Val d'Isere today!

These two photos were taken from the Val d'Isere webcams today - for those of you that have only seen Val in winter it will be quite a contrast. I think is looks great.

In July & August Val d'Isere is a hive of activity see the Val tourist office summer events calender.

Summer skiing - opening soon

Summer skiing on the Pissaillas Glacier, Val d'Isere

Summer skiing on the glaciers can be great fun, it starts early with lifts opening at about 7.30 am and the skiing finishing when it gets too slushy at about 1 pm. After skiing there is plenty of time left in the day for more traditional summer activities; walking, tennis, swimming or even just sitting in the sun!

Grand Motte glacier in Tignes used for summer skiing

Val d'Isere has summer skiing on the Pissaillas glacier at Le Fornet it opens for a month from the 27th June 2009 - the summer lift pass rates are not yet showing on the Val website but they say "coming soon"!
Getting to the skiing involves a very secnic, 17km drive from Val up to the Col d'Iseran. This road is closed in winter and actually forms part of the Val ski area and becomes part of several pistes. It is a major job to get the road open for the summer as in some places the snow height reaches 2m. This year the road opened on the 15th June

Tignes has summer skiing on the Grand Mott Glacier and the lifts open on the 20th June and skiing goes right through to the 30th August - lift pass prices are available see; ski-Tignes.
Access to the skiing is via the funicular at Val Claret.

NOTE: The two photos above are from Peter Garwood's blog on MySnowSports.com. He was skiing on the glacier in June 2006.

Val d'Isere - lift pass prices 2009/2010

Val d'Isere have now published their lift pass prices for next winter (Dec 2009 - May 2010) - they seem to be up by about 4%.
An adult 6 day pass for the whole of the Espace Killy, last winter was 208.50 Euros and for next winter it will be 218 Euros

See Val d'Isere Lift Pass Prices for more detail.

Val d' Isere 2009/2010 opening dates:
28th November 2009 - 2nd May 2010

Note: early season lift passes are cheaper!
Between 28/11/09 - 18/12/09 an adult 6 day pass is just 196.50 Euros AND..... from the 3rd - 19th December 2009 you can stay in certain Finlays ski chalets for any number of days for £70 per person, per night, dinner bed and breakfast or £420 p.p./week, - prices are exclusive of travel.