In The Spotlight:

Val d’Isère is without doubt one of France’s prettiest domains. Originally dating from the 17th century, it has successfully retained much of its traditional charm, with attractive stone and wood buildings supplying character in abundance. Now partially car-free, it’s a thoroughly pleasant place to walk around, with a wealth of excellent shopping and dining options on offer.

A couple of kilometres towards the head of the valley lies Le Fornet, a sleepy and picturesque hamlet with some truly stunning Savoyard style chalets. Meanwhile, back down towards the lake at the mouth of the valley is La Daille, where the majority of the domain’s less expensive accommodation is to be found. Both are linked to Val d’Isère itself by a regular free bus service.

Even as a standalone entity, Val d’Isère would be a strong contender amongst global ski domains. Factor in the links with Tignes and the wider Espace Killy area, and its presence in the top echelons becomes abundantly clear.

Not all interlinked ski areas were created equal. While some tend to suffer from slow lift connections and lengthy piste links, the Espace Killy is the real deal: a cohesive, genuinely functional domain. With over 300km of trails and some of the very best off-piste in Europe – all seamlessly integrated by a modern, efficient lift system – it’s genuinely one of the best places in the world to go skiing or snowboarding.

Aside from its sheer size, the area’s strength lies in its diversity. Thanks to the broad variety of terrain, there really is something for all comers. Experts will love the selection of long, challenging blacks, including the legendary La Face de Bellevarde, known simply as ‘La Face’. At 3km in length and with a vertical drop of 959m, it’s steep, highly demanding and practically a local rite of passage.

With a combined total of 109 red and blue runs, Val d’Isère is a paradise for intermediates. There are plenty of well-groomed, undulating slopes that lend themselves perfectly to fast, easy cruising, while an excellent halfpipe and multiple terrain parks offer potential airtime for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels.