Val d'Isère ski holidays
Overview
Plan your Val d'Isère ski holiday with MyChaletFinder. Val d'Isère is one of the French Alps' best-known high-altitude ski resorts, combining extensive skiing, a long season, lively après-ski and a traditional Alpine village atmosphere. As part of the Tignes–Val d'Isère ski area, you have access to around 300km of pistes, with accommodation ranging from ski-in/ski-out apartments to larger chalets for families and groups.
As well as catering for the cosmopolitan jetsetters who come to enjoy the vibrant night life, Val d'Isère is a firm favourite for family ski holidays - the kids are very well looked after with creche facilites and childrens clubs.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1850 m |
| Top lift | 3550 m |
| Piste (km) | 300 km |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Nearest airport | Chambery (135 km) |
Where to stay in Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère has a main centre which is the heartbeat of the resort plus several hamlets, the main ones being La Daille and Le Fornet. La Daille is located at the lower end of the valley and has the high-speed Funival lift for accessing the Tignes sector. Le Fornet sits at the top of the valley and has an authentic alpine charm with easy access to the high altitude pistes. Inbetween the Centre and Le Fornet, you'll find the traditional hamlets of Le Joseray, La Legettaz and Le Chatelard which are munch quieter and provide an extensive range of luxury chalet rentals.
| Area | Altitude | Best for | Character | Ski access | Ski-in, ski-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre | 1,850m | Everyone | Lively | Excellent | ✔ * |
| Le Fornet | 1,930 | Quieter holidays | Relaxed | Good | ✘ |
| La Daille | 1,785m | Everyone | Relaxed | Excellent for accessing Tignes | ✔ * |
| Joseray | 1,835m | Families | Traditional | Good | ✔ * |
| La Legettaz | 1,850m | Village atmosphere | Traditional | Excellent | ✔ * |
| Le Chatelard | 1,850m | Village atmosphere | Relaxed | Excellent | ✔ * |
* - not all properties are ski-in, ski-out
Skiing in Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère is a high-altitude ski destination with terrain to suit a wide range of abilities. The resort is connected to Tignes, allowing visitors to explore the wider Tignes –Val d'Isère ski area during their holiday.
Beginners have dedicated learning areas and gentle pistes, while intermediate skiers can enjoy a huge choice of blue and red runs. Advanced skiers can explore more challenging terrain and high-mountain areas, with off-piste opportunities available with a qualified professional.
One of the highlights is the Grande Motte glacier in the Tignes sector, which reaches more than 3,400m and provides some of the highest skiing in the resort. Whether you're planning your first ski trip or returning for another week in the Alps, Val d'Isère offers enough variety to keep you skiing somewhere different throughout your stay. For more information on Tignes - Val d'Isère ski area, see our Val d'Isère ski resort guide.
Ski-in, ski-out accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Val d'Isère and its hamlets that offer ski-in, ski-out accommodation. For example, Le Joseray which sits just to the south of the Centre has many holiday rentals that let you ski from your front door to the Bellevarde and Solaise slopes. If you are staying at Le Fornet, most properties are a short walkof between 70m to 200m from the base of the Le Fornet cable car so are not ski-in, ski-out.
Tignes - Val d'Isère ski area
Val d'Isère is lift-linked to Tignes and together, provide over 300kms of slopes for all levels of skier and snowboarder. With such a large connected ski area, Val d'Isère is an excellent base for skiers who want to explore and go ski-touring. You can see the various possibilities on the Val d'Isère piste map to see the layout. To get the most out of the ski area, you can book a guided off-piste ski lesson or hire a local guide.
When to go on a Val d'Isère ski holiday?
Val d'Isère's high-altitude terrain makes it an attractive destination throughout the main winter ski season.
- Christmas and New Year are popular for a festive ski holiday in the French Alps, although these dates are among the busiest and should be booked well in advance.
