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Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally review: is this the best ski charity event in the Alps?
I went into the Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally thinking it would be a fun ski event.
A bit of skiing, a few activities, maybe a good après or two.
It’s not that.
It’s one of those experiences that stays with you. The kind you talk about months later. The kind that makes you look at your normal ski trips slightly differently.
And the part I didn’t expect to hit as much as it did? The charity behind it.
This Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally review is everything I wish I’d known before going. What it’s actually like, who it’s for, and why it’s so much more than just skiing in Val Thorens.
If you’ve come across this because you’re looking into ski charity events, group ski challenges in the Alps, or just something different for your next ski trip, this will give you a proper, honest view.
What is snow camp and why does this event exist?
Before getting into the rally itself, it’s worth understanding what Snow Camp actually is.
Snow Camp is a UK charity that uses snowsports to support young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Not just by giving them a chance to ski or snowboard, but by helping them build confidence, gain qualifications, and access real career pathways.
It’s not just “take kids skiing”. It’s structured programmes, mentoring, life skills and long-term support.
The fundraising from events like the 3 Valley Rally goes directly into making that happen. According to the event pack, the money raised helps thousands of young people experience snowsports for the first time while also developing skills and improving their wellbeing .
When you’re there, you’re not just part of an event. You’re part of something that has a very real impact.
Why I chose to support snow camp
Living in the Alps, skiing is just part of everyday life for us.
My kids are growing up with something that, realistically, a lot of families in the UK would never have access to. And that’s always sat slightly in the back of my mind.
Snow Camp bridges that gap.
It takes something that can feel quite exclusive and opens it up. Not just as a one-off experience, but as something that can genuinely change direction for young people.
That’s why I wanted to be involved. Not just to attend the event, but to actually support it properly.
Our 8849 metre mission: fundraising with kids
Before the rally even started, we wanted to contribute in a way that felt meaningful as a family.
So we set ourselves a challenge. The 8849 metre mission.
What fundraising with kids really looks like
If you’re searching for fundraising ideas with kids, most of them sound great on paper.
What they don’t show you is the reality.
Kids getting bored halfway through. Meltdowns. Moments where you question why you signed up to it in the first place.
But also the pride when they start to understand what they’re doing and why.
That shift from “are we done yet?” to “how much have we raised now?”
That’s the bit that makes it worth it.
8849 metres is the height of Mount Everest, and the idea was simple. To ski the height of Everest in 1 day. Not a big challenge for stronger skiers yo might argue – but bare in mind my kids are 7 and 9!
Anyway, we smashed our fundraising target and had a gret time along the way!
Why this mattered more than just the event
By the time we got to the 3 Valley Rally, it didn’t feel like we were just turning up to take part.
We’d already invested time, energy, and a lot of family effort into supporting Snow Camp.
So when you’re stood there at the start line, you feel part of something bigger than just a ski event.
Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally review: what it’s actually like
The Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally takes place in Val Thorens, in the Three Valleys, and runs over two full days of challenges, with arrival and departure either side.
Teams of four compete across a mix of skiing and non-skiing challenges, with points, timing, and a fair bit of friendly competition thrown in.
But the structure is only part of it. The experience is what makes it.
Where it takes place: Val Thorens and the Three Valleys
The rally is based in Val Thorens, which is Europe’s highest ski resort, reaching 3200 metres .
That means reliable snow, even late in the season, and long days of skiing.
The ski area itself is huge, with over 150km of runs just in the local area, and access into the wider Three Valleys .
It’s one of those places where you stop mid-run just to take in the views.
The format: teams, challenges and structure
You take part as a team of four, and over two days you complete a series of different challenges across the mountain:
- Ski orienteering – find all 60 check points in 1 day. Impossible!
- Zip line
- Snow shoe 1 km run
- Biathlon challenge
- Distance challenge – ski as many kms in 2 hours as possible
- Team dual slalom cometition
Plus of course, a lot of apres ski thrown in! It’s not just about skiing ability. That’s a big part of why it works.
There’s a mix of endurance, teamwork, and just getting stuck in.
day one
Day one kicks off with a Le Mans-style start outside the hotel, which is exactly as chaotic as it sounds.
From there, you’re out on the mountain completing an orienteering challenge, collecting checkpoints across the resort.
At set times, your team rotates through activities like the biathlon, snowshoe hike and zipline.
There’s food on the mountain to keep you going, and then the day wraps up with an 80s themed après ski session on the terrace.
Live music, questionable outfits, and everyone comparing stories from the day .
day two
Day two leans more into skiing as a team.
You take on a distance challenge, tracking how many kilometres you can cover together, followed by a parallel slalom race.
There’s a BBQ lunch on the piste, another après session at Bar 360, and then everything wraps up with an awards dinner and afterparty back at the hotel .=
the accommodation
Everyone stays at Le Fitz Roy, a five-star ski-in ski-out hotel right in the centre of Val Thorens.
This isn’t a basic event setup.
You’ve got a spa, terrace views, proper food, and the kind of atmosphere that makes it feel like a shared experience rather than people spread across a resort .
It’s a big part of what makes the whole thing feel elevated.
the après and social side
If you don’t enjoy après, this probably isn’t for you.
The social side is a huge part of the rally. Themed parties, live music, fancy dress, and a lot of time spent with people who are all there for the same reason.
It’s one of those environments where conversations are easy and everyone is up for it.
The fundraising element
Depending on the package, teams are either raising a minimum amount or have fundraising included as part of the entry.
That money goes directly into Snow Camp’s work with young people, and you get a real sense of that while you’re there.
You’re not just told about it. You meet people, hear stories, and see the impact.
How much does it cost?
The entry-level package starts at around £2,400 per team of four, which includes the event itself, lift pass, activities, food on the mountain and evening events .
There’s also a higher-end package that includes accommodation, transfers, and covers your fundraising target.
On paper, it’s not a cheap ski trip.
But it’s not trying to be.
Is the Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally worth it?
This is the question most people are actually asking.
And the answer depends on what you want from a ski trip.
If you want a quiet week, your own schedule, and minimal structure, this probably isn’t for you.
If you want something different, something social, and something that feels like more than just skiing, then it’s hard to beat.
You’re getting:
- A unique ski experience
- A proper team challenge
- A social atmosphere that’s hard to replicate
- And the chance to contribute to something genuinely worthwhile
How to join the Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally
The rally runs annually, with limited team spaces available.
You sign up as a team of four, and places can be secured with a deposit, with details confirmed through Snow Camp.
If you’re thinking about it, it’s worth looking early. It’s the kind of event that grows quickly once people hear about it.
If you want the details, how it works, and whether it’s a good fit for you, the best thing is to reach out to Dan Keely, the events director at Snow Camp who can talk you through the whole event.
Final thoughts: why I’ll be back
I went into the Snow Camp 3 Valley Rally expecting a ski event.
I came away feeling like I’d been part of something much bigger.
It’s the combination that makes it. The skiing, the people, the challenges, and the purpose behind it.
And now, having done it once, it’s the kind of thing you want to go back to. Not just to do it again, but to do it better, raise more, and be more involved.
