Snowboarding in Tignes - Val D'Isere, 16th - 23rd December 2023
This was an exhilarating week-long adventure in the renowned high-altitude French resorts of Tignes and Val d'Isère, where skiing, snowboarding, and non-stop partying awaited! Nestled in the breathtaking French Alps, Tignes and Val d'Isère offered unparalleled skiing and snowboarding experiences against a backdrop of majestic peaks and pristine powder. Whether you were carving down perfectly groomed slopes, tackling challenging off-piste terrain, or mastering freestyle tricks in world-class terrain parks, these resorts catered to all skill levels and preferences. But the excitement didn’t end on the slopes—after a thrilling day on the mountain, the après-ski scene came alive with vibrant energy and pulsating beats. Some of us indulged in après-ski rituals at lively bars and chic lounges, where you could unwind with a drink, hearty alpine cuisine, and infectious live music. As the sun set, the party continued into the night, with legendary clubs and nightlife hotspots offering unforgettable experiences for revelers of all tastes. Dance the night away to international DJs, mingle with fellow snow enthusiasts from around the world, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Another adrenaline-pumping adventure on the slopes and unforgettable nights of revelry, the week in Tignes and Val d'Isère did not disappoint and proved to be the ultimate winter getaway filled with excitement, thrills, and endless fun!
by Adriana · Sun 4 Feb 2024
We met some others in our group at Grenoble airport. The airport is tiny so there were no options to rent a car. The transfer was organised – an ‘Adventure Sports Tours’ van was waiting for us in the early hours of the morning. We loaded all our heavy ski bags on and set off.
It was early afternoon when we arrived in Tignes, after a coffee break in Bourges-Saint-Maurice – a traditional Alpine village on the way up. We also did a big Lidl shop here for some basic ingredients to cook in the week and some snacks including fruit, nuts, and local cakes and biscuits of coarse! This small town is actually linked by rail to London as there are trains that come here from Paris!
Walking into the Yeti apartments, we were greeted by a receptionist who explained everything to us. She gave us key cards to our apartment, told us about the luxurious spa and gym, explained where to find the locker room and gave us the code to enter in the evenings. We were informed that if we chose the self-clean option, we would have to take the bins out at the end, wipe down the surfaces and strip the beds – this is what we opted for, but others preferred to pay for the service. The apartments were very clean and convenient. The kitchen was extremely spacious and fully equipped with all utensils and equipment. There was also a dishwasher, and tablets were provided.
The weather conditions were absolutely perfect when we got there! It was sunny and not too cold, but it had recently snowed. Though such conditions are untypical at this time of year, Tignes – with its high altitude – does not disappoint.
So, we all started unpacking and preparing for the next day. We went down to one of the local rental shops in the centre to get our equipment, had a look around the shimmering resort, and made our way back to our apartment. An early night was needed for our first thrilling day on the slopes! We were buzzing with excitement.
Early morning on Sunday, we were up and getting dressed to head out (of course, some preferred to sleep in). We had some scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast in our apartment kitchen, ready for a busy and energetic day on the slopes. Once we had gotten our boots and equipment from our locker downstairs (which was easily accessible with an elevator), the lifts and slopes were a 50-100m walk away.
We had a full day of snowboarding (or skiing – whichever is your preferred method of sliding down), with some time spent at café’s and bars. As the sun started to go down and the lifts started to close, some of us gathered at ‘L’Escale Branche’ where we sat around a fire at our table, ordered some well deserved pizza and chatted about our epic falls of the day and so on. Others, preferred to return home and heat up in our apartment spa pool and sauna.
We had a ‘drinks’ talk with the receptionist and an ‘Evolution 2’ activity provider at 6pm where there was the opportunity to find out about more unusual sports to try such as ‘ice diving’, ‘bungee jumping with skis’ or ‘dog sledging’. The kids took advantage of the pool table in the reception. Then, we all headed back out to the Tignes centre to gather at one of their many lively bars.
Monday was just as sunny and the slopes were again perfectly prepared in the morning. We had a week full of skiing and snowboarding. Some were throwing themselves down the Olympic black and red slopes while others were making their way down the blues and greens. Those with kids would drop them off in the mornings and pick them up early afternoon so everyone could make the most of their holiday.
The last few days were snowy and foggy but nothing can stop the ski/ snowboard addicts. We continued to make our turns through the white clouds and powdery snow. Most slopes were actually closed on the last day but we found a nice few open ones at a lower altitude, around Tignes 1800/ 1500 where the visibility was good and the slopes were freshly snowed on.
Some also dedicated time to pondering around the beautiful towns of not only Tignes but also Val d’Isere and Val claret which were accessible by slopes, lifts and also free buses which ran regularly throughout the days. The lively towns were full of people, shops to browse around, and restaurants to dine in.
There was also a fair amount of partying at apres at the crazy ‘La Folie Dolce’ up in the mountain and ‘Cocorico’ down in Val Claret which livened up our evenings. “Je voudrais un Jagermeister sil vous plait!” The places were swarming with people – if you weren’t there, what were you doing??
Probably chilling in the heated pool – fair enough.
And so, we spent 7 days living it up in the French Alpes. With so much to do in the day, everyone was busy 24/7. Fitting in the gym, the slopes, eating delicious food and being a party animal is no easy job – but we managed it!