Val d'Isère - Solaise

Val d'Isère

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Family-friendly Val d`Isère has an excellent snow record

Northern Alps

Val d'Isère - Borsat                                    

Val d'Isère - Bellevarde

Val d'Isère - Crête des Lessières

Val d'Isère - Daille

Val d'Isère - Village

Val d'Isère - Fornet

Val d'Isère - Nursery slope

Val d'Isère - Front de neige	

Val d'Isère - Lessières ridge

Val d'Isère - Pisaillas

Val d'Isère - Prariond valley

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This world-class resort has earned its reputation as one of France&rsquo;s top ski destinations. Val d&rsquo;Is&egrave;re has something for skiers and boarders of all levels: Olympic and World Cup runs, a wealth of fantastic off-piste opportunities and a varied selection of pistes including greens high up on the mountain.
The base of Val d'Is&egrave;re sits at&nbsp;1850&nbsp;metres and from there, the pistes climb up to&nbsp;3488&nbsp;metres, at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Pointe du Montet&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Pissaillas glacier, just below at 3450 metres. Skiers have a choice of 150 kilometres of pistes for all levels, serviced by 90 lifts.
Val d'Isere is part of the&nbsp;Espace Killy ski area, shared with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/northern-alps/tignes/skireport" target="_blank">Tignes</a>. Some of the world's best skiers leave their tracks here and the resort has hosted&nbsp;Olympic&nbsp;and&nbsp;World Cup&nbsp;downhill competitions, as well as the&nbsp;Alpine Ski World Championships.
Best for: Intermediates and above
Val d'Isere really is a great all-round resort.&nbsp;Beginners&nbsp;and&nbsp;intermediates&nbsp;will find about 55% of its runs are either green or blue. The resort also has five beginner zones, two of which are large "ski tranquil" areas, criss-crossed with easy runs. Of course,&nbsp;advanced&nbsp;skiers will find all the slope they need to push their skills to the limits, thanks to legendary runs like the incredibly steep La Face, used for the men's Olympic downhill. The most challenging run, La For&ecirc;t, cuts through the trees and is ideal for mogul fans.
Freestylers&nbsp;can also get their kicks in the famous Oakley ValPark, which like the rest of the resort, offers something for all levels. Val d'Isere is linked to neighbouring Tignes; the two resorts combine to form the giant Espace Killy ski area.
Highlights: High-altitude snowsure slopes, a long ski season from late November into first week of May, ski-in/ski-out accommodation, huge selection of varied pistes, fast modern lifts, terrain parks, one of the best lift-served off-piste ski areas in the world, easy access to Tignes.
Non-skiers: Outdoor ice rink,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centre-aquasportif.com/en_index.php" target="_blank">Aquasportif</a>&nbsp;centre with pools, spas and climbing wall, and two Michelin star restaurants:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.maison-benoit-vidal.com/en/" target="_blank">L'Atelier Edmond</a>&nbsp;(two stars) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hotellesbarmes.com/en/fine-dining-restaurant-val-disere-table-de-lours/" target="_blank">La Table de l'Ours</a>&nbsp;(one star).
Nearest airports: Chambery (145km/2hrs), Geneva (223km/2hrs50)
Nearest station: Bourg-St-Maurice (30km/40mins). Regular buses run from station
Apr&egrave;s / Nightlife 
Val d'Is&egrave;re is known for its nightlife, so get apr&egrave;s ski started at&nbsp;La Ros&eacute;e Blanche, which is just at the foot of the La Daille. It's a quiet option, where you can sip Val's best vin chaud and watch the last skiers make their way down the mountain. Otherwise, the&nbsp;M Bar&nbsp;at the Tsanteleina Hotel sets the mood with lounge music, champagne cocktails, and dimmed lighting. The bar also has free wifi, in case you want to take a little time to connect with loved ones back home to recount your exploits on the pistes. To finish the night on a hot note, there's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dicksteabar.com/" target="_blank">Dick's Tea Bar</a>, which has been a staple of Val d'Is&egrave;re nightlife for 30 years. It came under new management in 2010-2011 and underwent renovations. Now guests party in a cool Nordic atmosphere, bathed in blue, turquoise, and violet light. International DJs regularly rock the dance floor, so check their website for the programme.

