Valmorel introduction
The Alpine village of Valmorel is an ideal resort for all levels of skiers, particularly beginners and intermediates. Situated between the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys, Valmorel was built more than 25 years ago when intended to look and feel like a mountain village. It has a traffic-free main street with low-rise hamlets grouped around it, with traditional Savoie stone and wood materials. From each hamlet: Le Mottet, Le Bourg Morel, Crève-Cœur, Planchamp, La Forêt and Fontaine, you have direct foot access to the ski runs. Le Bourg Morel is the center of the resort. The final result is an attractive and friendly resort. The slopes are well-planned and offer plenty of intermediate skiing and good nursery slopes. Valmorel is a family resort, but older skiers can not find many things to do there. Facilities for children are perfect.
Valmorel is easy of access, at the end of a good road that comes from the Albertville - Moutiers and little before Moutiers. It's only 2 hours drive away from Lyon and less than 8 hours drive from Calais.
Valmorel is connected with St Francois Longchamp to form the Grande Domain – very famous ski area. There is excellent off-piste skiing opportunity, especially from the top of Col du Gollet. The lift system here includes: gondolas 2, chairlifts 16, drags 36. Ski runs: Green 28, Blue 32, Red 15, and Black 8; one snowpark. Valmorel offers 162km of pistes both below and above the tree-line. Beginners are well catered for with the ten draglifts and an excellent local ski school, they have their own reserved area of piste, and gentle tree-lined runs back down to the village. There is good opportunity for intermediate skiers, with many blue and red runs.
The resort is a great place to try snowboarding for the first time – there is a separate beginners slope with gentle runs, served by chairlifts and gondolas. There are a basic fun park, boarder cross-type course and a half-pipe.The biggest attraction for advanced snowboarders is the little-used off-piste, where they can still find fresh powder few days after a snowfall.
The season at Valmorel runs from December to April, the best conditions are considered to be in early March. This stylish resort welcomes every year many skiers. In the main street you find many of the shops, bars and restaurants. There is life in Valmorel after the slopes shut, but it is not over exiting.