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Val d'Isere Ski Holidays

Val d’Isère is a world famous ski resort, attracting visitors from all over the world. The resort sits at 1850m with the majority of its slopes at a higher altitude than this. This grants the resort an incredible snow record, with a season lasting from early December until late April. Its height also makes it one of the most snow sure resorts in the Alps.

In addition to its incredible snow, the resort offers a wide range of slopes with lots of pistes for all abilities. Val d’Isère is connected with the neighbouring resort of Tignes, combined they house over 300km of piste. In addition to the 22 greens, 61 blues, 46 reds and 25 black runs, there is a large amount of off-piste and 2 glaciers, one in both of the resorts.

The village of Val d’Isère was founded in 1664, but it wasn’t until the first lift was installed in the 1930s that people began to visit. At this time the resort was just a few chalets and hotels. The 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville put Val d’Isère on the map. People watched with awe as competitors hurtled down the Face de Bellevarde in the men’s downhill and slalom. Visitors flocked to the resort to try their hand at such a challenging run.

It is not only the skiing that attracts visitors to the area, it has a wide range of nightlife and après ski. The resort hosts the legendary venues of La Folie Douce and Dicks Tea Bar. This is only two of the many fantastic places that they have for visitors to enjoy. There are also several reputable restaurants both on and off the slopes as well as a wide range of accommodation from self-catered apartments to luxury chalets. Val d’Isère is one of the few resorts that can please everyone, from families to couples to groups of friends, there is no shortage of experiences.

Val d’Isère is known world-wide for its bars and nightclubs. There is definitely no shortage of places to choose from. This is just a small selection below!

Barillon de La Rosée Blanche is a small and intimate restaurant and bar next to the La Daille bus terminal. It has a roaring log fire throughout the day and some wooden stools to perch on. There is also a large terrace when the weather is good. The atmosphere is great, with all the staff shouting ‘Merci,’ in unison when anyone leaves a tip. They also do a fantastic Croque Monsieur, some locals even ring up in advance to reserve one, just in case they sell out!

La Folie Douce is Val d’Isère’s only mountain top après bar. It has earned a world-wide reputation for wild cabaret performances and extravagant themed parties. It is also attached to the La Daille bubble lift, so many people choose to come up in non-ski clothes and it is possible to take the lift back down if skiing back down at the end of the day seems a bit too much.

Cocorico is located at the bottom of the Solaise and Olympique lifts, just next to the Ront Point des Pistes. It is becoming increasingly popular due to its easily accessed location and fantastic après ski. There is a large outdoor terrace which often has a live band on and then a DJ towards 20:00.

Doudoune is the sister nightclub to Cocorico. It is actually based in the basement of the après bar. This is the only true rival to Dick’s Tea Bar, with fantastic decoration, world class DJs and extravagantly themed nights. On the 21st of every month throughout the winter, they host the largest party in Val d’Isere, Club 21. They also host famous bands and DJs sporadically throughout the season, housing names such as David Guetta and Sigala over the past few years.

Le Coin des Amis, sometimes known as Chez Jules, is a vibrant French bar in the centre of the resort. It has a cracking reputation amongst locals and you will probably see your ski instructor hanging out here. It is a cosy venue, with a few tables crammed in at the back and downstairs. However if there is enough snow, then the owner, Jules, builds an ice bar in the square outside the bar with hay bales to sit on.

Le Blizzard Hotel is one of Val d’Isère’s most expensive luxury hotels. It also holds a rustic bar serving delectable cocktails. There is a roaring fire with deep comfy sofas to sink into. It might be a pricey drink, but is definitely worth experiencing.

The Fall Line is a cosy and relaxed bar just above the main street, near the Ferme de Val complex. It is a go to for lots of different things with delicious cake and coffee during the day, reasonably priced drinks and excellent value happy hours at après time, and then fun themed nights, live music and DJ’s to dance the night away to.

Dicks Tea Bar is one of Val d’Isère’s iconic venues. It no longer opens immediately after the lifts have closed, but you will definitely find many people partying the night away here. From 10pm, there is am after dinner club with live music from an electric violinist and a sax player. At 12:30 it changes into a full nightclub and stays open until 5:30am. Over the next few years it will be relocated due to a redevelopment plan, but it will remain open.

The Moris Pub is a seasonnaire favourite, with inexpensive drinks, even cheaper happy hour at après time and regular live music, it is easy to see why it has so many fans.

Pacific Bar is the go to if you are an avid sports fan. They have 9 giant TVs to show all the top sports matches from across Europe. Football and rugby are always on show! It is a popular spot for the locals and tourists. It does get a little rowdier in the evenings with open mic nights, live music and DJs.

Le Petit Danois comes to life at après time, with pool tables, bar games and live bands most afternoons. If you’re feeling the effects of the night before, then the Scandie bar can also provide the cure, with a good old fry up.

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.

Snow shoeing

Avenue Olympique, 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 (0) 6 62 45 89 94

Snowmobiling

BP110 Galerie des Cimes, 73153

Val d’Isère Cedex

+33 (0)4 79 41 99 58

Sport and Leisure Centre

Route de la Balme 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 4 79 04 26 01

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

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.

Good for Couples

L’Atelier Edmond

Le Fornet, 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 (0)4 79 00 00 82

Good for Couples

La Peau de Vache

Piste de Bellevarde, BP 19

Val d’Isère

+33 4 79 06 11 29

Good for Couples

Le Lodge

Rue du Parc des Sports, 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 4 79 06 02 01

Good for Family

La Baraque

Immeuble Iseran, 2000

Val d’Isère

+ 33 (0)4 79 06 18 19

Good for Family

L'Avancher

Route du Prariond 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 4 79 06 02 00

Good for Friends

Alex Bar

Hotel La Galise

Rue de la Poste, 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 4 79 06 00 83

Good for Friends

Moris Pub

Rue Principale

Val d’Isère

Good for Friends

Petit Danois

Chalet Le Coin, 73150

Val d’Isère

+33 479 06 27 97

Val d’Isere is a brilliant resort for children, and has been popular amongst skiing families for many years. The slopes offer large pockets of more gentle terrain perfectly suited to children learning to ski, but off the slopes you’ll also find Val works well for children – the family facilities here are superb.

The resort’s sport centre offers a huge range of entertainment and activities for kids to enjoy. The swimming area has stream pools and water cannons and there’s a paddling pool for toddlers too. Alternative facilities available in the sports centre include a climbing wall, basketball court, indoor football and a host of racket sports, including tennis and badminton. http://www.centre-aquasportif.com/

The ice skating rink is located close to the town centre and offers skating sessions between 2pm and 6.30pm each day. Aside from skating, families can try their hand at ice karting here as well, though there’s an age restriction in place for safety.