Chalet Cairn

Chalet Cairn is located in the beautiful village of Le Fornet in Val d’Isere, one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the French Alps. A much-coveted location for skiers of all ages, Le Fornet, is a charming and traditional village known for its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

Whether you’re thinking of flying to Val d’Isere or driving, Chalet Cairn is supported by wonderful transport links that make arrival easy as can be. You can drive directly to the villa from any prior destination with ease as the mountain is well-tended and easy to navigate. Or, if you choose to arrive by plane, your nearest airports are Geneva in Switzerland or Lyon, with both taking around three hours to drive from.

Once settled, you’ll find Le Fornet to be a small but active village with plenty of restaurants and bars, including the Michelin-starred L ‘Atelier d ‘Edmond restaurant and several charming local shops.

Chalet Cairn is situated just a short walk away from the Le Fornet cable car, which provides quick and easy access to the area’s iconic ski slopes, or you can make use of the chalet’s private shuttle service to visit the heart of Val d’Isere, where you’ll find even more shopping, dining and ski routes to explore.

Read more about Val d'Isere

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).

And to go 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.