The Espace Killy combines lively and cosmopolitan Val d’Isere with high altitude Tignes to form one of the most varied, vast, and snow sure ski areas in all of the Alps.
Sitting at 1,850m and 2,100m respectively, Val d’Isere and Tignes can virtually guarantee snow on their combined 300km of slopes (65km of which are covered by snow making facilities) from December right through to early May.
Up on the ski area’s two glaciers, you can ski even in the middle of summer!
There are 76 fast and efficient lifts to transport you around this ski paradise, which go from a low of 1,550m above sea level in Tignes Les Brévières to a high of 3,456m at the top of the Grande Motte cable car.
As well as the plethora of greens, blues, reds, and blacks, the area’s high altitude and reliable snowfall has blessed the Espace Killy with truly excellent off-piste terrain, both marked and unmarked.
Every kind of skier will find something to their taste in the Espace Killy, whether that’s for cruising down wide, gentle slopes, getting some airtime in the freestyle park, or laying fresh tracks in high altitude snow fields.
And with the many quaint, rustic Savoyarde eating establishments through to fast moving self service restaurants dotted about the pistes, your hard day’s work on the slopes can be broken up with many welcome breaks where you can be re-united with the differing ability members of your party.
The lively yet family-friendly Val d'Isère nestled in the valley
Ski Resorts in Espace Killy
The Espace Killy is made up of two legendary French ski resorts, Val d'Isère and Tignes.
Val d'Isère is a lively and attractive Alpine town that, while it has a reputation for being rather upmarket, it’s more understated than similarly high-end resorts and tends to draw a serious ski crowd.
Tignes is one of the highest and most snow sure resorts in France. It consists of five distinct villages, from the buzzing historic centre of Le Lac to the peaceful and purpose-built Les Boisses.
It’s easy to ski between the two resorts. You just need to take a short gondola ride and then ski down on any run that suits your abilities.
Whichever direction you’re travelling in, you should find green and blue options, as well as more challenging routes if you’re experienced.
Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère is one of France’s most historic resorts, with skiers gracing its snowy slopes since at least the 1930s.
And while the sport has changed a lot since then, the village has retained its classic Alpine charm, thanks to its authentic Savoyard architecture, and the skiing on offer remains legendary.
Val d'Isère is particularly good for intermediates, with dozens of blues and reds, but its two dedicated nursery areas make it a good beginner resort as well.
Off the slopes, you’ll find one of the Alps’ best après scenes, with live music, rowdy terraces, and spots for a quiet cocktail all available.
For these reasons and more, Val d'Isère remains among the most popular destinations for British skiers. And although its prices are up there with the likes of Courchevel, you’re paying for a premium skiing experience, and there are good deals to be found on accommodation.
Tignes
Tignes is one of the highest ski resorts in the Alps, though its five very different but equally delightful villages range in height from 1,500m to 2,300m.
Up at that peak is Val Claret, which is the best place to stay for access to the Grande Motte glacier, and also has a pretty lively party scene.
Le Lac is the historic centre of Tignes, and offers a great atmosphere and loads of ski-in-ski-out accommodation to suit all needs and budgets.
If you’re looking for somewhere quieter, try little Le Lavachet, a great base for exploring the entire resort, or Les Brévières, the lowest village, which has a nice supply of traditional chalets and easy access to Val d'Isère.
Finally, families should definitely stay in Les Boisses, which was purpose-built with their needs in mind, and is characterised by its lovely wood and stone chalets.
On the ski front, you will, of course, have the entire Espace Killy to explore, with its fine mix of intermediate and beginner friendly slopes, as well as many black runs and off-piste for more advanced skiers.
The Val Claret bowl has lifts going up in either direction, and tends to have good visibility in snowy weather
Is it better to stay in Tignes or Val d'Isère?
It depends what you want from your ski holiday.
In either, you’ll be able to access the entire 300km of slopes in the Espace Killy, you’ll have a variety of accommodation to choose from, plentiful learner areas, and you’ll be equally well positioned to have a raucous night out or a quiet night in the chalet.
However, if you want pure Alpine prettiness, Val d'Isère pips its neighbour, and if you want wider variety, Tignes is your best bet thanks to its five different villages.
Val d'Isère is also more luxurious, which is great if you're looking to fork out on skiing in style, but if you want to watch your budget, Tignes is certainly more affordable with its value hotels and apartments.
That said, there are cheaper options in Val d'Isère just as there are pricier options in Tignes.
Read more:
Find out more reasons to choose Val d'Isère as we break down all the reasons why Val d'Isère is a good ski resort.
How easy is it to ski from Tignes to Val d'Isère?
