Where is Val d’Isère & Tignes located?

How to get to Val d’Isère & Tignes? 

Val d’Isère is located in the Haute-Savoie region in France. Tignes is Just 8 km walk or 20 mins (12 km) driver from Val d’Isère. Val d’Isère is situated in the Tarentaise Valley, not far from the Italian border if you are coming from this part.

Transports /Transfers

Transfer times to Val d’Isère resorts will depend on where you will fly into. Although most Alpine Holidaymakers fly to Geneva, Chambéry or Lyon seems better options as transfer times are much shorter than Geneva. You can also take Euro-star train which stops 30-40 mins away from Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Or if your first name is sheikh or if you are a well to do businesswoman or a man you can fly private with the jet charter by Victor.

Transfers by land – Nearest airport: Chambéry: 135km/1.55 hours; Grenoble: 165km/2.20 hours, Geneva: 221km 2.50 hours; and Lyon: 240 KM 3 hours.

Nearest Train station: If you are coming by train, the nearest train stop is in the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice where you need to take a 45 minutes bus drive to Val d’Isere. Once you are here, you can either catch a bus or book a taxi to take you the 30 kms to the resort.

Ski area & runs of Val d’Isère & Tignes ski resort

Important ski resorts stats for Val d’Isère & Tignes

• Piste Guide: Skiable area – 300 km of runs – There are 23 green runs (15% Beginner), 66 blues (42% easy), 40 reds runs (26% intermediate) and 27 blacks (17% difficult), in addition 44 km of cross-country skiing. In Tignes, there is only 1 green run yet it justifies for this with intermediate blue runs of 55% and with its appeal as a ski resort throughout the summer, which offers skiing on the Grande Motte glacier and if you wish to play golf in Europe’s highest golf course, Tignes is the place to do so.
• Lifts: 90 (2 funicular, 4 cable cars, 4 gondolas, 44 chair lifts, 36 surface lifts)
• Pistes: On its own Val d’Isère offers 150km piste, and with Tignes offers 300km of pistes and runs.
• Resort Altitude: 1850m, Skiing Altitude 1550 – 3456m
• Region: Espace Killy Resort
• Country: France

Ski areas, Ski runs, and Off-piste – Who is Best for? 

Val d’Isère & Tignes for different levels – Beginners, Intermediates, Advanced/Experienced, Off-piste.

Val d’Isère is part of the Espace Killy ski area which is considered by many as the most beautiful ski area in France and probably in the World as some say it. Val d’Isere ski resort has three main ski areas; Le Fornet, Solaise, and Bellevarde. All are well attended by modern high-speed lifts with high-volume gondolas and a funicular.

The ski area of Val d’Isere by itself has 150 kilometres of ski runs, combine with Tignes ski resort, it has 300 kilometres of ski runs in the Espace Killy ski pass. Most of these runs are Greens & Blues, making Val d’Isère & Tignes an ideal destination for intermediate level skiers. Val d’Isère & Tignes offers access 90 Lifts, 300 piste runs and over 40km of cross-country tracks.

Beginners – Is Val d’Isere good for beginners?

Quite Honestly with a limited Green runs, Val d’isere can be challenging for beginners. Although, Val d’Isere has a global reputation for expert skier’s half of the ski areas fit for beginners (with free lifts and snow-sure slopes assured on the nursery slopes – La Daille and Solaise) and intermediate skiers. And beginners can find some excellent runs on high altitude snow-sure slopes. Almost 15% of the slopes are green for beginners in comparison to 1% of Tignes.

Intermediate skiers – Is Val d’Isere suited for Intermediate skiers?

