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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1430m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[4]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Valloire is one of the best known of the original French ski resorts that grew up organically before the advent of the high altitude purpose built ski centres on the 1960s and 1970s.

The village has grown a good deal however from its 1930s origin as a small rural area at the foot of the famous Galibier Pass in the Maurienne Valley, encompassing 17 small farming communities.

Despite of its success as a ski resort, staging numerous international competitions, Valloire has managed to maintain a lot of its original charm and is generally regarded as "very French". The original heart of the Savoyard village remain clustered around the 17th century baroque church.

The resort has quite a high base for a traditional resort, and the lift served vertical above takes it to still more snow-sure heights, opening up the opportunities for long descents in one of the largest ski areas in the Alps, shared with neighbouring Valmeinier.

Beginners

Valloire has a nursery slope right next to the village, with a separate beginner's lift as well as gentle slopes at altitude on which to progress. The area is relatively easy to reach from most accommodation in the resort.

We can also offer all inclusive pre-bookable first time skiing packages, which include lessons, equipment rental and lift tickets for skiing or boarding, at a discount on buying these items and services separately in resort.

Intermediates

With more than 50 red runs shared between Valmorel and Valmeinier this is a big area for intermediates with enough to keep them entertained for several weeks.

There are runs up to nine kilometres (six miles) long over the full vertical down from Le Crey du Quart which separates Valloire's valley from that of its neighbour.

Advanced

The half a dozen black runs represent around ten percent of the skiing terrain. Combined with off-piste terrain it means there can be enough to keep most good skiers busy for a week.

One of the best pistes for advanced skiers is the Olympic run on the Grandes Drozes leading down into Valmeiner 1500.

The local mountain guides office organises off piste skiing excursions for experienced skiers.

Snowboarding

Valloire in conjunction with its neighbour Valmeinier has greatly improved the freestyle terrain features available to their guests in recent years.

Snowboarders now have a half pipe and snowboarding area with jumps, ski cross and varying routes according to ability, which have been rated amongst the ten best in France by some reviewers.

Other Activities and Facilities

The Val'Form Fitness Centre has a spa, solarium, sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi, gym and fitness room. There is a ten pin bowling centre, Le Mafayo, which also has a pool table and video games in the building. Other indoor facilities include a cinema and library.

Outdoors there are 30km (19 miles) of cleared pedestrian walk ways around Valloire and its many hamlets. There are also 25km of cross country ski trails, with a red trail for experienced skiers, and greens and blues to Les Verneys, 2km away, for novices.

Several different companies offer snowshoe tours and there's also paragliding, microlight flights, an adventure course in the forest and ice skating.

The tourist office organises weekly activities including torchlit descents on skis and dog sledding excursions. An international ice carving festival is also staged in Valloire each winter.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Valloire has a good range of about 30 bars and restaurants offering lively nightlife at times (particularly weekends and peak season) and a good choice of dining from creperies to gourmet.

Popular bars include L'Edelweiss and Chez Fred. For a quick crepe Le P'tit Yus and La Grange de Thelcide are good and there are three pizzerias including Pizza Val.

For traditional mountain food La Grolle and Le Trappeur are good choices.

Families

The Halte Garderie Les Aiglons is open from 9am to 5pm daily except Saturday. It accepts children aged from six months to six years old in a non-ski indoor nursery environment.

Children aged three and older can experience their first on-snow fun in the Ecole du ski Français, Valloire's snow garden where special classes are organized.

Older children aged five and over can sign up for regular ski school classes using the French national tuition and testing scheme that can be continued in subsequent years at other French resorts if you wish.

Piste Map for Valloire

Accommodation in Valloire

• Chalet de la Vallee - 4 star, self catering
• Les Carrettes - 3 star, self catering
• Les Chalet Valoria - 3 star, self catering
• Plein Sud - 2 star, half board
• Valmonts Apartments - 4 star, self catering

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