Why Le Fornet?

• High altitude, snow-sure resort

• Free shuttle bus directly outside the chalet running every 20 minutes from 7am to 2:50am which goes to Val d’Isere centre in 5 minutes, offering easy access to plenty of bars and restaurants

• Telecabine right opposite chalet offers direct access to Pisailles Glacier, the Le Fornet ski area, and the entirety of Tignes and Val d’Isere

• Great pistes for all level of skier and extensive off-piste mountainside

Tucked a couple of miles further along the valley from Val d’Isere, and nestled below the iconic Col d’Iseran, lies the exclusive and picturesque hamlet of Le Fornet. Far enough away from the town centre to give you peace and tranquillity away from the busy streets, but close enough for you to still access the lively restaurants and buzzing main square, Le Fornet gives you the best of both worlds.

Consisting of traditional alpine chalets, the hamlet is far prettier than some of the more modern areas of Val d’Isere, over the years having maintained an older, more authentic look. It’s surrounding mountains makes it one of the most stunning areas in resort, with the sunset over the mountains being truly something special. Our chalet, Chalet Amelie, is located right at the heart of Le Fornet, set back from the main road, and opposite the car park and the Le Fornet Telecabine.

As one of the highest altitude settlements in the valley, Le Fornet always guarantees a long and snowy season. Le Fornet’s side of the mountain range is a favourite of so many, its wide open valley runs, large selection of relaxing blue runs, and pretty winding tree runs making it a snowy dreamland for piste skiers. Le Fornet also features the second highest peak in resort, the Glacier du Pissaillas. And even while you have all these amazing runs on your doorstep, the rest of the Tignes and Val d’Isere ski resort is just an up-and-over ski lift away.

The central Val d’Isere village is easily accessible from Le Fornet either via the pistes or by jumping on the regular free shuttle bus that runs from Le Fornet to the other villages. This handy shuttle service even runs into the early hours of the morning, so guests staying in Le Fornet can still enjoy evenings out in the famous Val d’Isere centre. And if guests prefer stay close by to their chalet in Le Fornet, there is a friendly bar and a Michelin star restaurant right on their doorstep.

Le Fornet really is a must-visit area of the Tignes and Val d’Isere ski resort, as it offers an idyllic slice of luxury, peace and relaxation just outside the buzz of the famous and much-loved town of Val d’Isere. We at Chardons feel so lucky to have a beautiful and sizeable chalet right in the centre of Le Fornet, and over the years this pretty little hamlet truly has won the hearts of not only our guests, but of so many of our staff as well.

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-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 Val d’Isere, 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….