Tignes offers a bit of everything, from open pistes to park, accessible trees to amazing off-piste. At an altitude of 2100m in town Tignes is a snow sure resort providing skiing from early November well into May (and even June for tourers and those willing to hike!). This makes Tignes the go-to resort from the start of the season and well past Easter. However, knowing where to go helps – here’s our insider’s guide to skiing in Tignes!
An Insider’s Guide to Skiing Tignes
Find the sunny spots
Along with snow surety comes often very chilling temperatures (as we’ve found out over the past month!). Following the sun helps so be sure to start your day on the Palafour side of the mountain so you don’t start the day with numb toes! From Palafour in Le Lac you can loop round the lake to Val Claret via the Merles lift. Enjoy a lap of Grattalu for a play in the park or a race on the skier cross. If you’re one for bumps, take a ride up the Col des Ves chair, more affectionately known as “the chair to nowhere” that takes you to a black run or an un-pisted itinerary with all the bumps and variable you could wish for to really earn your lunch!
Get the best view in resort
After that head down to Val Claret to Lanches chair for arguably, the best red run in resort – Double M. This is a great run – long, wide, good views of Tignes and often boasting some of the best snow in resort. You can’t beat it! For even better views of Tignes, it’s surrounding mountains and over to the Val D’Isere Glacier, head up to the Grande Motte Glacier where you can ski all the way from 3456m back into town – over 1000m of beautiful descent in one go and you even get another run on Double M on the way down!
Beat the crowds
For some beautiful cruisy pistes you can make your way to the bowl between Tignes and Val D’Isere above La Daille. From greens to cruisy blues and another favourite red – OK Orange – this area offers something for everyone. This area can be busy, especially late morning when groups start making their way back to Tignes/Val D’isere but if you’re able to head here between 12 and 1 you can enjoy quieter pistes while others lunch – the perfect time to enjoy this bowl!
Enjoy the best après in Tignes
If there are any issues with visibility you can spend some time in the trees above La Daille and enjoy people watching at the Folie Douce whilst you’re at it!
For advanced skiers you can finish your day with a run down Trolles into Le Lac for a well-deserved drink at the popular Après spot Loop bar, or for a more chilled apres La Cantine in Lavachet. Just prepare your legs for what can be a bit of a leg burner back into resort!
Best ski runs in Tignes
Hands down, these are the best runs in Tignes – we recommend trying to tick them all off your list in a week’s holiday! Why not?
Green: Grand Pré
Blue: Grattalu
Red: Double M
Black: Golf (for all of your unpisted pleasure!)
Do you have any insider tips about Tignes we’ve left off the list?
Let us know in the Facebook comments below.