For seriously challenging skiing and a huge range of terrain, you can’t beat Val d’Isère – it’s a skier and snowboarder’s dream. Trees, steeps, cliffs, endless backcountry and some of the best pistes in France make for a brilliant experience. And all this before you even think about the link with Tignes.
Freeriding
Freestyle
Pistes
Challenging pistes and endless backcountry boarding.
Busy in the school holidays and expensive.
Elevation
Summit
3450m
Vertical Drop
1900m
Base
1550m
Lifts
Total
91
Cable cars
6
Chairlifts
49
Drag Lifts
36
The Skiing
Freeriding
Ski the Banane, a long off-piste run which takes you back down to town. Awesome mix of drops, chutes and rollers.
Freestyle
Excellent range of rails and kickers for all standards at the Oakley Valpark.
Pistes
Some of the best pistes in France.
Beginner Pistes
23
Intermediate Pistes
66
Advanced Pistes
40
Expert Pistes
27
Total Riding
300 km
Plan Your Trip
Practical Information
Opening times
30 November - 04 May
Resort prices
Val d’Isère 50€ Day Pass, 250€ 6-Day Pass
Espace Killy 52 € Day Pass, 260 € 6-Day Pass
Espace Killy 52 € Day Pass, 260 € 6-Day Pass
Nearest airport
Geneva (2 hours 42 minutes)
Tourist Office
Office du Tourisme de Val d’Isère
Place Jacques Mouflier, BP 228
73155 Val d’Isère cedex
Phone: +33 (0)4 79 06 06 60
Web: www.valdisere.com
Email: info@valdisere.com
Val d'Isère
Accommodation
Where to stay
There’s a whole range of lodgings to choose from. For those who want the Val luxury experience, the five-star Hôtel Les Barmes De l’Ours is recommended. This is Val’s premier hotel complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and an elegant spa. Hôtel Avenue Lodge is a luxury chalet-style hotel located on the main street with cutting-edge rooms and suites and an impressive spa and pool.
There’s no shortage of upmarket places to stay in Val d’Isère. Other options include, Airelles Val d’Isère, a charming four-star hotel located at the foot of the slopes with a spa and sun terrace. Also try Hotel Tsanteleina, a traditional, yet upmarket hotel and spa in the village centre with some great family rooms.
If you’re prioritising convenience, Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Balcons De Bellevarde is situated approximately 100 meters from the Funival funicular ski lift just across from La Tovière, which is the fastest lift station in the resort, taking you straight up to the slopes.
If you’re looking for a self-catering apartment, anything Pierre & Vacances is worth looking at. They have lots of apartments available with modern equipped kitchens and are generally well-located. Résidence Pierre & Vacances Les Balcons De Bellevarde is clean and welcoming, has stunning views and is in a great location near the ski lift. And, Résidence Pierre & Vacances La Daille is another good choice and is slightly less expensive but still offers well-appointed apartments with kitchen facilities.
Generally, you’ll find that accommodation in La Daille is more budget-friendly despite still providing convenient lift access. The only thing you miss out on is having the ski village on your doorstep.
Val d'Isère Ski & Snowboard Guide
Val d’Isère offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding in France and so unsurprisingly it’s a very popular resort. There’s a great lift system, massive snow depth and loads of off-piste just near the lifts. The main village has been developed into a tasteful tourist area. The main street has lots of designer shops, bars and restaurants. Further back you will find all the accommodation, ranging from affordable to exorbitant.
The skiing and snowboarding
Val d’Isère is skier and snowboarder heaven. Freeriders will have the time of their lives as there are 200 miles of piste and a vast tract of off-piste. Try the Les Marmottes, which has tons of fresh off-piste tracks, and the Vallée Perdue which has a risky track only a few feet wide in places.
For freestylers, there is an endless area available to indulge yourselves. The fun park under the Mont Blanc chair is small but still a must-see. Additionally, there are two slopes in the village center which are perfect for beginners. Once you are comfortable with the basics of snowboarding, there are plenty of slopes available for you to enjoy.
Where to eat
You have lots of dining options to choose from. For those who want to taste luxury cooking, there are various places such as La Fruitière, where guests can sample wines and cheeses from across France and the menu includes wholesome meat and pasta dishes. Le Signal is another pleasant dining service which offers traditional cuisine made from fresh ingredients.
If you are looking for moderately-priced eating places, L’Edelweiss is a warm, welcoming restaurant which is a particularly good choice after a cold day. Les Tufs is another ideal place which offers a menu that includes pizza, pasta and fondue. For those of you on a budget, Les Marmottes has by far the best self-service and you can find good dishes under €10.
Après shred
Val d’Isère is a great spot for young crowds and boasts some amazing clubs. Much of the partying takes place at Folie Douce, a crazy outdoor club on the slopes. But keep in mind that the drinks’ prices here are ridiculously high. In the village, there are some notable nightlife spots such as Café Face, a good, relatively cheap club. The Morris pub has great live music and is ideal for late-night partying.
If you want a quiet and unobtrusive setting, check out the Bluenote, a small, friendly bar frequented by seasonaires. Sports lovers can head to the Pacific, which has lots of screens and an abundance of drinks. The ideal place for seasonaires is the Saloon, complete with a DJ and live music. Le Doudoune is a noisy nightclub open until 5 am with a free shuttle service to drop you home.
Val d'Isère Gallery
Val d’Isère Skiing & Snowboarding Video
Watch this: The longest run in Val d'Isère: Grande Motte glacier to Val Claret village (full run)
Experience the longest run in Val d’Isère from the iconic Grande Motte Glacier at 3,656m all the way down to Val Claret village. Get stunning panoramic views of Mont Blanc, Bellecôte peak, and Tignes Lake along the way. Connected by lifts and slopes, the Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area boasts 300 km of pistes, 20 km of ski routes, and 82 lifts, making it one of the largest ski resorts in France.
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Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your ski holiday to Val d'Isère, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
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