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Val d'Isere Activities - Families & Kids
| Families & Kids Activities in Val d'Isere |
Val d'Isere is a child-friendly resort, making it suitable for families with children to visit. Obviously the main activity in winter is skiing and snowboarding and there are a number of ski schools who offer kids' lessons and may also arrange child-minding, pick-up services, and other activities. On top of skiing, Killy Sport and ESF offer show-shoe hiking from 4-5 years onwards. Alternatively, Killy Sport can also organize half day and whole day excursions on husky sleighs.
There is a swimming pool and ice-skating rink just off the nursery slopes in the Solaise area and a cinema which has several weekly English film-showings. The Tourist Office organise regular children’s shows and events (usually only in French). For details pick up the free resort leaflet from the Tourist Office in the centre of town. |
| Apres-Ski and Entertainment |
The options for kids après-ski is endless. Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 5pm, there is a recreational zone at the foot of the slopes in the Solaise area. Here, children can airboard (a new snow bodyboard that gives its rider the impression of flying above the snow), Snake Gliss (a "snow snake" sleigh which can be enjoyed by 2-20 people by children and adults from the age of 7), or play 5-a-side snow football.
Every Thursday from 6pm to 7.30pm, Val d’Isère village is transformed into a pedestrian zone and is animated by a multitude of street entertainments (ice and snow sculpting, parades, music and fireworks). Each week, the Pedestrian evening is different but there is always lots going on to keep the children entertained.
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Arbre Aventure |
Swing through the trees high above the mountains on a circuit of zip lines, monkey bridges , ladders and ropes. You can travel through the forest without touching the floor, safely strapped into a harness and attached to a secure safety line. These eco-friendly adventure parks are created around the trees without damaging them in any way and can be dismantled if necessary, leaving the forest as though untouched. Both adults and children can enjoy this activity with different circuits for different ages and abilities.
The 'Parcours Aventure' in Val d'Isère is in the Foret du Rogoney, just a 5 minute walk from the centre of town. It is open from early June until the end of August every afternoon between 13.30 and 18.30. Large groups can book in advance for a morning opening. See here for details.
Children must be over 6 years old and over 1.40m tall. |
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last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Archery |
Practice your Robin of Sherwood skills in a tranquil alpine setting. Beginners can learn ‘tir l’arc’ from scratch and those with more experience can put their skills to the test with a variety of courses.
The Parc des Sports Vallée du Manchet has an archery course that is open from early June through until late August, every day except for Saturday. Children must be aged over 8 years old and children between 8 and 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Please see here for details. |
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last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Canyoning |
A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day! You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course.
Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.
Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!
Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons.
There are a number of local companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways. |
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last updated 9-Apr-2008 |
| Children's Entertainments |
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Val d’Isère offers a number of organised entertainments for children throughout the summer. Highlights include: ‘Les Aiglons’ sports club, children from 4 to 10 years olds can take part in activities such as sports, excursions, educational activities, refuge outings and more; ‘Juniors Club’, 11 to 16 year olds will enjoy all the sports offered by the sports department such as baseball, street hockey mountain climbing and more; regular children’s shows; street entertainment every Thursday. For festivals and other entertainments enquire at the Tourist Office for details or check our What’s On Calendar to see what is happening when. |
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last updated 9-Apr-2008 |
| Farm & Crafts |
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At the Ferme de l'Adroit you can take one of Xavier's guided tours where he will introduce you to the animals and demonstrate the art of cheese making, with a tasting session to try the finished product. There are plenty of friendly farmyards animals to pet and visitors are welcome to watch the 6pm milking sessions; the fresh (unpasteurised) milk can be bought direct from the farm. |
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last updated 10-Apr-2008 |
| Fitness & Sports Centre |
The sports hall at the foot of the Bellevarde Face has basketball, ping-pong, volleyball, hand-ball, badminton, trampoline, gymnastics, football, weights room and a rock climbing wall. It’s open every day from 9-12am and then again from 3-7pm in the winter and 2-7pm in the summer. The cost for use of the facilities is 23€ for an hour hire of the 650m2 hall, 5.50€ per hour for the ping-pong table or 6.80€ for an hour on the climbing wall.
There is a gym and weights room located with the public swimming pool in Solaise. Cost is 10€ for a single session, or 60€ for 10. With 10 sessions, you receive a membership card which gives you access to the facilities from 7am-10pm. Otherwise; opening hours are 2-7pm through the winter and 11am-8pm in summer.
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Hiking & Walking Trails |
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Val d'Isère, is located at the entrance of the Vanoise National Park and this is the perfect place for starting easy walks or outings of several days in the mountains. On the pathways, you will find "indication signs" that show you your position, the area, and the approximate walking time left. The hikes are graded according to their difficulty in the same colours as the pistes in the winter with green being the easiest, followed by blue, red, and finally the steeper, longer black hikes. A "Hiking guide" presenting over 40 itineries is for sale at the Tourist Office. ... see "Val d'Isere Hiking & Walking Trails" for more |
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Horse Riding |
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Horse riding is an amazing way to enjoy the challenging terrain and spectacular views of the Alps. The Centre Equestre du Gorray in the Valllée du Manchet offers a variety of lessons and hacks suitable for all ages and abilities. Open every day (except Saturday mornings) from 06/07/08 to 29/08/08, you can claim a reduced rate with a Pass'Sports card. |
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last updated 21-Apr-2008 |
| Husky sledding (traineaux a chiens) |
Husky sledding (traineaux a chiens)Be in charge of your own sled and team of dogs, driving them along forest paths. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start (you shout), and strict instructions not to led go of the sled if it turns over (the dogs would disappear for hours), you set off following the guide’s team. Your huskies want to keep up with their doggy mates, so the next hour is a breathless scramble to keep the sled upright, try to control the speed downhill, and hanging on for dear life when you upset going around corners. Going uphill you have to help push the sled, so this is hard physical work.
