In The Spotlight:
Quick facts on Val d'Isère
Val d'Isère Fast Facts
Domain altitude: 1,850m
Lowest slope: 1,550m
Highest lift: 3456m
Total pistes: 300km
Lifts: 76
**Runs: **154
- Green: 21 (14%)
- Blue: 67 (43%)
- Red: 42 (27%)
- Black: 24 (16%)
Getting There
The nearest airports are
- Chambéry (144km / 2hrs)
- Grenoble (216km / 2.5hrs)
- Lyon (221km / 2.5hrs)
- Geneva (226km / 2.5hrs).
Such is its popularity that Val d’Isère is very well connected by various private transfer services.
Thanks to the Eurostar, train travel is also a viable option. There’s a weekly service linking St Pancras International and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with departures from London on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, and return leg departures on Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. From Bourg-Saint-Maurice it’s an easy 40-minutes (30km) journey by taxi, or you can opt for the public bus service.
We Love
- Long winter season, running from late November to early May
- In terms of sheer size and variety of terrain, the ski area is practically unbeatable
- Modern and efficient lift system that effectively handles the crowds
The Downsides
- Prices can be very much like the resort’s most challenging black runs: steep!
- The prevalence of Brits can make it easy to forget you’re in France
- Incredible popularity means it can get very busy during peak season
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Val d’Isère is without doubt one of France’s prettiest domains. Originally dating from the 17th century, it has successfully retained much of its traditional charm, with attractive stone and wood buildings supplying character in abundance. Now partially car-free, it’s a thoroughly pleasant place to walk around, with a wealth of excellent shopping and dining options on offer.
A couple of kilometres towards the head of the valley lies Le Fornet, a sleepy and picturesque hamlet with some truly stunning Savoyard style chalets. Meanwhile, back down towards the lake at the mouth of the valley is La Daille, where the majority of the domain’s less expensive accommodation is to be found. Both are linked to Val d’Isère itself by a regular free bus service.