 Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry if this should be in the Apres Zone.
A few of us are toying with the idea of a group summer holiday, and Tignes has been mentioned. We are thinking along the lines of multi-activity rather than just skiing.
I have looked at the website and done a bit of digging around, but wondered if anyone here has been there during the Summer? Is it a good place to go in the Summer? How easy is it to get around the place with the magic bus, lifts etc etc etc
Any help/info welcome...
cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi! Not been myself in the summer but was speaking to the mountainsun staff who worked the summer in their chalet and sounds like they offered loads of activities. Check out their website. I'm sure someone on here will have stayed with them in the summer.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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imull, Depends on what you are looking for. There are certainly a lot of activities on offer (biking, climbing, riding, diving, golf, walking and many others), and of course skiing. The Grande Motte opens early in the summer, about 7am, and closes at around 1pm.
I don't know anything about the buses, I've always had my car
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Patch, I thought it was a car free area? Your list of activities basically ticks the boxes. A decent mix of walking, watersports and a wee bit of skiing as it would be rude not to...
will look into Mountainsun too. I have emailed a couple of other spots already for prices so will be good to compare. Cheers
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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imull, I think you'd do better with a car. Tignes is not pretty at any time of year - plenty of activities, but it's hardly picturesque. There are places which are a lot more picturesque, but then they don't have a glacier you can ski on! If you are going to do some skiing, would strongly recommend you take some ski lessons (there are some very good instructors in the area). The extent of the open skiing is otherwise a bit limiting - but it's ideal for lessons.
another place to look at is Les Deux alpes. That's not exactly pretty, either, but it's lower altitude, and more of a town, and you can go down in a gondola to Venosc, which is very pretty. Loads of activities on offer, good glacier skiing, and excellent instruction available too.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w, thanks for that. Certainly some of the group would be needing lessons if we went. Skiing, while a bonus, is not a pre-requisite as one or two of the group have never skied before.
Nice views are definitely on the list, though I suspect that for most, being kept busy will be the main criteria as none of us are real 'sit around' types.
I will look into the other suggestions there too. Any ideas of other places to look also most welcome. Thanks
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one or two of the group have never skied before.
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Mmm. If you want to persuade them that skiing is the best holiday in the world, learning in tignes in the summer is maybe not the best way. The conditions can be quite nasty (ice/slush) and T bars are not the most beginner-friendly way of getting around. Neither is the terrain ideal - I don't remember any area which could be classified as a real beginner learning slope and the number of expert racers belting round everywhere, though inspiring in one way, can also be a bit intimidating.
If you do decide to give it a go, get advice on the best time to go - as early as possible in the summer ski season is the answer.
You could do a lot worse than get in touch with Charlotte Swift (easiski.com) about learning in les Deux Alpes. If anyone could teach beginners on the glacier, Charlotte could.
If you're not going to ski, there's no point going to Tignes - there are 101 better places in the summer, Chamonix being perhaps the most exciting. Wonderful walking, and enough lifts running to save you spending too much time slogging up the sides of the valley! Lots of other activities too.
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Will try those options out. The skiing is really a bonus for those that can ski already to be honest, though the others are up for the challenge. We have a couple of feelers out for Chamonix, but I want to cover all bases.
Last time I organised one of these, the are where we ended up was pretty crap so must do better of the girlfriend will shout at me.....lots.....again 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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stewart woodward, I can't imagine that any of the thousands of visitors to Tignes go because it's "pretty", actually. Or if they do, maybe they ought to cast their net wider? It has other attributes, and of course high mountains are always stunning, but places with a greater range of altitude and therefore flora (trees are really nice...) are, IMHO, more attractive. Some of the high mountain resorts, especially the ones which specialise in bulldozer-assisted piste preparations, resemble an open-cast mine in summer. I don't think anyone would accuse Chamonix, which I suggested had more going for it in summer (except glacier skiing) of being "lowland meadow lands". It's also nice to enjoy the lovely traditional Alpine architecture in summer - and there are loads of places (though Chamonix doesn't spring to mind....) where it is found in conjunction with a whole load of gorgeous mountain scenery.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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imull
Been to Tignes at various times over the last 3 summers. Having a place there I must confess my bias but would advise as follows:
- The resort is open and in full swing (ie ski lifts for hiking and biking, shops, bars and restaurants, full range of activities) in July and August. July is a lot quieter than August but the glacier never gets very busy for skiing. the glacier is open more or less all year, though closed in Sept for lift maintenance.
- Whichever ski lift you go up, for whatever activities, the views, as stewart woodward advised, are simply stunning. The scenery is very spectacular.
- Summer skiing is generally fairly decent, with extensive snow cover on the glacier until late July. Depending on how hot and sunny the weather is (it can be 30C+ in resort) conditions can be variable - but skiable - after this. We were there in early August last year and found the glacier resembling a quarry - with bare icy bits, lots of crevasses and more limited skiing than usual. Nevertheless, with scorching temperatures in the valey, we had 2 fun mornings of skiiing on some surprisingly decent, soft snow. Just don't go in August expecting winter snow cover or conditions.
- There are loads of summer activities. As well as the obvious hiking and skiiing, there is horseriding, fishing, sailing (last 2 are both on the lake), archery, canyoning, whitewater rafting, parascending, quad biking, 4x4 driving up the mountains, a treetop adventure course and mountainbiking on marked trails using the ski lifts for ascent.
- Val D'Isere is a nice change (if you have use of a car) and has some great walks amid more spectacular scenery. There's more limited summer skiing there too - but you have to drive up to the Col de l'Iseran to get to it.
One final thing, summer self catering accommodation is very cheap. PM me if any details required.
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You know it makes sense.
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We are doing multi activity inclusive packages - any day arrival short breaks including transfers, catered accommodation and activities from £99 - and week long full board catered holidays from £179. Have a look www.summeractivityholidays.com (at Les Melezes)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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lots of summer photos on www.facebook.com/tignes , it is stunning up here in the summer , and that comes from someone who has spent the last 14 summers working on greek islands ! 
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FAQ
You may consider our mountains to be 'picturesque' but they are deffinetly 'stunning' unlike some lowland meadow lands 
