from £234pp
Thinking of Val d'Isere?
Val d'Isère is one of the best ski resorts in France.
As if its vast ski area, high altitude runs, and excellent snow record weren’t enough, the iconic resort of Val d'Isère also has a quintessentially Alpine feel, links to neighbouring Tignes, and boasts one of the liveliest après scenes in the Alps.
Val d'Isère also happens to be home to what is perhaps the most social media-famous lift in the Alps, Lessières, a rollercoaster-like chairlift that goes up and over the 3,000m Crête des Leissières summit, offering spectacular views over the mountain range.
From the finest chalets to convenient and comfortable apartments, check out our fantastic range of package and non-package deals on accommodation in Val d'Isère and book your perfect trip with igluski.com.
Resort Statistics
| Level | Rating | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners | 83 | |
| Intermediates | 46 | |
| Advanced | 25 | |
| Snowboarders | ||
| Total Runs | 154 |
Good for
- Off piste
- Families
- Non-skiers
- Groups
Resort features
Nightclub
Indoor Pool
Health Spa
Bowling
Skidoo
Gym
Parapenting
Snowshoeing
Snow sure
Glacier Resort
High altitude skiing
High altitude resort
Lively après ski
Picturesque
Resort bus
Supermarket
Tourist Office
Heli-Skiing
Green Resort
Resort Statistics
| Resort Altitude | 1850m |
| Highest Lift | 3450m |
| Total Piste | 300km |
| Longest Run | 10km |
| Directions of Slopes | N, S, E, W |
| Uphill Capacity | 149425 |
| Total Lifts | 89 |
| Gondolas/Cable cars | 10 |
| Chairlifts | 45 |
| Drag Lifts | 34 |
| Snow Parks | 2 |
What is Val d'Isere like as a ski resort?
The name Val d'Isère conjures up certain expectations: world-class skiing, charming Alpine architecture, and classic après.
And when you visit, you’ll quickly discover that those expectations won’t just be met, they’ll be surpassed.
Forming the Espace Killy ski area alongside Tignes, Val d'Isère gives you access to a vast 300km of slopes, and has enough variety across its numerous greens, blues, reds and blacks to ensure everyone from ski learners to ski learneds will have a fantastic trip.
It’s also incredibly snow sure, with lifts going all the way up to 3,456m, glacier skiing, and an excellent snow record.
Read more
Discover more of France's most snow sure ski resorts in our dedicated guide.
The village itself is lively and attractive, and while Val d'Isère is known for its glamour, it's generally considered to be more relaxed than other luxury resorts, and attracts a crowd that’s more serious about skiing than shopping.
When not indulging in its famous après, you can dine at one of the many fabulous eateries or try your hand at any number of either thrilling or relaxing non-skiing activities.
Top reasons to ski in Val d'Isere
Where to start? Here are just six of the many reasons why you should book your next ski holiday to Val d'Isère:
Snow surety: The high altitude (up to 3,450m), excellent snow record, and presence of the Pissaillas Glacier make Val d'Isère one of France’s most snow-sure resorts.
Large ski area: When combined with Tignes, Val d'Isère’s vast network of pistes cover more than 300km.
Very pretty: An authentic Savoyard village, traditional wood and stone buildings, and surrounding natural beauty make Val d'Isère a very attractive resort indeed.
Famously good après: Live music, table dancing or cosy cocktails next to a roaring fire, Val d'Isère serves up every flavour of après.
Great for intermediates: With 66 blue runs and 45 reds, Val d'Isère is a paradise for intermediate skiers, who will quickly find themselves progressing onto more challenging terrain.
Beginner-friendly: Val d'Isère has two dedicated nursery areas and the vast majority of the Espace Killy’s 23 green slopes.
What is the accommodation like in Val d'Isère?
Val d'Isère is known for its traditional chalets and luxury hotels, but there are options to suit all group sizes and budgets, as well as many great value apartments over in La Daille.
