Resort comparison · 2026/27
Val Thorens vs Tignes: which suits your ski trip?
A side-by-side comparison on the things that change a ski week: altitude, how much terrain and of what difficulty, what the lift pass costs and how far each is from the airport.
| Val Thorens | Tignes | |
|---|---|---|
| Ski area | Val Thorens - Orelle | Tignes - Val d'Isère |
| Top / base altitude | 3,230 m / 1,815 m | 3,456 m / 1,550 m |
| Vertical drop | 1,415 m | 1,906 m |
| Mapped pistes | 150 km | 300 km |
| Lifts | 33 | 71 |
| Green & blue runs | 60% | 56% |
| Black & harder | 6% | 11% |
| Six-day adult pass | €421 (≈ €70/day) | €468 (≈ €78/day) |
| Nearest airport transfer | Chambéry, 122 km (1 h 40 min), from €395 | Chambéry, 142 km (2 h), from €395 |
Ski-area figures are OpenSkiMap mapped data (OpenStreetMap contributors, 10 October 2026) for the whole linked area each village belongs to. Pass prices from official 2026/27 tariffs; transfers from partner route pages.
France
Choose Val Thorens for…
- a higher base (1,815 m), so more snow down to the village
- a cheaper lift pass (about €70 a day)
France
Choose Tignes for…
- higher skiing (top 3,456 m) for snow-sure early and late season
- more terrain (300 km of mapped pistes)
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, Val Thorens or Tignes?
Tignes: about 300 km of mapped pistes and 71 lifts in Tignes - Val d'Isère, against 150 km and 33 lifts in Val Thorens - Orelle.
Which is higher, Val Thorens or Tignes?
Tignes reaches 3,456 m (base 1,550 m); Val Thorens reaches 3,230 m (base 1,815 m). Higher resorts usually hold snow better early and late in the season.
Which is cheaper to ski, Val Thorens or Tignes?
On six-day adult passes, Val Thorens: €421 (about €70 a day) against €468 for Tignes.
Which is easier to get to?
Val Thorens: Chambéry, 122 km (1 h 40 min), from €395. Tignes: Chambéry, 142 km (2 h), from €395.
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