Tignes Ski Resort

Tignes in the Tarentaise Valley, France, is one of the best ski resorts for a snow-sure trip. It is linked with Val d’Isere and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most outstanding ski resorts.

Its buildings may not be as attractive as those in Val d’Isere, but the modern lift system, incredible terrain, a wide variety of runs, and excellent off-piste more than make up for it.

The main part of the resort rests on the banks of a lake. Le Lac sits at 2,100 meters, but the lower parts are still pretty high at 1,550 meters and 1,850 meters. These high altitudes are ideal for snowfall and preserving the snowpack up until early May. The ski area has 300km of pistes, and its highest point, the Grande Motte Glacier, sits at 3,450 meters. The glacier is open for skiing in both winter and summer.

Interestingly, the original village of Tignes was flooded when the dam was built in the valley in 1952. Tignes was rebuilt to provide the perfect place for skiers. Therefore, the slopes are super easy to get to, no matter where you stay.

Tignes has always been popular with families, groups, and students, as it is one of France’s more affordable ski resorts. But there are some stunning 4 and 5-star hotels, apartments, and chalets to choose from.

The après and nightlife scene in Tignes is varied. So you can have a relaxing beer when you finish for the day or continue to party into the early hours. You can find many great restaurants around the villages and on the mountain. So you’re never far from a lunch stop or a quality evening meal.

Tignes also offers lots of activities for when you don’t want to ski or just want to experience something new. It’s one of the best resorts for alternative activities, including ice driving, snowshoeing, ice karting, ice diving, and dog sledding.

Tignes ski season STARTS in…

 
 

Info & Stats

Season

December 02, 2023 – May 5, 2024

Ski area

Tignes has the area’s longest run – a 10-kilometre black run called La Sache that descends from the L’Aiguille Percée rock formation (also known as Eye of the Needle).

It is one of 26 black runs that make up the 300-kilometre Espace Killy ski area, which includes neighbouring Val d’Isere.

Altogether the ski area has 90 lifts, with 20 green runs, 67 blue and 41 red.

Tignes also has a terrain park, a half-pipe, air bag, boardercross and introductory freestyle zone called gliss’park.

Linked ski area

Val d’Isère – Tignes (2 resorts – 1 lift pass).

  • 300 km of slopes
  • 154 runs (20 green runs, 67 blues, 41 reds, 26 blacks)
  • 2 snowparks
  • 90 lifts

Non-ski activities and experiences

Activities include ice diving in the lake, a Bun J Ride jump, ice driving, paragliding, snow tubing, ice climbing, karting on ice, dog sledding, snowmobiling, mountaineering and snowshoeing.

There’s also an aquatic and wellness centre.

Après-ski

Val Claret and Tignes Le Lac have the most restaurants and après options.

There is an inviting terrace at Dropzone which converts to a nightclub in the evening, live music at Couloir and an inviting fire pit at Grizzly’s log cabin.

Location

Location & Trail Map

Transfer time to Tignes:

  • Bourg St Maurice train station (closest): 30min*
  • Chambéry airport: 1hr 50min*
  • Geneva airport: 2hrs 30min*
  • Lyon airport: 2hrs 30min*

Resorts altitude: 1,550m (Les Brevières) to 2,100m (Val Claret)

*Transfer time is approximate, by private transfer vehicle and subject to traffic, weather and road conditions. 

Shared shuttle/bus transfers have set departure times, take much longer to travel and don’t offer door to door service which is why we recommend private transfers only.

Tignes-Val d’Isère trail map

Val d'Isère-Tignes trail map
Val d'Isère-Tignes trail map

Watch the Video

Tignes Ski Resort Video

Tignes is a high altitude (2,100m) snow guarantee ski resort with scattered villages on the mountain and has one of the most varied and extensive winter activities on offer. Thanks to its north facing slopes, Tignes is one of the top ski resorts in France and Europe for reliable, quality snow. Watch this video to find out more…

