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One of the highest resorts in the Alps, with guaranteed skiing virtually year round, Tignes can justifiably boast a fantastic snow record that is the envy of many resorts worldwide. Tignes is part of the vast Espace Killy ski area, with over 300kms of varied terrain, linked to the neighbouring resort of Val d’Isere.
The resort itself is made up of three main stations- Tignes le Lavachet, Tignes Le Lac and Val Claret, as well as Les Brevieres and Les Boisses a little lower down the valley. Much of the modern style architecture which makes up all three main villages wouldn’t win any beauty contests, but the resort is gradually becoming more pleasing on the eye. The introduction of a road tunnel allowing skiers to traverse the centre without needing to unbuckle to cross the road, and the new underground car parking makes for better resort orientation.
The nightlife receives mixed reports, although there are more than enough busy bars, restaurants and clubs between the three stations that keep even the most avid night owls more than interested. There is a modern sports centre, featuring aerobics, squash and sauna, and a nearby cinema, skating rink and bowling alley.
The skiing is simply vast, and with several free lifts for beginners helping the excellent local ski and snowboard schools, (particularly Evolution 2 receiving glowing reports), progression is normally quick for first timers. There are huge long sweeping runs up on the Grand Motte glacier which should be the goal for the end of the beginner’s first week. For intermediates there is a good percentage of difficult blues and reds, which are more than enough to keep even an ambitious intermediate challenged for several holidays. The trip down to Les Brevieres can be particularly enjoyable, with nice restaurants await you at the bottom. Advanced skiers come back year after year to try the vast array of black pistes and endless off piste challenges. Try Mickey’s Ears, the Fingers or the Lavachet Wall for real spine tingling vertical drops.