Ski holidays Val d’Isére

The ski race in Val d’Isère

Val d’Isère ski resort, located in the Tarentaise area of the Savoie department in the Northern Alps, offers a unique skiing experience with more than 300 km of slopes and some of the most spectacular skiing in Europe.

Unprecedented snowfall

Val d’Isere is known for having one of the best snow cover in Europe, ensuring great conditions until early May. So no matter when you visit the area, you can be sure to experience ideal skiing or snowboarding conditions.

Great slopes and lift facilities

Val d’Isère boasts a wide variety of slopes that make it a favorite choice for skiers of all levels. There are 90 ski lifts and gondolas. There are 20 green slopes, 67 blue, 41 red and 26 black slopes and two snowparks. An experience not to be missed is the train from Val Claret up to the Grand Motte glacier – but also the lift that takes you from Val d’Isere over to Le Fornet, a chairlift that takes you over a mountain and down a mountain in one trip. If you don’t know this, you’re in for a shock if you’re not a fan of heights.

Free ski buses in Val d’Isère/Tignes

The ski buses are free and run between La Daille, Val d’Isere center and Le Fornet. The buses run regularly from 7:35 to 20:00 and then every half hour from 20:15 to 3:00.

The route goes from Le Fornet to La Daille with several stops including La Laisinant, Les Richardes, UCPA, Tourist Office, Solaise, Gare Routiere, Portillo, Le Cret, and Funival.

Beginner ski areas in Solaise

The new ski areas in Solaise encourage beginner skiers to leave the bottom of the mountain and experience the full mountain panorama. With the Solaise gondola, you can easily and safely get up the mountain and take full advantage of the excellent ski area.

Green slopes and magic carpets

Beginners can start on the green slopes served by three magic carpets. These carpets help skiers move up the hill without having to walk. As you become more confident on skis, you can try the surrounding blue slopes and chairlifts.

Solaise day Lodge

The Day Lodge at Solaise is the perfect place to relax and take a break. With facilities like a café, vending machines, a picnic area with microwave and a large terrace, you have everything you need to make your day a little better.

Easily experienced in Val d’Isère

Val d’Isère offers virtually limitless options that include fun slopes from Bellevarde to La Daille, or you can cruise down the Iseran Valley as far as Le Fornet.

Blue slopes: Perfect for intermediate skiers

Most of the blue slopes are at high altitude, which means you have a good chance of fresh powder snow throughout the season. If you’re a more experienced skier and want more of a challenge, the red slopes and the descent to the valley are a good choice.

Best times to hit the slopes

We recommend hitting the slopes as early in the day as possible before the lifts get too busy. It’s also a good idea to plan your ski day in advance to get the most out of your visit to Val d’Isère by looking at the lift pass.

Experienced skiers and off-piste in Val d’Isère

The famous ‘Face’ piste, known as the men’s Olympic piste, is an absolute must, as are some of the resort’s outstanding off-piste tracks, especially on the Le Fornet side. Book a local guide and explore the amazing bowls and challenging couloirs in this vast area. Or book a guide to go ski touring to discover the unexplored areas.

Grande Motte Glacier

The Grande Motte glacier, located at an altitude of 3656 meters, is an iconic part of the Tignes – Val d’Isère ski area. With its distinctive white “wave” against a blue sky, it symbolizes the Tignes ski resort itself and captures the essence of the Espace Killy.

Off-piste on the Bellevarde side and the lost valley

The Bellevarde side of the mountain is where most of Val d’Isere’s off-piste tracks are and has open terrain. The Lost Valley has slightly narrower tracks and involves navigating your way between rocks and trees – it’s known as one of the most beautiful runs in the resort. However, if you’re looking for some powder practice, we recommend heading over to La Daille, where there are extensive off-piste tracks as well as mogul tracks and the ungroomed ‘naturrides’ tracks which have varied terrain.

Snowboarding in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere is a snowboarder’s paradise: very few drag lifts and plenty of off-piste. World-class snowpark with +30 kickers and obstacles for beginners to experts. Located on Bellevarde next to the slalom area, it’s easily accessible from the top of the Olympique gondola or the Funival funicular from La Daille. There are also two natural ski/boardercross courses on the Bellevarde side and another course on Solaise for racers to test speeds against each other.

Val Park

Located in the heart of the Bellevarde area, Val Park is known as one of the best snowparks for snowboarders and freestyle skiers in Europe. This place is easily accessible by the Bellevarde or Olympique gondolas, or from La Daille. For those coming from Tignes, the Bolin Express from Val Claret or Aeroski can be taken.

With around 25 features, including boxes, rails, walls, barrels and more, as well as a section designed to ride rails with easy boxes for beginners, Val Park has a wide range of challenges. There’s also a wild boardercross course at the Borsat Express lift.

Airports near Val d’Isère

Transportation times to Val d’Isère are:

• Chambery Airport: approx. 2h 15 min
• Geneva Airport: approx. 3h 00 min
• Grenoble Airport: approx. 2h 45 min
• Lyon Airport: approx. 4h 00 min

Val d’Isère: Aprés-ski

Aprés-ski in Val d’Isere is quite unique, French bars and clubs are the setting for Aprés-ski, you’ll find everything from 18 year old students to 60 year old grannies, there’s simply room for everyone. We’ve found just a few high quality options, but there are many others.

