Why we love Tignes ski resort and the Grande Motte Glacier
No two days are the same in Tignes, and there is something for you, no matter your skiing ability. Due to its high altitude (including a skiable glacier), the snow in the Tignes ski area is some of the best in the Alps, while access to Val d'Isère really opens up the mountain if you're looking for adventure.
With an abundance of snow, the resort hosts activities like ice diving, ski-jöering, paragliding, dog-sledging, snow mountain-biking and ice karting, to name a few! Head to Le Lagon for swimming and wellness or choose between the many hotel spas if you're looking for relaxation.
Other unforgettable activities include an afternoon at the infamous Folie Douce, dancing on the table at Cocoricos and the 3km Pala’fou luge track which will be sure to bring out your inner child.
Ski accommodation in Tignes (Le Lac, Val Claret, Lavachet)
Book your dream ski accommodation in Tignes. At SkiYodl we have the biggest and best choice in private self-catered ski accommodation in Tignes. Endless ski accommodation options from amazing group chalets to bolt holes by the piste.
Each village of Tignes gives you something slightly different in terms of ski accommodation, atmosphere and ski access. Tignes Le Lac and Val Claret are separated by the lake with Lavachet just below. Each is high altitude with fantastic access to the whole ski area and plenty of apres action to explore.
Self-catered Tignes accommodation (Tignes 1800 and Tignes Les Brevieres)
Slightly lower in elevation, you have the newest village in Tignes 1800 (named after the resort height) and probably the quietest but with some lovely new apartments to snap up. Then you have Les Brevieres as the lowest village, but what it lacks in altitude it makes up for in style. A beautiful old village with some amazing chalets at amazing prices. There are some great restaurants down here as well. The biggest drawback is the access to the ski area (you have to take a couple of gondolas and a chairlift to get into the main area). But it's all linked by piste and lift and you get some serious bang for your buck when it comes to accommodation. Definitely worth a look.
Après ski in Tignes
There’s a whole host of bars in Tignes, so you’re never far from a happy hour. You could settle down in your favourites or go on a little crawl. Whilst the likes of Folie Douce steal the headlines (it was the original Folie), and you can make last lifts back to Tignes from there.
Coulois in Val Claret is great or Loop in Le Lac are two of the best known. Or head to the Melting Pot a little later on in Val Claret to see the night out.
How to Get to Folie Douce from Tignes
The Folie Douce opens from 9am till 5pm with lunch starting around 12:30. However the apres-ski scene you probably know it for kicks off around 2pm. The party kicks up a notch with singers, dancers and cabaret - that's just the beginning. The Folie is right at the top of the Daille gondola if you're coming from Val d'Isere but from Tignes you take the Toviere lift up from Le Lac and ski the blue Edelweiss followed by green Verte. Just make sure you don't miss the last Tommeuses lift back over to Tignes. Otherwise, you'll have to ski down to La Daille and catch the bus back round to Tignes.
Skiing in Tignes, France
Tignes France is connected with neighbouring Val d'Isère to form the Tignes Val d'Isere ski area (formerly Espace Killy) in the French Alps. A famous ski area with over 300km of groomed slopes to explore! Tignes glacier (3656 m) overlooks the Vanoise National Park, while the DC snow park inspires freestylers from beginners to professional champions.
Skiing between Tignes and Val d'Isere is super simple due to the high speed and easily navigable lift system and there's some fantastic piste skiing to cover. There's also a large green piste area at the top of the ski area between the two resorts, meaning even as a beginner you can head up here and enjoy the fabulous views rather than be stuck on the usual low-altitude nursery slopes.
There are plenty of pistes for intermediate skiers and advanced skiers as well, with the Grande Motte glacier giving serious snow security. The vast array of wide-open slopes will have you exploring long after it's time to go home.
Non-ski activities in Tignes
There’s so much going on in Tignes besides simply skiing and drinking. It’s super popular with families for this very reason but there’s plenty for all ages to enjoy. There’s enough in fact to have a fab holiday here without ever clipping into a pair of skis.
You have helicopter rides, quad bike tours and off-road buggies. The lake freezes over in winter and becomes a playground for ice driving, husky sledding and horse riding. You can even go ice diving if you fancy something very different indeed. And there’s always the health spa and pool and you can access the pool for free with your lift pass (there’s a charge for the spa).
What we like about Tignes ski resort
- Free lifts in each village. In total, you have 4 carpets, 2 drags and 3 chairlifts you can access for free
- Long ski season, usually open from the end of November to early May
- High-altitude skiing on the Grande Motte glacier for added snow security, the area has a fantastic snow record
Worth knowing before your Tignes ski holiday
- The resort is made up of 5 main villages so make sure you know which one you're staying in
- Les Brevieres is the lowest village but also the oldest, with heaps of charm and amazing value with fantastic runs to get back down at the end of the day
- You can walk across the lake between Le Lac and Lavachet during winter
- There's a fantastic nest pod you can stay in up the mountain to stargaze your heart out. Booked through Evolution 2 (called the Wild Nest evening) https://evolution2.com/en/tignes/wild-nest-hebergement-insolite-montee-autonome?v=568
How high is Tignes?
Tignes is one of the highest and most snow sure resorts in France. Slopes reach a lofty 3,346m with some great glacier skiing to boot up on the Grand Motte glacier. The lowest slope is at 1,550m, which is higher than most resort villages full stop. The 5 villages are at various heights, but if you're looking for snow security and altitude is on your mind, then head for Tignes Le Lac and Val Claret, both up at a lofty 2,100m. They are separated by a lake normally frozen over in winter with a footpath across it so you can walk between the two villages. Or there's plenty of buses if you don't fancy walking on ice!
Tignes lift passes
Tignes has various lift passes available based what you're looking for and your group make-up. It shares a ski area with Val d'Isere and the full Tignes-Val d'Isere ski area has 300km of slopes, one of the biggest linked ski areas in the Alps. The Tignes-only lift pass provides access to 150 km of slopes, while the full Tignes-Val d’Isère pass unlocks 300 km of varied terrain, including the high-altitude glacier. Options include single-day, multi-day, and season passes, with discounts available for families, children, and groups. Additionally, special pedestrian and non-skiing passes allow access to scenic viewpoints and activities like tobogganing. There are 9 free lifts in Tignes that you don't need a lift pass for, including 3 chairlifts perfect for getting a taster without buying a lift pass from day dot. The free lifts are split between the different villages with 2 chairlifts in Le Lac and 1 in Val Claret. In Tignes-Val d'Isere, children under 8 ski for free - you still need to get them a lift pass, it's just free. With Yodl, your best lift pass options are automatically calculated at checkout, so you don't need to figure it out yourself. Just make sure you enter any children's ages!
