A Tour of the 3 Vallees
29 / 03 / 2017
Helped to make the magic of winter mountain experiences truly inclusive and accessible
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Wanting to ski and are a paraplegic, have a spinal injury or are an amputee then Val Thorens could be the place for you. Val Thorens in France (part of Les 3 Vallées ski area) has a lot to offer for assisted mountain activities in the winter.
The resort offers great ski instruction, equipment and a warm welcome for blind/visual impairment skiing; skiing with Down’s Syndrome; skiing with a degenerative condition; skiing with Cerebral Palsy; skiing with Autism or a learning difficulty.
The resort is especially suited to independent sit skiers due to the ease of access on the ski lifts and helpful and experienced lift staff. All but one ski lift allows access for ski skis. However, it is a purpose built resort and its high altitude means that, although it has an excellent snow record, getting around in a wheelchair within the resort is not so easy. But work is being done to improve overall accessibility.
Wheel blades on the chair make a difference but you may need helping hands! And for those not skiing all day then the logistics of getting around on your own do need to be considered, so choosing the right place to stay is vital. For non-skiers, perhaps grand-parents or other family members who are just wanting to join in on an exciting winter holiday, then Val Thorens offers a variety of other activities. There are ‘pedestrian’ access on a lot of the chair lifts and gondolas so meeting up for a mountain lunch or après ski drink is also possible.
How about Val Thorens for a summer adventure? Perhaps this clip of Quadrix all terrain biking might tempt you!
We are delighted to provide you with useful information on Val Thorens to assist you on your next adventure! Given the nature of the resort do feel free to contact us to discuss your own specific requirements.
If you, a friend or family member have any of the following then Val Thorens might work brilliantly for your ski or summer holiday. This is by no means an exhaustive list (it would be impossible to include every condition) but many have similar or common factors. As often someone may have a condition that we have not yet come across please do ask us if you are interested in the resort and we can try to help.
We do advise that if you have any health issues that might be affected by extreme temperatures; altitude or have had surgery or an on-going physical / neurological condition that might be or could be affected by being moved at speed, over rough or uneven terrain or being on or in a ski lift please do contact us for more advice before going ahead and booking your holiday. Another resort might work better for you.
Click here for more information on specific conditionsVal Thorens has a great selection of hotels, apartments and chalets suitable for all visitors. Accessible accommodation in Val Thorens is also available for wheelchair users (dependent on type of wheelchair) and those with limited mobility.
If a place is listed below it will have been visited by Ski 2 Freedom or will be personally known to us. However, any accommodation listed on this page is by no means all that is available in the resort. To have a full list of places, please contact us, and if possible please state your preferred requirements.
Hotel Altapura ★★★★★
www.altapura.fr
Hotel Fitz Roy ★★★★★
www.hotelfitzroy.com
Hotel Hameau du Kashmir ★★★★
www.le-hameau-du-kashmir.com
Hotel Pashmina ★★★★★
www.hotelpashmina.com
Hotel Koh-i Nor ★★★★★
www.hotel-kohinor.com/en/
Hotel Sherpa ★★★
www.lesherpa.com/
Hotel Le Val Thorens ★★★★
www.levalthorens.com/en
UCPA
www.ucpa-vacances.com/centre/france/val-thorens/
Residence Les Balcons de Val Thorens
www.les-balcons.co.uk/presentation/val-thorens.html
Images copyright © Ski 2 Freedom / OT Val Thorens - T.Loubere
Mountain based activities, whether sporting or non-sporting, summer or winter, are empowering elements to life but please note that many may not be suitable for your condition or specific need. Activity providers, guides and instructors will often go out of their way to accommodate the needs of everyone but please understand if they are unable to do so for you. Always worth making further enquiries either via the organization responsible, the tourist office or Ski 2 Freedom.
Filter activities by season:
For more information on mountain activities in Val Thorens please contact us.
Filter activities by season:
For more information on mountain activities in Val Thorens please contact us.
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 79 00 02 86
Website: www.esf-valthorens.com
Director: Alain Proux
Telephone: +33(0) 4 79 01 07 00
Email: info@prosneige.fr
Website: www.prosneige.fr
Please contact the ski school for more information on booking lessons and equipment hire.
To get a better idea and understanding of the ski resort of Val Thorens and what else they can offer you for your holiday, we suggest you look up their website as every Tourist Office offers a fascinating and exciting insight into what they and the surrounding area can offer visitors. In addition many have a dedicated website or page for those who are in need of assistance, disabled, with young children and babies and those of us just getting on a bit in life!