Dicks Tea Bar

Since 1979, Dicks Tea Bar has been a staple of Val d’Isère’s après-ski scene. From its early days with ’80s celebrities to today’s live performances, this spot has always been the heart of the nightlife scene. Musicians and DJs are ready to entertain seven days a week during the ski season.

Start the evening with cocktails, wine and luxury drinks served tableside. After dinner, the place transforms into a nightclub, one of the bars in the city where you can dance until the early hours of the morning.

Moris Pub

Many would call Moris Pub ‘the Irish bar’, a great place to start the evening. Here you can win free drinks once a week by playing ‘Toss the Boss’ – a game of dice.

Barracks

If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, Baraque is the place. Known for being trendy, this wine bar has excellent live music, a great atmosphere, delicious food and of course excellent French wines. It’s a change from the other bars in the city and definitely worth a visit.

La Folie Douce

Perhaps they should have been mentioned first, but the place closes at 16:30-17:00 when the sun goes down as it is located up in the ski area. Both at the start and end of the season – and indeed all season long – the parties at La Folie Douce are something special. Known for its outdoor club atmosphere and great restaurant inside, La Folie attracts young ski lovers from all over the world.

Restaurants in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere is more than just a skiing destination. It’s an epicenter of gastronomy, fusing traditional Savoie flavors with modern cuisine. There’s a wide variety of restaurants in the town and there are many hotels that also have excellent restaurants.

The Bear’s Table

La Table de L’Ours is Hotel Barmes de l’Ours’ flagship restaurant, known for its variety of traditional and innovative dishes. Here, guests are treated to a culinary journey that begins with Serge Dalla Palma’s Savoie snails served with chicken eggs and ends with pigeon breast prepared with sand carrots in pink berries. It is a restaurant aiming for a Michelin star.

The Signal

Le Signal is a mountain restaurant that combines exquisite ingredients with stunning views. In addition to their gourmet menu, Le Signal is famous for its Savoyard snacks and delicious self-service. The large, sunny outdoor terrace tempts many visitors to stop here for dinner.

The Fondue Factory

The Fondue Factory was established by two nephews of French ski champion Jean-Claude Killy as a place for cheese and fondue as well as a home for the family ski and boot collection. J-C’s racing skis, which won him three Olympic gold medals and the 1966 World Cup, feature prominently in this rustic restaurant. So this is where you go for fondue.

The Savoyard

La Savoyarde is a hotel restaurant that has cemented its reputation among visitors over the years. The resident chef ensures consistent quality, so guests can expect great food year after year. Although there aren’t many details about the menu, we know that the locals love this place, which makes it worth a visit.

Val d’Isere hotels and apartments

Val d’Isere, is a town located down in the valley – there is a wealth of hotels and apartments as well as large chalets. There is something for all price classes, yes the old real estate matadors can be found here, but you can also find the poor students.

Hotel Les Barmes De l’Ours

Located at the foot of the famous Bellevard ski lift is the 5-star Hôtel Les Barmes De l’Ours. This boutique hotel offers an exclusive and enriching experience with its unique combination of luxury amenities including an indoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness center, heated ski storage, on-site lift pass purchase, hammam, sauna, swimming pool and spa and wellness center.

The hotel’s culinary offering is exceptional with three on-site restaurants offering different delights. You can enjoy regional cuisine, visit the steakhouse or experience the one-Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant that takes your tasting experience to new heights.

Avenue Lodge

Avenue Lodge, designed by Parisian architect Jean-Philippe Nuel, brings out the feel with its contemporary interiors that include a neon-lit bar, elegant monochrome suites and a state-of-the-art spa area. The restaurant specializes in mouth-watering French cuisine guaranteed to please every palate.

HOTEL LE BLIZZARD

The acclaimed five-star family-run Hotel Le Blizzard in Val d’Isère is the epitome of alpine chic with its warm, cozy interior and open fireplaces. It effortlessly combines the warmth of a luxurious chalet with a traditional mountain hotel.

The rooms and suites at Hotel Le Blizzard are designed to accommodate one or two guests, while the larger suites can accommodate up to five guests in complete luxury. The hotel is known for its lounge bar, where you can enjoy a delicious cocktail while relaxing on the soft sofas by the open fire after a long day on the slopes.

Cranberries – Val d’Isère

Airelles Val d’Isère brings an almost medieval feel with its dark beams, heavily ornamented wooden fireplaces, oversized oil paintings, wood-clad bathtubs and Elizabethan furniture.

Here you have ski-in, ski-out access and can buy a lift pass. The hotel also has a Guerlain spa, an outdoor terrace, a fitness center, two restaurants (French and Italian) and a bar. Double rooms to two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes are available.

Take a look at the following articles if you are going to or are in Val d’Isere:

• Val d’Isere hotels
• Restaurants in Val d’Isere
• Après-ski places in Val d’Isere
• Ski rental in Val d’Isere
• Activities in Val d’Isere
• Webcams from Val d’Isere

If you have an apartment and want to cook for yourself, there are also delicacies in the form of bakers and butchers. If you’re into spas and health spas, there’s also a swimming pool if the weather turns bad.

France has many great ski resorts including – Valloire, Valmeinier, Valmorel, Vars, Tignes and many others.