Airports Val d'Is&egrave;re is not far from several different airports, so you can choose to fly into <a href="https://www.lyonaeroports.com/" target="_blank">Lyon-Saint Exup&eacute;ry</a> (220 km), <a href="https://www.grenoble-airport.com/en" target="_blank">Grenoble</a> (200 km), <a href="https://www.gva.ch/en/" target="_blank">Geneva</a> (180 km), or <a href="https://www.chambery-airport.com/index_en.html" target="_blank">Chamb&eacute;ry </a>(134 km).&nbsp; <a href="https://www.aerlingus.com/html/home.html" target="_blank">Aer Lingus</a>, <a href="https://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_gb/" target="_blank">British Airways</a>, and<a href="https://www.klm.com/" target="_blank"> KLM-Air France</a> operate direct flights from London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. However, if you choose to fly into Chamb&eacute;ry, note that many of the flights operate only on the weekends. For a cheaper option, <a href="https://www.easyjet.com/en/" target="_blank">easyJet</a> flies direct from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Belfast. Airport transfers Thanks to many travel options, it is easy to get from the airport to Val d'Is&egrave;re. You have the choice of regular bus lines, car hire, taxi, tour operators, or train. Private helicopter transfer can even be arranged if you want to add an aerial view of the Alps to your list of Val d'Is&egrave;re memories. Regular bus lines are a popular choice and are also the most convenient. <a href="https://www.altibus.com/" target="_blank">Altibus</a> and the British company <a href="https://www.bensbus.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ben's Bus</a> handle transfers from Geneva, Lyon, and Chamb&eacute;ry. Ben's Bus run between the resort and Grenoble. Return ticket prices range from &euro;70-113, depending on the airport you choose. These can be booked in advance online or purchased directly at the Lyon, Chamb&eacute;ry, and Grenoble airports. If you take the bus from Geneva, you must book your ticket in advance. For all of the airports, however, it is best to book early if you are travelling during peak times. Getting around While Val d'Is&egrave;re is not entirely car-free, they do encourage you to park your car and leave it for the duration of your stay. Cars are even banned from the centre of the resort, and in general, parking is highly regulated (the authorities do not hesitate to hand out parking fines). If you're worried about where to park, book your parking space online for three-31 day stays. Do so at <a href="https://www.parkingvaldisere.com/" target="_blank">www.parkingvaldisere.com</a>. This is highly recommended if you are planning to be here during any school holiday period. Inside the resort area, guests can take advantage of free shuttle bus services that run from 7 a.m to 8 p.m or midnight, depending on the bus line. There is also one night bus line that runs from 8 p.m to around 2 a.m. Exact timetable information is available at the bus stops.

