Val d’Isere is one of the most popular and visited resorts in the Alps. It is busy all year round, and does get particularly crowded during school holidays. Val d’Isere has a consistent snow record combined with some of the world’s best piste grooming facilities meaning that conditions are good all season long! It is one of the more premium resorts and this does come at a price tag especially over school holidays however the vast selection of accommodation available means you will always be able to find yourself something suitable.

There are several free bus routes which links all the different villages and various ski areas. The red line is the most popular, running from La Daille all the way through to Le Fornet, including a stop at the Rond Point des Pistes, for the ski school meeting point. This line runs approximately every 5 minutes throughout the day and at a reduced frequency into the night. There is also an additional 2 lines which go in circular routes up to Le Joseray/ Le Leggetaz and then in the direction of the Fall Line Bar.

Another key feature of getting around the resort is the ski lifts. Over the past few years, the resort has been slowly updating the lift system, most notably the Solaise bubble up to the beginner area was built for the 16/17 winter and the new La Daille bubble opened in the winter of 18/19. In addition to these, the Olympique gondola is the world’s largest sit-down cable car. There are also other lifts from Le Laisinant and Le Fornet which transports visitors up into the mountains.

The most common way of getting around Val d’Isère is on foot. The resort is relatively flat and is not too large so it is possible to get all around the resort centre in about 20 minutes. Val d’Isère operates a white road policy to be as environmentally friendly as possible so the roads can be icy and sturdy shoes are a necessity.

Val d’Isère has a wide range of restaurants from burger takeaways to Michelin starred fine dining establishments. Therefore regardless of what your budget is, there is no shortage of choice. Many of the venues are open for both lunch and dinner, and many of the mountain restaurants also offer access for pedestrians via the ski lifts. Many of the restaurants do get busy, especially in peak weeks, it is always advisable to book even for mountain lunches in the table service
establishments. Here is a small selection of what the resort has to offer:

Mountain Restaurants

Peau de Vache is located on the Bellevarde section of the ski area, midway down the infamous Face black run. If you don’t fancy skiing this, then the Bellevarde Express chairlift will let pedestrians use it to get up and down to the restaurant.

La Fruitiere is situated above La Daille, next door to the Folie Douce bar. This eye-catching restaurant offers wholesome dishes such as pasta, grilled fish and burgers, as well as more unusual items like oysters. This is one of the pricier mountain venues and for those wanting some privacy, the restaurant occasionally opens up their air-conditioned wine cellar for exclusive use for large groups.

L’Edelweiss is positioned on the blue Mangard piste just above Laisenant. This venue becomes particularly popular in the summer months due to a large outside terrace. When the weather is not so good, space inside is limited, but the food and roaring fire more than make up for this. Their highlights include the casse-croûte du berger and a delicious tartiflette.

Le Signal is just at the top of the Le Fornet cable car. There is a self-service restaurant on the bottom floor and a table service venue above this. The walls are adorned with artwork from local artists, making for a bright and cheery atmosphere. The menu is mostly traditional French cuisines which make the most of seasonal, fresh ingredients
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Mountain restaurants in this area can be very pricey, for those wanting a more causal and better value affair, there are a few good options which are worth heading to. A favourite in the spring and summer months is Bar de l’Ouillette. They stock a selection of sandwiches, quiches and other light snacks from the Chevallot bakery, in the resort centre, as well as a BBQ in the warmer weather. Another good option is Le Datcha offering self-service, traditional, delicious cuisine.

In the Resort

Les Tufs is the main restaurant in La Daille, next to the Funival funicular station. It is a large venue with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a selection of deck chairs. There are 2 parts to this venue, a table service and snack bar. The snack bar offers some delicious sandwiches, chips and hot dogs, perfect for a quick stop off. The restaurant part has a wide menu, from salads to pizza to grilled meats. Both are very reasonably priced and enjoyable which is why it is a local favourite.

