Off-piste, the real magic of Val d’Isère.
The right instructor or mountain guide, on terrain chosen for you — not the other way around.
REQUEST YOUR SELECTIONVal d’Isère is a leading destination for off-piste skiing in the Alps: a wide variety of terrain, and links between valleys that take you away from the lifts quickly. Whether that means your first turns beyond marked pistes, a day of ski touring or a heliski day in Italy, it all goes through one network and one point of contact.
Terrain knowledge, not just a qualification
Off-piste ranges from a guest’s first turns outside a marked run to an experienced skier looking for a specific line they’ve heard about for years. Your instructor is chosen for where you are now, not where a generic “off-piste lesson” assumes you are, and for their knowledge of the terrain: which slopes are worth skiing on a given day, and which are best left alone.
Off-piste groups are limited to five participants per instructor, a deliberate choice. It makes the descent easier to manage and allows your instructor to remain attentive to each skier.
Who this is for
First off-piste turns
Confident on-piste skiers ready for their first supervised powder, on carefully chosen terrain.
Regular off-piste skiers
Guests who want a local’s view of current conditions and access to terrain they wouldn’t find alone.
Specific objectives
A particular couloir, face or itinerary, discussed in advance with an instructor who knows it well.
Some typical sectors
Several of these routes take you into valleys with no pistes or lifts for much of the descent: wild terrain close to the resort, yet away from the main ski area. The sector and route are chosen according to the day’s conditions.
Tour du Charvet (Bellevarde)
A first step into wild terrain.
Beyond the rope, a valley with no piste or lift in sight, and the feeling of having left the resort behind. A classic first off-piste outing, for skiers confident on piste. We choose the route according to the day’s conditions, and an early start is often best.
Grands Vallons (Le Fornet)
Sheltered bowls, close to the village.
Mostly north-facing bowls where the snow holds well, easy to reach from Le Fornet. Wind and sun change the picture from one day to the next, so the line is chosen on the day. For intermediate to good off-piste skiers.
Col Pers (Le Fornet)
Open bowls, and very few tracks.
A long descent of around 1,000 m through vast bowls with no lifts or pistes, often quiet. The snow cover determines how the route ends, and the way in and out calls for a good knowledge of the terrain. For good off-piste skiers.
Vallons de la Sache (Tignes)
A long, wild descent.
North-facing slopes opposite the Dôme de la Sache, with no lifts for most of the way and around 1,200 m of vertical descent down to Les Brévières. There are several ways in, allowing the route to be chosen according to your level and the day’s conditions. Snow conditions can vary considerably between the top and bottom. For good to advanced off-piste skiers.
Safety, without the sales pitch
Every instructor and mountain guide in our off-piste network holds the French Diplôme d’État or a recognised equivalent, or is a UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide. All carry professional liability insurance. Conditions — not ambition — set the plan for the day.
How your day is organised
Once your booking is confirmed, we put you in touch with your instructor or mountain guide, who confirms the practical details with you. Your guide picks you up at your accommodation and helps you get equipped before heading out. If you prefer, a meeting point at the foot of the slopes can also be arranged.
The final route is chosen on the day, according to conditions and the group.
To see what a day looks like, read how a guided off-piste day works in Val d’Isère and Tignes.
Find out more about ski lessons in Val d’Isère or in Tignes, and see our rates.
“Spent six days with Julien around Val d'Isère and Tignes. It hadn't snowed in two weeks and he still managed to find us heaps of deep snow — zero chance of regret. Two years later, I wrote to him again: 'I have purpose and a mission in life, and I owe that to you. Your generosity to share spots with us, your patience with the group, and your wisdom to take me to places I never dreamed of going. You changed my life.'”
FELIX — FEBRUARY 2026
Questions before you begin
Do you provide safety equipment for off-piste or touring?
Avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, probe, shovel, avalanche airbag) can be provided on request, subject to availability — let us know when you enquire so we can confirm ahead of your arrival.
Is off-piste or heliski suitable for any level?
It depends on the activity. For a first off-piste outing, you need to be confident on piste. For ski touring, no previous touring experience is needed for most itineraries, but you should be comfortable skiing off-piste and have good general fitness. For heliski, it depends on the drop point: many are accessible at a solid, comfortable level in variable snow, not only to experts.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Cancellation on weather grounds alone isn't accepted, since most conditions are still skiable with the right terrain choice. Your instructor will adapt the day rather than cancel it. An exception is made only in cases of force majeure or a full closure of lifts across the sector.