High-end Hotel Christiana sits 100 metres away from the foot of the slopes and dates back to 1948. Today, it offers rooms starting at 186&euro; per person per night and family rooms and suites starting at 744&euro; per night per family of four. The hotel also has its own fine restaurant with chef Philippe Meyzin commanding the kitchen. The dinner menu proposes a wide selection of fish and meat dishes, such as roasted Brittany lobster and tender-cooked pigeon in truffle juice. A spa area lets guests relax with massages and treatments, or to just unwind next to the heated indoor pool. Contact: +33(0)479. 060.825 or <a href="mailto:welcome@hotel-christiana.com">welcome@hotel-christiana.com</a> <a href="http://www.lesavoie.com/" target="_blank">Le Savoie Hotel and Spa</a> proposes spacious rooms starting at 420&euro; per room per night, for one or two guests, but also a 180m2 royal suite which can accommodate up to six people for 2100&euro; in the low season. The hotel offers a range of services and can organise airport transfer, gear hire, ski lessons, and various outings such as dog sledding or an ice driving session. Le Savoie also has its own pro shop in case you wish to purchase equipment, as well as a spa offering a variety of treatments. A sauna, steam bath, Jacuzzi, and pool complete the relaxation package. Its restaurant, Le Grain de Sel, is headed by Alexabdre Fabris, a young chef trained in fine French classics. Contact: +33(0)479.000.115 or <a href="mailto:info@lesavoie.com">info@lesavoie.com</a> Mid-level <a href="https://www.hotel-kandahar.com/en/" target="_blank">Le Kandahar</a> offers accommodation starting at 180&euro; per person per night in a double room with half board, as well as family accommodation. A triple room with half board goes for 165&euro; per person per night while suites start at 205&euro; per person per night in low season. Each room is decorated in warm tones, with wood accents typical of Alpine housing. &nbsp;The hotel has a sauna and steam bath which are free for guests to use. The hotel restaurant, La Taverne d&rsquo;Alsace, offers a selection of typical brasserie fare, as well as several Alsatian specialties. Contact: +33(0)479. 060.239 or <a href="mailto:hotel.kandahar@wanadoo.fr">hotel.kandahar@wanadoo.fr</a> Economy Le Relais du Ski offers a budget option, with double rooms starting at 60&euro; per person per night with half board.&nbsp; Although it is 500 metres away from the centre of the resort, the free shuttle stops just 50 metres away, making transportation hassle-free. Rooms can welcome up to four people and are equipped with a sink and bidet only. Showers are located in the hallway. The restaurant here serves traditional French cuisine, as well as local specialties like fondue and tartiflette. Le Relais du Ski is joined to a two-star hotel, La Bailletta, located in the same building. Here rates start at 82&euro; per person per night in low season, half board included.&nbsp; Contact: +33(0)479. 060.206 or <a href="mailto:lerelaisduski@valdisere.com">lerelaisduski@valdisere.com</a> Chalets and rentals A large number of chalets are available for rent at Val d&rsquo;Is&egrave;re and range from luxury serviced chalets with prices starting at 10,000&euro; per week to simple homes away from home at rates that can start at 750&euro; per week. Most of the chalets are rented between from individual owners. The Val d&rsquo;Is&egrave;re website lets you browse the offerings, most of which have their own websites and often an English version. Then you contact the owner directly and deal with him or her. If you prefer to go through a real estate agency, there are seven different ones at Val d&rsquo;Is&egrave;re. All of them have offices at the resort, as well as their own website for browsing and online reservations.