Telephone : +33 4 79 00 08 08
Fax : +33 4 79 00 00 04
Website: valthorens.com
Adaptive tourism page: valthorens.com/en/ski/adapted-tourism---handiski.31.html
Many ski resorts offer reduced or discounted lift passes for someone with a disability or in need of assistance. For Val Thorens the following apply. However we suggest you also contact the Lift Pass Office for further information as prices and conditions can change.
Le Génépi
Telephone : +33 4 79 00 07 08
Fax : +33 4 79 00 07 14
Email: setam@valthorens.com
STOR (côté Orelle)
Gare de la Télécabine - 73140 Orelle
Telephone : +33 4 79 56 88 01
Fax : +33 4 79 56 88 02
The following are delighted to share their experiences with you on how Val Thorens was able to assist and empower them to have a life enhancing winter and ski holiday. If you would like to speak directly with one of our beneficiaries please contact us so we can put you in touch – sometimes sharing a similar condition can be most reassuring especially for first timers!
"I had a very good lesson with Silva from ESF Val Thorens yesterday with the dual ski. He was excellent and a really nice chap. Ann & I skied with all our family yesterday afternoon and that was really nice. Thanks again for all your help."
James
"Hi Catherine, Just a quick note to say that I am having a brilliant time skiing. I have had three lessons with ESF Val Thorens and another one booked for tomorrow. Thank you for all of the effort that you put in to make everything go so well for me. I will be in touch once back in the UK with some photos/footage for you. Many thanks and regards, Ian"
Ian, Jan 2014
"Just a quick note to let you know that we have just returned from a very successful ski holiday in Val Thorens. William (autistic, 5 yrs) enjoyed a private 2hr lesson each day with Lara, an instuctor with Prosneige. I would thouroughly recommend her. She was sensitive to Williams needs, and flexible in her approach. On days when his concentration was poor she would split the skiing with time indoors. By the end of the week he was coming down greens on his own! Rarely looking ahead!
Our daughter was with the same ski school and also thoroughly enjoyed it. The week did make us realise, however, that William will need adaptive ski lessons for the next few years. He certainly wouldn't cope with 'normal' ski school."
William’s mother Winter Season 2010-2011
"Just wanted to let you know what a fantastic time I had in Val Thorens. My instructor, Vincent from Prosneige, could not have been better giving a perfect balance of support and pushing me for independence. The Hotel Altpura was fabulous too and kindly gave us an upgrade to a suite! Many, many thanks for facilitating this. I have left with the intention of returning next year and with every expectation to be skiing with my daughter Flora within the next 5 years..."
Peter
"Catherine hi, You are a gem! Thank you so much for all your advice and assistance and recommending ESF Val Thorens, absolutely priceless. Not only will you have made such a difference to one young man who is blind but will have enlightened all the other more able young people travelling with him. Thank you. I will certainly keep in touch and let you know how we all got on."
Gee
"Your welcome Catherine, it's a pleasure to help you with your client!"
Sylvie Cluzel, ESF Val Thorens, Assistante de direction
All the news, feedback articles and press releases illustrate how Val Thorens helps to enhance people’s lives. Also, in many cases, showing how Ski 2 Freedom works in close association with Val Thorens to help raise awareness of the empowering benefits of mountain activities such as skiing and promoting accessible, social and inclusive tourism.
If on reading our Val Thorens page, you have your own experiences and feedback of the resort (winter or summer) that you would like to share or feel would be encouraging to others, please do not hesitate to send them to us for inclusion on both our website and social media – photos and film clips also welcome.
Mountains 4 All would like to make it clear that we regard everyone as an individual and that no two people will have the same needs and requirements. Therefore please note that what you see on this page regarding assisted or adaptive skiing and accommodation, may not be suitable for you, or someone you know. However, if you think this destination would be a good ski resort for you, then please contact us to discuss your personal requirements and we will endeavour to see if the resort will meet these.
We hope that you have found the information on this page helpful and a chance to make a decision on where to go for your winter holiday. However, we know that often much more discussion is required and therefore we invite you to contact us as we hold extensive information on all our ski resorts – please contact us.
Our information has and is obtained by means of extensive personal research at a cost, often to the Foundation, we only give this out to those that request it and is not for general public use. For our beneficiaries this information is free but for a company or organisation we make a nominal charge via donation.
Mountains 4 All provides specific information on the activities for skiers with a disability, additional need or life-challenging illness, etc. plus useful extras such as wheelchair accessible places to stay; so we are not going to also reproduce amazing information and advice on ski resorts which has been collected by ski journalists, skiers and ski companies which are dedicated to this service - what we can do is to link you to these sites which may well give you some extra background information on a specific ski resort and help you make up your mind as to where you might go!
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