Skiing

Valloire – The Skiing

Valloire is internally recognised as an excellent ski region. Along with its neighbour, Valmenier, the Galibier-Thabordomain benefits from 150km of well groomed pistes and over 70% of the domain is above 2000m. With 400 snow cannons and predominantly North facing slopes it makes the snow conditions first class with skiing into middle April.

Valloire has 2 main linked areas, Setaz and Crey du Quartz both accessed from 2 gondolas from the centre of the village and via a couple of chairlifts up in the Verneys hamlet for direct access to the Setaz domain. From the Crey du Quartz you can ski across to Valmeinier. The Crey du Quartz also hosts the resorts snowpark, Arva park and slalom courses.

The lightly wooded terrain is varied and some of the runs are as long as 1,000 vertical metres. There is an above average choice of runs for beginners both for starting and progressing. They can quickly get a 'feel' for the peaks on the nursery slopes around the 'Thimel' mountain restaurant on the Setaz side. The long greens make it feel like you’re travelling some distance rather than being stuck on a small, short slopes like a lot of resorts have. The Thimel mountain area is also at 2000m so beginners can also admire the view which sometimes is missed in other resorts that have their beginner slopes at resort levels. The mountain can be easily explored on basic green runs. Some of the runs have higher level pistes (blue and red) merging into them, so it’s good for progressing individuals to try something new with the comfort of their green run not so far away. Intermediates have a good choice of runs from wide reds to gentle blues. For snowboarders, Valloire and Valmeinier benefit from wide open slopes and of course there is the snowpark for the more adventurous. Also most of the drag lifts can be avoided so that’s great news for boarders.

The blacks like the long 'Cascade' will test many experienced skiers and the mogul field (black run: Grand Drozes) down to Valmeinier is recommended and is said to be quite challenging.

To complement its alpine skiing domain, Valloire offers Nordic skiing trails of all levels 2, 3, 5, 10, 12 and 20km long depending on the quality of snow.  On the Verney Plateau, the trails are quite suited to the beginner or intermediate-level skiers. The ‘Balcon de Valloire’, at the start of the Pre-Round chairlift will suit the needs of the more expert skier.

At the end of the season, the skiers can go up to the Plan Lachat, 2000m high, facing the Galibier pass.

Ski Facts:

Valloire Ski area (70% above 2000m)

Valloire/Valmeinier

Km	150
Lifts	33 (2 gondolas, 17 chairlift & 14 drag lifts)
No. of slopes 85
	21
	25
	31
	6

Beginners	****
Intermediates	****
Experts	***
Boarders	***