Le Lodge has for many years hogged the middle market for eateries in Val d’Isère. It is a peculiar place, accessed through a small, almost hidden door, then continue past the curtains and up into the restaurant. Once you make it up there, the venue is cosy, with lots of large tables, ideal for groups of all sizes. The menu is excellent value and offers many traditional fares such as fondue, as well as pizzas. But many are tempted by the succulent steak, at one of the best prices in the resort.

Chez Paolo is a go to for pizza! It has a central location at the Ront Point des Pistes, making it easy to get to throughout the day and on the bus at night. It is a popular venue for families due to its child-friendly atmosphere and menu. They also do pizzas to takeaway if this works better for your group.

L’Étable d’Alain is a more unusual restaurant. It is attached to the La Ferme de l’Adroit dairy on the outskirts of the main resort centre. It is located in a converted stable and serves many of the farm’s own products. This means that this is often heralded as the best fondue and raclette in the resort. They even have 7 varieties of raclette for you to choose from.

La Taverne d’Alsace specialises in a combination of French and Alsatian cuisine. Located underneath the Hotel Kandahar, right in the heart of the resort centre, it is a popular restaurant. Highlights include the duck shepherd’s pie and rack of lamb.

La Grande Ourse was originally opened in 1936 as Val d’Isere’s fine dining restaurant. The resort had just one lift, which was conveniently just outside the restaurant’s door. For some, it is still considered to be the finest restaurant in the resort. The menu features dishes such as lobster ravioli, duck foie gras and grilled Dover sole.

L’Etincelle is one of the newer restaurants, opening in the winter of 17/18. It is positioned on the slopes at the foot of the Solaise. It can be accessed easily by foot or on skis. The modern decoration is simple but pretty, and has a menu specialising in pizzas and barbecued meats.

Val d’Isère is home to 2 Michelin starred restaurants. L’Atelier d’Edmond is situated in Le Fornet and holds 2 Michelin stars. There are various menus to choose from, including several different tasting menus and the a la carte menu. For larger groups, they often take a deposit and ask the group to order in advance. The other venue is La Table de l’Ours, inside the Barmes de l’Ours hotel. Highlights include the ginger and line roasted scampi and the rack of lamb. This one of the more formal establishments that Val d’Isère has.

If you are travelling in a large group or with your family, it might be an idea to see if there are any activities other than skiing and snowboarding. There might be people who do not fancy spending all day on the mountain or do not ski at all.

Val d’Isère has a wide range of activities for all ages. There are some activities such as parapenting which have an age limit and do require some basic ski knowledge. However this is the minority.

Dog sledging is a lovely experience that everyone can enjoy. It is often something that couples or families choose to do together. The sledges can an adult and 2 children or 2 adults. There is also the opportunity to drive the mush of dogs, as well as be a passenger. This is a popular activity and does get booked up quickly, so it is best to book in advance.

Winter Walking and snowshoeing are some of the more peaceful activities. It is possible to go winter walking without a guide, however it is advisable to collect a piste map from the tourist office with the different trails marked on it. For snowshoeing, many companies offer a guide. This a calming experience as they take you on the best paths and tell you about the area and the nature of the resort.

Nordic Skiing is completely free in Val d’Isère. There are several circuits totalling 21km, throughout the resort. The longest being around the Manchet Valley near to the Le Joseray accommodation area. Some of the trails are up around the Ouillette Lake at the top of the Solaise lift, for this you will need a pedestrian pass. If you have never tried Nordic skiing, many of the ski schools do have lessons to show you the best techniques, or even to learn more about the different trails in the area.

Ice Skating is a popular winter activity for everyone. Val d’Isère has a small, outdoor rink located near to the Banana bar, just on the main snow front. It is open every day if the weather is good and the ice is in good condition. A pass for the rink and the ice skates are about 8 euros for adults with a small discount for children. 

Spa and massages are ideal for unwinding and relaxing those muscles after a long day on the slopes. There are multiple spas throughout the resort. They range from expensive but stunning ones such as the Hotel Barmes de l’ours to a travelling masseuse who will come to your accommodation.

