Valloire | Ski Resort Review

The leading ski resort in the less-developed Maurienne Valley in the French Alps, Valloire’s ski area is linked with Valmeinier to form the Galibier-Thabor ski domain. Together with its pleasant traditional-style Alpine village and friendly ambience, Valloire offers a very respectable 150 km of linked pistes, more than two-thirds of which are situated above a snow-sure altitude of 2,000m - a key appeal for anyone chasing reliable conditions through mid-winter and beyond.

A bit off the beaten track for sure, it lies just to the north of the Col du Galibier Pass (a famously arduous stage on the Tour de France), which marks the watershed between the Northern and Southern French Alps.

"It’s one of those places that quietly converts first-time visitors into loyal returnees"

The village is centred around a sturdy 17th-century Baroque church and has a nice blend of narrow old-town streets at its core and wide avenues on its periphery. Its valley-floor location means that most quarters are on the flat, making it an easy and pleasant place to stroll around; a free-of-charge trackless mini-train service also drives around the main streets during the day, connecting the ski-lift terminals and various accommodation locations.

The community of Valloire also covers 17 outlying hamlets, including Les Granges, Les Clots, and Les Verneys, where some accommodation is located; a free shuttle-bus service connects these hamlets and the resort’s suburbs with the centre of Valloire and the main lift terminals.

Valloire has a friendly and relaxed ambience and is a popular destination for British and international school groups, who appreciate the area’s suitability for beginners and its traditional French ambience, as well as the good value that this relatively little-known non-mainstream ski resort offers. 

It’s one of those places that quietly converts first-time visitors into loyal returnees.

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Best deals on Valloire Ski Hire: Extra 5% off with SnowRental

Best deals on Valloire Ski Lessons: Book now with Maison Sport

Valloire - Interactive Ski Map & Pistes:

The Valloire ski area is spread over three linked sectors: Les Vernays and Setaz to the south, and Crey du Quart to the east - the latter linking with the slopes of the mainly purpose-built resort development of Valmeinier in the next valley.

The two principal access points from Valloire are gondola lifts based at the southern and eastern edges of the village, providing convenient access into the Setaz and Crey du Quart sectors respectively. Further access to the Setaz sector slopes is also provided by two roadside chairlifts at the southern hamlets of Les Clots and Les Vernays, the latter also the site of a compact beginners’ zone on a separate central meadow equipped with a free ski-tow.

"The lower slopes of Thimel mountain in the Setaz sector are attractively wooded, offering scenic tree-lined runs all the way back down to the village"

Novices are well served throughout the ski area: there are additional beginners’ zones at altitude in both main sectors, and more than half of all runs across the domain are graded green or blue, with at least one easy circuit linking all sectors of the Valloire–Valmeinier slopes — albeit mostly via narrow, zigzagging trails.

Most of the other pistes are fair, enjoyable reds for intermediates, with a handful of tougher black runs to challenge more advanced skiers.

The majority of the terrain sits across the open, rolling ridges between Valloire and Valmeinier, but the lower slopes of Thimel mountain in the Setaz sector are attractively wooded, offering scenic tree-lined runs all the way back down to the village and its southern hamlets.

For freestylers, there is an excellent snowpark, with expert and intermediate zones.

Valloire - Off-Piste, Backcountry & Ski Touring:

Those looking for the best off-piste opportunities should head for either the Crey du Quart sector on the Valloire side or Le Gros Crey over on the Valmeinier side.

You can also veer off the Armera piste above the tree-line for a steep off-piste descent which drops onto the blue Grapil piste. After fresh snowfall, you’ll often find good powder around Les Verneys too.

Black runs Mérégers and Dahu are normally left ungroomed (“non damée”) to allow mogul fields to develop - and the same is true of Chamois and Edelweiss.

Valloire - Restaurants, Bars & The Town:

Valloire village is a pleasant place for a stroll and has a fair selection of shops, plus a weekly street market. There’s also a good network of scenic walking and snowshoe trails in the surrounding countryside; a popular excursion is a visit to a local working dairy farm specialising in cheese production, which remains a genuinely authentic local experience.

For more adrenaline-pumping views of the landscape, you can take a microlight aircraft flight from the resort’s Altiport airstrip at the hamlet of Bonnenuit, or go tandem-paragliding off the high ridge above the valley. Other adventure options include dog-sledding and snowmobiling.

Après ski is fairly subdued, primarily centred around post-piste and later-evening drinks in a selection of relaxed local bars. Pub L’Atelier remains a popular gathering spot for occasional live-music sessions, while Le Bar à Zing also pulls a friendly crowd in the evenings.

"Most of the nightlife revolves around leisurely dinners in the resort’s largely traditional restaurants"

Most of the nightlife revolves around leisurely dinners in the resort’s largely traditional restaurants; additional entertainment comes via the resort's full-size outdoor ice rink, a ten-pin bowling alley (licensed and open until 2am), and a cinema.

Each year in mid-to-late January, Valloire hosts an international ice and snow-sculpture competition, attracting specialist artists from around the globe; their stunning creations decorate the village streets until warmer temperatures finally reclaim them.

Valloire - Ski Hire:

Readers booking through Snowrental can take advantage of an exclusive 5% discount on online rates, making it the smartest starting point for ski hire in Valloire.

As in all French ski resorts, ski hire in Valloire is easy to find with plentiful outlets - many offering advance booking deals - including familiar chains such as Intersport, Sport 2000, Skimium and Ski Republic.

Valloire - Ski School:

You can easily find well-rated independent instructors through Maison Sport, where you can browse profiles, compare teaching styles and book private lessons online.

The ESF is another reliable option, offering a full range of group and individual lessons, and the ESI is another solid choice for tuition and guiding.