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Val Thorens Activity Review: 13th August 2012

Val Thorens in August - something for everybody!

The busiest fortnight of the summer season is upon us and over the past week visitors have been arriving in Val Thorens in huge numbers to make the most of the huge array of events on offer.

This past weekend saw the resort’s first “Val Tho Trophy” sponsored by Tecnica. Saturday's event was the Technica Vertical - a race against the clock to run 1,000 meters uphill in the fastest possible time. The run began in resort and climbed up a steep slope with an average incline of 20.2 degrees over a distance of 5.27km. Do not be fooled by the seemingly short distance however, the trail took place on slopes that double as steep red & black ski runs during the winter months. In some places the incline was as steep as 43 degrees so this was definitely not a challenge for the faint hearted! Those brave and slightly mad souls who did decide to participate would at least be rewarded for their efforts with some pretty spectacular panoramic mountain views at the summit.

For those who were looking for something a bit less lung busting, Sunday's event was the Val Tho Trophy itself which was a huge success. The VT Trophy is not actually a race but rather an organised hike for the family that went from Place Caron to Lac du Lou with games and entertainment along the way. The whole course was 9.8km, 2.4km of which was covered by the lift system. Catering was well taken care of with a lunchtime Pasta Party and refreshments were made available at the end of the event. The whole event was just fantastic with hundreds of holidaymakers venturing out into the mountains for some sunny outdoor fun!

This summer Val Thorens has been organising weekly activities and events based upon a variety of themes - so far this month there has been music and petanque, and this week's theme is Eco-Arts. Mainly educational, the aim of the week is to make children and adults aware of the importance of sustainable development in a mountain environment and the fragility of nature in the face of mass tourism.

Looking ahead, the rest of the month is jam packed with entertainment as Val Thorens does its best to put on a good summer show for its visitors. Next week will be circus week and following that, the theme will be magic and abracadabra so there will be plenty of fun and games for all ages!

And finally, it's time for Walks of the Week and I've got two new favourites to recommend to those who enjoy discovering new parts of this beautiful valley. Remember, if you're heading out into the mountains it's always a good idea to hire a guide - not only from a safety perspective but also because they know all the best and most beautiful spots in the valley!
Roc de la Lune / La Croix Jean-Claude
Departing from Beranger, near St Martin de Belleville, this walk really is stunning. Climb up to the Roc de la Lune and continue along to the top of the valley before reaching the Jean-Claude cross. There are spectacular views on offer of the Belleville valley on one side and Meribel/les Allues on the other.
Total circuit time : 3.5 hours.
Circuit des Lacs des Ménuires / Pointe de la Masse
This is a circuit that takes in several different lakes above les Ménuires on “La Masse” and possibly one of the most outstanding views I have ever seen at the top! With a total circuit time of 5 hours and 40 minutes, this is definitely a fair hike but really is well worth the effort.
Top of the leader board in my book and I would definitely recommend it to any other walking enthusiasts!

Although it may not feel like it at the moment, winter is not too far away and if you're looking for a bargain, you'd do well to start thinking about your winter holiday to Val Thorens. With some good booking deals to be found online at the moment, it pays to think ahead - for more information, have a look at our accommodation page.