Description
Tignes is without doubt one of the world’s most popular ski resorts. With the Grande Motte Glacier providing year round skiing it is a snow sure resort all winter and many people even choose to visit it in the summer months.
Tignes is linked with the renowned resort of Val d’Isere to form the Tignes-Val d’Isère Ski Area. Together they create an immense skiable domain, with two glaciers and over 300km of piste to play with making it one of the largest ski areas in Europe.
Unlike many adjoining resorts, Tignes and Val d’Isere are naturally connected - with only one lift separating them. This ease of accessibility between the resorts has made the full area lift pass very popular for all experiences as both resorts have such a wonderful array of slopes that everyone will be able to take advantage of. The vast and varied pistes include 21 green, 69 blue, 44 red and 25 black runs including the world famous La Face and La Sache.
Tignes consists of five villages; Les Brevieres, Tignes 1800, Le Lavachet, Le Lac and Val Claret - all villages are at different heights connected by a single road. All of the villages have direct access to the slopes and no matter where you stay you are only ever a few lifts away from the central village of Le Lac. Les Brevieres and 1800 are the lowest villages. Le Lavachet, Le Lac and Val Claret all rest at 2100m. These three are the biggest and form the main area of the resort.
The village of Tignes Le Lac was not founded until 1952, when the original village of Tignes was flooded to make the dam and the Lac de Chevril. The original villagers were given pieces of land to create a new village, what is now the village of Le Lac. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the first ski lift was built to connect Les Brevieres with its neighbours. However Tignes and Val d’Isere were put on the map when they hosted events in the 1992 Albertville Olympic Games. Tignes hosted the freestyle events whilst Val d’Isere held the Alpine skiing including the Men’s Downhill.
All the villages of Tignes are home to a host of shops, restaurants and bars as well as plenty of accommodation from self-catering apartments to incredible chalets and hotels. Its cosmopolitan centres combined with the vast ski area have made it one of the most popular Alpine skiing destinations, ticking many of the criteria that holidaymakers look for.
Getting There
Unless you have booked a package holiday where the travel is all sorted for you, you will have to think about how you are going to get to and from resort. Despite being tucked away in the Alps and with only one road in or out, there are plenty of options for getting to Tignes.
Fly
The most common way to get to the resort is to fly. There are four local airports to Tignes:
• Chambery- 142km- 2 hrs
• Geneva- 221km- 2hr50
• Grenoble- 223km- 2hr45
• Lyons- 219km- 2hr45
During the winter season (December- April) there are a huge number of flights in and out daily from all four of the above airports. Grenoble and Chambery tend to be busier at weekends and are closed during the summer months. Whereas Geneva and Lyons are both international airports so remain busy all year round. Which airport you choose to fly to will depend on cost and your UK departure airport. Geneva has the most options, with plenty of flights from a range of destinations. Chambery is the closest airport but is small and can be hectic. It also has very few scheduled flights with the majority of their arrivals being chartered tour operators. Grenoble is similar to Chambery but has more scheduled flights. Lyon is much larger than Chambery and Grenoble and has a lot of arriving European flights rather than UK based ones.
Transfers from the Airport
There are several companies who offer shared and private transfers to get you from the airport to the resort. It is worth checking transfer arrangements before booking flights especially if you want a shared transfer as these are less regular and you don’t want to be waiting around at the airport.
Which transfer company you use will depend on your group size, flight times and budget. It is also important to factor in how much luggage you are taking, especially if you are bringing any equipment. There is limited room in the boot so it might be better to make the transfer company aware in advance so they can factor the luggage space in, so as the vehicle does not get too cramped. Our recommended transfer companies include:
Alti-Bus provides shared transfers from Geneva, Chambery and Lyon.
Alpine Sherpa provide shared and private transfers from Geneva, Lyon, Chambery and Grenoble.
Ben’s Bus offer direct shared transfers from Geneva, Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble airport. They mostly run only at the weekends and Fridays so are not available to use midweek.
Cool Bus run private transfers from any resort within the Tarentaise Valley and go to Geneva, Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble. They also offer private transfers up to Tignes from the Eurostar station in Bourg St, Maurice. They also run throughout the week so it is better to contact them directly for the most competitive price as they do not use a flat rate.
Mountain Rescue provide private transfers from Geneva, Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble. For those travelling on a weekday they often run a discounted service.
Simply Transfers offer private transfers from Geneva, Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble. They also offer transfers from different resorts and Bourg St. Maurice to Tignes. Shared transfers are available from Geneva only. They are able to accommodate large groups with vehicles up to 60 people.
Whiterides provide private transfers from any airport and train station throughout the week to any resort in the Tarentaise Valley. Resort-to-resort transfers are also available.
Snowdrone provide luxury shared and private transfers from Geneva, Chambery, Lyon and Grenoble. Their private transfers are very flexible and can operate from anywhere within the Tarentaise Valley to Tignes.
If you are looking for a bit more luxury and an even shorter transfer time then Whitetracks Helicopters offer transfers for up to 4 people from any of the above airports and provide a separate vehicle for luggage. Helicopters are susceptible to the weather though, if there is any cancellation vehicles are provided at no extra cost.
