Val d'Isère - January 2024
January 20th – 27th January 2024
THE SNOW-CATS have skied in Val d’Isère eight times over the years, last in 2023. Why do we rate it so highly?
Because…..at 1850m / 6070ft Val d’Isère is a skier’s paradise, with a huge skiing area across the famous ‘2 valleys’, and spectacular scenery. One of the many advantages of this resort is that it caters for all grades of skiers and off the slopes has something for everybody to do.
Val d’Isère, France
Val d’Isère is one of the best loved French skiing destinations. It’s kept the charm and the feel of its rural village roots while growing into a modern resort with a lovely atmosphere. Indulge in the fantastic local culture and shopping if you care to, but more importantly come for the skiing and walking as there’s superb terrain and enough variety to suit everyone.
Skiers have the vast ‘Espace Killy’ to explore, from the challenge of the Solaise bumps to the wide open pistes of the glacier at Fornet. Off-piste enthusiasts are spoiled for choice and it’s the perfect place to combine off-piste guiding and instruction.
THE SNOW-CATS 53rd ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The 53rd Snowcats Annual Open Championship Race (Flèche) will take place during the week. There are prizes for all standards, from beginners to experts, with a prize-giving in the Hotel in the evening.
The Ski Area
Tignes – Val d’Isère is the combined ski resort area of Val d’Isère and Tignes in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie in the French Alps. Formerly known as Espace Killy, in honour of the spectacularly successful skier Jean-Claude Killy, who was raised here.
There are claimed to be 300 km of pistes:
- 22 green runs, 61 blues, 46 reds and 25 blacks,[5] plus 44 km of cross-country skiing
- 2 terrain parks
- 2 glaciers
- 90 ski lifts
Espace Killy ski area
Click the piste map for a larger view.
Lift Passes
An adult lift pass is £365.
Senior lift passes are available to people ages 65-74 at £310.
A free lift pass is available to people 75+ – this has to be booked directly at a lift pass office.
Val d’Isère Facts
- Number of lifts: 87
- Number of pistes: 159
- Total piste length: 300km
- Highest lift: 3450m
- Snow cannons: 900
Hotel Ducs de Savoie
The HOTEL Ducs de Savoie will be home for our Festival party. Run by the tour operator Inghams, with whom we have an extensive history and excellent relationship, this premier hotel in the heart of the village has homely furnishings, a roaring log fire, lounge and bar area, all bedrooms with en-suite facilities, and an excellent menu.
For our week, the whole hotel has been secured for our exclusive use only which always creates a fantastic atmosphere for our members.
The HOTEL Ducs de Savoie is located in the centre of the main village, just off the main street, just a few minutes walk to the main lifts including the Solaise Express, the Bellevarde Express Chair, and Olympique Gondola. The bus stop is just 30 metres from the hotel giving different options for the start of the day’s skiing.
Food at Hotel Dues de Savoie
The Ducs offers half board with chalet-style catering including breakfast, afternoon tea and evening meals with wine included. There’s a staff day off midweek where we dine out. The lounge, bar and dining room were completely renovated in 2021 creating a lovely rustic feel and welcoming atmosphere. Pre-dinner apéritifs and canapés are served in the bar before you move on to the dining room to enjoy evening meals with complimentary wine.
Ski Groups
Skiing in groups of about 5-8 people is an important aspect of Snowcat club skiing. We offer multiple groups of like-ability skiers to suit most standards, so providing your ability level is intermediate (see below note) through to expert, we can offer a well-matched group for you.
Winter Walkers
Val d’Isère offers some great adventures for our walking group. There is an abundance of cleared winter paths to enjoy equipped (please) with mini-crampons and walking poles. Most end up at a suitable hostelry, where you can have lunch.
Just because they’re under a blanket of snow doesn’t mean that the many hiking trails of Val d’Isère are inaccessible – far from it! 27km of marked and maintained paths offer a peaceful way to enjoy the splendour of the wintery mountains. You can obtain trail maps and daily updates from Val d’Isère Tourist Office, or you will find guiding companies who can offer full or half-day excursions for our walking group.
There are also many other activities in the Val d’Isère area to entertain our non-skiers including winter walking trails, guided glacier walking, snowshoeing, husky sledging, paragliding, ice-driving/karting, ice climbing, snowmobiling, helicopter tours as well as Val d’Isère’s vast array of couture retail, cafés and restaurants.
Bookings Details
Total Price £1,525 (standard twin)
£200 deposit is payable upon booking.
£1,325 balance is due by 1st October 2023
Travel
Our travel to Val d’Isère is a Saturday morning departure from Gatwick.
Insurance
The Snowcats does not provide any form of travel insurance so we ask that party members arrange their own Travel / Ski Insurance.
Booking Conditions
Please see the main Conditions of Business page, relating to the operation of these holidays.
Ski Carriage
Ski Hire
- Red skis: £114
- Black skis: £130
- Blue skis and boots: £130
- Red skis and boots: £152
- Black skis and boots: £174