Savoie / France
One of the most lively resorts in the Alps, Tignes shares 300km of pistes with Val d’Isere, with everything ranging from long, gentle greens to challenging off-piste. Recent investment has meant efficient lifts and a great snow-making system, which, coupled with the Grande Motte glacier, means good skiing is pretty much guaranteed.
Tignes is divided into four villages - Val Claret and Le Lac offer good value accommodation and a lively nightlife, whereas families might prefer the quieter, wooded setting of Les Boisses and Les Brévières.
There’s plenty to do off the snow too, with a great swimming pool in Le Lac, which is also the focus of winter activities such as dog-sledging.
In the summer, the Vanoise National Park offers more than 300km of walking and biking trails, and the lake at Tignes is the focus for watersports such as kayaking and paddleboarding.
There’s great skiing for all abilities in Tignes and Val d’Isere. Learners should head for Le Lac and Val Claret, and there are endless possibilities for intermediates across the Espace Killy. Try the long undulating Génépy run down from the glacier or the long blue from the top of the Aiguille Percée. There are more great intermediate slopes on the Solaise mountain in Val d’Isère.
Advanced skiers will find plenty of challenge, both on and off-piste. The Sache is a long steep descent from the Aiguille Percée to Les Brévières, and the Golf and Campanules are popular ungroomed routes. There are plenty of options in Val d’Isere, from the Banane off the Bellevarde to the trees above Le Fornet.
Situated in the heart of the beautiful Vanoise National Park, the Tignes area is a great choice for those who love being outdoors. There are more than 300km of tracks for walkers and bikers, and plenty of wildlife to discover.
The resort itself is set around a beautiful lake, where you’ll find plenty of activities, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, tennis, trampolining, archery and more. The Lagon swimming complex on the lakefront has three pools, a spa and a fitness centre. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, there’s whitewater rafting and canyoning on the Haute Isere river.
The Tignespace centre has a huge climbing wall where you can give the sport a try before heading into the mountains.
You can even try glacier walking or summer skiing on the Grande Motte glacier!
Skiing and boarding are the main activities that bring guests to Tignes in the winter, and in the summer, hiking, biking and climbing are the most popular. But when you stay at an OVO Network property, there is so much more to see and do.
Here are some of our favourite things to do in Alpes d’Huez - you’ll find the details below.
Spend a magical winter evening eating around a campfire in the woods at Les Boisses, Tignes, before a luge ride to Les Brevieres! You’ll meet at Tignes Le Lac or Val Claret before heading for a secret location, where you’ll find three Mongolian Yurts and a tipi. After an apéro, you’ll move into the yurt for a fondue dinner with wines and a dessert. You should dress warmly and bring gloves, goggles and sensible footwear for this unique experience.
https://evolution2.com/en/tignes/wilderness-camp
Fancy trying something different? How about skiing down a ramp and leaping off the end, attached to bungees? The Bun J Ride will see you descend the 30m ramp before a 40m drop on bungee cords. You’ll then come safely back to earth on a zip wire. The minimum age is 13, and the ride is open every day except Saturday, from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
http://www.bun-j-ride.com/en/venues#venues-tignes
Try a cross between ski jumping and diving at Acroland in Tignes Le Lac! Slide down a huge ramp before launching yourself into the lake. There are three ramps (6m, 9m and 12m) and you can use a springboard, bodyboard or an inflatable to gain height. It’s open to anyone aged 10 and over - you’ll need to wear a swimsuit, but a life jacket and wetsuit are provided. If that all sounds a little challenging, try the blob - sit on the end of a huge inflatable while someone else jumps on it, launching you into the water!
https://en.tignes.net/activities/summer/acroland-tignes
Sit back, relax and fly with the eagles during this tandem paragliding session. Choose from an initiation flight (20 mins in the air) or a performance flight (40min in air). Bring a camera to capture those memories! You’ll need a jacket or jumper, comfortable shoes and trousers or shorts - it can get chilly up there!
https://www.seetignes.com/flying/paragliding-valley-717236
Get a whole new perspective on the mountains by taking a helicopter tour. There are four tours to choose from, ranging from the five-minute Tignes Tour to the 40-minute Mont Blanc tour, the choice is yours.
https://www.seetignes.com/flying/helicopter-tours-valley-718973
Make your way down the Gorges du Pussy by jumping, swimming, abseiling and sliding down Alpine streams. It’s open to anyone over the age of 10, but you’ll need to be able to swim and have a sense of adventure. You’ll need shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, a swimsuit and a towel - a wetsuit, harness and helmet are provided. You can do half-day or full-day sessions but if you’re going for a full day, remember to bring a picnic.
https://www.seetignes.com/watersports/canyoning-valley-718960
Explore the mountain paths and discover wonderful landscapes in a 4x4 buggy or quad - go solo or take a passenger. You’ll need a driving licence if you’re behind the wheel on this two-hour guided excursion, which is based at the Quad Centre in Orbassy, near Bourg St Maurice.