Breakfast Breakfast if often included in the price of the hotel, especially if you book a package deal.&nbsp; Many hotels even offer copious breakfast buffets complete with eggs, sausages, and cheeses since the clientele is so international. Le Petit Danois, just behind the La Daille bus station, touts itself as the resort's number one party bar, but it's also a good place to find a full breakfast selection, including full and half English breakfasts, and even vegetarian versions, which is something pretty rare in France. Plan to spend &euro;12.50 for the full breakfast, &euro;8.50 for the others. For a quicker option, you can always grab a quick caf&eacute; au lait and croissant or baguette and butter at one of the many resort caf&eacute;s. Try La Sana, which is in the centre of the resort, just across from the ESF ski school, at the corner of rue No&euml;l Machet and the rue du Parc des Sports. Lunch Head to La T&ecirc;te de Solaise, atop the namesake summit, for lunch with a view of the surrounding mountains. The restaurant was recently renovated in a retro mountain style and is actually three different eateries: a self-service cafeteria, a sit-down restaurant, and a pizzeria. At the base village, a good bet is La Corniche, just behind the church. They serve a wide variety of typical French fare, which is well prepared. Specialities include several varieties of fondue&nbsp; as well as unique dishes like venison with red currants and seafood marmite. Main dishes run from &euro;20-28. Dinner High-end La Table de l'Ours, located in the Barmes de l'Ours hotel, serves fine cuisine that has earned chef Anthony Maubert a Michelin star. The atmosphere could be described as cosy mountain chic, with a blazing fireplace, white linens, and understated refinement. Try some of the traditional mountain fare with a decidedly upscale twist, like the tartiflette enhanced with truffle-stuffed pork belly and lamb morsels.&nbsp;Fixed price menus range from &euro;85&euro;-&euro;185 and can include up to 12 courses. <a href="https://www.grande-ourse.com/" target="_blank">La Grande Ourse</a> also offers fine dining, with dishes like saffron and lobster claw pasta, Sisteron lamb with stuffed vegetables, and whole roasted bass with gnocchi gratin. The restaurant goes all the way back to 1936, when it was the one of the top places in the resort to grab a sandwich and cup of hot wine.&nbsp;Since the 1970s, it has been serving fine French cuisine, in a warm atmosphere accentuated with time-worn wood beams and a fire that adds a touch of charm.&nbsp;You'll find La Grande Ourse next to La Savonnette drag lift, near the Le Brussels hotel. The <a href="https://ormelune.com/en/?noredirect=en_US" target="_blank">Ormelune</a> restaurant, in the hotel of the same name, goes for a more off-beat style, with polka dot and striped chairs and flashy tableware.&nbsp;On the menu, you'll find quality meat dishes and pasta, as well as handful of varied salads to start. Main dishes range from &euro;18-22. Low-key Head back to Le Petit Danois, where you will find wraps and salads for around &euro;10 plus burgers and pub grub for a few extra euros. Apr&egrave;s / Nightlife Val d'Is&egrave;re is known for its nightlife, so get apr&egrave;s ski started at La Ros&eacute;e Blanche, which is just at the foot of the La Daille. It's a quiet option, where you can sip Val's best vin chaud and watch the last skiers make their way down the mountain. Otherwise, the M Bar at the Tsanteleina Hotel sets the mood with lounge music, champagne cocktails, and dimmed lighting. The bar also has free wifi, in case you want to take a little time to connect with loved ones back home to recount your exploits on the pistes. To finish the night on a hot note, there's <a href="https://www.dicksteabar.com/" target="_blank">Dick's Tea Bar</a>, which has been a staple of Val d'Is&egrave;re nightlife for 30 years. It came under new management in 2010-2011 and underwent renovations. Now guests party in a cool Nordic atmosphere, bathed in blue, turquoise, and violet light. International DJs regularly rock the dance floor, so check their website for the programme.

