When is the best time of year to come to Val Thorens?

• Christmas and New Year are very popular so the resort and pistes will be busy and prices much higher. However, Christmas in the snow is magical, especially for families.
• January is much underrated. Many people are back at work or school, so the pistes are virtually empty with no lift queues. The weather can be very cold but this makes for excellent snow conditions and we often enjoy blue skies and sunshine in January.
• February is when the French school holidays start, you can check the dates in our Guide to Family Holidays in Val Thorens. If you have children then you'll also be restricted to the school holiday dates of your own country. Val Thorens is always extremely busy in February and Children's Ski School places are often booked up months in advance. Avoid February if you don’t like being out-skied by 7 year olds!
• March is when the sun starts to shine for longer and longer each day and temperatures are usually kinder to lunching out-of-doors. The snow quality may start to decline - hard in the morning and slushy in the afternoons. This is a popular month with the British and other nationalities, so it can still be quite busy, but the February madness will have eased off.
• April is often the snowiest month of the season as spring showers bring fresh snow to the mountains. In fine weather it is perfect for lazy long lunches in the sun, and the pistes are once again quiet. It is also a good month for picking up some end-of-season deals and special offers.
• The resort will go quiet during May and June, but spring in the Alps is beautiful and if you don't mind not being able to take the lifts it can be the nicest time for hiking. The weather can be changeable, as it can anywhere, but it is often more comfortable for outdoor sports than the heat of summer.
• July and August are the busiest summer months and there are loads of outdoor activities, as well as plenty of hiking trails to explore. The climate during the daytime will be much as for the rest of France but the evenings will be cooler - so you can sleep well after the day's exploits.
• From September onwards things cool down again, and life is much calmer. You can enjoy excellent weather at this time of year and the temperature is much better suited to outdoor activities, although the rain may come at this time (as elsewhere).
• October and November are when many places are closed to take a break or prepare for the following winter season. You can expect the resort to be very quiet during these months, which may suit some people but bear in mind that mountain access will only be on foot as the lifts will be closed and the weather will be turning colder and wetter.

Take a look at our Val Thorens Snow Reports from previous winters to see what to expect from the weather and snow conditions throughout the season.