Top tip: for a less physical outing, chose the version where you sit in the sled and the guide does all the work. You can book either a full or half day excursion.
Adrenaline factor: 6/10
Valdinet verdict: an exhilarating experience. Contact details |  |
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last updated 1-Dec-2007 |
| Ice Skating |
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At the foot of the Solaise skiing area is an ice-rink open throughout the winter until March from 2pm-7pm (10pm on Wednesdays). Cost is 5.50€ per adult, 4.30€ for under 12s. There are price offers for 7 day entry and a discount if you have your own skates. |
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Paragliding (parapente) |
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From near the top of Solaise Summit one can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment: once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air. One then peacefully glides above the pistes for ten to twenty minutes, aiming to catch thermals to keep you up for longer. Landing is very gentle and no more of an impact than jumping off a step. ... see "Val d'Isere for Paragliding" for more |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| Snow Shoe Outing |
Strap lightweight plastic snowshoes to your feet, and walk effortlessly through deep snow. If you haven't tried it before, and don't want to go it alone, the majority of ski schools and some independent instructors offer a range of snow shoe outings. Join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the valley. On these half day group outings you will get off the beaten track to follow animal footprints, discover mountain flora and fauna and learn the history of the valley. This is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions, or for non-skiers. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided.
Footpaths run from Val d'Isere to La Daille, and to Vallée du Manchet, and from Le Fornet to Pont St Charles. A great route for fabulous scenery and mountain restaurants is L'Ouillette; you can take the Solaise cable car, and then the falt tow rope. Walk down to the base of the Madeline chairlift for fantastic views over the Ouillette lake.
Killy Sport, ESF and ski-lesson.com offer snowshoe hire and a guide for excursions which include information about the local history of the area (8 people max). The cost is ~50€ per person for a 3 hour session. Wear comfortable walking boots and don't forget to take some chocolate or a couple of energy bars in your pocket - it's more strenuous than it looks!
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last updated 9-May-2008 |
| Summer Activity Club |
There are so many things for kids to do in Val d'Isere throughout the summer that sometimes the only way to make the most of it is to enrol them in a summer club! Val d'Isere offers two clubs, 'Les Aiglons' and the 'Junior Club', that offer age-appropriate activities designed to get your children out in the fresh air and trying some new mountain sports. For the younger children there is a range of activities including mountain rambles, trampoline, dance classes, picnics and more. Older kids can take part in climbing, canyoning, street hockey, baseball and other sports.
Les Aiglons is for 4 to 10 year olds and the Juniors club is for 11 to 16 year olds, they both meet in the Manchets Sports Park and run between 2-6pm from Sunday to Friday. You can reserve your child's place here, there are reductions with the 'Pass Sport'. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Summer Skiing |
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Summer skiing is available on the Pissaillas Glacier from June 28th to August 15th 2008 (inc), depending on snow conditions. A daily lift pass will cost 25€ and includes transport by shuttle bus, please see our Summer Lift Pass Prices section for details of longer passes. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Swimming Pool |
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There is a public indoor pool at the bottom of the Bellevarde Face in the Solaise area. The opening hours are 2-7pm through the winter and 11am-8pm in summer. The cost to use this pool is 4.90€ per adult and 3.20€ per child (under 12). Guys must wear speedos in the pool which can be hired if you don’t have your own pair! There is also a sauna and Hammam on offer aswell as Aquagym lessons at 8.50€ per ¾ hour. |
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last updated 3-Dec-2007 |
| Tennis & Squash |
Val d'Isere tennis courts are discounted to holders of the 'Pleasure Pass', for more details about this and other activity passes please see our Val d'Isere Summer Lift Pass Options section.
Val d'Isere sports department also offers a variety of tennis lessons for all ages and abilities from 6th June to 29th August in the Manchet Sports Park. There are also indoor badminton and squash courts at the Charles Diebold Sports Centre. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Via Ferrata |
If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.
Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8; guides can be arranged on request.
Beginners can take their first steps at Roc de Tovière, behind the residential buildings in La Daille, where you will find some fairly easy routes on which to find your head for heights! There are more challenging routes at the same site, which leave from the same point but then branch off into longer routes. If you feel like pushing yourself you can try the tougher route 'Via Ferrata des Plates', which leaves from behind the Pierre et Vacances building. |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| White Water Rafting |
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If you haven't experienced this before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! Val d'Isere has a number of trained guides who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a 3 hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint. |
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last updated 25-Apr-2008 |
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