Summer Activities
There is plenty to do in Tignes in the summer, whether you buy a My Tignes Card or not. Below are some of the most popular activities to try out.
Hiking
Hiking enthusiasts in Tignes will love the 55,000-hectare recreation area in the heart of a preserved wilderness. Nearly half the area is located in the Vanoise National Park, which forms – together with the Italian National Park “du Grand Paradis” – the most expansive protected area in Western Europe. In this unique park, wild animals (marmots, chamois and ibex) thrive and the landscapes will take your breath away! Plus if you buy a My Tignes Activity card, you can take the lifts up to the top of the mountain – perfect if you want to admire the views without having to do a big hike!
Below you can find a number of suggested walking routes around Tignes.
Alternatively, you can buy a Summer Walking Guide, including 25 paths comprising of short climbs and walks for all the family, as well as difficult tracks for those who are into something more challenging. These can be purchased at the Sherpa or the Maison de Tignes in Tignes le Lac.
Beginner Hikes
Intermediate Hikes
Advanced Hikes
Want to head to the glacier without your skis?
Specific lift passes for pedestrians are available to access the glacier. Take the funicular in Val Claret then head to the cable car to enjoy the views of the famous peaks and mountains around: the Mont Pourri, ridges of the Grande Sassière, the Grande Casse (highest point of La Vanoise: altitude of 3,856 metres) and of course the majestic Mont Blanc. You will find specific viewpoint stopping points at the top. The Panoramique restaurant at the top of the funicular is also a great spot for a coffee or lunch.
Warning: you are in a glacier area, so do not venture away from the pedestrian paths. Also remember, for all your hikes, that you are in a national nature reserve, at the periphery of the Vanoise National Park. More details can be found at www.parcnational-vanoise.fr.
You can find full information on hiking in Tignes in summer at the Tignes.net website here.
Mountain Biking
With its steep landscape, the Tignes area is a perfect spot for downhill mountain bike enthusiasts. There is 160 km of trails and five mountain bike lifts. As with skiing, the downhill mountain bike trails are of different levels of difficulty (green, blue, red, black and double black trails). The Tignes bike park is, therefore, suitable for beginners as well as experienced downhill riders!
You can rent mountain bikes and the necessary protective equipment from a number of shops in resort. Also if you wish to be accompanied by a professional, several mountain bike schools are able to offer you an instructor who will teach you all the skills you need to enjoy downhill mountain biking.
When you buy a My Tignes Card you get unlimited use of the mountain bike lifts.
For more information on Mountain Biking in Tignes please click here.
Road Cycling
We are fortunate to have a number of great road biking routes available on our doorstep. We’ve listed a few of our favourites below. You may also want to consider hiring a guide to show you these great routes.
Les Brevieres – le Col de l’Iseran
- Distance: 52km return
- Ascent: 1725 metres
Take the Summer Road which starts by the lift station in les Brevieres and heads up to Tignes les Boisses. Then head across the dam and towards Val D’Isere and ride all the way through the town to Le Fornet. You will need to cycle through a tunnel so be sure to take lights for your bike. At the Fornet cable car the road continues for a kilometre before you start the 12km ride up to the famous Col de l’Iseran, which is the highest mountain road in Europe.
Les Brevieres – Lac de la Sassiere
- Distance: 30km return
- Ascent: 1200 metres
From Les Brevieres take the Summer Road by the Brevieres lift station up and out of the village. This will lead you to Tignes 1800 where you need to cycle over the dam and then follow the signs towards Val D’Isere. You will need to cycle through a tunnel so be sure to take lights for your bike. The first left you encounter, between 2 tunnels, will be signposted Sassiere and here the climb to the lake begins.
Saint-Foy – Col du Petit St Bernard
- Distance: 50km return
- Ascent: 1600 metres
Start at “Le Monal” restaurant in Saint Foy Village and head up the road as if towards Tignes. You will reach a left-turn signposted La Rosiere which you take and then follow the route up to here. From La Rosiere there is just one road which leads through the village and then continues up to the Col. At the top you will be at the border with Italy and there is a café here if you want to rehydrate before heading back down.
Summer Skiing on the Grande Motte Glacier
For those who missed out on skiing last winter, or just can’t wait until next winter, summer skiing is available!
From Tignes Val Claret, it only takes 7 minutes on the funicular to reach the glacier where you will find 20km of pistes and the Panoramique restaurant for lunch and drinks, making it a great day out.
Lift passes are required for summer skiing and prices vary depending on whether you wish to ski for one day or 6 days. For more information go to www.tignes.net.
Other Activities
Below are some additional activities Tignes has to offer in Summer. For a full run-down of what activities Tignes has to offer, see the Tignes.net website HERE.
Visit a sports centre
There are a few different sports centres in resort which offer a variety of activities including swimming, spa, gym, indoor bouldering, indoor sports courts, and much more.
Try Le Lagon in Tignes Le Lac which offers free swimming for anyone with a My Tignes Card. Le Lagon has lane swimming, family swimming, and a spa. Other facilities include a gym, sports courts, trampolines, and there are various fitness classes available.
Head to the Lake
In the centre of Tignes there is a beautiful lake. You can walk all the way around it or try out some of the lake activities, including stand-up paddleboard, kayaking, peddle boating, and the water slides. You will need a My Tignes Card to access these activities.
Concerts and Events
Take a look at Tignes.net for a full program of events – and keep an eye on this while you’re here as new concerts or events get announced all the time. You can also get the Tignes app and see a daily breakdown of what is happening.
Play a variety of sports
In Les Brevieres, there are tennis courts, a 5-a-side football pitch, and basketball court. Or head up to Tignes le Lac where you will find the “Plage des Sports” which offers tennis, beach volleyball, football, basketball, trampolining, and table tennis. There are also free-to-use slack lines, pétanque and molki courts, and a pump track and skate park.
Activities with Evolution 2
Evolution 2 are a fantastic company operating in resort and will be your go-to for any adrenaline-filled activities you fancy trying out during your stay. In summer they offer mountain biking tours, high rope courses, fishing courses, paragliding, and wilderness camps.
Be sure to check out Evolution 2 – Tignes.
Climbing or Via Ferrata
As well as indoor climbing in the Tignes Espace sports centre, there are many great outdoor climbing locations nearby. There are also two Via Ferratas in Val d’Isere which is just a 15 minute drive away from Tignes. See more information on these locations here.
Explore the local cafés and restaurants
From chip buttys to superfood salads, coffees to hot chocolates, Tignes has something to suit every taste and budget and keep you energized for the rest of your day on the slopes!