Tailor-made holidays in Tignes

Skiing and snowboarding in Tignes

Tignes and Val d’Isère form one linked ski area of about 300 km of marked pistes, with terrain from 1,550 m at Les Brévières up to 3,456 m on the Grande Motte glacier. The main villages sit at around 2,100 m, so you start high and can usually ski back to your door. The Grande Motte is reached by an underground funicular from Val Claret, while the Tovière sector links over to Val d’Isère.

Tignes hosted the freestyle events of the 1992 Albertville Olympics and has since staged the Winter X Games, and it is still a reference for snowparks, boardercross and freeride. Strong skiers will find steep reds and blacks, plus big off-piste terrain that should always be explored with a qualified guide. Intermediates benefit most from the size of the area, with long, open runs and an easy link to Val d’Isère.

Tignes for families and beginners

The resort has dedicated beginner areas with free gentle lifts, so new skiers can learn without buying a full pass on the first days. Because the villages sit high, these areas usually have good snow from the start of the season. The ESF and several independent ski schools teach children and adults, with English-speaking instructors widely available.

Tignes 1800, opened in 2013, was designed with families in mind, with stone-and-wood chalets and residences offering direct access to the slopes. Tignes Le Lac is also practical, with its shops, services and the Le Lagon aquatic centre close at hand.

Where to stay in Tignes

Tignes is made up of five villages. Tignes Le Lac is the centre, set by the lake, with the most shops, restaurants and the Le Lagon leisure centre. Le Lavachet, just next to it, is quieter while staying within walking distance of lifts, bars and shops. Val Claret, at the end of the valley, is the liveliest for nightlife and gives direct access to the Grande Motte funicular.

Lower down, Tignes 1800 is the newest village, with ski-in/ski-out residences, and Les Brévières, at 1,550 m, keeps a traditional feel with its stone chalets. Most accommodation in Tignes is in apartments and residences close to the pistes, alongside chalets and hotels; free shuttle buses connect the villages.

Getting to Tignes

The nearest train station is Bourg-Saint-Maurice, about 30 to 40 minutes away by bus, taxi or hire car. TGV trains from Paris take around 5 hours, and on winter weekends Eurostar Snow trains run from London, with one change in Lille, reaching Bourg-Saint-Maurice in under 9 hours. Regular coaches also connect Tignes with Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Chambéry and the main airports.

By road, Chambéry is about 2 hours away and Geneva and Lyon about 3 hours, depending on traffic and snow, with Saturdays usually the busiest. From 1 November to 31 March, French mountain rules require winter tyres or snow chains carried in the car.

Beyond the slopes in Tignes

Le Lagon in Tignes Le Lac is the place for a rest day, with its pools, wellness area and fitness facilities. Tignes is also known for ice diving under the frozen lake, a memorable experience with specialist instructors. Après-ski is lively, especially in Val Claret and Le Lac, and Val d’Isère’s village is only a short drive away.

In summer, Tignes becomes a high-altitude holiday base. Glacier skiing is possible on the Grande Motte in early summer when conditions allow, and you can hike in the Vanoise, ride the mountain bike trails, relax on the lake beach or play the 18-hole golf course at about 2,100 m, one of the highest in Europe.

When to go to Tignes

Tignes is usually one of the first Alpine resorts to open, and the winter season normally runs from late November to early May. Early season is a good bet for snow at this altitude, though some lifts may not yet be running. February is the busiest month with French and UK school holidays, so book early. March and April bring long, sunny days, and the high slopes usually keep good snow late into spring. For summer, July and August offer the widest choice of activities.

Your Tignes holiday with AlpAway

AlpAway can organise your stay in the Tignes village that fits your group, together with lift passes, equipment rental, lessons and transfers from the airport or Bourg-Saint-Maurice station. If you are still deciding between Tignes and Val d’Isère, or planning a summer holiday in the mountains, send us your dates and wishes and we will prepare a tailored proposal.