Summer Activities

Overview

Over recent years, investment and devlopment has seen Tignes transformed into a natural playground, set amongst some of the highest and most stunning peaks in Europe. Each year the local authorities are placing more and more focus into making Tignes a summer destination.

Whether you are interested in skiing, golf, mountain biking, quad biking, paragliding, hiking, canyoning, skateboarding or just want to relax in the pool and hot tub or even take your time looking round the museum you will have no trouble keeping yourself amused in Tignes in summer! There are always special events and activities going on in the resort, have a read of the news section for updates.

This year the French world cup football squad used Tignes as it's training camp, for prepration before the tournament in Germany. The local residents are realising the importance and benefits of making Tignes an all year round resort and are therefore doing all they can to share what's on offer in the summer with the visitors. For the active and outdoor minded Tignes offers an exhilerating and exciting holiday whilst at the same time being a place for the whole family to relax and unwind.

Although the resort is mainly geared towards outdoor pursuits there is an increasing range of indoor activities such as climbing, volleyball and yoga, as well as the Orange Tignes mulitimedia centre in the Maison de Tignes in Le Lac. On top of this, the start of the summer saw the grand opening of the huge swimming and fitness center. This was the highlight for many visitors this year and is well worth checking out, especially on the odd day when the weather isn't great. For us the center really makes Le Lac the focal point during the summer months.

Other activities:

These days Tignes really has transformed and is a totally different place in the summer, compared to what going on in the winter. There are tennis courts, a football pitch, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, table tennis and table football. Behind which there's volleyball nets and a growing skateboard, BMX and roller blade community in the skate park. There is also " Acroland" with it's acro-bungee, trampolines, water slide and of course the spectacle that is 'the water jump' where people on snowboards, ski's and roller blades hurl themselves off one of the four jumps and fly straight into the lake. A great place to practice the acrobatics of these sports, also a good place to sit in the sun and watch the madness. And for those who want to take it easier there are plenty of themed trails and great walks to take. Remember there are lifts open, including the Aeroski to use which cuts down the uphill sections.

As like in the winter and progressively more so there are a number of companies that offer to organise activities, give lessons or supply guides as well as offering children's clubs. But again, like in the winter it is possible to move around the resort under your own steam whilst keeping yourself amused.

Traditionally Tignes focused on summer skiing and golf. Skiing on the glacier is obviously still available and as popular as ever. Particularly during June and July the summer park is one of the best summer parks in Europe.

Skiing and Snowboarding

The Tignes tourist board describes the summer skiing:

"There are 130 hectares, 20 km of pistes covering all standards, 750 m of vertical drop, the summer ski area at 3,000 m is waiting for you."

"The snowpark (750 m by 250 m) is the place for freestylers to hang out, with bumps and jumps for everyone, a cool zone. It's a top playground for real snowsports fans, and the soft summer snow is also ideal for beginners. The glacier is accessible to pedestrians, who can visit the Ice Grotto and see the glacier and surrounding peaks (Grande Casse, Grande Sassière, Mont Pourri, the Mont Blanc range, etc.). Take a trip into the heart of the high mountains!"

The park is built for all standards, Black for expert to Green for beginners. For a clearer picture click here!

Link to the Summer piste map.

Golf

The golf course really is a great place to spend summer days. Although there are no par 5 holes, the course is of a high standard and extremely well maintained. With holes around the lake and amongst the mountains it really is located in one of the best possible settings.

Link to the course.

It is possible to hire clubs at the club house and it's possible to play 9 holes or the full 18. There is also a Golf Clinic available for beginners or those who want to improve. The clinic starts from €199/person and the price includes special introductory golf coaching clinic for 5 days (5 x 1 hr 45 instruction), end-of-clinic competition and one meal in the clubhouse at the fantastic Golf Restaurant. If you would like to book yourself a place before you arrive feel free to contact us.

Throughout the summer there are a number of golfing events held. Every Sunday there are various competitions held. Every Thursday there is the opportunity to review your handicap in the ranking competition. And once a year there is a Pro-Am Golf & Ski Tournament as well as the Savoie Championship, Team event and French Ski Instructors' Championship.

Brand new for summer 2006.

