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Tignes -The best bet for snow conditions in the Alps - a high, bleak resort with unattractive architecture but the most fantastic snow you'll find anywhere.Tignes is a purpose built resort where the French did very little to create an attractive welcoming space - it is bleak being well above the tree line with very little you could call pretty ..... except the snow!
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Snow conditions here are almost always fantastic - it is the highest area in the Alps and the only place where you can ski the whole year round thanks to the Grand Motte glacier. The resort has three main "villages" - Val Claret links to the glacier via an underground funiculaire railway which wizzes you up to 3000m in a matter of minutes, Tignes le Lac is the slightly lower, more lively resort, with Le Lavachet a little further down.
In recent years, Tignes have tried to smarten up their image and to create a more welcoming resort for families and children - however, the resort remains a heaven for experts and intermediates with varied terrain and an expansive area given it's link to the next door resort of Val d'Isere. For beginners, there are some slopes in the Le Lac area and a developing learner's area. However, if you're looking for long green runs to practice those turns - head for a different resort - like La Plagne, Meribel or Valmorel.
Nightlife in Tignes is quiet - it's a resort where you ski hard and go early to bed. There are several bars and restaurants but their trade is mostly early evening as you come off the slopes. If it's nightlife you're after, head for the neighbouring Val d'Isere or Meribel over the mountain in the Three Valleys
Getting There
By Car : Tignes can be accessed by road and is approximately 700 miles (1100 kms) from Calais - the resort is located at the end of the Tarentaise Valley and involves quite a hike after the end of the expresss dual carriageway at Moutiers. The road upwards from Bourg St Maurice (approx 20 miles) is quite tricky in places for those who are not used to navigating mountain roads. We provide comprehensive directions to our self drive guests and can offer ferry and tunnel crossings at attractive supplements.
By Air : The nearest airports are either Geneva or Lyon (St Exupery) and the transfer takes approximately 4 hours from either one. Both airports are served by the scheduled airlines direct from the UK including EasyJet who fly from a number of UK airports. Chambery airport is closer - approximately 1 hour transfer - but unfortunately does not benefit from many UK flights. We provide a transfer service from Geneva airport and other airports by arrangement.
By Rail : The international railway station of Bourg St Maurice is approximately 20 miles from the resort - the station is served by the Dover Snowtrain, the Charter Overnight services via Paris and the Direct Eurostar Services from the UK. We can provide rail tickets on any of these services and transfers from the station to the resort. There are also regular bus services from the station to the resort.
Resort recommended for:
Beginners, Intermediates, Advanced, Skiing for all standards, Moguls, Snowboarding, Off piste, Apres-ski, Families, Purpose-built convenience, Snow-sure resorts, Ski to door, Glacier
Nearest airports/stations:
Chambéry - 2 hours
Lyon - 2.5 hours
Bourg-St-Maurice - 0.5 hours
Geneva - 3 hours
Resort altitude: 2100m
On the snow: top: 2100m - bottom: 3456m
Lifts in area: 96 (6 cableways, 45 chairs, 41 drags)
Lift pass: Espace Killy (Val and Tignes) adult €192.50, child 5–12yrs €144.50, both for six days.
Trails/pistes: 300km
Part of the large well-linked Espace Killy ski area, shared with neighbouring Val d'Isère. Glacier skiing for most of the year and a reliable snow record. Convenient, but not for those seeking a traditional Alpine village ambience
This is France's most snow-sure and popular resort with the French and a cosmopolitan melting pot of other nationalities. It remains open for skiing for 10 months of the year and is a mandatory summer destination for national ski teams in training – and for all those who can't last from season to season without snow beneath their feet. The glacier used to be open 365 days a year, but the combination of damage from global warming, and a falling interest in summer skiing over the past decade, has caused the resort to 'rest' from mid-May until mid-June and again from early September until October. During the summer months 13 lifts serve 20km of high-altitude pistes with a respectable vertical drop of 750m.
Tignes is divided into four main areas with the main village also sub-divided into different quartiers. The resort lies at the head of the Haute Tarentaise, a 40-minute drive up the valley from Bourg-St-Maurice, and is connected by lifts and pistes to Val d'Isère. Together they form a 96-lift area with 300km of piste that is known as L'Espace Killy and has few equals for the diversity of its skiing and riding.
The main resort, built at 2100m, was a monument to the architectural horrors of the 1960s, a concrete jungle completely out of keeping with its beautiful setting beneath the twin peaks of La Grande Motte and La Grande Casse. However, huge investment in recent years has transformed Tignes into a much more aesthetically pleasing place. New buildings have been constructed in a sympathetic mountain style and the older beasts of are either being re-clad or torn down one by one for redevelopment.
