At 2300 metres, Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe and snow reliability here is simply not a concern. The architecture is functional rather than pretty, built for purpose in the 1970s and proud of it, but what it lacks in charm it more than compensates for in altitude and access. The Trois Vallées terrain stretches endlessly in every direction, and on a clear morning the views from the Cime Caron cable car are genuinely staggering. This is a resort for people who are here to ski, and it delivers accordingly.

