The Perfect Day in Tignes
Start the day right
The perfect start to the day in Tignes starts with a quick run down Lanches before anyone else gets there. Arguably one of the best runs in Tignes, Lanches is a long, open red perfect for carving if you get there first thing. Blast away the cobwebs and get the legs moving for the day ahead! If you’re in Val Claret it’s on your doorstep, or you can get the Paquis chair from Le Lac and take Henry (a nice cruisy blue) into Val Claret. If you’re feeling extra energetic, rather than the Lanches chair get the train and the cable car to the top of the glacier for tip top views and a long ski all the way from 3456m to 2100m.
Once you’ve had a blast on the glacier, head up Tichot lift towards Grattalu for some fun in the park or a race on the skier cross. If either of those don’t float your boat, grattalu has a nice cruisy blue as an alternative. Once you’ve dragged yourself away from the fun of the park head towards Le Lac on the Merles red run. Be sure to stop as the piste veers left to see if anyone is tackling the BunJride (a ski jump/bungee/zip wire). For real adrenaline junkies maybe even try it yourself!
Photo Op!
At the bottom of the Merles run get the Grand Huit chair up to a choice of blue or red pistes down to Aiguille Percée. Time to tick off another bucket list in Tignes – a photo in the Eye of the Needle. The Corniche blue on the Boisses side of the eye of the needle gives you a long run back into Tignes, swing a right towards Le Lac at the top of the Chaudannes chair and follow the run all the way down to one of the best lunch stops in Town – La Ferme des Trois Capuccine. A beautiful Savoie restaurant attached to a functioning farmhouse provides gorgeous food, with cheeses made on site.
Trees, black runs and checking out the scenery
Once you’re ready to hit the slopes again head up Paquis and the Tufs lifts and over to La Daille for a run or two through the trees. Take the train back up to the top of Olympique and take either OK orange (a women’s downhill run) or if you’d like more of a challenge take the famous black run La Face into Val d’Isere. A scenic bubble ride up the Olympique and you’re back at the top ready to head over to Grand Pre chair. There’s something for everyone whether it be an easy green, a beautiful blue, a run through the boarder-cross or fun rolling off-piste. When you’re ready to head back you have a choice of blues or greens from the top of Fontaine Froide. Why not stop by the Val park on the way home or try your hand at the dual slalom (by the bottom of the Borsat chair).
And don’t forget the food!
If you’ve managed to fit all that in (and we’ll be impressed if you have) it’ll be time to make your way back to Tignes for a well earned drink. Head down to Tommeauses to battle Trolles back to Le Lac (if your legs can handle it!). Treat yourself to an après beer and some live music at Loop Bar or peel off half way down Trolles towards Lavachet for a yorkshire brew and cake in new café La Cantine.
Finish your day off with a delicious meal at the atmospheric Queue de Cochon in Lavachet. With a menu that makes you want to try everything on it you can’t go wrong!
If you’re an advanced skier and your perfect day would be off-piste then get yourself down to Mountain Attitude in Le Lac to hire some big skis, and come for a day’s guiding with us… we couldn’t possibly give our off-piste secrets away on here though for all to see!