Tignes itself divides into Le Lavachet with its high-rise apartment blocks, and more agreeable and convenient Tignes-le-Lac on the edge of a small lake. Le Lac has undergone a complete make-over in recent years and a tunnel acts as a bypass for through-traffic to the principal lift station still higher up at Val Claret.
This is the most convenient base for the skiing with immediate access to the underground funicular and the link lift to Val d'Isère. The much lower villages of Tignes-les-Boisses and the valley farming community of Tignes-les-Brévières provide a much more rural environment. They are well-linked into the lift system and cannon-assisted snow-cover usually remains sufficient in late April. However, it is a long way up through the lift system to reach La Grande Motte and Val d'Isère.
Mountain
Nightime in TignesThe focal point is the 3656m Grande Motte, reached from Val Claret by an efficient but claustrophobic funicular or by a long two-stage quad-chair. The train takes six minutes to reach the Panoramic mountain restaurant; from there a cable-car takes you to 3456m for the start of some spectacular glacial terrain. You need a local guide to explore the considerable powder opportunities such as the magnificent North Face leading through the séracs. Wide pistes for all standards lead back down to Val Claret. From mid-November until the lifts close in May this involves a vertical drop of 1400m. The terrain off to the sides appears benign but is dotted with crevasses and great care should be taken. A number of steep chutes, including the infamous Couloir Deux, can be reached from the funicular.
From Val Claret and the main village of Tignes other lifts lead up to the Col du Palet, where you can ski off-piste with a guide all the way to Les Arcs and linked La Plagne. The route off the back of the col is prone to avalanche and should only be attempted with a guide. Lifts also bring you up to the 2748m Aiguille Percée, the unusual rock formation that appears on almost every postcard of Tignes. The black La Sache run, which leads from here all the way to Tignes-les-Brevières at 1550m, is the finest in the resort.
The terrain park at Tignes-Le-Lac has a beginner half-pipe as well as an 1expert one, a snowcross course and assorted obstacles. There is a summer terrain park on the glacier and TIgnes has two dedicated freeride zones.
Lunch
Upstairs at L'Arbina, t +33 (0)479 06 34 78 in Le Lac is a gastronomic experience with a good-value daily formule skier menu. Specialities include rognons de veau and coquilles St Jacques, but you must book in advance.
Le Panoramic, t +33 (0)479 06 60 11, at the top of the Grande Motte funicular, has a good restaurant as well a large self-service with reasonable fare. La Pignatta, t +33 (0)479 06 32 97 in Val Claret has good pizzas, fresh pasta, and a sunny terrace.
Dine
In Le Lac, Upstairs at L'Arbina, t +33 (0)479 06 34 78 continues to be the best gourmet restaurant in the area. Le Clin d'Oeil, t +33 (0)4 79 06 59 10 is small and intimate. Le Brasero, t +33 (0)479 06 30 60 serves meat dishes. Le Grenier, t +33 (0)479 06 37 79 is a typical Savoyard restaurant.
In Val Claret, Le Caveau, t +33 (0)479 06 52 32 has 'very good food and very reasonable prices'. For Savoyard setting and food try Grattalu, t +33 (0)479 06 30 78 and Brasserie du Petit Savoyard, t +33 (0)479 06 36 23. Daffy's Café, t +33 (0)479 06 38 75 is a popular Tex-Mex, Le Ski d'Or, t +33 (0)479 06 51 60 offers gourmet cuisine, and Myako, t +33 (0)479 06 34 79 is for sushi. La Pizzéria 2000, t +33 (0)479 06 38 49 has great pizzas, fondue and raclette.
Party
In Le Lac, Le Café de la Poste and The Red Lion are lively watering holes. In Val Claret, Grizzly's Bar, decorated with stuffed and carved bears, has lots of character. Crowded House lives up to its name. The Fish Tank is also popular. Sub Zero and Blue Girl are the discos. In Lavachet, Harri's Bar and TC's are equally busy.
Children
Les Marmottons Tignes le Lac, t +33 (0)479 06 51 67 and Les Marmottons Val Claret, t +33 (0)479 06 37 12 accept children from three and a half years, but staff are said to be rather Gallic in attitude. The ESF, t +33 (0)479 06 30 28 offers lessons from four years, and the ESI, t +33 (0)479 06 36 15 from five. Evolution 2, t +33 (0)479 06 43 78 accepts children from three years and provides free helmets.
Reviews
1 May 09, 2006 - 07:03 PM
James from UNITED KINGDOM
Good late season skiing in Tignes is almost guaranteed - far better than Xmas or New Year when the weather can be miserable and the snow not that good unless there's been a big early dump. I've just come back having stayed in Tignes, Les Brevieres and could ski all the way down (it was a bit slushy at the bottom). The best snow is high up and it makes such a difference to be able to sit out on the sun terraces at the mountain restaurants for lunch rather than huddle inside trying to keep warm.