Our ratings for Intermediates are 9 out of 10 for Val d’Isère-Tignes.  Here we should separate the intermediates into two categories. The Blue piste skiers who likes to cruise and those who wish to challenge with Red runs.  The piste grading is tricky here, The classification of colour grading here is different to other ski areas: A green is read blue, for blue read red, for red read black, for black…read a true black.” if you are used to lower alpine skiing blue/Red runs and feel inexperienced, its best to stick to Blue piste skier’s itinerary of cruising and avoid the Val d’Isère-Tignes is Big  Ski area that spreads from Le Fornet and the glacier to Tignes/Tignes-Les-Brevières. Try the Laisinant chair for a long shaded red, mostly deserted run.

Val d’Isere for Experienced /Advanced Skiers

As mentioned above on intermediate skiers about the colour grading, it is good to keep this in mind when skiing in Val d’isere. For extremely exciting skiing and a vast range of ski area, you can’t beat Val d’Isère – it’s a skier and snowboarder’s dream. The Highlight run is the renowned “La Face” – it is definitely not for the faint-hearted or beginner skier. But then it was the Olympic Men’s Downhill slope, created for the ’92 Olympics which descend nearly 3 km (2 miles) from its peak at 2,809m.

Off Piste Skiing in Val d’Isère & Tignes 

Val d’Isere is famous for its off-piste skiing. So, if you fancy getting away from the masses and craving your own lines Val d’Isere, then plenty to expect here. Danaides, reached from the Solaise Express chair, The Some other Off-piste itineraries are Face du Charvet, Col Per, Glacier Du Pissaillas eventually drops to the Pays Desert drag lift, and Le Grand Vallon are great back-country routes to try (check the avalanche advice and make sure you are with with a guide group). Or if you are a confident skier Go up the Téléski des 3000 to try the steepest Black at 76 degrees.

Snowboard / Freestyle Skiing

Skiers and Snowboarders visit Val d’Isère at least once in a lifetime. Val d’Isère’s is a great choice for more upmarket profile boarders as it can be expensive, But the terrain here is worth it for free-riders.

Here are our ratings for Val d’Isère & Tignes

• Beginners:7
• Intermediates: 9
• Advanced skiers:9
• Snow boarders:9
• Freestylers: 8.5
• Freeriders:9.5
• Apres-ski: 9.5
• Nightlife: 9
• Resort charm: 9

Ski seasons: What is the best time to ski in Val D’isere & Tignes?

Val d’Isère & Tignes is a snow-sure destination with Guaranteed snow for the entire ski season. The Ski season runs from Late November – early May making it a near-perfect resort. In Val d’isere you can expect a good condition of snow right throughout the season, and you find sun shining ski slopes easily. History of snow record shows Mid-March to April the conditions are at its best in Val D’isere.

With the Biggest artificial snow-making operations in the world, in Val d’Isère & Tignes the snow worries are at a total minimum. with an altitude of 1850m can easily be said as a snow-sure destination in France. So, does Val d’Isère & Tignes require snow-making? Rarely!

The Espace Killy (the part Val d’Isere shares with Tignes) has a reliable snow record with top-class piste grooming which allows it to offer a long season from November to May.

What are the snow conditions in the ski season? 

Val d’Isère & Tignes Ski Resort for Early Season Skiing – Pre Christmas – Chalet ski deals

We can assure in Val d’Isère & Tignes you will not be disappointed with excellent snow conditions from early December until the seasons comes to an end. If you a looking for Cheap Luxury ski holidays with fresh snow, such as cheap lift passes with slopes all to yourself, Prior to Christmas rush, then Pre-Christmas ski break in Val d’Isère & Tignes is worth every penny.

Christmas / New Year Ski season

With the Best snow conditions in Val d’Isère & Tignes, Christmas and New year ski holidays are for those who wish to spend extravagantly and even stay in a Luxurious Ski in Ski out chalets in Val d’Isère & Tignes. Peak/High-season comes with Christmas & New Year week, though, in the alpine mountains it can be crowded and exclusive – for those families who don’t mind this, it’s a great Ski vacation on the magical Alpine setting that can make a memorable ski chalet holiday in the Val d’Isère & Tignes. It’s all about celebration festivities, gathering, firecrackers, lots of wine and champagne in front of a private Fireplace inside your chalet. Enjoy this special enchanted winter wonderland Ski Holiday with family or friends.