Ice Driving is an unusual activity that is only available in a few resorts. The circuit is 800m long with various technical features such as hairpins, fast bends, curves and climbs. You are able to ride as a passenger in a more luxurious vehicle with a trained driver or you can opt to drive a quad bike or go-kart.

Ski Schools are abundant in Val d’Isère with many options, all specialising in something different. Ski Schools across the Alps have developed drastically over the past few years offering all sorts of different sessions for all abilities.

Most people choose between group and private lessons. Group lessons are more sociable with up to 8 people in a group (this can change per ski school) and can also work out cheaper. However because there are more people, group lessons are less intense than private lessons. Private lessons allow clients more freedom as they can choose what they would like the lesson to focus on.

Choose Oxygene for English-speaking instructors who provide fun-filled, expert teaching for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. Their kids' group lessons start from age 3 and go right through to their teenage Pro-rider lessons for teens who are too cool for ski school. Whatever your level or discipline, Oxygene is there to help you get the most from your ski holiday.

New Generation offer both private and group lessons for all ages and abilities. They also have a lot of flexibility with their private lessons, allowing visitors to choose their lesson length from 2 hours up to 6 hours. They offer a special Pro-Rider group for teenagers where they have a different discipline every day.

ESF is the biggest ski school in the area, with around 250 ski instructors over the Tignes and Val d’Isere area. They have a wide range of lessons, but this is especially true for children with lunch time classes, competition days and freestyle courses. They also have a large snow garden for children over 3. They also provide care for children over 3 in their Club Piou Piou.

Evolution 2 aim to see progression in the shortest amount of time across all their lessons. They have particularly strong children’s tuition with several academies tailored to help progression. During the peak weeks they also offer a Teen Xtreme session, this is sure to keep any adventurous teens on their toes! Check-up clinics are also a popular feature, they are shorter but more intense stints.

Progression focus on tailor making their ski lessons to their clients. They have a range of lessons for all ages and abilities. In addition to group and private lessons, off-piste clinics, telemarking lessons and taster clinics are also available.

There are several free bus routes which links all the different villages and various ski areas. The red line is the most popular, running from La Daille all the way through to Le Fornet, including a stop at the Rond Point des Pistes, for the ski school meeting point. This line runs approximately every 5 minutes throughout the day and at a reduced frequency into the night. There is also an additional 2 lines which go in circular routes up to Le Joseray/ Le Leggetaz and then in the direction of the Fall Line Bar.

Another key feature of getting around the resort is the ski lifts. Over the past few years, the resort has been slowly updating the lift system, most notably the Solaise bubble up to the beginner area was built for the 16/17 winter and the new La Daille bubble opened in the winter of 18/19. In addition to these, the Olympique gondola is the world’s largest sit-down cable car. There are also other lifts from Le Laisinant and Le Fornet which transports visitors up into the mountains.

The most common way of getting around Val d’Isère is on foot. The resort is relatively flat and is not too large so it is possible to get all around the resort centre in about 20 minutes. Val d’Isère operates a white road policy to be as environmentally friendly as possible so the roads can be icy and sturdy shoes are a necessity.

Val d’Isere is one of the most popular resorts for groups of holidaymakers visiting the Alps. The all-round resort has something for everyone from its beginner friendly slopes to its wild apres parties. Val d’Isere offers a host of different accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets from self catering apartments to luxury chalets and hotels.

Ski Schools are abundant in Val d’Isère with many options, all specialising in something different. Ski Schools across the Alps have developed drastically over the past few years offering all sorts of different sessions for all abilities.

Most people choose between group and private lessons. Group lessons are more sociable with up to 8 people in a group (this can change per ski school) and can also work out cheaper. However because there are more people, group lessons are less intense than private lessons. Private lessons allow clients more freedom as they can choose what they would like the lesson to focus on.