There are loads of stylish chalets to choose from in the resort, ranging in price from a very reasonable £1,000* per person for a week-long stay all the way up to £7,000* per person for the most luxurious options.
Likewise, hotels in Val d'Isère run the gamut from budget-friendly to super premium. The ski-in-ski-out 5* Club Med is a great option for families or, if you’re looking for classic splendour, you could splash out at the Hotel Christiania, which has been in operation since 1949.
The La Daille apartments are very popular. La Daille itself is a great little satellite town with a regular bus service to Val d'Isère, so you can still enjoy all the Val d'Isère action for a fraction of the cost. Staying in La Daille also gives you good access to Tignes and the super fast Funival lift.
*Prices are an example only and subject to change
What’s the apres scene like in Val d'Isere?
Val d'Isère is home to the original Folie Douce, an après ski pedigree that can be traced back to the mid ‘70s and, today, is evident in the resort’s many excellent bars and clubs.
Let’s start with Folie Douce, then, which you’ll find next to the La Daille Gondola station. A trip to Val-d'Isère wouldn’t be complete without at least one après session at this hallowed institution. Folie Douce always pulls out all the stops: watching a cabaret show while you’re dancing on a table as a paraglider swoops overhead… this après hotspot certainly doesn’t take its name lightly (Folie meaning ‘madness’ in French).
If that sounds like a lot to process after a day on the slopes, head instead to l'Ouillette at the bottom of the Madeleine piste. There you can enjoy a crisp and refreshing drink while admiring the panoramic view from the terrace.
If you’ve made it to the bottom of the slopes, drop into Cocorico for more classic après antics or Bananas for drinks, live sports on the TV, and themed evenings. Alternatively, Sun Bar or the Yule are both perfect spots for a quiet drink and a conversation with friends.
Read more
Want the full low down on the incredible apres scene in Val d'Isère? Head through to our guide on the top apres bars and nightlife hotspots in Val d'Isère.
What activities are there to do in Val d'Isère?
There’s as much to do on the slopes in Val d'Isère as there is to do off them.
You could strap on some skates and hit the artificial ice rink in the village centre, or take a toboggan to the espace luge next to the Savonette ski lift. Or discover the snooc, basically a cross between a sled and a ski, which offers a fun new way for both skiers and non-skiers to enjoy the slopes.
More unusual outdoor activities include the Adventure Trail, where you strap into a harness and make your way through an illuminated forest on suspended bridges and zip lines, and the Altitude Biathlon, where you can compete against friends or family in the Olympic sport that combines skiing and shooting.
But if you think even those activities aren’t thrilling enough, you could always take to the skies in a helicopter or paraglider, or go speedriding - basically skiing while attached to a parachute.
If you prefer more leisurely activities, you can find indoor sports, swimming and wellness treatments at the Aquasportif Sports and Pool complex.
Skiing in Val d'Isère
Pretty buildings and a party reputation are all very well, but Val d'Isère’s iconic resort status has primarily been secured thanks to the quality of its skiing.
Ever since two Austrians gave some tourists a ski lesson in 1932, Val d'Isère has been a destination for lovers of the sport, with both enthusiasts and absolute beginners drawn to the diversity of pistes that snake their way down and around its snow-sure peaks.
Is Val d'Isère a good place to ski?
Val d'Isère is a fantastic place to ski, whether you’re an expert or you’ve never skied before.
With its links to Tignes opening up a mammoth 300km of pistes, skiers of all abilities will find terrain that caters to everything from pizza practice to limit-pushing descents.
With 66 blues and 45 reds, intermediate skiers are especially well-provided for in the resort, while expert skiers have 32 blacks to contend with (don’t miss the legendary Face de Bellevarde and Stade Olympique slopes), as well as a wealth of freeride terrain that’s unusually accessible thanks to the lift system.
In particular, you should check out the off-piste around La Daille, the Grand Motte, and Solaise.
Read more:
Take a look at our guide to the top 5 runs in Val d'Isère for more insight into the resort's fantastic runs.
