Bonneval sur Arc vs Valloire: which should you book?
Last reviewed July 2026
The short answer
Valloire wins as the more complete resort on size, village life and variety. Bonneval sur Arc wins for snow reliability, off piste, ski touring and sheer beauty. A powder hunter with a guide should book Bonneval, while everyone else is better served by Valloire.
Bonneval sur Arc and Valloire both sit in the Maurienne valley, but they appeal to very different skiers. Valloire is a proper resort at around 1,430 m, linked with Valmeinier to form the Galibier Thabor area of roughly 150 km, with a real village and a full spread of pistes. Bonneval sur Arc is the last village in the Haute Maurienne, a protected stone hamlet at around 1,800 m with a small lift served area but a huge backcountry on its doorstep.
For a snow chaser, Bonneval is the romance pick and it earns it. Its altitude, its position deep in the high valley near the Col de l'Iseran, and its mostly north facing terrain give it some of the most dependable snow in the region and superb off piste and ski touring. The catch is honesty: the lift served piste area is tiny, around 25 km, so Bonneval is for self sufficient skiers and tourers, ideally with a guide. Valloire is the better choice if you want a varied resort week with mileage on piste.
| Bonneval sur Arc | Valloire | |
|---|---|---|
| Resort altitude | around 1,800 m | around 1,430 m |
| Top lift | around 3,000 m | around 2,600 m |
| Pistes | around 25 km on the lifts | around 150 km with Valmeinier, Galibier Thabor |
| Lift pass | around $38 | around $46 |
| Snow reliability | Excellent, high and north facing | Good, varied aspects up high |
| Off piste and touring | Outstanding, with a guide | Good on the higher sectors |
| Village style | Protected stone hamlet, very pretty | Traditional village, lively in season |
| Best for | Off piste, touring, beauty, snow | All round weeks, mileage, mixed groups |
| Nearest airport | Turin or Lyon, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours | Lyon or Chambery, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours |
The skiing
Valloire wins for on piste variety and mileage, with around 150 km of linked terrain across Galibier Thabor that suits beginners through to strong intermediates. Bonneval's lift served area is tiny at around 25 km, so on piste skiers will exhaust it fast. But for those who climb and tour, Bonneval opens vast terrain. Winner: Valloire on piste, Bonneval off it.
Snow security
Bonneval sur Arc is the more snow sure of the two. Its high altitude, deep valley position and north facing aspects keep the snow cold and reliable, often when lower resorts struggle. Valloire is good up high but lower at base and more mixed in aspect. Winner: Bonneval sur Arc.
Off piste and ski touring
This is Bonneval's whole reason for being and it is exceptional. The terrain around the village and toward the Iseran offers some of the best lift accessed off piste and ski touring in the Maurienne, cold and uncrowded, ideal with a guide. Valloire has good off piste on its higher sectors but nothing on this scale. Winner: Bonneval sur Arc, decisively.
The villages
Both are attractive, but Bonneval is exceptional. It is a protected hamlet of old stone houses with no modern clutter, one of the most beautiful villages in the Alps. Valloire is a genuine, pleasant traditional village with more shops, bars and life in season. Winner: Bonneval for beauty, Valloire for buzz.
Cost and value
Both are affordable by Savoie standards. Bonneval is cheaper on its small local pass and quietly authentic, while Valloire costs a little more for the bigger linked area and delivers more piste for it. Winner: Bonneval on cost, Valloire on terrain per euro.
Families and groups
Valloire is the easier choice for families and mixed ability groups, with gentle nursery slopes, plenty of intermediate terrain and a lively village. Bonneval suits keen, self sufficient skiers and tourers far more than first timers or large mixed groups. Winner: Valloire.
The verdict
If you want a complete, varied resort week with mileage, village life and something for everyone, book Valloire. If you are a snow chaser or ski tourer who values reliable powder, quiet off piste and one of the prettiest villages in the Alps, and you do not need a big piste map, book Bonneval sur Arc and hire a guide. Read our reviews of Bonneval sur Arc and Valloire, compare Bonneval sur Arc vs Val Cenis, Bonneval sur Arc vs Valmeinier and Aussois vs Bonneval sur Arc, and browse the best resorts in the Maurienne valley. If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget and we will route your brief to the right operators.
Common questions
Which has more reliable snow, Bonneval sur Arc or Valloire?
Bonneval sur Arc. Its high altitude, deep Haute Maurienne position near the Col de l'Iseran and north facing aspects keep the snow cold and dependable, often when lower resorts struggle. Valloire is good up high but lower at base and more mixed in aspect.
Is Bonneval sur Arc big enough for a week?
Only if you ski off piste or tour. The lift served piste area is small, around 25 km, so on piste skiers will exhaust it quickly. Its real appeal is the vast backcountry on its doorstep, best skied with a guide. For a resort week on piste, Valloire is the better pick.
Which is better for off piste and ski touring?
Bonneval sur Arc, by a wide margin. The terrain around the village and toward the Iseran offers some of the best lift accessed off piste and touring in the Maurienne, cold and uncrowded. Valloire has good off piste up high but far less of it.
Which is bigger, Bonneval sur Arc or Valloire?
Valloire, easily. Linked with Valmeinier it forms the Galibier Thabor area of around 150 km, against roughly 25 km of lift served pistes at Bonneval. Valloire is the choice for on piste mileage and variety.
Which has the prettier village?
Bonneval sur Arc. It is a protected hamlet of old stone houses with no modern clutter, one of the most beautiful villages in the Alps. Valloire is a genuine, pleasant traditional village with more shops and livelier evenings.
Which is better for families?
Valloire. It has gentle nursery slopes, plenty of intermediate terrain and a lively village, which suits families and mixed ability groups. Bonneval is geared to keen, self sufficient skiers and tourers rather than first timers.