Tignes Bike Park

This year the Bike Park was designed by Karim Amour, french 4 cross champion and Tignes/Challenge One pilot. Location: Massif de Tovière. Openning on 3 July

• 4X piste
• 4 Downhill pistes (from beginner to pro level)
• Dirt jumps & brand new slopestyle
• Water Jump
• Trial training zone
• Skatepark
• enduro trails

Skatepark

New for 2006 : Tignes follows the streetpark trend. When the skiing's done, head for the skate park!

The Tignes Skate Park has been imported directly from Basle where the 2005 European Skateboard Cup was held: with a surface area of 1,800 m2 it is the 8th largest skatepark in France. The 12 features and mini-ramp have been adapted for use by the general public and are also suitable for rollerblading, BMX and freestyle mountain biking. Check out the 3d models.

Mountain sports

VTT

The Tignes Bike Park opens on 27th July and designed by Karim Amour, there are 4 downhill pistes, a initiation piste, a 4X, a dirt trail and a slopestyle designed by EDG! And there are 4 enduro tracks around the resort. The Liftpass is 15 €/day and 39,50 € for 6 days. MTB courses (liftpass included) from 45 € Freeride MTB clinics from 90 € MTB rental from 20€/day Chlorophyll, Évolution 2, Snocool

Mountaineering

With La Grande Casse (the highest point in the Vanoise National Park) and La Grande Sassière on its doorstep, Tignes is a Mecca for mountaineering enthusiasts. Mountaineering school from €60 Bureau des Guides, Chlorophyll, Évolution 2

Horse riding

Accompanied horse and pony trips are available. Hack and lesson, 1 hr 30 is €30 and for a Half-day horse ride it's €45 École d'aventure équestre => +33 (0)6 22 67 00 55

Rock climbing

With routes for all abilities and supervision provided by professionals, have a go at rock climbing. You can also practise climbing indoors in Tignespace. Climbing instruction, half day, adults: €30 Climbing instruction, half day, children: €25 Half-day session on indoor wall: €7 Bureau des Guides, Chlorophyll, Évolution 2

Tignes Adventure Trail

Tignes has a brand new adventure trail in the Bois de l'Ours forest (minimum age 5 years), with 60 modular workshops of increasing difficulty (monkey bridge, Tyrolean slide, Himalayan bridge, etc.) Children's route from 5 years: €10 Discovery trail, adults/children: €14 Adventure Trail => +33 (0)6 12 99 60 31

Hiking

Explore the protected Vanoise National Park with its varied scenery and rare and protected animals. Walks with a Vanoise National Park warden from €6.50 Day walks from €25 Bureau des Guides, Chlorophyll, Évolution 2 , Vanoise national Park => +33 (0)4 79 40 04 40

Via Ferrata

Via ferrata is a totally safe way to have a go at mountaineering. Junior via ferrata, ½ day, from €25 Via ferrata, full day, from €49 Bureau des Guides Évolution 2

Water sports

Canyoning

A different kind of activity, a mixture of rock climbing and white-water swimming, in some breathtaking locations! Canyoning from €55 Bureau des Guides, Évolution 2

White-water swimming

Swim down the Isère rapids in a neoprene wet suit, with a float to guide and protect you. Descents from €45 Chlorophyll , Évolution 2 , Rafting Eaux Vives => +33 (0)6 13 83 74 07 Skiland => +33 (0)4 79 06 32 04

Rafting

Speed and thrills riding the fast water down the Isère or Doron. Full Isère descent (2 hrs 30) from €45 Kayak rafting from €46 Chlorophyll, Évolution 2 Rafting Eaux Vives => +33 (0)6 13 83 74 07 Skiland => +33 (0)4 79 06 32 04

Aerial sports: take to the skies...

Flying

First-time flights, sightseeing flights and mountain flying courses First-time flight, ½ hour: €100 Aéroclub de Tignes => +33 (0)6 07 76 67 80

Helicopter flights

5-min. sightseeing flight: €30 Flight over the Upper Tarentaise: €90 Tour of Mont Blanc: €195 Évolution 2

Paragliding

Altitude flights, long-duration flights, "thrills" flights, tandem flights (first-time and pleasure flights) Tandem flights (first-time and pleasure flights): €70 "Thrills" flight: €80 Technique courses from €395 Chlorophyll Évolution 2

Motor Sports

Quad biking and 4x4 rides

• Mini-quad circuit: €6
• 1-hour quad biking trip: €45
• 4x4 sightseeing trip: €87

Appik Aventure => +33 (0)6 09 42 68 95 Évolution 2

The Ice Grotto

Considered to be the ultimate record of the past by climatologists and paleontologists alike, glaciers reveal the earth's climatic history : the further we penetrate the older the ice and the greater the discoveries to be made.

