Val d'Isere Ski Resort, France

Overview of Val d'Isère

Val d'Isère skiing started life as the not so humble medieval hunting grounds of the Dukes de Savoie. The settlement dates back to 1553 - pretty impressive for a village that sits at 1850m above sea level and gets an average of 5m of snow per winter.

Val d'Isère successfully reinvented itself as one of the world's finest ski resorts in time for the 1992 Albertville Olympics.

Ski Val d'Isère and you will find a village that is everything a skier could wish for - beautiful yet lively, with plenty of amazing places to eat, combined with some seriously impressive skiing. The resort oozes an old-fashioned aloofness and is certainly one of the four priciest in France. But whilst you may see plenty of posers and ski bling, Val d'Isère accommodation covers everything from 5* hotels to comfortable Val d'Isère chalets, plus more reasonable Val d'Isère ski apartments, especially if you are willing to stay in the satellite villages of La Daille, Le Laisanant or Le Fornet (which are all linked by frequent and free ski buses).

Whilst some may wish to be seen strutting around the villages of other high-end resorts, those who have the skills to go with their La Croix skis and their Chanel onesies head to Val d'Isère to be seen on the slopes. Keep reading to learn more about this resort and why to go on a Val d'Isere ski holiday.

What's New in Val d'Isère?

3 Things We Love About Val d'Isère

1. Quality Ski Area –  Val d'Isère is part of the Tignes-Val d’Isère Ski Area. This provides you with access to the runs in Tignes as well as Val d'Isère. The combined ski area this gives you is huge and helps it rank among the best ski areas in the world.
2. World Class Après-ski – In terms of both on-mountain wining and dining, and after-hours partying in the village, Val d’Isère leads the way where après is concerned.
3. Heritage – The traditional architecture should be enough to let you know, the resort has been here for centuries and the prestige has been building since the parish church was built in 1664.

Skiing and Boarding in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isère skiing has a pedigree that few other resorts can't match. Jean-Claude Killy considered the “Daddy” of elite French skiing in many circles, left a legacy which includes 300km of pistes and over 10,000ha of lift-served off-piste skiing terrain.

This is one of the world’s best for experts with more skiable terrain than Whistler Blackcomb.

Piste breakdown

Here is a piste breakdown:

Beginners may find that even some of the green and blue runs can be tricky to negotiate and the runs back down into resort are nearly all either black, difficult reds or very crowded. As a novice, the trick is to head high, look for the gentle, wide blues and then head down to the bottom on a gondola at the end of the day. At the bottom of the Solaise lift, the runs are wide and gentle.

For intermediates, few areas are better than the top of Le Fornet, the Grand Pré or the lovely blues under the Glacier Express lift. Stronger intermediates should make sure they tackle the OK-Orange down from the top of the Olympique gondola, a high-speed rolling red.

For advanced skiers, the advantage of being above the treeline is that virtually every face offers myriad possibilities especially when the snow is nice and deep. Skiworld recommends that any off-piste skiing should be undertaken with a local guide; avalanches can and do occur in this area. On-piste, the most challenging run is La Face - the extremely steep and mogulled black that hosts the Men’s downhill.

Freestyle lovers will already know about the big jumps and rails of the Val Park but if that all sounds like hard work, spectators can cheer them on from the viewing sundeck, whilst enjoying the BBQ and music. For those after a half pipe you'll be able to use the one over in Tignes if you get the full area lift pass.

Cross-Country Trails - Within Val d'Isere you'll find 7 cross country trails for you to use, which cover 31.3km.

Lift Passes in Val d'Isère

Val d’Isère is paired with Tignes (next door) to offer 300km of pistes and a further 20km of unpisted but marked ‘ski routes’. Buying a full area pass is the way to go as the neighbouring areas are so well connected that even first time beginners will benefit from having the option to explore far and wide, including heading down to one of the many villages for lunch. In Val d’Isère you get 1 free access during your stay to a swimming pool (“Le Lagon”) in Tignes.

