Val d'Isere, France
Val d’Isere as a place to go snowboarding is amongst the best in France. However the most essential piece of kit you will need with you is your black Amex. It’s got a great lift system, a reliable snow depth and some fantastic riding - with loads of off-piste only a short hop from the lifts.
They are trying a little harder to make snowboarders welcome by holding events like the Big Day Out, and have built a snowpark which is now much better than Tignes', although together they make up Espace Killy.
The resort is set along one road starting with La Daille a few ugly blocks of flats that won a hat-full of French architecture awards in the 70's. You may find you’ll start or finish your day here, as it’s only a short free bus ride from the resort proper and home of the Funival funicular, which will whip you to the top of the mountain faster than Bush could invade any oil producing state.
The main village has been tastefully developed using a lot of the local stone. The main street is full of designer shops, restaurants and British bars, set back from the road are loads of hotels and chalets ranging from affordable to ridiculous.
New for season
05/06: new 6-seater chair in the Laisinant area linking to Fornet and Solaise. Installation of snow cannons on the glacier for summer/autumn, and more cannons on winter area. Replacement of Montets drag
04/05:Bellevarde high speed Gondaola
Hotel search
Top Holiday Offers
Altitude Hotel - Half Board
At the foot of the Olympic gondola, the Altitude has an excellent ski-in, ski-out position, 300m across the slopes from the village centre. The hotel has a warm
Resort Statistics
Resort Type:
Alpine
Winter: Nov to May
Summer: None
Lifts
Total Lifts: 97
Cable cars: 4
Gondolas: 4
Chair lifts: 46
Drag lifts: 41
Other lifts: 2 funiculars
Max people per hour: 12,000
Board Leashes required: No
Mountain
Total pistes/trails: 140
Total ride area: 186miles (300km)
Longest run: 5.5km
Top lift: 3450m
Vertical drop: 1900m
First lift: 1550m
Piste suitability
Green runs: 59%
Red runs: 30%
Black runs: 11%
Lift Passes
Lift Passes:
Full Espace Killy
Half-day 30 euros
1 Day pass 41 euros
6 days 197.5 euros
Season 957 euros
Lift times:8.30am to 4.30pm
Snowfall
Average annual snowfall: 6m
Artificial snowmaking coverage: 15%
Facilities
Snowboard Schools:
ESF and some Brit based schools
Snowboard Hire:
lots of hire shops
Night Riding: :
No
Other activities
Heliboarding: :
In Italy but can fly out of val d'isere
Snowmobiles:
Yes
Further information
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Summary
Great mountain, expensive town. Overall, Val d'Isere has something for everyone. There's varying terrain for all abilities, some great off-piste and a good snow record but be ready to pay for it. They take card and cash, don't you worry.
MONEY WISE: Dear but if you got the cash, do it.
Terrain & parks
HALFPIPE:
Yes - 2
TERRAIN PARK:
Yes - 2
BACKCOUNTRY/OFF-PISTE:Yes
TREE RUNS:Yes
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Resort News
A Week Of Warm Weather In The Northern Alps 21Jul10
>> more news on Val d'Isere ...Piste Map
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