Train
The nearest train stations to Tignes is in Bourg St. Maurice which is approximately 45 minutes away from the resort. The Eurostar runs from London St Pancreas and Kent Ashford directly to Bourg St. Maurice. There is also a night Eurostar service which does allow some extra time to squeeze in a few more hours on the mountain. Although the train takes longer than flying it is more environmentally friendly but also it can be economically friendly too when travelling with lots of luggage as no extra charges are incurred for the quantity and weight of luggage.
Drive
Many people do enjoy driving out to the Alps, this can especially can be helpful with lots of luggage as there is no weight restriction. If coming from the UK, you can either take the ferry or travel via the Channel Tunnel. The Channel Tunnel departs approximately every 15 minutes from Folkestone and takes 35 minutes. Prices start from £90 each way. To book your crossing head to
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/home/.
Alternatively the ferry runs from Hull to Zeebrugge or Dover to Calais with P&O Ferries. The Hull ferry operates daily and runs overnight arriving in Zeebrugge at 08:45am. The Dover to Calais ferry operates multiple times every day, up to 23 times and takes 90 minutes. To book either of these ferry crossings head to
http://www.poferries.com/en/portal.
Upon arrival in France/ Belgium remember to drive on the right hand side of the road! Also note that there will be several tolls along the route to your final destination, these will all be located on the opposite side of the car to the driver, so it is easy to have a passenger ready to make payments and take any receipts. The prices of these tolls will vary on the route that you take, the approximate cost of these tolls will be 75€.
European travel/ vehicle requirements are very strict and on the spot fines can be issued if you do not meet the requirements. The most common of these are headlight converters, GB sticker, warning triangle, spare bulbs, breathalysers, and high viz vests for each passenger in the car.
Although the local municipalities work tirelessly to keep the roads clear, there are times when the roads may become snowy or icy. It is a legal requirement in France to carry snow chains in your vehicle, if you do not, the police will refuse you access on certain mountain roads. When driving in these conditions, slow down when you encounter any snow, use high gears to avoid wheel spin and keep moving when driving up an incline on snow.
It can be useful to have a car whilst you’re in resort if your accommodation is far away from the centre and slopes. Even though Tignes is quite spread out as a resort, it is very easy to get around with an excellent lift service and a free bus service running between Val Claret, Le Lac and Le Lavachet, plus a second free bus between Tignes 1800 and Le Lac
In terms of parking in Tignes there are five covered car parks and one uncovered car park throughout the villages. The largest being in Le Lac, Lavachet and Val Claret. You must have a car permit to park in any of these which are available from the tourist office in Maison des Tignes for either a day or a week. There is also a large free outdoor parking in Val Claret. Traffic wardens frequently patrol the streets and towing and ticketing is quite a common occurrence, especially if they are wanting to clear the roads of snow.
When to Go
With peaks running up to a dizzying 3,455 metres, Tignes is a high-altitude and snowsure ski resort, so from December’s early-season period right through to the end of April, skiers and snowboarders here can experience as good a snowfall as the Alps has to offer. The glacier skiing available offers mapped pistes far higher than many other resorts across Europe, and it’s this amazing snow record that keeps people coming back winter after winter.
Festive celebrations
When Christmas and New Year tick round in Tignes, the resort makes a big effort for visitors. Tignes isn’t a very pretty resort so it’s slightly lacking on the festive charm front, but what it lacks there, it more than makes up for in hassle-free ski access. For New Year, revellers gather for the traditional fireworks, and Tignes’ spectacular location high in the Alps makes for a spectacular setting.
January and February
Once the busy festive period is out of the way, January sees Tignes returning to business as normal. The pistes are typically wonderfully peaceful in early January, with regular dumps of fresh snowfall to enjoy. The entirety of the Tignes-Val d’Isère Ski Area is typically open, with the gondolas and chairlifts whisking eager skiers up to the four corners of the ski area. Pistes are beautifully groomed in the evenings, and the lower temperatures make for beautifully crisp, corduroy slopes each morning.
February is the schools’ half term, with families from France, the UK and farther afield sharing the expansive slopes. Although the queues are sometimes a little longer, the chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars of the Tignes-Val d’Isère Ski Area are modern and rapid – perfectly capable of handling the added pressure. With thousands of eager skiers and snowboarders enjoying swift uplift onto the snowy slopes, the extra capacity is rarely a problem.
Spring in Tignes
As the cold winds and heavy snowfall of December and January slowly give way to the longer days, sunnier skies and warmer conditions of March and April, Tignes’ high altitude attracts savvy skiers and snowboarders escaping the retreating snowline lower down the valleys. Many of the resort’s slopes are north facing and therefor sheltered from the sun, and regular flurries of fresh snow keep the pistes in great condition.
Authorities advise extreme caution to skiers and boarders heading off piste throughout the entire duration of the winter ski season in Tignes, but spring conditions mean the snowpack can be deceptively loose at this time of year. Powerful piste-bashers move the snow around the valleys to where it’s most needed on the pistes, and even when the snow coverage between the mapped runs begins to dwindle, you can still be guaranteed some of the best spring snow coverage of any resort in the Alps in Tignes.
