Tignes Info
Why Ski in the Resort of Tignes and Val d’Isere?
- High altitude, snow sure resort with 37 square kilometres of mountain slopes and over 150 runs to explore
- Great for all levels of skiers/snowboarders
- World famous après-ski scene
- Incredible off-piste skiing
- High speed and modern ski lift system throughout
- World-class Snow Parks and Olympic runs
Spanning 37 square kilometres wide and 3,456 metres high, the resort of Tignes and Val d’Isere truly is the perfect playground for any ski or snowboard lover. Its beautiful glistening pistes are nestled in the heart of the French Alps, just a half hour drive from the nearest train station and a two to three hour drive from the airports.
Of its 37 km², 5 km² are marked slopes, leaving 32 km² to a snowy off-piste wonderland for the backcountry adventurers. For those who stick to the pistes, there are 156 runs in total, including 23 beginner green runs, 66 easy blue runs, 40 intermediate red runs, and 27 advanced black runs, making it the perfect resort for all levels of rider.
The two towns are made up of 10 villages overall. In Tignes, you have Les Brevieres, Les Boisses, Le Lavachet, Le Lac, and Val Claret. In Val d’Isere, you have Val d’Isere centre, La Daille, Le Cret, Le Fornet, and Le Joseray. Each area has its own unique character, its own selection of incredible pistes to explore, and its own restaurants and bars either to pop into for lunch, or to winddown the evenings. But while they all boast their own little corners of paradise, they also join together perfectly and are connected by efficient shuttle bus services and an abundance of ski lifts to create a united, expansive ski resort, with all corners of the resort easy to access from wherever you are staying. For such a large ski resort, this accessibility is quite unique, as the intricately planned infrastructure makes it far better connected than many other resorts of the same size.
Tignes and Val d’Isere is one of the highest, largest, and most famous ski resorts in the world, each year boasting one of the longest seasons, opening the lifts in November and closing them in May. As such a snow-sure resort, it even has two glaciers, one in Tignes and one in Val d’Isere, which open their doors to summer and autumn skiing, as the peaks of this mountain range maintain the right temperatures for snowfall all year round. These iconic slopes have welcomed plenty of competitions and events over the years, including the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2009 and the incredible 1992 Winter Olympics. And every three years since 1955 the resort has hosted the largest ski competition in France, the Criterium Ski World Cup.
But on-piste excitement is not all Tignes and Val d’Isere has to offer. This vast mountain range is also incredibly popular for backcountry skiers as there is so much un-pisted slope to explore. If you’ve got the right kit, knowledge, and a qualified guide, this is the perfect place to try off-piste skiing and touring. For route ideas, take a look at Mark’s Off-Piste Guide.
And skiing is not all Tignes and Val d’Isere has to offer, as holiday makers can try out paragliding, dog sledding, wildnerness camps, heliskiing, ice diving, snow shoeing, parachuting, ice skating, ice driving, snow mobiling, and much more. And with the added bonus of shuttle busses and gondolas suitable for pedestrians, everyone can have a wonderful fun-filled holiday.
Tignes and Val d’Isere truly has captured the hearts of so many skiers and snowboarders over the years, as has it ours. Our team at Chalet Chardons love living, working, riding, and providing amazing chalet holidays in Tignes, and we would love to have the opportunity to show you this magical place we are so lucky to call home.
Scroll down and see why….