Skiing from Val d'Isère to Tignes
The easiest way to ski from Val d'Isère to Tignes is to take the 5-minute Olympique gondola up to Rocher de Bellevarde, ski down to La Daille and then take the Tommeuses chair to Tovière.
There are green, blue and red routes down from the summit, so it’s possible for skiers of all abilities to make the crossing.
Is Val d'Isère snow sure?
Val d'Isère is very snow sure thanks to its high altitude (it has a resort range of between 1,850m and 3,450m), glacier skiing (on both Pissaillas and the Grande Motte over in Tignes), and extremely reliable snowfall.
The 2023/24 season, for example, has seen snow depths of over 100cm on the lower slopes and nearly 400cm on its upper slopes.
Is Val d'Isère suitable for beginners?
Val d'Isère is a pretty good resort for beginners.
There are free lifts at the foot of the slopes and over in the La Daille sector that are perfect for practising on before committing to a full area ski pass.
What’s more, you’ll find many of the green runs in the resort link up, allowing you to make long descents without worrying about accidentally straying into dangerous territory. Head to the Ski Tranquille slopes above Bellevarde, and to the Madeleine and Solaise sectors for the best beginner runs.
Beginners should bear in mind that the runs that lead down into Val d'Isère can get very busy or churned up at the end of the day, with many novice or tired legged skiers choosing to download on the gondola.
Read our beginners guide to skiing in Val d'Isère to find out more about how good Val d'Isère is for beginner skiers.
Family skiing in Val d'Isère
Families will love skiing in Val d'Isère.
There are designated areas for kids to learn, an extensive network of interlinked greens, which provides a safe space for developing skills, and some truly world class ski schools. ESF, the world’s largest ski school, was actually started in Val d'Isère in the 1930s.
Away from its apres scene, Val d'Isère is a sophisticated resort, with plenty of family-friendly accommodation options, off-the-slopes entertainment, and family-friendly eateries.
How to get to Val d'Isère
Chambery is the closest airport to Val d'Isère (2 hour transfer), but Geneva, which is 3 hours away from the resort, will give you a much greater choice of flight times and has loads of transfer options for your onward journey.
Alternatively, you can get the train to Bourg Saint Maurice, which is served by Eurostar (via Lyon), and then take a bus or 40-minute taxi from there to Val d'Isère.
Val d'Isère ski holidays FAQs
We answer some of the most popular questions people have on Val d'Isère.
What’s the best month to ski in Val d'Isère?
Val d'Isère’s season runs from December to May, with the best snow conditions and quietest slopes generally occurring in January. However, if you go at the start of the season, you might be able to take advantage of the cheaper First tracks lift pass.
Read more
Thanks to its height and generous snowfall, Val d'Isère is one of the best resorts to ski in France in April.
Is Val d'Isère expensive?
The accommodation, lift passes, equipment hire, and food and drink are typically higher in Val d'Isère than the average French resort, but you will be rewarded with a premium ski holiday experience.
Do I need a car in Val d'Isère?
You don’t need a car in Val d'Isère as there is a regular free shuttle service. However, if you do choose to drive, the resort has a good supply of outdoor and indoor parking.
What is the famous ski lift in Val d'Isère?
The most famous ski lift in Val d'Isère is Lessières chair, a detachable chairlift that takes you on a rollercoaster-like journey up and over the 3,000m Crête des Leissières summit. It's one of the top things to do if you're looking for the full Val d'Isère experience.
How much is a beer in Val d'Isère?
You should expect to pay between £7-£8 for a pint of beer in Val d'Isère.
Val d'Isere SKI PASS PRICES
The prices for the Val d'Isere Espace Killy lift pass, for the Winter 24/25 ski season can be found below.
| Number of days | Adult price | Child price | Senior price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | €426.00 | €354.00 | €354.00 |
| 4 | €284.00 | €236.00 | €236.00 |
| 3 | €213.00 | €177.00 | €177.00 |
Prices are normally based on a full area lift pass and child ages vary by resort. The above are guides, so please call one of the Iglu team for prices for your holiday.