Geneva to Val d'Isere Transfer * Quick Booking * Mountain Drop offs (2023)

Val, as Val d’Isere is affectionately known, very much has something for everyone. It can be the most expensive ski resort ever if you splash the cash staying in one of the 5* establishments, eating out every lunchtime and evening. Or you can do Val d’Isere on a budget staying in a self-catering apartment that’ll be small, functional but probably right across the road from a fantastic piste. It really is that sort of place.

Val d’Isere – where the Avalins live!

It hasn’t always been a bustling resort though. Val d’Isere was originally a set of isolated hamlets cut off in winter and home only to a handful of hardy Avalins and Avalines (the name for Val d’Isere residents!). All that changed in the early 1930s when a rich industrialist visited and decided it would make a great place for that leisure pursuit they call skiing…

Indeed, you have to look closely these days to find evidence of the original village (it’s around the church just after La Daille and before the modern Val village centre in case you were wondering) and there have been some head-scratchingly ugly blocks built, but in essence, Val d’Isere has managed to keep it’s Savoyard mountain charm, all whilst being a convenient, well-laid out and functional ski resort too.

A resort with a mountain village feel

And to maintain that mountain village feel, parking on the streets is banned during the entire winter season, so those heading up to resort in a car have to leave it either in the open air parking in La Daille or one of the municipal carparks within Val itself.

We don’t have to spell out what a faff it is to dig your hire car out after a week’s snowfall, so we think you’ll agree it’s much easier to book a Mountain Drop-offs transfer to Val d’Isere and back to the airport. And what’s more, once in resort the Red, Blue and Green bus lines keep you connected all day and pretty much of all of the night too, for free.

The many hamlets of Val d’Isere – where to stay in Val

If you’re thinking of staying in Val d’Isere, here’s our guide to the various hamlets. Mountain Drop-offs offers transfers from Geneva Airport direct to each and every one of these areas.

Le Fornet
At 1950m this is the last outpost of Val d’Isere and probably it’s best kept secret, with the Michelin starred Atelier d’Edmond restaurant, fabulous skiing and linked by navette to the main resort too, this is a great choice for a chilled out hols

Le Laisinant
Just below Le Fornet, this hamlet is very quiet, but does offer direct access to the col d’Iseran ski area via the Laisinant Express chair and there’s piste L to bring you back home too. There are some nice family-sized self-catering apartments here

Le Joseray, La Legettaz and Le Chatelard
These hamlets are all in the Vallon du Manchet and although not quite as easy to get directly up the mountain, there’s a lovely cruisey and long blue piste (Sanchons) back home from the Bellevarde side of resort

Centre Village
This is where all the action is, with the main snow front, the tourist office and the direct access to the Solaise ski area. Pretty snow sure too at 1850m.

Les Carats
The newest area of resort near the superb Aquasportif water centre and the Bellevarde Express, the number of posh new chalets built here has dubbed it millionaire’s row and it’s where you’ll find the five star Hotel les Barmes de l’Ours and it’s accompanying Michelin-starred eatery

Le Cret
Sitting on the hill side above La Daille, this is where you get superb views of those World Cup downhill ski pistes and slalom stadium.

La Daille
Full of residences such as Pierre et Vacances, this is the first ski area in Val d’Isere that you get to as you arrive from Geneva on your Mountain Drop-offs transfer. It’s not the prettiest, but it offers easy access to excellent pistes and you are just two lifts away from being able to drop over into the Tignes ski area.

Dropped off directly at your door!

Of course, Mountain Drop-offs doesn’t just drop you at the entrance to resort or outside the tourist office, we will take you right to the door of your accommodation (or as near as we can drive to!) no matter which of the hamlets you’re staying in and pick you back up again to take you back to the airport.

Where do we start when it comes to recommending the best places to ski in Val d’Isere? Once again, Val d’Isere has something for everyone when it comes to the skiing and boarding on offer.

Beginners skiing at Val d’Isere

Are you starting to get your snow legs? Head to any of the five lifts that are completely free (Legettaz drag at Le Joseray, Savonette drag, Village chair and Rogoney chair around the snow front areas and Les Landes drag in La Daille) to practice.

World Cup ski runs in Val d’Isere

Want to try your hand at skiing as fast as Killy or Maier? Make sure you ski the fine clutch of world-famous downhill pistes that Val d’Isere boasts. Try the ‘Face’ black run off the Olympique cable car that whisks you directly from the village centre to the Rocher de Bellevarde summit at 2827m. This is where the men’s skiing events took place in the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics. Then head over the other side down to La Daille via ‘OK’ and ‘Orange’ pistes that have also hosted many a FIS ski event too.

Bad weather ski days

It’s a whiteout day? Do circuits in the trees taking the Daille cable car back up so you’ve got time to dry off before you next foray into the freshly fallen fluffy stuff. Bit of powder hound? Start off gently with the easily accessible powder off the Cascades Express chair near the summit of resort on the Glacier de Pissaillas. There’s also the Col Pers into the nature reserve, but this is best done with a guide leading the way.

Val d’Isere for the freestylers

Fancy practising your ollies and your Japan airs? Then head to the snowy bowl between the Toviere and Bellevarde summits where you’ll find the snow park, with the Bozetto drag, named after adopted Val d’Isere son and snowboarding Olympic medal winner Mathieu Bozzetto.

Ski in winter, cycle in summer – Val d’Isere has it all!

And just because you can, make sure you try the Aiglons, Mattis and Mangard pistes over in Le Fornet, as these use parts of the famous 13km mountain road that often features in the Tour de France – the Col d’Iseran – except of course in winter they are covered in snow as the road is shut.

But don’t worry if you’re staying in Le Fornet, the last hamlet in Val d’Isere at the foot of the climb, as this part of the road stays open, so your Mountain Drop-offs transfer minibus will still be able drive right up there!

As a major ski resort with a summer season too, Val d’Isere hosts some seriously big events. They attract big crowds and make the resort a lively place to be whilst they’re on. Often spectating at such sporting events is free, so if you’ve never witnessed professional ski racers flying down the hill, or those mega skilled freestylers busting their moves on the half pipes of Val d’Isere, this could be the moment to get in there!