Skiing from Tignes to Val d'Isère or vice versa is achievable for most skiers.
If you’re going from Tignes to Val d'Isère, you can take either the 7 minute Fresse chairlift from Val Claret or the 5 minute Tovière gondola from Le Lac. Whichever you do, you’ll have a choice of greens, blues or reds down into Val d'Isère.
If you’re doing the opposite, take the Olympique gondola to Rocher de Bellevarde, head to La Daille and then up to Tovière on the Tommeuses chairlift. Again, you’ll have the option of a green, blue or red run down into Tignes.
If your legs are feeling a bit wobbly but you still want to meet the rest of the group for lunch, there is a regular free shuttle bus that runs between Tignes and Val d'Isère.
Ski Holidays in the Espace Killy ski area
The Espace Killy ticks every box on the ski holiday wishlist.
Its high altitude and snow sure, with a vast and varied ski area, loads of accommodation options, and a contender for best après in the French Alps.
Whatever your own abilities, or if you have a variety of skill-levels in your group, you’ll find terrain that will please everyone. Of the 159 pistes, 21 are green, 65 are blue, 41 are red, and 32 are black.
The Espace Killy also has an extensive off-piste offering that rivals anywhere in the skiing world, as well as a number of freestyle parks and plenty of non-skiing activities both on and off the mountain.
Top reasons to ski Espace Killy ski area
Here are just a few reasons why you should choose the Espace Killy for your next ski trip:
Atmosphere to suit every skier
Not only can you choose between Val d'Isère and Tignes, you can choose from among Tignes’ five villages and La Daille, a satellite village of Val d'Isère. Those who want to be in the heart of the action should opt for Val Claret or Le Lac in Tignes, or Val d'Isère.
La Daille is a little quieter and cheaper than its parent resort and, over in Tignes, families or those in search of a more tranquil trip should choose Le Lavachet, Les Boisses, or Les Brévières.
Snow sure
Up here, the air is cool enough for the snow to stick around late into the season. Just take a look at the snow history of Val d'Isère and Tignes as proof of their snow surety.
Speaking of late seasons, the Espace Killy has two major glaciers, the Pisaillas and the Grande Motte, both of which hold enough snow to allow for summer skiing.
The Espace Killy also has among the best snow records in the Alps, with Val d'Isère and Tignes seeing more than 230cm of snow depth on the upper slopes for the majority of the 2024 season, making them two of the most snow sure ski resorts in France.
Photo of pillowy snow in Tignes, taken by Iglu Ski team member, Aimee, in early December 2023
Incredible variety of accommodation
Want to stay in a 5 star luxury chalet in the heart of Val d'Isère? Or a lovely old ski chalet in one of Tignes’ quieter villages? Or perhaps you want to spend less on a comfortable but affordable apartment in Val Claret and more on going out.
Whatever your accommodation preference, you’ll find the perfect place to stay in the Espace Killy.
A fast and efficient lift system
The 76 lifts in the Espace Killy are modern, fast and well-maintained, with investments made into the lift infrastructure every year to keep them in tip-top condition. This means that, generally, you can expect to spend less time queuing and more time skiing.
To take just one example, the Perce-Neige Funicular from Val Claret (2,100m) to Grande Motte (3,032m) takes just 7 minutes and can transport 3,000 people per hour.
Incredible partying in Tignes and Val d'Isère
Both Val d'Isère and Tignes are renowned Alpine party destinations, serving up everything you’d hope for from your après ski session, including table dancing on terraces, live music and DJs, and dancing until the early hours.
Make sure to check out the best places to après on and off the slopes in Val d'Isère and all the best apres and nightlife hotspots in Tignes.
An off piste powerhouse
The off-piste trails in Espace Killy are legendary, with kilometres of both marked and unmarked routes all across the mountains above Tignes and Val d'Isère. All that fresh snow keeps the high-altitude slopes well supplied with virgin powder that’s just begging to be carved through.
This is partly due to a weather phenomenon called the Return of the East, which, caused by a depression in the Mediterranean several times a year, can result in between 1 and 2 metres of snowfall within 24 hours.
In particular, freeride fanatics should check out the 900m vertical drop of La Banane, the thrillingly steep and narrow Le Couloir des pisteurs, and La Table d’Orientation, a short, sharp corridor that opens out into a magnificent powder face.
All of these are accessible from the Olympic cable car, but do go with a guide, the avalanche risk is very real.
Group ski holidays in Espace Killy
The Espace Killy is great for groups.
In addition to slopes for every level and plenty of beginner ski areas, there's a whole range of accommodation on offer, so all budgets are catered for.
