Skiing & Sunshine on a Summer French Alps Holiday

On a summer holiday to Tignes you can spend the morning skiing the glacier, then try a range of exciting Alpine activities in the afternoon.

I know what it’s like, it’s the middle of summer but you just can’t get last season’s exciting skiing memories out of your head. Keen winter sports enthusiasts may be the only people on the planet who look at a blue summer ski and wish it would snow!

But you don’t have to wait out the summer months without the feel of snow under your skis or board, because on a French Alps holiday to Tignes you can enjoy some glorious summer skiing on its extensive glacier.

Summer Skiing

Okay, there is a catch, you’ll need to get up early to enjoy the best of the glacier snow. Lifts open at 7.15am and are open for skiers until 1pm, but it will be well worth the early start to explore the 20km of runs, including reds, blues and blacks, down from the peak of La Grande Motte glacier.

Boarders and skiers of all ages will enjoy the glacial snowpark with its kickers, rails, pipes and skicross tracks so that you can get your tricks ready for the winter season ahead.

How to Get To the Glacier

If you’re spending your French Alps holiday in Tignes take a lift or bus to Tignes Val Claret from where a funicular train will take you to the bottom of the Grande Motte cable car.

The Grand Motte lift reaches 3,454 meters (the highest point you can ski on the glacier) or alternatively, there are a range of 12 ski lifts which will take you to different locations and various level pistes lower down on the glacier.

What to do When the Ski Lifts Close

There is still plenty to do in Tignes after the ski lifts close. Get yourself a Sportignes card for access to the ski lifts and you’ll find a range of summer activities offered for free to enjoy on your French Alps holiday.

From tennis and golf to the more extreme Acroland, a water park involving various slides into Tignes Lake, and the mini bike park with air bag, there are a wide variety of summer activities on offer to fill your afternoons.

The skiing area neighbours the Vanoise National Park with its extensive range of hiking trails. With stunning views across Mont Pourri, the Grande Casse, Mont Blanc and the ridges of the Grande Sassi鑢e, it’s well worth exchanging your ski boots for walking boots and exploring this beautiful wilderness.

How to Get to Tignes

Flights in to Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble and Chamb閞y are all close to Tignes, with a two to three hour drive time from all airports. From Lyon take the A43 to Chambery and continue on the A43 and N90 to D1090 in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Follow the D1090 and D902 to Tignes. From Geneva take the N205 then the SS26 and D1090 then the D84, D902 and D87A to Tignes.