- January can offer excellent winter skiing conditions and is often a quieter alternative to the Christmas period
- February is particularly popular with families because of the school holidays, so accommodation and travel can be in high demand
- March combines good high-altitude snow with longer daylight hours and increasingly sunny conditions, making it a popular time for skiing
- April can be an excellent choice for late-season skiing in Val d'Isère, with the resort's high-altitude terrain providing good opportunities for spring skiing
Always check current lift operations, snow conditions and season dates before travelling.
Family ski holidays in Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère is a popular choice for family ski holidays, with beginner areas, ski schools and accommodation suitable for different group sizes.
Families can choose from apartments and chalets and combine skiing with activities away from the the resort centre yet still close to the ski lifts.
For information about children's and adult ski lessons and mountain guides, see our Val d'Isère ski schools guide.
Why choose a Val d'Isère ski holiday?
Val d'Isère is a fantastic choice if you want a high-altitude ski holiday with reliable snow and plenty of terrain to explore. The resort forms part of the Tignes – Val d'Isère ski area, giving skiers and snowboarders access to around 300km of pistes which you can see on the Val d'Isère piste map.
The high altitude is one of Val d'Isère' biggest attractions. The ski area reaches 3,456m and much of the terrain is above 2,000m, helping provide good skiing conditions throughout a long winter season.
There is also something for every type of skier. Beginners can learn on dedicated nursery slopes and gentle pistes, while intermediate skiers have an enormous variety of terrain to explore. Advanced skiers can enjoy challenging pistes, high mountain terrain and extensive off-piste opportunities with a qualified ski guide or as part of an off-piste ski lesson.
Whether you're planning a family ski holiday, a trip with friends or a couples' getaway, Val d'Isère combines excellent skiing with a good choice of accommodation, restaurants, bars and activities away from the slopes.
Why choose Val d'Isère rather than Tignes?
We think Val d'Isère is a particularly good choice if you prefer more of an historic, authentic Savoyard ski resort as opposed to the more purpose built villages in Tignes. The apres-ski in Val d'Isère is legendary with venues such as La Folie Douce and late-night spots like Dick's Tea Bar. Val d'Isère also offers more refined cocktail bars and dining options such as Michelin-starred La Table de l'Ours.
Val d'Isère ski holidays FAQ
Is Val d'Isère good for a ski holiday?
✔ Val d'Isère offers extensive skiing at high altitude for a wide range of abilities, together with restaurants, après-ski, off the slope activities and a choice of holiday accommodation.
Is Val d'Isère good for family ski holidays?
✔ Val d'Isère can work well for family ski holidays, with beginner areas, ski schools, family-friendly activities and accommodation for different group sizes.
Is Val d'Isère good for advanced skiers?
✔ Definitely, Val d'Isère is known for its advanced trails with steep pistes, plenty of off-piste itineraries and the long descents from the Grande Motte glacier.
Can I rent a chalet or apartment in Val d'Isère?
✔ Mychaletfinder has a dedicated selection of Val d'Isère holiday rentals, including chalets and apartments.
How many ski areas are connected to Val d'Isère?
✔ Val d'Isere is connected to Tignes and together they provide over 300 kms of lift-linked pistes plus extensive off-piste ski touring routes.
Is it easy to get to Val d'Isère?
✔ Transfers to Val d'Isère take just over 90 minutes from Chambery airport and around 3 hours from Geneva depending upon the road conditions. If arriving by train, the nearest railway station is St. Maurice with transfers up to the resort taking around 50 minutes. See our how to get to Tignes guide.
Is there summer skiing in Val d'Isère?
✔ Yes, you can ski on the Pissaillas Glacier, accessed via the Col de l'Iseran but is only open for a few weeks in June. For more extensive summer skiing, head to the Grande Motte glacier in Tignes with skiing at 3,456m. See our guide to summer skiing for lift opening times.
Ski holiday extras
If you are looking for an airport transfer, hire ski equipment or rent a car for your ski holiday in Val d'Isère, we have teamed up with leading providers where you can book directly online.
