Beginner ski areas in Tignes

Even if there are several equipment options to choose from, we recommend you go for the most basic. 

Beginner skis are short, flexible skis that are easy to turn or, if you're snowboarding, you'll have a shorter stiffer snowboard that's easier to control and generally cheaper too. 

You won't need to know about the technical aspects of any of the equipment as ski hire shops will advise you to get the best model for your ability and size once you've booked. 

If you're learning to ski for the first time, Tignes has plenty of choice of ski schools who teach children and adults.  

Children's lessons are determined by their age and ability, whilst adult lessons are determined by ability and interests.

If you're joining a ski school as a complete beginner, you'll probably start off in the nursery areas where a pass isn't needed. 

These free ski lifts in Tignes give you access to gentle, green pistes that you can start to build your confidence on:

• Tignes le Lac: Rosset chairlift and magic carpet
• Tignes Val Claret: Claret draglift and Bollin chairlift
• Tignes le Lavachet: Lavachet draglift
• Tignes 1800 / Les Boisses: Magic carpet
• Tignes Les Brévières: Pitôts draglift

Children under five can get one to 15 consecutive days ski passes free. Proof of age will be required at the point of sale and a photo is required for passes of two days and longer. 

If you're a skier looking to progress after having already learnt the basics, you can buy a ski pass for as little as half a day. You should consider buying a Tignes only ski pass rather than the Espace Killy ski pass (which includes the neighbouring resort of Val d'Isère).

Tignes has four different nursery slope areas:

• Val Claret
• Tignes Les Lac
• Tignes Le Lavachet
• Tignes Les Brevieres

There's also a small magic carpet in Tignes 1800. 

Across these nursery slopes there are various beginner specific lifts ranging from drag lifts to chairlifts and even a children’s beginner ski area with a carpet lift in Tignes Val Claret. All these lifts are easily accessible from wherever you may be staying. 

Once you feel more confident on the nursery slopes you can progress higher up the mountain and attempt some of the gentler blue pistes that Tignes and the wider Espace Killy have to offer. In Val Claret there is a beginner designated green area if you head up the Tichot and then the Grattalu, although be warned that the run coming back down to resort can be a little tricky and can take some time, so make sure you are prepared for a little bit of a challenge.

Toviere and Les Brevieres

In Tignes le Lac and Lavachet there are a couple of beginner drag lifts and also a beginner chairlift in Le Lac. If you are feeling more confident and want to venture a little further on the mountain head up the Palafour or Chardonnet from Tignes Lac. This will give you access to the lovely, rolling, gentle blue runs that come back down into the village. As always make sure before you head for these you feel fully prepared and confident to tackle something tougher than the beginner nursery slopes.

From Le lac you can also hop on the Chaudannes chairlift. At the top of this lift you can take various blue gentle pistes such as the Petit Col. One of the longest blues down is the Rhododendron which turns into the Melezes and then Mrytilles, which will take you all the way down into Les Brevieres. It will take a long time to do this run so we recommended you do it first thing in the morning and have a much needed relaxing lunch break in one of the little bistros in Les Brevieres.

After a break take the Bubble and the Aiguille Rouge to then ski back down to resort. If you want to keep going, and are not too tired from the morning ski, take the Brevieres and Boissons lifts and attempt some of the blue runs that bring you back down to Tignes Les Brevieres or Tignes Les Boisses.

Grande Motte and The Palet

If you have mastered the nursery slopes and are looking to head higher up the mountain then there is plenty to do in the Grande Motte/Palet/L'Aigulle area.

Get the Tichot lift and then ski the small gentle flat run to the Grattalau lift or follow the piste all the way down to Val Claret. The Grattalu piste is designed for beginners who want to progress up the mountain and due to its width it has a designated beginner area at one side. 

If you want to add some more runs in from the top of the Grattalau you can take the Lac run which is a narrower blue but will give you access to all the gentle wide blues that are accessible via the Grand Huit and the Merles Chairlifts. It also gives you a sneaky look at the famous L’Aiguille Percee. From here you can also ski down into Tignes Les Lacs via some long blue pistes.

You can also hop on the funicular from the bottom of Val Claret and head up the Grande Motte. 

From here you can do some of the more gentle blues on the glacier accessible by the Vanoise and Rossolin lifts, just make sure you avoid the Double M piste down as this is a red, is really tricky, and can get extremely busy and as a beginner, it's not advised. Instead tackle the Genepy or Cairn all the way down to Val Claret.

Buying all the gear before you go can be daunting if you’ve never set foot in a ski resort before. The key items to bring with you, along with the obvious ski jacket, ski trousers and goggles, are as follows:

• Layers - thermal tops and leggings, fleeces, hoodies, hats and a good pair of ski gloves and a helmet. Weather on the mountain can change pretty quickly, and you are much better off wearing layers of thinner items as opposed to a big, bulky jumper.
• Socks - a variety of socks ranging in thickness, it may sound weird but in our experience hire boots can be quite painful with the wrong socks.
• Sun cream - even when it’s cloudy the sun here can (and will) still get you, and don't forget the underneath of your chin as the sun reflects off the snow too. Don't forget a lip salve with an SPF.
• Piste map - make sure to always have one in your pocket while you're out on the mountain. You can pick up paper copies from the lift pass or tourist office once you've arrived in resort.