Ski holidays in Val d'Isere

As a ski holiday destination Val d'Isere is widely known as one of the largest and highest (altitude 1,850m) of the French ski resorts. However, thanks to recent resort developments it is also one of the prettier French ski resorts - not something one would have said 20 years ago!

Today the resort's new luxury hotels and chalets follow fairly strict building regulations which make for a cohesive aesthetic to the resort with ubiquitous use of local stone and wood cladding. Despite the resort being high altitude, close to the treeline and rather devoid of local flora it is attractive to the eye and whilst strolling the wide pedestrian walkways feels like an authentic 'place'.

Signs of its origins as a small and remote farming village from the 19th Century can still to be seen (especially in the old part of town around the church) but Val d'Isere has developed into a thoroughly modern alpine resort, very much on the 'world map' as a premier ski holiday destination.

Val d'Isere ski chalet holidays: prices & availability

A snowfall record beyond compare

Val d'Isere is well known for its prodigious amounts of winter snowfall and it's no accident that the 1st ski races of the winter season are held here each December. It also has one of the longest ski seasons of any resort and the lifts do not close until the beginning of May. Whilst it receives the same benefit from the Atlantic snow bearing depressions as other French resorts, Val d'Isere also receives heavy snow fall from the Mediterranean low pressure systems which roll in from the south. This gives Val d'Isere the best snow coverage of any alpine ski resort with 50-60 snow days each winter (average 3 days per week).

The ski area - fantastic terrain for all abilities

With around 90 lifts throughout the Tignes and Val d'Isere shared ski area including, but not limited to, 3 cable cars, 6 gondolas and 42 chairlifts, the high-tech lift infrastructure allows for quick and easy access to the immense area of ski terrain with very little queuing. The Solaise Express is one of the most modern lifts; heated seats, Wi-Fi and the ability to choose whether you leave your skis on the outside or inside, ensuring a quicker load time. Val d'Isere never ceases to show improvement and possibility in modern technology. With this new technology, nine of the major lifts in the Val d'Isere village can take 16,500 people per hour up the various mountains, ensuring minimal (or no) lift lines.

There are over 300kms of pistes available for all levels of skier and snowboarder to explore. For beginners there are several good nursery slopes, with free lifts enabling skiing debutantes to progress onto easy-use chairlifts and magic carpet lifts taking them up to the easy green slopes. Intermediate skiers can experience the wide-ranging big skiing country, where there are gentle blues and reds spread over into the domain of Tignes including the glacier area of La Grande Motte. For the intermediate there is almost limitless choice of terrain. For more advanced skiers, Val d'Isere offers long mogul runs, steep black pistes, including the Olympic downhill Face run and the longest run in Val d'Isere, La Sache, which offers a 10kms descent into Tignes Les Brevieres. Val d'Isere also offers huge, high altitude powder bowls and back country terrain for off-piste thrill-seekers and ski tourers.

The best ski schools in the Alps?

For those who are with young children, or beginners of any age, the resort offers some of the best ski schools in the Alps. The ESF ski school is the oldest in France, while Top Ski was the first school to challenge the ESF for top ranking. Val d'Isere continues to progress, improving and perfecting the art of ski instruction. Whilst the ESF have over 380 instructors of which some are the best in France, there are smaller ski schools such as Evolution 2, Progression Ski, The Development Centre and Oxygene, which offer smaller class sizes and also specialise in off-piste guiding (Le Grand Ski, Alpine Experience). All in all, there are plenty of ski schools in Val d'Isere to suit all needs and capabilities.

Family ski holidays in Val d'Isere

Val d'Isere is great for families with young children as there are plenty of off-snow activities to enjoy. There is a state-of-the-art sports centre with a swimming pool and climbing wall; opportunities to go dog sledding; ice driving (for adults) and many amenities within the town. Children between the ages of 18 months and 13 years old also have the chance to sign up to the Holiday Village, which is offered daily except for Saturdays and can be booked from full weeks to half days. There is also the additional children's nursery, Le Petit Poucet, which accepts children from 3 years old. At this nursery, children can be collected from ski school or your accommodation and dropped off afterwards, with bookings flexible from a full day to just a few hours.

Val d'Isere's huge choice of restaurants

For young adults, the resort offers an abundance of nightlife and apres ski options most of which remain open into the early hours. Val d'Isere offers over 60 restaurants (to suit all tastes and pockets), bars, and clubs. The Hotel Avancher offers traditional meals, with it signature raclette; La Table de L'Ours, within Les Barmes de L'Ours Hotel, offers a Michelin star dining experience with a vibrant French menu and inviting log fire, and Le Lodge which offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, where you can get all the usual alpine fare as well as great pizza and juicy steaks. Read more about the restaurants of Val d'Isere both on and off the mountain.

Getting to Val d'Isere

The easiest way to get to Val d'Isere is to fly to Geneva Airport and then take a road transfer by taxi or bus. Geneva Airport offers the greatest selection of airlines and flight choices while the airport transfer will mean you can be at your accommodation in under 3 hours. However, you can also use the Eurostar train service to Bourg St Maurice, which is 45 minutes from the resort (the costs of travelling either by plane or train are similar). Taking the train does make for a longer journey time but is more relaxing. Alternatively you can drive to resort with Val d'Isere being 10 hours' drive from Calais.