One of Europe’s most popular ski resorts, Val d'Isère is a shining example of French skiing.
The resort has an incredible snow record, meaning you’ll almost certainly have great skiing whenever you visit during the winter months - so much so that it ranks in first place among Iglu Ski’s top snow sure resorts in France.
Its instant access into one of the world’s great ski areas is also a top drawing point, with hundreds of kilometres of amazing slopes to tackle.
‘Val D’ has a somewhat glamorous reputation - although don’t be put off by this, as it is packed full of proper skiing enthusiasts, and there’s accommodation on offer to suit all pockets. (Iglu Ski’s Content Marketing Manager went to Val d’Isère on her uni ski trip!)
It’s a really attractive town with a great range of hotels for all, plenty of chalets for a bit of personal space, or some simple apartments to help your pockets out.
In fact, every single member of Iglu Ski’s team has been to Val d’Isère, underlining just how popular it is for Brits. Keep reading for the top reasons to visit.
READ MORE: If you're looking for a large ski area, Les Arcs could be a great alternative. Find out all the reasons why Les Arcs is a great ski resort.
Meanwhile, why not check out Austria? Discover all the best reasons why you should visit St Anton.
1. It’s one of France’s highest resorts (meaning lots of snow!)
It’s a real task to find any ski resort with better snow than Val d’Isère. Slopes go all the way up to a whopping 3,450m, while its lowest slopes are still at a very high 1,850m - meaning it’s one of Europe’s highest resorts.
Many of the slopes are north-facing too, meaning there’ll be relatively less sunshine, and therefore much less melting of the snow - ensuring the pistes stay beautifully groomed for you.
Snowfall is very reliable in Val d’Isère - over the past 11 years, December has seen an average of 37cm per week, with the following four months averaging at 38cm, 33cm, 40cm and 32cm. These figures are huge, and beat Courchevel - itself an incredibly popular and very snow-sure resort - by about 10cm each month.
If the past 11 years are anything to go by, then you’ll also get at least 3 snow days per week during the ski season - if not 4 in March and April!
2. Gateway to one of the world’s great ski areas
Val d’Isère is one of the the iconic ski resorts making up the Espace Killy ski area - the other being Tignes.
Named after world champion skier Jean Claude Killy, who lived in Val d’Isère, the area has a huge 300km of downhill skiing, with 150 pistes connected by 90 ski lifts.
There’s a vast range of skiing to be done, with loads of well-groomed runs for those who like to cruise above the treeline, as well as more rough stuff for the experienced skiers. There’s also plenty of pretty tree-lined trails to enjoy on the way back to town.
The highest point is the Grande Motte glacier at 3,456m (which we’ll get into later), the longest run is 10km (the Sache), and there’s also 900 artificial snow cannons to keep everything pristine.
3. Great for mixed-ability groups
If you’re looking for a ski resort for a big mixed-ability group of first timers, intermediates and experts, then Val d’Isère would be a really good idea.
The local area of Val D has free lifts for beginners at the bottom of the slopes, as well as over in the La Daille area, which are really useful as you can practise on them before buying an actual lift pass.
The resort designers also ensured that the majority of the green slopes link up in a chain, so you won’t accidentally find yourself tasked with a tricky red.
Intermediates will enjoy the 61 blues and 46 reds across the Espace Killy, with the Mangard Blue Run being a beautiful one which descends into the trees with a quaint chalet restaurant halfway down for lunch.
Advanced skiers have plenty of options too, including the notorious Le Face de Bellevarde, which is an incredibly steep piste which looms over the town, and runs directly into it. Overall, there are 30 blacks in the Espace Killy.
4. Top pick for glacier skiing
Right at the top of the Espace Killy lies the spectacular Grande Motte glacier at about 3,500m. With blue, red and black runs, it is also the training base for the regional and national alpine and freestyle ski teams.
The Grande Motte is more on the Tignes side of the Espace Killy, but still easily accessible from the town of Val d’Isère.
Meanwhile, a second glacier can easily be reached. The Pissaillas glacier is situated at about 3,000m, and you can get there via the Cascade chairlift or the Montets drag lift.
