From Tignes to Val d’Isère

A bigger day out from Tignes Le Lac

By Fergus Halpin

How do I get the most out of Val d’Isère when I’m staying in Tignes? It’s a question I hear a lot from our guests. On the piste map, the Fornet and Pisaillas glacier can look a long way from Tignes Le Lac. For a good intermediate skier, though, this can be a very rewarding day out.

My trick is to combine the skiing with a short trip on the Val d’Isère shuttle. That leaves more of the day for the runs I’ve come for, a terrace stop and the views from the glacier.

This is a day for skiers comfortable on red pistes, with a lift pass covering both Tignes and Val d’Isère. I’d choose clear weather, start early and check the day’s lift openings and return connections before leaving. From a base such as Chalet-Hotel Rosset in Tignes Le Lac, the Tovière gondola is my starting point.

My shortcut to Le Fornet — with a stop at Edelweiss

I take the Tovière gondola out of Tignes Le Lac, then follow an open red route down towards La Daille. Once there, I take the Val d’Isère shuttle through the village to Le Laisinant. Look for the named stop rather than counting stops: services and stopping patterns can change.

From Le Laisinant, I take the Laisinant chair and follow the blue piste towards the Fornet sector and the Vallon gondola. My favourite detour before heading higher is Mangard, the red piste down towards Le Fornet village.

Partway down Mangard, Edelweiss is on the right. Its terrace is a real sun trap on a fine day, and I’m very happy to stop here for a coffee or hot chocolate. It’s one of those pauses that makes the journey feel like a proper day out rather than a race across the map.

If the glacier is the priority, I’d keep the stop short or leave this detour for another visit. With a mixed group, I’d agree that before setting off: this route includes red pistes, and everyone needs enough energy for the journey home.

Pisaillas glacier: Moraine is the run I come for

After Edelweiss, I finish Mangard into Le Fornet and take the Fornet lift back up, followed by the Vallon gondola towards the Pisaillas glacier. I then follow the signed piste connection to the Cascade chair. This is Val d’Isère’s glacier, distinct from the Grande Motte on the Tignes side.

Moraine is my favourite here: a broad red piste with room to enjoy a proper sequence of turns. I like the runs feeding back towards Cascade and Céma, so I’d give myself time for a few laps rather than arriving, taking a photograph and immediately heading home. The high setting is part of the appeal, although snow and visibility still vary with the weather.

At the top, I always want a moment for the view. It’s the point in the day when the journey across from Tignes really pays off. The photographs here bring together Moraine, the glacier viewpoint, our Edelweiss stop and the Leissières chair that forms part of the return.

For lunch, my other recommendation is the Cascade restaurant, beside the lift of the same name. It’s self-service, and I’ve found the food good quality and good value for the location. There can be a queue, so I’d keep an eye on the time before settling in.

Home via the up-and-over chair and Piste

The return has a highlight of its own: the Leissières chair, often called the “up-and-over” chair. I like travelling towards Solaise, when the chair crests the ridge and the valley suddenly opens out in front of you. It’s a memorable part of the day even before you put your skis back on the snow.

From the glacier sector, I work back towards Leissières via the open, signed connections. Once on the Solaise side, I take Piste L down to Le Laisinant. It’s a blue piste, but I still allow time for the descent: a blue label doesn’t tell you how the snow, traffic or your legs will feel late in the day.

At Le Laisinant, I catch the shuttle back towards La Daille. The La Daille gondola and Tommeuses chair are my route back towards Tovière, above Tignes Le Lac. I check the final descent or gondola download option with the lift staff, especially if anyone is tired.

My most useful tip is to work backwards from the closing times of the return lifts. Leave a margin for the shuttle, queues and slower skiing, and don’t make the last possible connection your plan. The village shuttle gets you across Val d’Isère; it doesn’t replace the mountain links back to Tignes.

How I’d fit this into a Tignes ski holiday

I’d save this outing for a clear day when everyone in the group feels settled on their skis. There’s no need to tick off every stop. If you’re enjoying Moraine, spend your time there; if a long lunch is the priority, build the day around that and turn back earlier.

Before leaving, I’d check three things: that everyone’s pass covers both resorts, that the glacier and inter-resort links are open, and that we have a realistic return plan. I use the official piste map and lift-opening information alongside the signs on the mountain. This is my outline for the day, rather than a substitute for that day’s routing advice.

For me, the appeal of staying in Tignes is being able to enjoy a day like this and still come back to the same familiar base. If you’re weighing up where to stay, Chalet-Hotel Rosset is Ski Miquel’s base in Tignes Le Lac. Its page explains the accommodation and chalet-hotel holiday arrangements, while the Tignes resort guide is the place to explore the wider ski area and current holiday options.