Val d’Isere is great for the keen skier in winter with an array of long, steep descents across the Bellevarde, Solaise and La Daille areas. However, these slopes are much more difficult to tackle in summer on a mountain bike. There has been a downhill track from the top of the La Daille cable car for nearly 10 years but it is very technical and is therefore only ridden by the most experienced riders. There are many more options for mountain biking in Tignes so this may be worth considering if staying in Val d’Isère. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT. (Vélo tout-terrain!))
In an attempt to attract more mountain bikers to Val d'Isere, the resort has developed a number of dedicated MTB trails that cater for all levels of rider. The terrain in Val is perfect for a mixed range of abilities; at the top, there is a high mountain atmosphere, rough and rugged under foot, before crossing over abrasive limestone rock, which is good for speed but also for shaking you up a bit. Lower down, there is a network of less technical dirt tracks that wind their way through the trees and forests on the valley floor.
This summer, the resort has invested in yet more MTB trails. For a gentle ride that anyone can do, take the easy green route from the centre of Val d'Isere to the Manchet sports park or explore the leisure area around the Ouillette lake. You can tackle something a bit more challenging on the Bellvarde side, with a well marked blue trail and the Joserey red run for budding mountain bikers. Downhill fans will not be disappointed with “Val Bleu”, a 7km downhill track that runs from the arrival point of the Olympique Express (at the top of La Face de Bellevarde) to the foot of La Daille. With nearly 900m of descent, it takes about half an hour to ride and covers a wide variety of terrain.
There is also a Bike Park on the front des neiges where beginners can get to grips with their ride in a secure environment. A popular route with walkers, it is now also possible to do the - Tour des 7 Chapels (7 Chapel Tour) - on a MTB, which links the various hamlets of Val d'Isere.
For those who fancy more of an expedition there is the High Exposure Isère Descent Itinerary (called H.E.I.D.I. for short - very Alpine!). Starting at the Col d'Isèran, the singletrack descent winds its way through Val d'Isère, Nantcruet, Le Monal, Sainte Foy and finishes in Viclaire at the base of the Val d'Isère valley. At over 60km long and dropping around 3700m (from 2764m to 800m) this ride shows off the spectacular scenery of the Alps at their best. The peaks of the Vanoise National Park and the icy caps of the glaciers will make this an unforgetable ride!
Martin Léger, Killy Sport, Ogier, Jean Sport and Intersport hire out Mountain Bikes for ~15€ per day, click here for contact details. Tuition is available through Evolution 2 and Val Gliss and there are also several private instructors who advertise in the hire shops offering outings of one or several half days in groups of 3 to 6. Approximate prices (supervision and instruction, equipment and cable car pass included): €50 for a half day with a semi-rigid mountain bike, €70 with a mountain bike with full suspension. See our Summer Lift Passes section for lift pass prices.
What time of year is it best to come mountain biking?
During July and August a number of lifts serving the Val d'Isere area open for mountain bikers and walkers. If you're not fond of the uphill or long ascents, you should come during these summer season months when and bars, restaurants and hotels are all open and the resort is liveliest.
Weather permitting, June, September and up to the end of October are good months to mountain bike as trails are quiet and the temperature cool. Too early in June or too late in October and there is a risk some of the higher passes maybe covered in snow and are therefore unsafe to traverse. You should note, however, that no lifts are open during these periods and the resort will be extremely quiet with limited shop and restaurant openings.
Whenever you choose please remember to respect others users of the mountain, especially walkers, and control your speed of descent...
The decision on whether to go Full Suspension or Hardtail is a difficult one.... A full suspension (FS) bike is one with both front and rear suspension that is effective at absorbing many bumps thus providing better performance and smoother ride. A hardtail refers to a bike with no rear suspension. Suspension forks may be added to the front of the bike but its back post is rigid. There are numerous makes and models of both types available to the potential buyer so when deciding on which type of bike is best, it is important to consider the following:
Your budget !!
The type of riding you and your bike will be undertaking; and
The typical terrain and angle you will be riding.
In general, hardtail bikes tend to require less maintenance and perform better on steep uphill climbs and sprints to the finish line, whereas full suspension mountain bikes are much more comfortable and arguably have more control over the rough stuff. Sadly, along with an increase comfort, FS bikes increase in price quite significantly.
Whether to go full suspension or hardtail is one which can create a lot of healthy debate amongst the mountain biking community. Inexperienced or beginner riders may prefer to start with a hardtail complete with front, lockable suspension; progressing to a full suspension bike after they have got a feel for their preferred type of riding. Although a full suspension bike will give you more options to adjust to suit the terrain, it can be more energy intensive on the uphill as unless you have a ‘lock out’ facility on the rear suspension as energy can be lost through ‘suspension bobbing' as you climb. Furthermore, you could potentially have more moving parts to repair should anything go wrong. On the positive side, it is worth remembering though you can make a full suspension bike ‘lock out’ so the experience is like riding a hard tail, but it is difficult, if not impossible, to make a hard-tail ride like a full suspension bike!
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