Travel to Tignes with ski insurance from Essential Travel

One of the highest resorts in the Alps, with guaranteed skiing all year round. Tignes boasts a fantastic snow record that is the envy of many resorts worldwide. Tignes is part of the vast Espace Killy ski area, with over 300kms of varied terrain, and is linked to the neighbouring resort of Val d’Isere.

The 300kms of marked pistes cover all abilities an enormous variety of mountain terrain. Advanced skiers and boarders are particularly well served, with great off-piste. Tignes also has the Grande Motte Glacier, so year round skiing is has become one of its biggest attractions. The whole area is well serviced by an efficient lift system; and the five satellites that make up the resort are all linked by a free bus.

The reputation of Tignes as a big snowboarders’ resort is justified. Boarding on the glacier gives way to steep tree-hopping lower down. The lift system relies more on chairs and gondolas than draglifts. Generally the slopes are wide, with acres of powder between the runs to play in.

The season runs from November to May, with the best conditions in March. Cheap rates are offered until mid mid-December and towards the end of April. Geneva is the closest major international airport for the area; bus transfers operate throughout the winter months.

Skiing in Tignes

Tignes, together with Val dIsere, forms the famed Espace Killy - a British skiers’ favourite ski area with among British skiers. The resort is divided into four villages, Val Claret and Tignes le Lac are the highest at 2,100m and have the best accommodation. For traditional chalets, baroque churches and narrow streets, opt for the lower villages of Tignes les Brévières and Tignes les Boisses. These offer accommodation when snow fall is at its heaviest in January and February.

The great thing about Tignes is that it is a snow-sure resort - thanks to the Grande Motte Glacier and offers the opportunity to ski nearly all year round. There are a few decent restaurants, while supermarkets are available for the largely self-catering crowd. Families are greatly welcomed, with good childcare run by the ski schools.

The skiing is simply vast at this resort. Several free lifts operate for beginners, along with the excellent local ski and snowboard schools, enabling you to make quick progression. There are huge, long sweeping runs up on the Grand Motte Glacier, which should be the goal for the end of any beginner’s first week.

For intermediates, there is a splendid percentage of difficult blues and reds, and are more than enough to keep even an ambitious intermediate challenged for several holidays. The trip down to Les Brevieres can be particularly enjoyable, with nice restaurants awaiting you at the bottom.

Advanced skiers come back year after year to try the vast array of black pistes and off-piste challenges. Try ‘Mickey’s Ears’, the ‘Fingers’ or the ‘Lavachet Wall’ for real spine-tingling vertical drops.

Apres-ski in Tignes

Tignes is a purpose-built high altitude resort linked to Val d’Isere. The resort itself is made up of three main stations - Tignes le Lavachet, Tignes Le Lac and Val Claret, as well as Les Brevieres and Les Boisses, a little lower down the valley.

There is a limited number of restaurants, while supermarkets are available for the largely self-catering crowd. Unlike Val dIsere, the nightlife is a little sparse. Families are greatly welcomed, with good childcare run by the ski schools. Other facilities include a modern sports centre, featuring aerobics, squash and sauna, and a nearby cinema, skating rink and bowling alley.

Away from the slopes, there is a modern sports centre, featuring aerobics, squash and sauna, as well as a nearby cinema, skating rink and bowling alley. The nightlife receives mixed reports, although there are more than enough busy bars, restaurants and clubs between the three stations to keep even the most avid night owls interested.

The season begins in late November and runs until May. The best conditions are usually in early March and the lowest rates in early December or April. You can ski on the glacier all year round.

Transportation to Tignes

Tignes is located above Val dIsère, 165kms from Geneva, the location of the nearest international airport. Travel time from Geneva is about 3 hours, 30 mnutes.

If you drive, the best route from Geneva is autoroute A41 to Annecy and then the N90 to Albertville. From there, follow the signs to Bourg St Maurice and on to Tignes. From Lyons, take autoroute A43 to Albertville, then follow the signs to Moutiers, Bourg St Maurice, and on to Tignes. Another option is to catch one of the numerous trains which arrive at Bourg St Maurice train station (30kms from Val dIsere).A bus connection gets you to Tignes. A joint rail/bus ticket is available at the railway station or from travel agents.

The closest international airports are Lyons (240kms from the resort) and Geneva (about 180kms). A smaller airport that offers some flights is Chambéry. A daily bus to Tignes from Geneva Airport and weekend service from Lyons Airport operate in winter.

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