Anyone who has been to Val d’Isere knows that it is not a resort known for its family friendly fun. That’s not to say it’s not a great pick if you’re looking for your next family ski trip, mind. It just doesn’t have that sort of reputation. That’s no surprise when its notoriously wild après bar, the Folie Douce is known as the Ibiza of the Alps. Val d’Isere is one of the liveliest ski towns in Europe, and there is nowhere better for large groups. With a fantastic selection of excellent restaurants, luxury chalets and up market drinking holes, as well as an equally superb selection of cheap accommodation and wild bars filled with table dancing and lashings of alcohol, Val d’Isere is perfect whether you’re a champagne cocktails sort of person or a cheap beer in cheaper dives sort.

 

 

If you are planning on visiting Val d’Isere this season, there’s a whole host of festivals and events that’ll keep you busy while you’re there. Some of these are annual racing events, while others are a little more unusual. Val d’Isere is the proud home to the first Yoga Festival to take place in a French ski resort, where instructors and attendees will enjoy spiritual yoga in dramatic alpine surroundings. There is also an annual Classicaval; a classical music festival. Internationally acclaimed musicians are drawn to play at the Saint-Bernard de Menthon Baroque church.

 

The racing is a great thing to have a look at if you’re there and it’s always nice to see the famous Bellevarde Face downhill slope in action. With the season opening with First Tracks at the end of November, where guests can test out the newest skis and explore Espace Killy with qualified guides, Val d’Isere is guaranteed to be busy this season.  The FIS Alpine World Cup arrives in Val d’Isere from the 12th to the 21st of December, bringing weekend crowds and some of the most talented skiers around to the resort.

 

 

The Frost Gun Invitational arrives on the 10th to the 12th of February, and brings with it the world’s best freestyle skiers. Once again making good use of the Bellevarde Face, this Big Air competition is one of those spectacular events that combines incredible skiing with a musical line up and huge DJs to make this one of Val d’Isere’s must see events, especially for freestyle and big air fans. After a day watching some of the most awesome skiers around contorting their bodies into all kinds of spinning, flipping and twisting forms in mid air, winners pop the champagne and the party carries on well into the night. See the video below for the 2014 finals.

 

 

 

Spring skiers will be pleased to know that Val d’Isere has its own month long celebration of the art of Hot Ice. That’s what they call that perfect level of half melted slush that makes great skiing, and the Hot Ice Experience is a fiesta of guided tours, races and behind the scenes looks into snowmaking and avalanche blasting, as well as a whole host of end of season parties that raise the roof.