Val d'Isère is situated high in the Tarentaise Valley in the Vanoise National Park close to the Italian border. It rightly deserves its reputation as one of the finest ski areas in the world. With over 300km of marked runs, it caters to all levels and guarantees snow year round. At an altitude of 1,850m and with an impressive snow record averaging over 800cm each winter, you can rest assured that while other resorts might be struggling with heavy slushy conditions, Val d'Isère maintains some of the best powder in the Alps.

The Skiing

Val d'Isère and its close neighbour, Tignes, are blessed with some of the most beautiful skiing in the world. We can organise local qualified guides who know the resort inside out to accompany you around the mountain. They'll ensure you find the best snow, make the most of your days and eat at the finest restaurants.

Beginners and families

Val d'Isère is a snow sure resort, as we are fortunate to have two beautiful glaciers within our ski domain meaning you can ski throughout the year. It also means that beginners and families find the snow more forgiving when they visit the resort. We have a selection of free lifts in the valley so if it's your first time on the mountain you can test out your skills before committing to a lift pass. For children there are several ski schools focusing on little ones taking their first ski steps, as well as private nanny companies for childcare and evening babysitting.

We have a modern and ever developing lift system with one of the newest and most luxurious cabins serving the Solaise mountain, directly from the centre of the village. Delivering skiers to 2,600m on heated seats, the Solaise is a great area for beginners to get the feel of their skis, take instruction, and as the name suggests, enjoy one of the sunniest places in resort.

Intermediate

With over 300km of pistes, Val d'Isère is an intermediate skiers delight. You can choose to ski high mountain terrain on the Val d'Isère or Tignes glaciers which reach heights of 3,500m, or ski the wonderful tree lined runs to behind the dam in Tignes Les Brévières. If you want to ski a different run each day for the whole week it is possible in Val d'Isère.

It's really easy to ski in groups or on your own, as the pistes are well signposted and the piste security are some of the most well trained and organised in France. Mountain restaurants can be found in most locations and are a great place to stop and meet your group or just to grab a hot drink by a fire to warm up.

Advanced and back country

This is what Val d'Isère is famous for - it's a mecca for advanced and off piste skiers from all around the world. It boasts probably the best lift accessed off piste skiing and snowboarding in Europe. The mountain has one of the most diverse ski areas in the world, with steep mountain chutes, back country powder bowls and fun tree runs back into the village.

If you really want to feel the whole mountain experience then hiking, skinning and trekking up into the Vanoise National Park really will deliver the solitude and deep snow you are searching for. Within minutes of leaving the pistes you can experience unforgettable itineraries in steep river gorges with chamois, bouquetin and golden eagles for company. Remember, back country skiing can be dangerous so we strongly advise hiring a guide to make the most of your trip.

SKI INSTRUCTION AND GUIDES

There is a huge array of ski schools in Val d'Isère which cater for beginners looking for their first experience, right through to expert skiers looking for a jump session in the park or an off-piste guide. The key is to find an instructor that works for you and your group. At Hip Hideouts we live and work in the resort and have done for many years so we can introduce you to the right company for your needs.

The village

Val d'Isère is one of the most beautiful and international ski resorts in the world. Even though it is situated high up in the French Alps it has a truly international flavour with French, British, Australian, Russian, American and Scandinavian visitors making up the majority of its guests. Each year more and more people are discovering the resort. The village operates a pretty slick operation and with lots of investment in recent years, we have seen the luxury market boom. In resort there are now two Michelin starred restaurants, a range of high end boutique shops and fantastic nightlife. Val d’Isère celebrates the start of the international ski season in Europe with the 'Premier Neige' World Cup held each year in December and of course it held the blue ribbon events of the men's downhill in the Olympics in 1992.

There are many events held in the village throughout the year and major holidays are often celebrated with firework displays, ski shows and torch lit descents down La Face de Bellevarde.