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Transfer options for Val d'Isere

Discover the top Val d'Isere airport shuttle options

Updated

Val d'Isère, located in the Tarentaise Valley in the Savoie department of France, it's also near the Italian border. It is not only one of the highest ski areas in Europe but also one of the largest, linked to the neighbouring resort of Tignes for a total of 300km of ski runs. The most convenient airport for Val d'Isère is Geneva as it offers the greatest choice of airlines, frequent flight times and the most competitive prices. To reach Val d'Isère's world-famous pistes from Geneva airport quickly and comfortably, your best bet is to book an airport transfer.

We’ve got the inside track on what to know and watch out for when booking a transfer from Geneva airport to Val d'Isère, so read on for our complete guide.

Snow White Ski Transfers

How to get from Geneva airport to Val d'Isere

Geneva airport is 225km from the centre of Val d'Isère. To get here, we recommend you book an airport transfer.

How do you get from Geneva airport to Val d'Isère?
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Val d'Isère is to book an airport transfer. The Geneva to Val d'Isère transfer time is around 2h55 but will be longer on snowy days and in peak weeks, such as Christmas, New Year, school holidays and Easter.

Another option if you can't easily find transfers for the flight times you have chosen is to hire a car from Geneva airport, which also gives you the freedom to move around and visit neighbouring resorts. Nevertheless, driving on the snow means that you have safety and potential damage to consider, while snow tyres should be added to the final cost on the hire options. From 1st November 2021 several French départements, including Savoie, require cars to be equipped with winter tyres or have snow chains in the boot during the winter season (November - March).

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Closest airport to Val d'Isere

Even if Geneva is the most convenient airport when travelling to Val d'Isère, it’s not the nearest one. There are other airports that offer shorter transfer times, however, they also present a few drawbacks.

What's the nearest airport to Val d'Isère?
The closest airport to Val d'Isère is Chambery, a little over 140km from the centre of resort. While it’s faster to get to Val d'Isere from Chambery (around two hours), flights are generally more expensive and rarer, as they are usually tour operator charters.

These are the average transfer times and distances from the main airports and train stations to Val d'Isère. The values are approximate and can be affected by snow, bad weather or peak holiday times.

Airport to Val d'Isère Transfer Times & Distances
Geneva to Val d'Isère 3h 225km
Lyon to Val d'Isère 3h 220km
Grenoble to Val d'Isère 2h30 217km
Chambery to Val d'Isère 2h 145km
Bourg St Maurice train station to Val d'Isère 45min 31km
About Transfers to Val Thorens

Transfer prices in Val d'Isere

Val d'Isère ski transfer prices will vary depending on whether you're booking a private or a shared transfer, as well as on dates (with off-peak weeks generally offering cheaper transfers), times (it may be cheaper to travel in the middle of the day as transfer companies will be able to group more people together), availability, vehicle and/or group size, etc.

How much do Val d'Isère airport transfers cost?
The average price of a one-way shared transfer from Geneva to Val d'Isère starts at around €70, going up to €400 for a private transfer. From other airports, most Val d'Isère transfers are on a private basis, with a one-way starting at around €250. If you’re after something a bit fancier and most definitely faster, the sky can literally be the limit with a private helicopter transfer taking off from €2,500.

Find out average transfer prices from the main airports to Val d'Isère.

Airport to Val d'Isère Transfer Prices
Geneva to Val d'Isère From €70 (shared)
Grenoble to Val d'Isère From €450 (private)
Lyon to Val d'Isère From €450 (private)
Chambery to Val d'Isère From €250 (private)
About Transfers to Val Thorens

Shared vs private transfers

When booking your airport transfer you’ll find that there are two main Val d'Isère transfer options: shared or private. These depend on whether you book the whole vehicle for yourself and your group or you share it with other people.

What's a shared transfer?
A shared transfer is when companies group passengers arriving at a similar time in the same vehicle, sharing costs among them. They are cheaper than private transfers, the trade-off is that they usually involve longer waiting and travel times. This is because they won't leave the airport until everyone’s plane lands, even if waiting times are usually under an hour. There will also be several stops on the way to drop people off, increasing the journey’s length.

What's a private transfer?
A private transfer is when the vehicle is reserved for your party only. Generally more convenient than shared transfers, they’re also more expensive. They’re the best option for groups and a good alternative when you can’t find a shared transfer around your flight time. Private transfers will leave the airport as soon as you arrive and go straight to your accommodation, making the waiting and journey times shorter. Those who prefer to travel in style will be able to book the latest luxury eco-friendly cars or even fly high in a helicopter.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Public bus transfers to Val d'Isere

Using public transport can help keep the costs down on your trip to Val d'Isère However, it can take considerably longer than a shared or private transfer as buses usually stop several times along the way and you may need to make a connection in Bourg Saint Maurice, the nearest transport hub in the area.

How do you get from the airport to Val d'Isère using public transport?
Public bus transfers run from the airports to Val d'Isère in the winter season, especially during weekends. Many also stop at the closest train station, where Eurostar ski trains from London St Pancras stop, in Bourg Saint Maurice.

Public transport lines travel between Bourg Saint-Maurice and Val d'Isère a couple of times per day in summer and winter. The Bourg Saint Maurice to Val d'Isère bus transfer time is around 45 minutes. You can find the latest bus timetables on our Bus Services in Val d'Isère page.

More inspiration...

Read our How to Get to Val d'Isère Guide for more information on all the different ways to travel to Val d'Isère, including by plane, by train and by coach.