Val d’Isère is a leading destination for off-piste skiing in the Alps. The Val d’Isère–Tignes ski area offers a wide variety of terrain and descents. With the valleys linked to one another, it is easy to move away from the lifts: cross a ridge from the top of a chairlift, descend a valley with no lifts, then reach another lift further down. The range of possible routes is extensive, and you can choose the areas best suited to the day’s conditions.
That still requires local knowledge and the ability to assess those conditions: here’s what to expect from a guided off-piste day.
Before the day: we talk about you
It starts with a conversation about your level, your experience in deep snow and what you want from the day. We then choose the instructor or guide whose profile fits your request. There is no fixed programme: it is built around you.
Who takes you out
Off-piste days are led by instructors holding the French State Diploma or a recognised equivalent, or by UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guides. No trainee instructors lead our outings.
A deliberately small group
Off-piste, one instructor takes a maximum of five clients. We have chosen this limit deliberately: a smaller group makes the descent easier to manage and helps the instructor keep an eye on each participant.
What sets the plan
Conditions — not ambition — set the plan for the day. Weather, snow, avalanche risk, the group’s level and the instructor’s own assessment all count. The instructor selects the terrain best suited to the day’s conditions and can change the route along the way. If conditions are not right, you ski elsewhere, sometimes on piste.
Equipment
Safety equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe, airbag backpack) is available on request, subject to availability. Ask when you book. A helmet is recommended.
How the day runs
- Meeting point, then a check on equipment and conditions.
- Safety equipment check.
- Descents on the chosen terrain, with explanations on route choice and reading the slope.
- The plan is adjusted to the snow, the weather and the group.
Frequently asked questions
Your instructor assesses your level before suggesting terrain. Tell your instructor about your ability on piste and your experience skiing off-piste.
5 clients maximum per instructor off-piste.
The plan is adapted or changed. Safety comes before the original plan.
It is available on request, subject to availability.