If you want to ski the top of Europe, go to Val Thorens. As the highest ski resort in Europe, Val Thorens is situated at 2,300 meters (7,546 feet). It is located at the head of the Vallee des Belleville, in the west of the Three Vallees ski area.

The famed "Three Valleys of France" is the world's largest ski area. Val Thorens is high up on the right side of the Three Valleys, which figured prominently in the 1992 Winter Olympics. Courchevel sits on several levels in the first valley on the left. Meribel and Mottaret are in the middle valley. Below Val Thorens is Les Menuires. The entire region has 600 kilometers (375 miles) of prepared and marked runs, unlimited off-trail opportunities, and more than 200 lifts.

Val Thorens has 30 ski lifts and 140 kilometers (87 miles) of trails it can call its own. It is an intermediate skier's paradise with huge vertical drops and very long cruising runs. The area is good for beginners and novices with easy access to gentle slopes. For the more advanced skiers and boarders it has lots of steep and challenging skiing as well as a huge variety of off-trail. The resort's trails are 66 percent beginner, 21 percent intermediate, 30 percent advanced and seven percent expert. Val Thorens has a park and half-pipe for snowboarders.

Much of the resort's challenging skiing, including on glaciers, is nearly 914 meters (3,000 feet) above the base. It is a treeless resort, so skiing can get tricky during a snowstorm. Guests are likely to go up to the Peclet glacier or to Cime de Caron in massive cable cars. High altitude allows Val Thorens an October to May ski season. The Peclet has summer skiing in July and August.

Because of its altitude, Val Thorens has the best, most reliable snow in the region. It gets as much as eight to 10 meters (33 feet) of total snowfall each year. The terrain surrounding the resort suggests a young crowd. That impression is confirmed in the lively bar and disco scene.

Val Thorens is purpose built with a car-free central area. It has more charm than one would expect from a purpose built village. There are 10 mountain restaurants, a cinema, seven nightclubs and 70 restaurants located nearby. Cuisines range from French to Italian and Savoyard. Other activities include a sports hall, indoor swimming pool, squash and snowmobiling.

Slopeside accommodations are available. It is always interesting to see a purpose built village's ratio of residents to guests. Val Thorens has 300 inhabitants, but it can sleep 23,000, a ratio of one to 77. Lodging is in a variety of comfortable hotels and many apartments. The self-contained community has all the facilities for keeping house.

Val Thorens is 96 miles from the Geneva gateway. There is a bus system to move skiers throughout the Three Valleys resorts. Moutiers on the main road below has a train station from which local buses and taxis transfer skiers.

Reprinted with permission of http://www.skieuropereport.com