Both glaciers offer massive spaces to cruise about, with barely any barriers slowing you down.
5. Great choice for off-piste skiing
There’s plenty to do off the well-groomed pistes, too.
Bring out your adventurous side and have a go at tackling some of these famous spots, such as La Banane and La Table d’Orientation.
The first is one of the most popular off-piste routes in the Espace Killy, with its 900m descent requiring really not much effort - but still providing scintillating scenery and fun. This one starts at the end of the Piste de Face, off the top of the Olympic cable car.
La Table d’Orientation is a much more advanced route - with an incredible couloir which opens into a wide powder face which has breathtaking views of Val D. It’s quite a quiet one, with not many people attempting it, so enjoy it while you’re there.
6. Val d’Isère is a very pretty town with lots going on
Val D is well-known for its glamour, and you can certainly see it in the built environment there. It’s a peaceful mountain resort with beautiful chalets and charming Alpine-style buildings made of wood and stone.
The quality of skiing is undoubtedly the biggest attraction, but the town itself is a lovely place to be. Packed with bars and restaurants (and excellent après ski, which we’ll get on to next)
Originally a small farming village, it has a buzzing high street, while not far away, in the centre of town is Val d’Isère’s popular ice rink. You can also jump on a toboggan down to the Savonette ski lift.
For a bit of relaxation after a hard day’s skiing, why not head to Val d’Isère’s Aquasportif Sports and Pool Complex?
It has a 1000m² water area, with a 25-metre swimming pool, and a 416m² fun pool, which has a flowing river, water cannons, massage jets, whirlpools and a paddling pool.
There’s also a wellness area with three jacuzzis, three saunas, and a hammam, while sport enthusiasts can play in the sports hall (badminton, table tennis, football, basketball and volleyball), have a game of squash, or even try the 12m-high climbing wall, which extends over 135m².
7. Amazing après ski offerings
Val d’Isère isn’t just a top resort for skiing - what you get up to afterwards is just as legendary.
One of France’s top party towns (5th on Iglu’s list of the best après resorts), it has a range of bars and clubs for you to try out.
A trip to Val D is incomplete without stopping off at the Folie Douce there. It’s been running since 1980, and is packed every single day of the ski season, with live DJs and even cabaret shows going on.
Cocorico is another top slopeside venue which has been running since 2018. Back in town there are loads of bars - both loud and quiet, to suit your taste - and a few top nightclubs. These include Dicks Tea Bar (traditionally English clientele) and the Doudoune Club (traditionally French crowd).
Find out about all the top après and nightlife offerings in Val d’Isère.
8. Great for families
Youngsters will take to Val d’Isère well - in fact, it made it into our top 10 French ski resorts for families.
For a start, the beginner facilities are excellent. The nursery ski area, in particular, is very close to the village centre and the free lifts give you access to two green pistes and a gentle slope which is ideal for building up confidence.
There’s also the previously mentioned Aquasportif Sports and Pool Complex, which will mean they burn off that little bit more energy, affording you a nice evening with your partner or friends.
You can also go out and explore the play areas, including the Valkids, which has a focus on skiing itself, but also on learning about other snow-related professions. Meanwhile, The Lost Village is a nice area in the trees where the youngsters can climb up into treehouses and walk along suspended pathways in the air.
There’s also a cinema in the town centre - look out for the films with ‘VO’ for the English versions (version originale).
Have a look at our family-friendly accommodation if Val d’Isère is catching your attention.
Discover how great Val d’Isère is for yourself
If this guide has nudged you in the direction of Val d’Isère for your next ski holiday, then let us help you book the perfect one.
We’re the UK’s biggest ski travel agency for a reason - all our staff are obsessed with skiing, meaning we’ll give you unrivalled advice on accommodation, travel, and all the extra niggly bits.
Every single person in our sales team has done at least one season in the mountains, so they all know exactly what they’re talking about.
Have a look at the best ski deals in Val d’Isère now to kick off your booking journey. Remember, you can also call us on 020 3848 3700.
If you’re the lead booker for a group, then fear not - read our group booking guide to see how we can help you.