https://www.seetignes.com/guides/chemin-des-berger-quad-and-buggy-tour-bourg-st-maurice-719001
Go beneath the ice at Tignes le Lac in the winter, and experience the beautiful colours of this natural lake. The ice, which can be up to 2m thick, reforms daily, resulting in a magical play of light and shadow. A qualified instructor will accompany you on your adventure. Night diving is also available for those with previous experience.
https://evolution2.com/en/tignes/ice-diving-2
Wrap up warm and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate on a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow around Tignes, or explore the mountains on horseback in summer. There’s no age limit for the sleigh rides, and children as young as two can enjoy a pony ride.
https://evolution2.com/en/tignes/horse-sledding
Strap on your skates and step out onto the frozen lake between December and February in Tignes (ice depth permitting). The rink is divided into a games area for ice hockey and a fun area, where you can do your own thing. Disco on Ice is available most evenings, and there’s skate hire on site.
https://www.seetignes.com/activities/fitness/ice-skating-rink
Télécabine de La Daille, 73150 Val d’Isère, tel: +33 4 79 06 07 17
If you’re out skiing and looking to party, head for La Folie Douce, at the top of La Daille cable car, for a unique apres ski experience. DJs, table-dancing and cabaret, as well as three restaurants make this the place to party. Cabaret lunches start at 1 pm and at 2.30 pm the intensity ramps up. However, there are four restaurants, renowned for their food. La Fruitiére serves authentic local food from noon to 3.30 pm, La Petite Cuisine is self-service and more canteen style, and you can grab a quick burger or sandwich at The Butcher Shop on the terrace. The team at La Cucucina is all Italian, and the menu is too - don’t expect spag bol though, this is pretty classy, although pizzas are on the menu.
https://www.lafoliedouce.com/fr/restaurant-val-isere.html
Route de la Ferme Le Lavachet, Tignes, tel: +33 4 79 06 35 10
Make sure you book to be sure of a table at this popular farm restaurant. Everything on the menu is homemade, using farm produce where possible (which is also available to buy). The fondues are excellent, as are the burgers and the cote de boeuf, but make sure you leave room for dessert.
https://www.facebook.com/LaFermeDes3Capucines/
Rue de la Poste Lieu Dit Le Bec Rouge, Tignes, tel: +33 4 79 07 83 76
As the name suggests, meat is what they do best at this friendly restaurant, but the homemade desserts are great too. The dining room is cosy and welcoming, but there’s also a beautiful terrace which is perfect on sunny days. There’s a well-chosen wine list, and the staff are happy to make recommendations. Vegetarian and vegan choices are available, and the veggie burger comes highly recommended.
https://niurousteakhouse.com/about/
Promenade de Toviere, Tignes
Expect something a little different from this cavernous restaurant overlooking the lake and the Grande Motte glacier. Meat, seafood, cocktails and art are all on the menu. Start with snails, oysters or perhaps blinis with caviar, followed by octopus, lamb or, if you are vegetarian, a ‘creative’ plate of seasonal veg.
https://www.le-kaya-tignes.fr/
Route du Lavachet, Tignes Le Lac, tel: +33 6 82 34 58 64
This ski-in, ski-out restaurant is conveniently located at the bottom of the Trolles slope in Tignes le Lac. With live music, big screens showing sports and party nights with top DJs, it’s a popular apres ski venue. Burgers, wraps and bowls are tasty and great value, and there are vegan options too. Children can tuck in to mini burger or chicken nuggets and fries.
https://www.bartignes.com/loop-bar
Route du Lavachet Centre Commercial Le Lavachet, Tignes, tel: +33 7 67 00 66 02
This quirky little cafe in Lavachet serves good value, tasty food that will get you through a day on the slopes. Toasties, burgers, soups and breakfasts can all be eaten on-site or taken away, along with homemade cakes and hot drinks.
There’s a great range of shops in Tignes that will be able to provide everything you need during your stay. Luxury clothing stores and delicatessens specialising in local produce are mixed with sports shops selling the latest ski, biking and hiking equipment. And if you need souvenirs or gifts to take home, you’ll find them here too.
Tignes also has plenty of small supermarkets where you can stock up on daily essentials, and many of them have a meat counter offering Savoyard specialities.
Le Lac has a small food and souvenir market every Thursday and Sunday, where you can buy charcuterie, fresh fruit and vegetables and cheeses.
Most of the shops close for lunch but open into the evenings. Banks are closed on Mondays.
By air - The area is served by four international airports: Geneva (3hrs); Lyon (3hrs); Chambery (2hrs); and Grenoble (2hrs). For transfers, try Altibus or Ben’s Bus.
By train - There are direct rail links from Paris, London, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as Grenobles and Lyon. The closest station is Bourg St Maurice (32km). For transfers, try Altibus or Ben’s Bus.
By car - Bringing your own car to Tignes will give you more independence, but you’ll find when you get here that the resort is car-free. However, you can get around using the shuttle bus service.