As one of the highest altitude skiing destinations in France, Tignes is guaranteed to offer exceptional skiing throughout the season. Indeed, with the 3,456m high Grande Motte glacier present nearby, visitors to Tignes don’t need to wait till the winter to visit, as skiing is available virtually all year round, with the resorts closing for just a few short weeks in May, June and September.
On the downside, Tignes lacks some of the quaint architectural charm that other popular ski resorts can offer, particularly when compared with its near-neighbor Val d'Isère. Yet thanks to its superb ski lift infrastructure and its huge variety of challenging and not-so-challenging ski runs, the actual skiing experience more than makes up for any lost atmosphere.
Visitors can choose to stay at a number of villages in Tignes. For easy access, Val Claret is recommended as it is located nearest to the glacier. Le Lavachet and Tignes le Lac are also good options, while lower down, Tignes Les Brévières and Tignes Les Boisses offer quieter options.
The main winter ski season in the Espace Killy ski area, which encompasses Tignes and Val d'Isère, runs from the middle of September until the start of May, and these months are definitely the best time to visit, although summer skiing is available from June till August.
The ski terrain at Tignes varies wildly, and with Val d'Isère also an option, it wouldn’t be difficult to check out a new ski zone for each day of your stay. Skiers can by passes for the Tignes area, or for the whole of the Espace Killy area if they fancy doing some exploring across the more than 300km of linked pistes.
Suitable for all levels, beginners are advised to take advantage of the free lessons on offer at the Rosset chairlift, which provides access to some of the easiest slopes. More experienced skiers have a wealth of runs to choose from, either up the glazier or on either side of the valley. Those who are more daring may fancy taking on the Sache, an epic black run descending almost 1,000m from Aiguille Percee (2,478m) down to the village of Les Brevieres (1,550m), which is known for its year-round good snow conditions.
Tignes offers some great runs for snowboarders in particular, thanks to its multitude of wide trails and the almost non-existence of flat areas. The terrain under the Palet chairlift is highly recommended for snowboarders, for its boardercross course, its jumps and rails and its half pipes.
Budget for one week: Over €1000 per week
Taxes and gratuity: Tipping is recommended
Official language: French
Area: 81.63 km2 (31.52 sq mi)
Population: 2,169
Electricity:
- Voltage: 220-240 Volts (U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts)
- Primary Socket Type: Europlug, Schuko
- Multi-voltage appliances (laptops, etc.): Plug adapter
- 110-120V electronics: Plug adapter + step-down transformer
- 100V Japanese appliances: Japan to U.S. reducer transformer
Other key facts:
- Elevation – 1,440–3,747 m (4,720–12,293 ft)
- Skiable Area - 81.63 km2 (31.52 sq mi)
- Total Runs – 159 slopes
- Snowfall – 200 + in./year
- Night skiing - yes
Images courtesy: John Banchory; Ruud Cuypers; and Tim Rogers
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