Val D Isere

Val d’Isère, one of France’s most well known winter vacation resorts, is situated at the convergence of two deep valleys formed between the legendary Bellevarde, the stunning Solaise and the picturesque Iseran. This fabulous ski vacation destination is connected with the equally famous Tignes, together forming L’Espace Killy, one of the best ski resorts in the world. Three hundred kilometers of trails of different levels are yours to explore when you take a ski vacation at Val d’Isère.

The two beginner slopes are the main grounds for the excellent ski schools. These gentle slopes are in the center of the resort and at La Daille. Val offers free lifts and chairs for beginners. Ski passes are free for kids under 5 years and seniors over 75. A trip to Fornet offers excellent views of the Haute Maurienne region. Get there by taking the Fornet cable car or Solaise Express high speed chair, and then the glacier chair lift followed by the Lessiere chair lift that will take you to Fornet. This terrain, the Pissaillas Iseran area is the highest region and farthest away from the resort on the French/Italian border and offers easy skiing. Intermediate level skiers can descend to Val via the Mangard slope.

Val d’Isère was the location of the 1992 Winter Olympics for cross country skiing and you can follow that famed route, or enjoy off-piste skiing. The Grande Motte glacier above Tignes offers year round skiing, as the high altitude brings regular snow. Val d’Isère’s snow-park is situated on the Bellevarde/La Daille sector and can be reached by the Daille funicular, or the new Bellevarde cable car the “Olympique”. The snow-park boasts of a half pipe, different Hips and jumps, two Quarters facing each other and several single or double high and low rails as well as a Boarder Cross for all levels.

Val d’Isère offers a wide range of accommodation including ski chalets to suit all budgets located throughout the resort. A free shuttle bus links them to the lifts. There are plenty of non-skiing activities including snowshoe hikes, a snow mobile and husky sleigh rides, driving on the ice circuit and ice climbing. Excellent après-ski activities and fine dining opportunities have also contributed to Val d’Isère’s popularity.