Watch Video Now

Photo Gallery

FAQ

  • Tignes’ high-altitude ski resort at 2,100m has access to the Grande Motte Glacier which provides snow-sure and quality conditions throughout winter from late November until May. You can even ski in summer on this glacier. Most of the slopes above the resort are north facing, giving Tignes a reputation for one of the top ski resorts in France and Europe for reliable, quality snow.
  • Tignes has one of the most varied and extensive winter activities in the French Alps including ice diving, ice driving or the unique Bun J Ride (bungee jumping with your skis/snowboard strapped on).
  • It is part of one of the most beautiful and easily accessible linked ski areas in France, the Tignes-Val d’Isere ski area with a huge 300km of slopes as your playground
  • Tignes is located next to a beautiful and impressive dam where you will find the authentic village of Tignes Les Brévières at the foot of the dam. Tignes 1800/Les Boisses is also charming and the high altitude purpose-built ski resorts at 2,100m have convenient and easy ski-in ski-out access (although not that attractive to the eye, you will be pleasantly surprised by the great atmosphere).
  • Families will love Tignes Le Lac with its central location for so many activities and its ski-in ski-out convenience. Here there are 5 villages to choose from.
  • Party people will love Tignes Val Claret where all the lively après-ski scene is located as well as quick access to the Perce Neige funicular to La Grande Motte cable car at 3,034m which finishes up at the top of the Glacier station at 3,456m.
  • Friends and family members who do not wish to ski will be amazed by the countless non-skiing activities on offer in Tignes.
  • For people looking to ski a truly world-class ski area without breaking the budget, Tignes has incredibly cheap ski packages on offer.
  • Skiers /snowboarders looking for awesome off piste skiing with high quality snow conditions throughout the entire winter season, including early opening and spring skiing, will find it at Tignes.
  • Tignes has a snowpark and it also connects easily to Val d’Isere snowpark.
  • There is so much off piste terrain for the advanced skiers and so many good quality intermediate groomed runs for everybody to enjoy.

Tignes is full of winter activities not many European ski resorts can match such as the unique Bun J Ride and ice diving in Tignes Le Lac.

For family members and friends who are not skiing, Tignes has one of the best non-skiing activity programmes on offer in the Alps!

This includes: Ice Driving (incl Quad bikes and buggy), snowmobiling, Fat Bike, paragliding, speed riding, ice-climbing, mountaineering, dog sledding, snakegliss, snow tubing, tobogganing, helicopter rides, microlight, snow shoeing, village igloo for kids, curling, horse riding on snow (including ponies for kids), ski joering, horse sleigh rides, horse snakegliss (rubber ring pull by a horse), Camp Trappeur, Glacier evening (gourmet dinner on the glacier restaurant followed by the longest night skiing downhill slope in Europe). And that is just for the outdoor stuff!

Tignes also has a very impressive Sports Centre called Tignespace with many indoor activities on offer such as: rock climbing, squash, team sport courts (handball, basketball, badminton, hockey…) golf simulator, dancing classes, gym etc… it is Europe’s highest training centre.

You will also find the Lagon aquatic centre with its swimming pool, sauna, hamman, hot tubs, spa treatments…

Tignes is a 2-hour 30min drive by private transfer from either Lyon or Geneva Airport.
It’s a 30 min drive from Bourg St Maurice train station, the closest train station in France to Tignes.

A shared shuttle transfer from Geneva will take over 4hrs and will only drop you off at the village bus stop, not at your accommodation – not ideal if you are travelling with ski gear and luggage and don’t know your way around.

Top Snow Travel can also arrange helicopter or scenic flight transfers from all airports or other ski resort altiports in the region.

Next winter, Tignes ski resort is scheduled to open from November 28th 2021 to May 1st 2022.

There are only 2 ski resorts linked on the Tignes-Val d’Isère (formerly called Espace Killy) lift pass: Tignes & Val d’Isère.

January 2nd to Feb 5th 2022 is the cheapest and best time to go (low season), followed by 5th March until mid-April 2022 (the shoulder season).

For Australians travelling to France to ski during our January summer holidays, we benefit from the cheaper rates on offer in the French ski resorts’ low season.  This happens to be when the French and Europeans go back to work and school after the 2 week Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Europeans and the Brits flock to the resorts through February into March (DO NOT TRAVEL from 5th Feb to 5th Mar 2022 as this is the French school holidays). The slopes are extremely busy, the queues at the lifts are long and the price for accommodation is very expensive during that time.  Even all the restaurants are booked out!