The Mountain The base of Val d'Is&egrave;re sits at 1850 metres and from there, the pistes climb up to&nbsp;3488 metres, at&nbsp;the Pointe du Montet and the Pissaillas glacier, just below at 3450 metres. Skiers have a choice of 150 kilometres of pistes for all levels, serviced by 90 lifts. This is the home resort of legendary skier Jean-Claude Killy, which explains the name of the linked ski area, Espace Killy. Val d'Is&egrave;re is one half and <a href="https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/northern-alps/tignes/skireport" target="_blank">Tignes</a> makes up the other. Some of the world's best skiers leave their tracks here and the resort has hosted Olympic and World Cup downhill competitions, as well as the Alpine Ski World Championships. Val d'Is&egrave;re is the only resort in recent times to hold this triple honour. This doesn't mean that the resort is reserved for advanced skiers and world champs, though. In fact, about 55 percent of its runs are either green or blue. The resort also has five beginner zones, two of which are large "ski tranquil" areas, criss-crossed with easy runs. Of course, advanced skiers will find all the slope they need to push their skills to the limits, thanks to legendary runs like the incredibly steep La Face, used for the men's Olympic downhill. The most challenging run, La For&ecirc;t, cuts through the trees and is ideal for mogul fans. The resort can be divided into three areas: Bellevarde, Le Fornet, and Le Solaise, with varying difficulty levels for each. Powder Day Val d'Is&egrave;re offers some of France's most difficult runs. La Face, La For&ecirc;t, 3000, Piste S, and Le Tunnel are to be conquered by high-level skiers, but not all pistes are created equal. La For&ecirc;t, as mentioned earlier, is both steep and bumpy, so avoid it if you have tired knees. La Face is indeed one of the steeper slopes, but the piste is wide and open, so there is plenty of room for winding you way down. There is no escape route though, so once you're on it, you're on it for good. Some black runs can be closed depending on the weather. Epaule du Charvet closes when there is too much snow, because there is a real avalanche risk. 3000 and Le Tunnel are also open sporadically and can be extremely difficult when it gets tracked out. Val d'Is&egrave;re also offers some great, challenging red runs. The OK is one of the most famous, having been used for the World Cup. It's best to hit these and other pistes in the Bellevarde area in the morning, when there are smaller crowds. You can then work your way up to the Le Fornet, where snow is nearly always excellent, and to Le Solaise, which tends to be calmer after lunchtime. For off-pisting, the Le Fornet area offers the best jumping off points. Beneath the Cascades lift, there is an open slope that usually stays fresh for a long time, thanks to the high altitude and lower traffic levels in the area. Groomers and Family Val d'Is&egrave;re really is a family resort and they have lots to choose from in terms of easy and intermediate runs. Beginners will enjoy not being stuck at the bottom of the resort, as is often the case. The Bellevarde and the Solaise areas both offer gentle "ski tranquil" zones, full of green runs. Solaise is the main area of Val d'Is&egrave;re and can get pretty busy quickly, but if you want to start your day here, take the Datcha lift or Madeleine Express up to the green run of the same name, at 2600 metres. At Solaise, the Datcha lift, the Madeleine Express, and the Glacier Express all run up to a good choice of blue slopes that are easy enough for low-level skiers with a little confidence. The long Piste L runs down to Val d'Is&egrave;re 1850 and can be a good way to end the day. At Bellevarde, the "ski tranquil" area includes five green runs, including the long Verte, which runs all the way down the mountain. The Olympique lift and the Funival lead up to a slightly steep section that precedes the green runs, but you can bypass this by getting successively the La Daille, Mont Blanc, and Borsat Express lifts. From the top of the Borsat Express, you can choose between three easy runs. Park/Pipe Boarders from around the world come to Val d'Is&egrave;re for its varied terrain, but also for the open attitude to snowboard culture. Every single run is open to boarders. The freestyle crowd likes the Oakley ValPark, in the Bellevarde area. To get here, take the&nbsp; Olympique lift or the La Daille cable car. Once here, there are modules for all levels. An enlarged beginner zone offers a variety of modules so that you can learn to do tricks safely but there is also a black zone for expert freestylers. All in all, there are 25 different modules that include walls, rails, kicks, hips, and jumps as well as an all-level boarder cross and a half pipe.&nbsp; The ValPark aims to make freestyle skiing and boarding accessible to everyone who wants to try it, so they take special care to offer something for all levels. Every year, the park makes improvements based on feedback from clients and the creative spark from its team of passionate shapers. &nbsp;It was here that some of the world's best freestyle athletes came to train for the X-Games Europe, held in neighbouring Tignes.

While many resorts claim to have "something for everyone," Val d'Isère really does. From great off pisting opportunities to exciting beginner areas and a world renowned snow park, this top resort offers a variety of great skiing, eating, and partying opportunities. In terms of skiing, the Glacier de Pissaillas is an interesting stop, as even beginner skiers can do it. Green, blue, and red pistes run along the glacier and the chance to ski so high without being a great skier makes the detour worth it. On the slopes, you may want to check out the on-mountain restaurant La Folie Douce, though more for the lively atmosphere and a round of drinks. The food is simply over-priced for what it is. It is located at the top of the La Daille gondola lift, but often you can find it by following the music. On good weather days, the terrace turns into an open-air afternoon dance club. If you are staying at Tignes, though, just be sure to leave in time to catch the last lift back at 5 pm. Otherwise, you'll have a very long bus ride back from the bottom of the pistes. Val d'Isère also packs its winter calendar full with high-level sporting events. Every December the First Ski Criterium offers guests two weekends of downhill ski world cup competition, one for men and the other for women. ValPark Week, the White Battle and Altigliss, all held in March, put the spotlight on freestyle ski and boarding. During ValPark Week, around 50 expert freestylers offer guests an impressive free show.  The White Battle pits three-member teams against each other in a freestyle board and ski competition at the foot of the La Face slope. The Altigliss Challenge brings students in from Europes's best ski schools to compete in giant slalom, boarder cross, big air, and parallel slalom events.

Val d'Isère Snow Report

NORTHERN ALPS / VAL D'ISÈRE

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