Where to Stay
Tignes is constructed of five different villages. They are all connected by one road, and a bus route regularly runs between them all. Each of the villages vary in size and have all the major facilities. They each have easy access to the extensive lift system for Tignes and connections to Val d’Isère. This allows Tignes to offer a huge variety of accommodation for all budget and sizes.
We have accommodation in all of the villages in Tignes. Below we have listed an outline of all the villages within Tignes and a selection of the accommodation in them.
Les Brevieres
Tignes’ lowest village at 1550m, based at the bottom of the famous dam, Tignes Les Brevieres is the oldest village and the only part of Tignes which was not purpose built. Nestled next to the river, it has a reputation for being the prettiest village in Tignes. The chalets here tend to be more traditional converted farmhouses.
It has excellent skiing lifts provided by the Sache bubble lift. For beginners there is the free Pitots draglift for them to practice on before heading up the main lifts. The village offers many great restaurants. There are not a lot of bars here but there is still a great atmosphere at après time.
Chalet Alistelle Chalet Arabette Blanc Bleu Apartments
Tignes 1800
This is the quietest village that Tignes has to offer. It is located just across the infamous dam in Tignes. It also houses the reconstruction of the original church which was flooded in the 1950s. The village was renovated a few years ago and has since becoming increasingly popular. Mostly due to the very reasonable prices that all the accommodation there is.
There are good ski connections here as well. The gondola takes you up to the Aiguille Percee and then access to Le Lac is just a short ski down. There is also a free magic carpet for beginners in the vicinity as well.
The restaurant and après scene are quite limited here with most of them contained within the few hotels. However it is home to the unusual Wilderness Camp which would be a great experience for one night during your stay. Alternatively it is a 10 minute bus ride up to Le Lac and this runs throughout the day.
Chalet Alpinium 1 Chalet Alpinium 2 Chalet Hotel Le DomeLe Lavachet
Le Lavachet is a hamlet located just outside Tignes le Lac. This village is easily linked to Le Lac by a frequent bus service up to Val Claret. This is a slightly smaller and quieter village than the other two, but there is still quite a selection of bars and restaurants around.
Access up the mountain is easy here via the shuttle bus to Le Lac or a short walk to the Chaudannes or Paquis chairlifts.
Chalet RamoChalet Amelie
Le Lac
This large village is located right at the heart of Tignes at the side of the lac de Tignes. This is the village where all the original residents were located to in 1952, when they created the dam. Residing at 2100m, it is the most popular village to stay in. There is an abundance of bars and restaurants as well as all types of accommodation dotted around. It is a large village but this is compensated for by a quick and frequent shuttle that goes around the village as well as linking up to Le Lavachet and Val Claret.
This is also the main hub for lifts, with the Toviere gondola heading straight over to Val d’Isere and the Palafour chairlift whisking guests up to the Aiguille Percee. For beginners there is the free Rosset chairlift and a magic carpet.
Chalet Hotel Aigle Chalet Aiglon Chalet Ambre Chalet Anne Marie Grand Tourne Apartments Hotel Le Paquis
Val Claret
Val Claret also rests at 2100m and provides a similar array of restaurants and bars to Le Lac. This occupies the top area of Tignes with the Grande Motte looming over it. The accommodation here is always just a short walk away from the slopes of maximum 5 minutes. Most of the accommodation is also apartments and hotels rather than chalets. There are a few chalets but these tend to be located further away or within an apartment block.
This area of Tignes is renowned for not only an abundance of lifts but also its buzzing nightlife with two of the resorts nightclubs housed within the village.
Hotel Apart Hotel Le Chalet Alpina Chalet Chartreux Club Med Val Claret Chalet Valerie
Getting around
Tignes is a large resort with lots of different villages. It has been made quite easy to navigate as well by an efficient transport network. We have listed below the best ways to help you get your bearings once you arrive.
Bus Routes
There is a free bus service running between Val Claret, Le Lac and Le Lavachet and a second free bus between Tignes 1800 and Le Lac.
Ski Lifts
Tignes has an efficient lift system which is regularly being updated over the years. There are several major lifts which service each of the villages and whisk guests up the mountain. These include the Toviere bubble in Le Lac, the funicular in Val Claret and the Sache in Les Brevieres.
Taxi
Taxis are an efficient way to get around the resort, especially if you are staying in one of the smaller villages. However not all companies work every night so it is advisable to book a taxi in advance.
On Foot
Tignes is quite a hilly resort. It is doable to walk around the villages themselves and it is very easy to walk between Lavachet, Lac and Val Claret. However the route down to Les Boisses and Les Brevieres is on a busy mountain road with no footpath, so it much safer to take a bus or book a taxi.
Getting To Val d’Isere
To get there on skis simply take the Toviere or the Fresse lifts up and then ski down into the villages of Val d’Isere. Alternatively there is a regular bus which links the two resorts until 19:50. The bus costs approximately 6€.