2 April 02, 2006 - 06:19 PM
Gill from UNITED KINGDOM
Been to Tignes at the end of the season (last week in April) two years ago and going again last week in April this year. Weather was brilliant last time, nice and sunny. I think it snowed a little one or two nights up on the mountain to freshen up the slope. Snow is generally good higher up the mountain, can get heavy mid to late afternoon, especially on the main runs down to the resort. There has been plenty of recent snow though so skiing should be good.
3 April 01, 2006 - 12:54 PM
Valerie Keeley from UNITED KINGDOM
We have just booked a late holiday in Tignes (Le Lac) 23rd - 30th April. Not ever skied so late before and am wondering if any of you skiaholics out there have any information on what we could expect the conditions to be like so late in the season?
4 March 30, 2006 - 12:18 PM
Dan from UNITED KINGDOM
Perhaps I am wrong, but altitude sickness at 3500m seems fairly unlikely. Headaches in Tignes are more likely to be down to expanding air in your head or, as the man says, the wine.
I'm going out next week - could anyone who has been this late in the season calm my worries about the conditions. I'm used to going to La Clusaz at Xmas/New Year - is it likely to compare?
5 February 16, 2006 - 11:37 AM
Mark from UNITED KINGDOM
Tignes is quite simply the best all round resort in Europe (never been skiing outside Europe so can't comment on the world!)
I ski in Tignes 4 times a season from early Dec - to mid April and the snow is excellent most of the time. Off-piste is just vast!
Last season I decided to buy a place in Val Claret because it is so snow sure! Anyone interested can look at www.tignesapartment.com
Come to Tignes you won't regret it - oh by the way April is the forgotton month - clear blue skies, big dumps of snow at night and empty pistes. Plus it warms up nicely compared to Jan / Feb.
6 February 14, 2006 - 04:49 PM
David Perry from UNITED KINGDOM
We've just got back from a week in Tignes with Mark Warner and really enjoyed our time there (four adults and two children.) All in all conditions were ok at the start of the week but with a couple of days snow we were treated to some fantastic on/off-piste conditions! They do a great job looking after the runs and the variation of being able to run into other areas keeps up the interest, although watch out for some small stones starting to appear on one or two of the popular runs back to the village!! It's a high resort and a few of our group regularly mentioned altitude sickness/headaches (maybe the wine had something to do with that though)!? Before going I'd heard mention of the look of the concrete town being a negative, my view was, yes maybe but look up above that and take in the breathtaking Alps, enjoy the well groomed runs and magical off piste opportunities!! Worth a trip? Yes!
7 January 31, 2006 - 07:20 PM
Chris from UNITED KINGDOM
We've just returned from a fantastic week in Tignes Les Brevieres - not at all like the other Tignes villages. It was far more authentic and had a true mountain village feel to it. We stayed with SkiBrev in Chalet La Sache - what a truly wonderful place! Without a doubt the best ski holiday ever.
8 January 01, 2006 - 04:07 PM
John Handy from UNITED KINGDOM
I have spent 2 seasons in Tignes, they are some of the best days of my life.
The resort is expansive and varied, something for all from the bunny slopes to the steep and the deep!
I would recommend it to any one for the experience of a life time
9 December 08, 2005 - 02:27 AM
David Taylor from FRANCE
Tignes is simply a fantastic ski resort. With its link in to Val d'Isere you get an awesome ski area with more runs than you can do in 10 solid days skiing. If you count the off-piste, which is superb you really cannot go wrong. Its high altitude (a bunch of runs ovzer 3000m) almost guarantees that you can ski anytime between November and May (usually summer galcier skiing too - Ed.) I take a group of friends skiing every year, this year is our 17th trip. We have been everywhere, and Tignes has become our firm favourite, we return year after year to a little hotel in Tignes le Lac. The next trip is March 25, 2006...
The downside, well, Val Claret is far from a cute little Austrian village, but who cares, it is dark at night and in the day you are skiing or surfing the mountains and no need to look at it. At night, looking over the lake with the mountains floodlit it still takes the wind out of you.
I type this I am sitting in Whistler, not bad here, but I rate Tignes above it.
10 November 29, 2005 - 08:52 PM
Sally Chapman from UNITED KINGDOM
It's certainly not the prettiest of ski resorts but Tignes offers some great early skiing prior to the Christmas rush and on a very descent budget. If you are keen to squeeze in some early skiing prior to the main season starting, the resort offers some excellent deals. The Espace Killy can often open by the end of November offering some vast skiing terrain.
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