Val d'Isère Ski Resort Guide
Val d'Isère, France
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| Recommended For | Freeriders, Expert Skiers, Intermediates, Beginners, Snowboarders, Snowfall and Apres-Ski! |
|---|---|
| Total Piste Length | 150km |
| Highest Lift | 3,450m |
| Resort Height | 1,850m |
| Nearest Airports | Chambery and Turin Caselle |
| Save on Ski Hire |
Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère is one of the Alps' most celebrated resorts, sharing a massive ski area with Tignes. Its blend of high-altitude skiing, historic racing pedigree and refined village atmosphere draws skiers season after season.
Summary
Val d'Isère sits in the Tarentaise valley at the foot of the Grande Motte and Solaise massifs, linked with Tignes to form one of the largest ski areas in the world. The resort has hosted World Cup races and the 1992 Olympics, giving it a strong pedigree among serious skiers.
The ski area of Val d'Isère is in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,850m, with 150km of marked runs.
Val d'Isère is part of the Tignes-Val d'Isère ski area with access to 300km of downhill skiing, with 154 marked pistes, served by a total of 87 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Val d'Isère itself (150km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Tignes-Val d'Isère ski resort of Tignes.
The ski resort itself is at 1,850m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With ski lifts as high as 3,450m, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.
Notable Ski Runs
The longest possible descent in Val d'Isère is 10km long and the most difficult run is the 'La Face'.
Partner Offers
Snow and Weather
Val d'Isère benefits from high average snow depths thanks to its altitude, with snow-sure skiing typically from late November through to early May. Snowfall is often reliable across Solaise and Bellevarde, and glacier skiing on Tignes' Grande Motte allows for extended-season riding into early summer. For the most accurate and current snow depth and conditions, check the latest reports on J2Ski.
When will it snow in Val d'Isère?
The next notable snow forecast is 2cm, expected on 1 October.
See our long-range Snow Forecast for the latest update.
Snow this week
| Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ski Area Stats
Val d'Isère Ski Area
| Black Pistes Expert Trails | 25 | |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 46 | |
| Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 61 | |
| Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 22 | |
| Downhill Total Length | 150km | |
| Cross Country Total Length | 44km | |
| Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 87 | |
Tignes-Val d'Isère Ski Area
| Black Pistes Expert Trails | 24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Red Pistes Intermediate Runs | 44 | |
| Blue Pistes Easy Trails | 65 | |
| Green Pistes Beginner Runs | 21 | |
| Downhill Total Length | 300km | |
| Cross Country Total Length | 44km | |
| Ski Lifts Number of Lifts | 87 | |
Val d'Isère Altitudes
| Highest Lift | 3,450m |
|---|---|
| Resort Altitude (Val d'Isère) | 1,850m |
| Lowest Piste | 1,550m |
| Max Vertical | 1,900m |
Ratings & Suitability
| Freeriders | |
|---|---|
| Expert Skiers | |
| Intermediate Skiers | |
| Beginners | |
| Snowboarding | |
| Snow | |
| Apres-Ski |
Skiing
Val d'Isère's slopes rise from around 1,850m in the village to over 3,450m at the Pointe de la Grande Sache, with the whole ski area offering roughly 300km of pistes shared with Tignes. Key sectors include Solaise, Bellevarde and La Daille, connected by lifts such as the Solaise cable car, the Funival underground funicular and the Olympique cable car. Notable runs include the OK piste, a former World Cup downhill course, and the long, scenic Sache and Vallon de la Sache itineraries. The Rocher de Bellevarde offers access to steep terrain and the famous Face de Bellevarde run. Glacier skiing on the Grande Motte, reached from Tignes, extends the season into autumn and early summer. Val d'Isère is also known for excellent off-piste and freeride terrain, particularly around the Vallon de la Sache and Tignes glacier sectors.
There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.
Ski Lessons in Val d'Isère
To choose a Ski School, and book Group Ski Lessons or a Private Instructor, see Val d'Isère Ski Schools and Val d'Isère Ski Instructors.
Snowboarding
Val d'Isère offers strong terrain for freestyle riders and freeriders alike. The Snowpark in La Daille provides jumps, rails and a boardercross course, while the wide, varied pistes across Solaise and Bellevarde suit all levels. Off-piste bowls and couloirs around the Vallon de la Sache appeal to more advanced boarders seeking natural terrain.
Location and Map
Where is Val d'Isère?
This ski resort is in the French Alps.
Map
Tap 
for Full-Screen, or see J2Ski's Resort map, showing Hotels and Ski Shops.
How to get there
By Air
The nearest airport to Val d'Isère is Chambery, 100 minutes drive away.
Turin Caselle, Annecy, Geneva, Lyon St-Exupéry, Lyon Bron and Turin Cuneo airports are all within three hours drive.
The nearest major airport is Chambéry, around 2 hours' drive from Val d'Isère, though many visitors also fly into Geneva or Lyon, both roughly 3 hours away. Regular ski transfer buses and taxis connect these airports to the resort. By train, the closest station is Bourg-Saint-Maurice, from where local buses run up to Val d'Isère. Driving via the A43 and then the Route des Grandes Alpes offers scenic access, especially through the Iseran valley in summer months, though the resort is accessible year-round in winter via cleared mountain roads.
Infrastructure
Ski Lift Capacity
The 87 ski lifts are able to uplift 64,480 skiers and snowboarders every hour.
Snow Making
Snow-making is available, on 30km of ski runs, with 300 snow cannons.
Season Dates
When is Val d'Isère open?
We don't currently have confirmed season dates, but hope to soon.
Usual opening is late November (Re-opens for summer skiing from early June to early July), and usual closing is Early May.
NOTE:- Ski area, lift and piste opening is subject to Current Snow Conditions.
Trail Map
Talking about Val d'Isère
Mentions in recent J2Ski News Items and Snow Reports from our users...
Aprés Ski
Après-ski in Val d'Isère ranges from lively bars to refined dining. Dick's Tea Bar and La Folie Douce are popular for high-energy afternoons, while Café Face and Bananas draw crowds after skiing. For a more relaxed evening, try restaurants such as La Grande Ourse or L'Atelier d'Edmond, and later head to nightclubs like Doudoune Club for dancing into the night.