Activities in Val d'Isère

• Rock climbing – Located in the Centre Sportif and open from 10 am – 8 pm every day. Pit your wits against the 135m2 of climbing holds as you attempt to scale the 12m wall. Suitable for total beginners, experts and everyone in between.
• Swimming – The Aquasportif centre in Val d’Isere is a great place to spend a day off the slopes. There is loads to do, with the swimming pools being the main draw, where the main pool merges seamlessly with integrated hot tubs and a river rapids section.
• Spas – Treatments are available privately as well as at the Sports Centre. Depending on your requirements and budget you can find pretty much any spa treatment in Val d’Isere. There are therapists that will happily come to your accommodation for a treatment too.
• Golf simulator – Keep your swing in check with a visit to the golf simulator at the sports centre. Book with a group of friends and you can even compete in a mini competition.
• Ice driving – Head over to Tignes les Brevieres to experience ice driving! Professional drivers teach you the basics and show you the ropes in a controlled environment but one that certainly raises your adrenaline! You’ll learn some really valuable skills too. Totally worth it!
• Shopping - What would a trip to Val d’Isere be without a bit of retail therapy? There are shops and boutiques to suit all tastes, whether you’re looking for something formal, sporty, ski-related or just a souvenir or two.

Après Ski in Val d'Isère

• La Folie Douce (on the mountain) – Rocking cabaret, live music, amazing atmosphere. ‘Folie’ is one of the must-visit spots on the slopes in Val d’Isere. The afternoon cabaret show is often heard before seen and it’s open to all. If you don’t want to ski home, just hop on the gondola and down-load back to town.
• Doudoune Chalet (on the mountain) - Live bands, happy hour, awesome vibe…
• Café Face (on the mountain) - After Folie the live music continues, singers go down to café face at the bottom of the piste in the town. Beer is on happy hour starting from €1.80 for a pint and going up in price every 20 mins.
• Petit Danois - Lively Danish bar opposite Chalet Cherrier. Open until 2 am and featuring a DJ most nights. Pole dancing is available at your own risk!
• Underground Café - The Best pre-club bar in Val d’Isere, as voted by our seasonnaires. A DJ every night playing a variety of house music. Also features a pool table and private areas can be reserved for your group if you call ahead.
• Pacific Bar - For all your sports watching needs. Showing a variety of British, Continental and World sport, including Premier League and Champions League football and all the big Rugby matches.
• Skiworld Lodge Bar - Friendly Skiworld staff, sky sports, chilled atmosphere, cocktails and most importantly… a happy hour with amazing deals!
• The Morris Pub – A good option for the early afternoon as the sun deck captures all the rays. They usually offer a beer and burger deal at around 16 euros and the burgers are among the best in town.
• Victor’s Bar - 2-4-1 cocktails between 8 pm and 10.30pm most nights. Plenty of tunes and plenty of dancing. Always a good vibe at Victor’s.

Places to Eat in Val d'Isère

• Taverne d’Alsace - If you’re looking to get away from the Savoyarde menus, this is a perfect option. Big but cosy, and dishes include sea bass and risotto, hot and cold beef, lamb wrapped in pastry, scallops and polenta. Located on the main street. Booking is advisable.
• Perdrix Blanche – Looking for a lazy lunch in town? Head to Perdrix Blanche for seafood specials, sushi, pizzas, salads and meat options such as steaks and schnitzels.
• Sur la Montagne - Suitable for all the family, offering traditional dishes such as pizzas and pasta. The kid’s play area can be a godsend for parents!
• La Corniche - Traditional Savoyard dishes set in an authentic ambience. Raclettes, piriades, fondues, Magret de canard, steaks… You’ll smell the delicious scent of melting cheese as you walk in.
• 1789 – A small, family-run restaurant known for its Cote de Boeuf, which they will cook on an open fire in front of you. A great experience and delicious.
• L’Ouilette Plage (on the mountain) - At the top of the Solaise express chairlift and at the bottom of the Madeleine piste, this restaurant is quite possibly the best place to go when the sun is shining. They operate a BBQ from 12 - 2.30pm featuring steak, duck and chicken all served with salad and jacket potatoes.
• La Fruitiere (on the mountain) - Posh and a tad expensive, but attached to La Folie Douce it’s all about the atmosphere and superb service as much as the delicious food and daily specials on offer.
• Tete de Solaise (on the mountain) – Food offerings are simple and basic but reasonably priced and the location is unbeatable for lounging in the sun with a mountain view. The outdoor bar opens and music starts from 3 pm.

Family Features

Please see the ‘Activities’ tab for non-skiing options for families.
In addition, provisions for families include:

• Family-based services in Val d’Isere include pre-bookable nannies, a crèche for toddlers with the ESF ski school and one free entry to the in-resort Aquasports Centre with your 6-day lift pass (adults and children).