Typically, in January, the snow is dry with the largest build up. It is also the coldest time, so you will need to make sure that you dress warmly. It is still wise to choose a high-altitude resort in case mother nature has not been kind earlier in the season. Bear in mind though, that snow-making is used to supplement natural snowfall in high traffic areas.

So, not only is January the cheapest time to go skiing in the French Alps, it is also the best time to go thanks to the weather conditions, the lack of queues, more availability and choice of accommodation and you get to breathe fresh air with your loved ones, rather than with thousands of other people!

Tignes Accommodation

Choose Val Claret or Tignes Le Lac to be close to shops, restaurants and bars, or a more affordable ski-in/ski-out apartment at the quieter Lavachet. You may choose to stay a bit further away from the action in a traditional chalet at Les Brevieres or in the newest village Tignes 1800.

Hotel Les Suites
|Tignes

Hotel Les Suites. Hotel Les Suites – Maison Bouvier is the first 5 star hotel in Tignes. Well located in the heart of Tignes Val Claret and close to the slopes, it’s a luxury boutique hotel blending traditional alpine chalet architecture with contemporary design and an exciting focus on gastronomy.

Hotel Le Levanna
|Tignes

The Hotel Le Levanna in Tignes is a warm and elegant hotel perfectly located on the ski slopes with a breathtaking view of the Lake and the historical glacier. The hotel is decorated with comforting, chic tones, tastefully selected materials and sophisticated decor making your stay a relaxing experience in the high mountain.

Residences Village Montana
|Tignes

Ideally located in the heart of Tignes Le Lac, the Village Montana hotel residences is the perfect place to enjoy a taste of Alpine authenticity with all the modern comfort in your home-away-from-home. Designed in the purest Savoie tradition, our 106 apartments (spread over 6 buildings) are suited from 4 and up to 8 guests to experience life in the mountains with premium services included.

Chalet Quézac
|Tignes

7 Bedroom catered-chalet. Chalet Quézac in Tignes Les Brévières features an impressive 600 m2 of unique comfort and style: the perfect blend of contemporary flair and authentic Alpine design

Le Taos Apartments
|Tignes

1 to 3 Bedroom apartments. Le Taos Apartments. In the centre of Tignes le Lac, in the Rosset area, the hotel ‘Le Taos’, provides a Mexico inspired ambiance, and will allow you to discover the mountains as never before, thanks to its uninterrupted views: from the Aiguille Percée to the Grande Sassière.

Le Telemark
|Tignes

1 to 4 Bedroom apartments. CGH Residence & Spa Le Telemark. Located at the entrance to Tignes, close to its famous lake, Le Télémark residence has what it takes to delight you – mountain style architecture with chalets laid out in a star.

Le Nevada
|Tignes

2 to 3 Bedroom apartments. CGH Residence & Spa Le Nevada. If you want to combine your passion for riding sports with being cosseted, then the Nevada residence in the heart of Val Claret is a must for you. At the foot of the pistes and boasting one of the most prestigious spa and montage centres.

Le Jhana
|Tignes

2 to 3 Bedroom apartments. CGH Residence & Spa Le Jhana. A charming residence with 19 apartments, located close to the shopping centre and Curling Square from where the ski lifts depart towards the Tignes-Val d'Isere ski area and the mythical glacier La Grande Motte! The wood and stone Savoyard architecture of the residence, plus the high quality interiors and refined decoration combined with close proximity to activities

La Ferme du Val Claret
|Tignes

1 to 3 Bedroom apartments. CGH Residence & Spa La Ferme du Val Claret. Residence La Ferme du Val Claret offers direct access to the slopes of Tignes-Val d'Isere. Welcoming décor to help you to rediscover yourself, the maximum sunshine to help you to blossom, a quiet atmosphere to help you to recharge your batteries…If the Ferme du Val Claret has four sides, its to enable your natural leanings to emerge.