January Ski season

Less busy ski slopes with still excellent snow conditions and luxury Ski chalets and Ski pass on Great deals! The piste groomed and why not take advantage of all these? January is cold, the powder is dry and light and with fewer skiers its great time to go skiing in Val d’Isère & Tignes.

February / Half terms

With half-term holidays it’s one of the best times to go skiing for the British. Hit the slopes, the Air is cold (with temperatures like January can drop to minus 20), the sun is out and the skiing is good makes February hugely popular.

March

Lift opening times are set for late morning, With days are getting longer than February lift remain open longer. You may have knee-deep snow and can enjoy powder snow with sunshine. In march the trees are laden with plenty of snowfall, temperatures stay cold so its absolutely amazing to be in Val d’Isère & Tignes in March, on a typical march ski season. Things could get choppy in the afternoon if there has been a fresh snowfall.  Best is if possible to start early to get the most out of the day and rest yourself into the late afternoon.

April

April too is a month like a march with the resort getting plenty of snowfall, making April a month with Good condition of snow to go on Ski holidays to Val D’isere, April spring snow is some of the best. Almost all runs are open still. So, you won’t be disappointed on the typical April ski season in Val d’Isère & Tignes. Usual Easter season Prices of chalets can rise up, but you can ski later in the month and sometimes into May where the prices of accommodation go down.

At times March has the best snow for the season and at times its April, make sure to keep your eyes open with the weather forecast.

However, before making plans for ski holidays in Val d’Isère & Tignes we advise you to see the snow condition of Val d’Isere.

Live snow forecast in Val D’isere

Click on the map to enlarge and read

Val d’Isere Piste Map

Après Ski scene in Val d’Isère & Tignes  

Cafes, bars, food, drinks, and Nightlife

You can enjoy Val d’Isère’s famous nightlife in the bars like Le Petit Danois, Le hibou bar and restaurant, Blue Note Bar, underground bar Val d’isere, La Rosee Blanche and the most famous club in the Alps Dick’s Tea Bar. 

In Val d’Isère you can find two of the best Après-ski bars in the world. If you are finishing your skiing day coming back from Tignes or the west slopes of the Bellevarde area, we recommend you give a visit to La Folie Douce Val d’Isère on your skiing back to the village.

By the way, the La Daille Gondola allows non-skiers to ride a round trip from Val d’Isère to Folie Douce. This is the original Folie Douce, the one that started them all: here is where the legend began. This Folie Douce will party on until 5 pm each day! In any other circumstance, you should visit the Cocorico Après Ski – Val d’Isère the party there stops only at 8 pm!

If you still have the energy for the after hour, go visit the Doudoune Club, which is located just under Coco Rico: Doudoune Club is probably the most beautiful club in any ski resort. There are many other choices like Underground Café, La Baraque, Garage, The Fall Line, and Dick’s Tea Bar, where you can party until the morning!

Best Michelin star restaurants 0r Fine dining in Val d’Isère – Where to eat? 

Val d’isere is an expensive ski destination, so don’t expect things to come very cheap here,  But this shouldn’t put you off, Some good Budget eat outs are budget Les Marmottes a Friendly restaurant in Bellevarde, Also the top floor of La Folie Douce Val d’Isère and Le Signal has the self-service option, and if you wish for pizzas L’Étincelle is a good choice with fabulous views across the village.  for Menu, reservation, and bookings click here.

As of 2020, Well know Michelin star restaurant in Val d’Isère & Tignes are L’Atelier d’Edmond, a French haute cuisine restaurant – For reservations and Bookings try: calling +33 (0) 4 79 411 311 and  La Table de l’Ours. La Grande Ourse is an excellent fine dining option and run by Airelles Mademoiselle 5-star hotel.