If you and your friends want a ski holiday you’ll never forget, book yourselves into one of the many large and luxurious chalets in Val d'Isère that can comfortably accommodate a dozen of you or more in style.
If your group is more budget-conscious, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Tignes Le Lac, where there are plenty of great value hotels and apartments.
If you need help planning your group ski trip to the Espace Killy, make sure you read our helpful guide on how to book a group ski holiday?
Lots of our ski specialists have spent entire seasons in Tignes and Val d'Isère, so we really are the experts. Call them up today!
Family ski holidays in Espace Killy
A fun trip for all the family is guaranteed in the Espace Killy.
There are few places better for young skiers to learn than Val d'Isère.
It’s where ESF, the world’s largest ski school was born, and it has dedicated kids areas, like ValKids and plenty of greens. You’ll also have your pick of family-friendly accommodation.
That said, there’s an all inclusive Club Med hotel in the larger village of Val Claret, where you find decent family deals that include all food, drink, ski lessons, and childcare.
Beginner ski holidays in Espace Killy
If you’re a first time or inexperienced skier, you could find few more welcoming ski areas than the Espace Killy.
There are free lifts and nursery slopes around both La Daille and many of the villages of Tignes, which are the perfect place to start and don’t require you to buy a full area ski pass that you might not end up taking advantage of.
There are also 21 green and 65 blue runs, many of which are interlinked, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally straying onto a route that’s beyond your abilities.
Read more:
Check out our beginner's guide to skiing in Val d'Isère for more insights into why the resort is so great for beginners.
Espace Killy: Key Information
Discover all the essential info on the Espace Killy ski area below:
Where is the Espace Killy located?
The Espace Killy is located in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, in the French Alps.
Where is the nearest airport to the Espace Killy?
The nearest airports to the Espace Killy are Chambery, Geneva, and Lyon.
Chambery is around 2 hours from Val d'Isère and 2 hours 15 minutes from Tignes.
However, if you don’t mind a longer transfer time (around 3 hours), you will have a greater choice of flights if you opt for Geneva.
What is the highest point in the Espace Killy?
The highest point you can get to in the Espace Killy is la Grande Motte at 3,456m.
You can reach it by taking the Funicular from Tignes Val Claret and then the Grande Motte cable car.
How many lifts in the Espace Killy?
There are currently 76 lifts in the Espace Killy.
What’s the longest run in the Espace Killy?
The longest run in the Espace Killy is not for the faint of heart… It’s called La Sache, a 10km black (one of the longest in Europe) that starts from Aiguille Percée at 2,748m and descends down to Tignes Les Brévières at 1,550m.
On the way it takes in the Eye of the Needle, a spectacular natural rock formation, as well as some savagely steep sections and many mean moguls.
What’s the most difficult run in the Espace Killy?
If La Sache sounds like a breeze to you, you could always try La Face de Bellevarde, a steep, thrilling black that hosted the men’s downhill race in the 1992 Olympics.
Are there any glaciers in the Espace Killy?
Yes, there are two glaciers in the Espace Killy, the Pissaillas glacier in Val d'Isère and the Grande Motte in Tignes.
Both are open for summer skiing.
What are the top apres bars in the Espace Killy?
We’ve already discussed the excellent après in the Espace Killy, but where should you go if you want to make the most of it?
The original Folie Douce, now ubiquitous across the Alps, is in Val d'Isère - a great starting point if you want to sink a few in the birthplace of what many now consider the quintessential après experience.
Cocorico and Bananas are also good places for a post ski pint and a boogie, or try l'Ouillette or Sun Bar for a quiet drink.
You would also do well to end your day of skiing in Tignes Le Lac.
There you’ll find Loop Bar and the Marmot Arms, both classic après spots with live music, large terraces and DJs.
Later in the evening, head for Jacks in Le Lac, or Le Melting Pot and Blue Girl in Val Claret.
How much does an Espace Killy lift pass cost?
You have a number of options for lift passes in the Espace Killy ski area. For the 2024/25 ski season, the prices are as follows:
| Duration | Adult rate | Child or senior rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €71 | €59 |
| 6/7 days | €426 | €354 |
| 13/15 days | €923 | €767 |
Discover the best deals on Espace Killy Ski Holidays
Book a ski trip to the Espace Killy ski area this coming winter and you won’t be disappointed.
It has one of the best snow records in the Alps, slopes and accommodation to suit all needs and abilities, and excellent après bars and restaurants.
At Iglu Ski, we’ve just seen a fresh fall of package and non-package deals for the next season, with great prices to be found on everything from luxury chalets in Val d'Isère to affordable apartments in Val Claret.
Make sure to get in touch with our ski specialists to see what incredible deals they can find for you on top Espace Killy ski holidays.