Spring Skiing in Val Thorens

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted March 30, 2026

With daffodils and tulips in full bloom in the UK and alpine flowers carpeting the lower slopes of the Alps, now might not currently seem a good time to be thinking of skiing and snowboarding.

Wrong.

This is what it looks like at resort level in Val Thorens at this time of year:

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And here it is at the top:

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More snow has fallen in the Alps this past week and Easter is set to be one of the best in recent years with plentiful snow in Val Thorens and other higher resorts.

Val Thorens is the highest resort in the Alps at 2,300m with the ski slopes going up to 3,200m.

It is one of the most snow-sure ski areas in the Alps.

Yet some assume the ski season is all but over as the clocks change and winter seems a distant memory.

Not so in Val Thorens.

Spring skiing in Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

The resort has over a month left and closes on May 3rd with it’s ‘Grand Derniere’ event as the season goes out with a bang.

I was in resort for the event a few years back.

PlanetSKI ends the season in Val Thorens

La Grande Derniere. Image © PlanetSKI

“La Grand Derniere is important not only for business in the resort as it brings in thousands of guests, but also for our image as a vibrant and innovative ski resort,” said the director of the tourist office, Vincent Lallane to me.

Vincent Lallane, Val Thorens Tourist Office Director. Image © PlanetSKI

Currently the resort is 91% full with over 20,000 skiers and snowboarders out on the slopes.

The average occupancy rate across the winter is 85% so it seems more and more people are recognising the attractions of late-season skiing.

The resort has grabbed the end of the season by the scruff of the neck to show people skiing and snowboardimg continues well into Spring.

As well as the Grande Derniere, there is the Cosmic Mountain Festival in the resort, billed as the highest music festival in the Alps.

It is the second edition and runs from April 17th-19th.

Cosmic Festival, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

Then there is the infamous ‘Dutchweek’ that sees 7,000 people from the Netherlands come to ski and party like it is going out of fashion.

It takes place April 25th – May 2nd.

For more than three decades the Dutch people travel to Val Thorens at the end of winter for the “Dutchweek” to celebrate their king’s birthday and/or the liberation from World War II.

There are many smaller events like the 4th edition of the AJ Bell 3 Valley Rally that takes place April 12th – 15th and raises money for the UK charity, Snowcamp.

PlanetSKI was at the inaugural event in 2023.

Snowcamp raises £320,000 with 3 Valley Rally

Snow Camp Image c/o PlanetSKI

I noticed a number of American people in the resort at this time of year.

“Overall this winter we have seen a growing number of US skiers and the end of season is no exception,” said Vincent Lallane.

“For people on the east coast it is a similar journey time for them to come to Europe as it is to the Rockies in the western USA.”

For skiers from the USA there are cheaper lift passes, bigger ski areas, a higher quality of food and then there’s the apres ski.

3 Valley Rally, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

Folie Douce, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

On the subject of international visitors there have been many cancellations due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

“Around 1,000 Israelis have cancelled their holiday in Val Thorens,” said Vincent Lallane.

“Many people coming to us from Asia use resorts like Dubai as a hub airport and they have cancelled.”

That does mean that rooms which were booked for the end of season are now available.

One of the busiest places at the moment is the new Caron 3200 area that opened last winter.

Caron 3200, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

Last season though was a bit of a false start as the gondola was not working across the whole winter after an accident just before the season started.

We reported on it at the time on PlanetSKI.

Val Thorens cable car out of action for whole season

This season everything is up and running.

Caron 3200, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

The complex has:

Panoramic restaurant
Wine bar
Rooftop terrace
Boutique
Flexible event space

As the 2025/26 season draws to an end the resort is looking forward to 2026/27 and beyond.

Val Thorens has 25,000 tourist beds and work starts in the Spring to increase that number to 27,500 with construction of The Plateau du Cairn near the entrance to the resort.

It will have a hotel that is part of the Marma Shelten group and various residences, with shops, bars and restaurants.

However, this will add to what some see as the already over-crowded slopes in Val Thorens at peak times.

This week the main slopes have been very busy.

Spring skiing in Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

But there are places to ski that avoid the crowds in the main areas.

Orelle is one such area with barely anyone around first thing, though it gets busier by around 11am.

Spring skiing in Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

Then there are other runs that had few people on them when we skied them.

The mountain restaurants are also busy so I suggest lunch at 12.30 or 2.30.

Alternatively you can treat yourself and head to the 5* Hotel Pashmina that is right by the piste at the top end of town.

Hotel Pashima, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

It has introduced a new brunch menu with a re-imagined buffet.

It is €69 (£60).

You eat as much as you like and stay as long as you want in the luxurious 5* setting, soaking up the spring sunshine.

Hotel Pashmina, Val Thorens. Image © PlanetSKI

And the final thing you can do in the Spring in the early evening that you likely can not do in the middle of winter is have a beer outside on the terrace of one’s accommodation as the sun sinks below the surrounding peaks.