Val d’Isere Ski Holiday Resort
Overview
What can one write about Val d'Isere that hasn't already been written? Samuel Johnson once said "When a man is tired of London he is tired of life.".................. Well, we at Snowfinders think this should have been written about Val d'Isere. This resort delivers at all levels with its fantastically varied terrain, superb off piste, and a huge selection of pisted runs to suit all levels, from the fearsome black that is the "Face" to the lovely rolling blues down to Le Fornet situated at the top end of the valley. The Espace Killy is named after a son of Val d'Isere, Jean Claude Killy, one of Frances most famous Olympic skiers, and is a huge area with 300 kms of pisted runs over the resorts of Val d'Isere and Tignes.
The links between the two resorts are modern and quick and you can ski from one end to the other (and back) very easily. The lift and bus service in Val d'Isere is second to none and wherever you finish your day you will never wait more than 10 minutes to get a bus back to where you need. There is a lot of ski in ski out accommodation throughout the valley with a well linked lift system in between, so wherever you stay you're never too far from a lift. Experts and intermediates have a huge selection of pisted runs depending on the level of challenge they want to set themselves. Why not try the gentle runs from the top of the Olympic telecabine as a warm up and then up again and take on the World Cup downhill "OK" run finishing in La Daille.
Beginners and early intermediates will enjoy the Solaise area with a lot of gentle greens and blues, but remember to get the lift back down as the red piste "M" back into town is steep in places and can be busy and icy. Also suitable would be the area from the top of the Bellevarde lift. Apres ski could best be described as energetic. You could maybe start off dancing on the tables at the Folie Douce at the top of the La Daille gondola, then ski down into town and hit the Moris pub with live music and toffee vodkas!! If you still have the energy the Petit Danois and Pacific bar are good places to relax and re-energise getting you ready to take on the famous Dicks T bar.
Offslope/apres ski
There are good leisure facilities, a great range of shops in the centre of Val d’Isere, and the tourist office runs different evening events during the season. The mountain restaurants are limited and can get quite crowded. Eating out in resort is a different story with a great variety of restaurants suiting all tastes and budgets. Equally there is a great selection of bars with happy hours and music.
Overview
Another super resort with extensive skiing to suit all levels, plenty of slope side accommodation, a great snow record and long season. Once you've been to Val d'Isere you will understand why so many people return year after year.
At a glance
- Pistes:
- 300km
- Resort height:
- 1850m
- Top station:
- 3455m
Suitability
Positives
- Huge interlinked ski area
- Fantastic lift served off piste runs
- Attractive lively resort
- High altitude and snow sure
Negatives
- Runs back to the village can be a bit daunting for nervous skiers
- Poor signage on runs
- Can be pricey
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