FR 
DE 
Val d’Isère is one of the world’s most iconic ski destinations. For those whose first time is in Val d’Isere, this guide will help you find everything you need around the slopes to get the most from your trip. There are over 300km of pistes laid across the Val d’Isère ski map, which are shared between Val d’Isère and Tignes. It’s easy to wonder where we start.
Whilst Val d’Isère might be famous for it’s off-piste skiing and legendary apres, it’s equally welcoming for new skiers and young families when you know where to go and what to expect.
This guide, will help you find the best beginner-friendly zones around the Val d’Isere ski map, where families can ski safely together.
Espace Killy – Tignes and Val d’Isere Ski Map
Best Beginner Areas on the Val d’Isère Ski Map
Val d’Isere Town Centre Snowfront
The Val d’Isere skiing area on the snowfront just next to the village centre is a brilliant place to first clip your skis on. As you don’t have to travel up the mountain to get started, this can make it easier, particularly for those who are more nervous about the first time on skis. It’s also a comfortable place to start if you’re nervous about heading up the mountain right away. It’s also easy to return to your accommodation when needed.
This part of the Val d’Isère map can also be an excellent place to come to progress past the initial stage of your skiing journey. The Savonette drag lift is an easy progression from the Pim Poum magic carpets and the Village chair lift is an excellent first chairlift to use, as you don’t have to go to the top of the mountain to use it, making it much more appealing for nervous skiers. The Village I and II runs are both gentle and wide and making them ideal for working on your transition to plough parallel skiing.
Skiing in this area also makes it super easy to reach the amenities of Val d’Isere town centre, should you need a break from skiing. In poor weather, we would also recommend skiing on the Village I and II runs over the Madeleine green run. These pistes are lower and will offer better shelter from strong winds and provide far greater visibility on foggy days.
Solaise Beginner Area
Once you’ve completed your introductory skiing activities, the Solaise beginner area is the best place in Val d’Isere to go.
To get there, head up the Solaise Gondola. Across from the top station of the Solaise gondola are the Poum and Pim Pam Magic carpet travellators. You’ll find fantastic views of the Val d’Isere skiing area down towards the Lac du Chevril.
For those looking to get more miles under their skis, the Madeleine green slope is an excellent run. It’s a wide and gentle slope that will help you practice longer runs and a steady pace. The slope is easily accessed via the Madeleine chair lift, found next to the Pim Pam magic carpet.
As this area is next to the lift’s top station, there is consistently good snow quality even later in the season. The solaise lounge is also conveniently next to the top station, which is perfect for warming up and catching your breath, particularly on colder days.
Be careful not to try skiing down to Val d’Isere from here. If you only want to ski blue and green runs, remember to take the gondola back down.
La Daille Snowfront
La Daille is another great option for beginners and families. Located at the entrance to Val d’Isère, it is typically quieter than the beginner areas in the centre of Val d’Isere, making it ideal for families with younger children.
In La Daille there is an abundance of family friendly accommodation right next to the snowfront along with restaurants and ski hire shops. New Generation Guests renting ski gear in La Daille can get up to 50% off their ski rentals through Skiset.
This makes it much easier for families with children to get to the pistes without having to travel great distances with all of their ski gear.
As the Lanches lift is positioned at the bottom of the mountain, like the town centre snowfront areas there is much better protection from the weather compared to the family-friendly runs further up the mountain.
Bellevard Easy Area
Once you’ve mastered all of the other areas of the Val d’Isere ski map mentioned above, the Bellevarde area is the place to go.
Bellevard offers slightly longer runs than the Solaise area. It is also directly accessible from La Daille and Val d’Isère town centre, making it a highly convenient choice.
The Borsat Green run and chair lift is an excellent route to first pracise on in the Bellevard ski area. This is a long green with great views from the summit. If you would like something more challenging then the 3J and Diebold blue runs offer this. Just be careful not to ski past the Mont Blanc lift station on your way down the mountain.
Like Solaise, if you’re not ready, it’s important that you either take the funicular down to La Daille or the Olympic gondola back to Val d’Isere. The route to La Daille can be particularly bumpy towards the end of the day. Skiing down to Val d’Isere could risk an encounter with the infamous Face, which is far steeper than its initial stages let on.
Make the most of your time exploring the Val d’Isere ski map:
Before you set off for the day, download the digital version of the Val d’Isère ski map to your phone. It’s also a great idea to have a physical copy, as phone batteries can die quickly in the cold. Stick to colour-coded zones that match your ability until you’re confident and technically ready to progress. Be careful progressing too quickly, as this can damage your confidence or lead to relying on crutch techniques.
Ready to Explore Val d’Isère?
If you’re unsure about the suitability of any of the areas, ask your instructor or a member of the ticket office staff. Plan rest stops, especially with kids—knowing where the mountain restaurants are can help you better pace yourself.
Ski lessons can help you safely explore the Val d’Isere ski map whilst building confidence and practising your technique in a safe and controlled environment.
Most importantly, don’t feel pressure to cover the whole map in one day. Val d’Isère skiing is all about progression at your own pace.
