Val Thorens is located at the end of the Belleville valley and is one of the ski resorts which make up the famous 3 valleys ski area. Nestled under Mont Peclet at the top of the Belleville valley Val Thorens is considered to be the best placed resort in the 3 valleys. With easy connections to Meribel and the ‘fourth’ valley of Orelle there are plenty of other areas to ski outside Val Thorens. In the same valley is Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville, the latter being very picturesque and a must visit. Val Thorens offers a good selection of pistes and off piste routes. We have gone in to more detail on the terrain in our skiing pages. Over the years Val Thorens has had a reputation of being an ugly resort. This is not unfounded but over the last 5 years things have changed, new pretty chalets have sprouted up and the old concrete apartment buildings are now looking easier on the eye with their wood clad. It has made quite a difference. For the last few years there has been talk of expanding the resort, there are 9 different options but a decision has yet to be made. We think the resort will over time join up with Les Menuires and engulf the small hamlets in-between, however this would be far in the future. Val Thorens based company Setam help design and manufacture ski lifts for many ski resorts, which is handy for Val Thorens as they often install their new lifts in the resort to show them off. For 2011 there are new pistes, lifts, chalets and hotels proving this resort is not standing still but a resort aiming to be one of the best.