Chalet Rauque is nestled in the exclusive Petit Alaska area of Val d’Isere. Guests can opt for chauffeur services but otherwise it is an eight minute walk to the fast Bellevarde lift and ten minutes to the centre of town. It is a gorgeous area, full of luxury chalets and so close to shops, restaurants and apres-ski bars.
Val d’Isere enjoys a reputation as one of Europe’s most prestigious ski resorts. Together with the next door ski area of Tignes, the area of Espace Killy offers an impressive number of pistes and lifts, not to mention breathtaking panorama with its dramatic Grande Motte glacier. The resort is brilliant for all levels with nursery pistes, magic carpets and excellent ski instructors for beginners. Val d’Isere offers gondolas with heated seats, Wi-Fi, a number of luxury spas, a wonderful leisure centre, a fabulous array of high-end boutiques and a fantastic night life. It is easy to understand why it is one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe!
With a ski area comprised of 300 km of slopes with an altitude between 1850m and 3000m, the resort offers an incredible range of pistes, lifts and snowy views. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Val d’Isere sits on the border of the stunning Vanoise National Park. Val d’Isere enjoys an authentic alpine atmosphere, a gorgeous historic centre, endless chocolate-box chalets, unique boutiques and fantastic bars and eateries. Val d’Isere’s snowfall record is brilliant with skiing usually staying open until the end of the season at the beginning of May. The centre of Val d’Isere is a bustling high street which is surrounded by a number of small hamlets including Le Cret, Le Joseray, Le Chatelard, La Legettaz and Le Laisinant.
The Espace Killy area including Tignes is the birthplace of the Olympic skier Jean-Claude Killy. Its connections and advanced ski infrastructure is excellent with more than 3400 km of pistes and 99 lifts. As well as the Grande Motte glacier which offers 20 km of summer ski runs, it also boasts the challenging black-rated piste, Face de Bellevarde with its 915 m drop. Its height altitude from 1850 m to 3400 m guarantees some of the best snow in Europe.
The ski area is perfect for all levels of skiers with its mythical slopes, almighty challenges and its quiet ski areas for beginners and children. The Valkids area and Valpark, a brilliant snow park are welcome additions for families. Passes can be bought for any number of days as well as for those that do not want to ski. Family passes are also available. Pedestrians do not have to miss out on the stunning views and family lunches on the slopes as they can access many lifts including the Solaise gondola, the Pim Pam carpet, the Poum carpet, the Vallon gondola, the Funival, the Daille gondola, the Olympique cable car, the Fornet cable car and the Bellevarde chairlift. The resort operates some brilliant ski schools.
Val’d’Isere is a great place for a wander, for evening entertainment and for shopping. It is incredibly picturesque, boasting a pretty 17th century church and delightful, characterful shops, restaurants and bars. It is a known party destination with La Folie Douce being one of it main evening attractions. For those that don’t ski or want a day off, there are some excellent spas and a brilliant leisure centre. During the summer, Val d’Isere enjoys fabulous biking and hiking trails and the wonderful Vanoise National Park.
The Region
Val d’Isere is the oldest of the French ski resorts and a gleaming icon at the end of the valley where the residential town lies. Surrounded by what is arguably some of the most beautiful mountain landscape in the world, the chalet village is centred around a charming baroque church. It’s a lovely place for wandering, taking in the cosy atmosphere and spending quality time with your favourite people.
Val d’Isere is composed of three skiing sections. These are La Daille, Val d’Isere centre and Le Fornet, all of which are linked by a free shuttle service. Alongside Tignes, the resort is part of a wider ski area known as
Espace Killy, and a lift pass will get you access to its entirety. Ski season in both resorts stretches as long as May.
Thanks to its high altitude, Val d’Isere is probably your most snow sure option for skiing in the French Alps. The village rests at 1850 metres and its peak on top of the La Grande Motte glacier is 3456 metres high. Sixty per cent of the resort’s pistes are set above 2200 metres, meaning that the skiing is consistently good but on rare occasions, bad weather can cause the slopes to close. It’s also important to keep in mind that Val d’Isere isn’t the best choice if you’re just finding your feet on the snow, and beginners may well find themselves challenged. On the flipside, Val d’Isere is one of the top choices for experienced skiers and snowboarders, with plenty of challenging black runs (such as the iconic Face the Bellevarde, where the 1992 Olympic men’s downhill was run).
Along with some of the most exciting and picturesque skiing in France, down in the village you’ll find some amazing bars and restaurants. What better way to celebrate conquering that tricky black run than by indulging in some equally entertaining après-ski? On the mountain itself, you can start your evening with DJ’s and live music at La Folie Douce until the lifts close and then work your way into town.