Choose Oxygene for English-speaking instructors who provide fun-filled, expert teaching for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. Their kids' group lessons start from age 3 and go right through to their teenage Pro-rider lessons for teens who are too cool for ski school. Whatever your level or discipline, Oxygene is there to help you get the most from your ski holiday.

New Generation offer both private and group lessons for all ages and abilities. They also have a lot of flexibility with their private lessons, allowing visitors to choose their lesson length from 2 hours up to 6 hours. They offer a special Pro-Rider group for teenagers where they have a different discipline every day.

ESF is the biggest ski school in the area, with around 250 ski instructors over the Tignes and Val d’Isere area. They have a wide range of lessons, but this is especially true for children with lunch time classes, competition days and freestyle courses. They also have a large snow garden for children over 3. They also provide care for children over 3 in their Club Piou Piou.

Evolution 2 aim to see progression in the shortest amount of time across all their lessons. They have particularly strong children’s tuition with several academies tailored to help progression. During the peak weeks they also offer a Teen Xtreme session, this is sure to keep any adventurous teens on their toes! Check-up clinics are also a popular feature, they are shorter but more intense stints.

Progression focus on tailor making their ski lessons to their clients. They have a range of lessons for all ages and abilities. In addition to group and private lessons, off-piste clinics, telemarking lessons and taster clinics are also available.

The main lift pass in Val d’Isère covers the entire 300km Espace Killy. This gives visitors access to 2 glaciers, over 300km of pistes as well as a large array of off-piste skiing. The Espace Killy is great for all abilities with a wide variety of runs so everyone can enjoy it equally. This splits out at 15% green, 42% blue, 26% red and 17% black.

The pass is available for multiple lengths of time. The right one for you will be slightly different if you are a beginner as you may not progress up the lifts straight away. They tend to start on the nursery slopes which have free lifts. These are aimed at complete beginners and offer a great starting point. The free lifts are the Lanches drag lift in La Daille, the Legettaz lift, Savonette lift, Rogoney and Village lifts all on the Solaise. If you are unsure then it is advisable to wait to buy a pass until you have met your instructor. They can then advise when the best day to buy a pass will be and for how long, this will save you money.

The prices below are a rough guide, they are based on the most recent costs, however they could change before the start of the 18/19 winter season.

Day              Chid (5-13)    Adult (14-64)    Senior (65-74)
Weekday      € 46.00         € 57.00            € 46.00
Weekend      € 46.50         € 57.00            € 46.00
Half Day       € 35.50          € 44.00             € 35.50
2-day pass    € 80.00          € 99.00             € 80.00
6-day pass    € 228.00        € 285.00           € 228.00

Lift passes are free for those under the age of 5 and over the age of 75. Although the lift pass is free, there is a 3€ charge for the actual card that the lift pass is loaded onto.

For families the resort offers the Family Pass. This is for at least 2 adults and 2 children (anyone aged 5-17 for this pass), it allows all members to be charged the child price, providing a saving. All the passes must be for the same length of time, either 6 or 7 days, and proof of ID for all the family members is required. Extra children can be added on to the pass, which is great for teenagers who would normally have to pay adult prices. This offer is only available for children and their parents or grandparents.

If you have members of your group who do not ski, it is possible for them to purchase a pedestrian pass. This allows them access up some of the ski lifts and to return on the lifts too. They can meet the rest of the group for lunches and drinks up the mountain, or even go for a gentle stroll around the top to experience the views.

                          Adult (14-64)    Child/ Senior (5-13/ 65-74)
1 Return Trips     €13.50              €11.00
1 Day                 €20.00              €16.00
6 Days               €54.00              €43.50

Discounted passes are not widely available throughout the season. Groups of 20 or more will be eligible for a discount and it is likely that those travelling at the very beginning or end of the season will benefit from a reduced price.

It is possible to pre-book your lift passes before travelling, but they are also widely available from several lift pass centres located throughout Val d’Isère. Some accommodation companies also offer lift passes at the same rate as the centres, but they will deliver it directly to your chalet or hotel.