens
March in Val Thorens: What's on and weather
It's quieter, warmer, and there's some great spring snow to play in
Magical March is here with longer, warmer days skiing in the sunshine.
With fewer families around, you also tend to find far fewer ski schools on the hill which, of course, also means an end to those long, snaking trails of beginners making their way down. It also makes for much quieter lift lines. So, all in all, an ideal month to visit Val Thorens to make the most of the near-perfect conditions.
Read on for a look at what we like to get up to when spring arrives.
What are the weather and snow conditions like
There is regular snowfall during March, on average 11 days and temperatures still dip below freezing at night to freshen it up. In March the average daytime temperatures generally fall between a high of -2°C and a low of -9ºC, getting around six hours of sunshine.
What's on in Val Thorens in March?
Carnival Time
Carnaval'Tho comes to the slopes of Val Thorens. A street parade for the kids and face painting, workshops, fancy dress and loads of entertainment.
St. Patrick’s Day
March might be considered the party month here in Val Thorens. Longer days and warmer weather make for better après ski, while more adults and fewer children mean bigger nights in the bars. Of course, one of the biggest parties of the season is on 17th March. For St. Patrick’s Day, even the beer turns green as the bars try to outdo each other with Irish themed nights. Expect promotions on Irish drinks, fancy dress and lots of live renditions of the Irish Rover.
Festi Val Tho
This is the first free electronic festival in the Alps and it boasts an exciting and electrifying line up mixing Electro, House, Techno, Trance and much more. It is a three day mega fiesta at the Chalets du Thorens, the largest chalet in Europe on the slopes. There will be professional riders putting on an epic ski show with new DJs never seen in Val Thorens. The ski slopes become the dance floor, so don’t miss out on this free event. It starts at 12:00 and finishes in time for après at 18:00.
European Gay Ski Week
The biggest and best LGBTQI+ winter sports festival brightens up the slopes of Val Thorens for a week duirng March.
Live music concerts
For those with more cultured music tastes, there are the usual classical, blues and jazz music concerts taking place at the church in Val Thorens every week, which are also free to attend. Come and check out the performances.
Take a look at out our events calendar for more information on what's on in resort during March.
Skiing
Lessons
Now is a great time to take a private lesson or join a group ski or snowboard lesson, with the quieter slopes there's less queues and the softening snow makes for a much kinder landing.
Things to do
Sunset ski and sledge sessions
From mid-February onwards evening skiing is available - The Funitel de Péclet is open weeknights until 18:30, so you can spend a little longer out on the Tête Ronde (Blue run) and Christine (Red run) slopes. Also the Castor and Pollux carpets will also remain open until 20:00 for the rest of the season for sledging and skiing.
Toboggan run
Get ready for the longest toboggan run in Europe. The Cosmojet. Open to everyone from five years old, take an eight minute ascent using the Péclet Funitel, to an altitude of 3,000m. Then it's 45 minutes of excitement - linked raised bends and varied slopes. It's a great way to finish the day. Free for children aged five to nine on an adult's sled.
Snowmobiling
Discover the snow-covered landscapes by night riding your snowmobile on a tour across the unspoilt pistes, lit up solely by the light of the moon.
Ice skating
La Patinoire, located in Place Péclet, is a 400m² ice rink made entirely of natural ice. There's also music and a light show, and a small chalet serving pancakes and hot chocolate to enjoy with family or friends. Open daily for the entire season, ice skates for hire, and accessible from the age of three.
Bars and clubs
When the lifts close for the day hundreds of skiers/revellers head down the slopes to find an après-ski party, and Val Thorens has a variety of bars happily welcoming you with live DJs, live music and acoustic sets, aerial performances and much more.
One thing's for sure, you won't have far to stumble in your ski boots to find a jug of beer and some good snacks before you head home for dinner...or not! It's much easier to get a last minute table for dinner now the school holiday crowds aren't here.
More inspiration...
There's a lot more than just skiing or snowboarding in the area this month! Take a look at our events calendar for a full run down and check out all the things to do in resort.