Where to ski in France, including ski resorts in France, ski area profiles, snow and ski reports, and lodging information.
The mountains around Val d'Isere and Tignes, in France, are collectively known as l'Espace Killy. L'Espace Killy contains over 90 lifts serving almost 200 miles of defined and marked runs. The village sits at about 6,000' and the top of the area is about 11,300' giving plenty of 3,000' verticals all over mountain.
Megeve, France is comprised of three ski areas, Mont d’Arbois, Rochbrune and Le Jaillet. The ski runs are cut through the trees a very welcome change to most ski areas in the Alps that are above "tree line" and there is great skiing for all levels.
When you're planning a ski trip to France, Charlie Leocha's book Ski Snowboard Europe takes the guess work out of finding a French ski resort or village that fits your fancy, your skiing and your budget.
The third day in Val d'Isere I intended to test the expanse of the Espace - lift to lift, east to west, or maybe it was north to south. Of course, I had no intentions of doing it by myself.
Skiing the glacier on La Grande Motte, L'Espace Killy in Val d'Isere/Tignes
In Megeve, France, as in most European resorts, you can choose from a varity of certified guide services. Ski instructors, both from the heralded Ecole Ski du Francais, and from the independent French certified ski schools, are mostly locals well familar with the area and can be hired out for day trips.
Even if you are in the first cable car up the mountain are it's amazing how quickly a day skiing in the Alps can go by. Seasoned traveler or first time Alp skier if your day is ending in Megeve you are in for a treat as you wind through the village to your hotel or chalet and hear the unique sound of ski boots on cobblestones.
Megeve is well known by few and is a jealously guarded secret among those that frequent its ski slopes, Michelin Guide rated restaurants, high-end shopping stores, casinos, and quaint narrow cobbled streets.
The expanse of the skiing at Megeve seems to just go on and on. You could pick up your lift ticket, strap on a backpack of clothes, ski, and hopscotch poma lifts, chairs, trams, and gondolas from one town to another. It would probably be several days before you covered anywhere near all the 200 plus miles of skiing around Megeve.
When you're heading overseas, it always makes good sense to spend time with a local ski instructor. They know the mountain, know the lift systems, speak the language, and can get you up to speed much faster than you can do on your own with a trail map.
Travel tips for getting to Megeve in the French Alps.
Any mention about off-piste skiing in Europe, or anywhere that you don't know the terrain, should begin with the fact that you will be using a professional guide. Even if you know the terrain you are about to ski, but are not schooled in judging the stability of the snow a guide or avalanche trained member of the party should be in order.
Skiing and dining in Europe go hand in hand as skis and ski poles - you wouldn't consider one without the other. There are restaurants all over L'Espace Killy and for the most part reservations for lunch are mandatory. That is, unless you are prepared to wait, and wait you will, because there is no rushing this mid-day respite.
As you might imagine in a place as famous for its skiing as is Val d'Isere there are many ski rental and sales stores. If you include sports apparel shops in Val d'Isere you are talking about over 50 establishments. To rent skis you don't have to look very far from any point in the village center or the surrounding communities.
You can stroll through the Val d'Isere village and find restaurants that stand out for their uniqueness in architecture, food quality, presentation, fun places to eat, or quiet intimate dining.
While the name Val d'Isere has taken on mythical properties as to terrain and snow conditions, during my visit the reality was snow at night and powder mornings. Val d'Isere village, tucked in at the base of the mountains, is built in centuries old tradition of wood and stone and is as steeped in tradition as the skiing.