Prices for the ice grotto : Adults : 4 euros - Child : 3 euros Prices indicated do not include ski lift transport costs (two-way ticket + visit available). Located at an altitude of 3000 metres on the Grande Motte glacier, a 200 metres long gallery has been hollowed out beneath the surface of the ice.

Discover human evolution immortalized in ice: A translucent dinosaur, prehistoric man and not to be missed, a 6 metre high, 10 metre wide mammoth made of ice weighing more than 6 tons.

New indoor activities for 2006

l'espace aquatique de tignes

5,000 m² for aquatic pleasures! 'Le Lagon' is:

• a 25 m swimming pool
• 1 leisure pool
• paddling pool with a water slide
• spa featuring sauna, hammam, jacuzzi
• weight training room
• fitness room

The Lake

There is a full range of activities on the waterside.

Sports Beach:

Volleyball, boules, table tennis, table football, children's playground, fitness trail and more, all free of charge, loan of equipment included!

Water Sports Centre:

Tignes' natural lake offers a wide choice of leisure activities: Hobbie cat sailing, canoeing, kayaking, pedalos, etc.

Skatepark:

The place for die-hard boarders to hang out after a morning on the glacier, with everything for skateboarding and rollerblading: quarterpipes, curbs, handrails, inclined platform, mini-ramp and more...

Lognan:

At the bottom of the Olympic piste, for football, rugby and, just a stone's throw away, archery, air gun shooting, paintball, beach soccer and horse riding.

Hot Jumping and the Water Jump

A great feeling of speed on the run-up, a big adrenaline rush on the slide, then you defy the laws of gravity! On skis, on a snowboard, with others or on your own, there is no end of possible variations. Thrill-seekers won't be able to stay away!

Team Sports

Beach Soccer

Sports-Plus© Card or Pitch hire for 30 min: €3.30 Or join in the Beach soccer tournament which is held every Monday. On top of this, every summer, Eric Cantona, the french football legend hosts the international Beach Soccer tournament in Tignes. Have a look at the photos from the previous Beach Soccer competitions in our news section.

Basketball and volleyball

Free use of court with Football Sports-Plus© Card. Football practice area, individual admission, 1 hour: €1.80 Val Claret stadium, 45 min., ½ pitch: €12 Football tournaments are organised regularly in the stadium - see the weekly events programme.

Beach sports

Beach tennis, beach volleyball, Sports-Plus© Card Court hire for 30 min. €3.30

Squash

Found at the Tignespace) Sports-Plus© Card 1 x 30-min. session: €7

Tennis

Part of the Sports-Plus© Card, courts are found at the Sports Beach, Lognan, Lavachet, Les Boisses, Les Brévières 28 courts all over the resort.

Court hire from €7.50 Tennis tournament: €12 5-day clinic for adults (4 hrs/day): €250 5-day clinic for children (2 hrs/day): €125 Jean-Paul Lanet Tennis Clinics => +33 (0)6 09 50 96 13

Fishing

There are a total of 7 mountain lakes, including Lake Tignes, open for recreational fishing. Both beginners and seasoned anglers will love the variety of fish (lake trout, fario trout, mountain trout, etc.) in these well-stocked lakes.

Licences and local fishing tax stamps are on sale at La Maison de Tignes Le Lac and from the fishing warden. Day fishing permit for adults: €12 Day fishing permit for children (under 13): €6 Course, 3 half-days, adults: €115 Half-day course for children: €20 Fishing => +33 (0)6 62 12 30 40

Health and fitness Spa

The Spa Centre in the Fitness Centre (Le Lac)

Tel. +33 4 79 40 04 40 Price (1 1/2 hrs) €11 (Loan of towel available) Need to relax after skiing? The spa centre in the Fitness Centre, with a Turkish bath, 2 saunas and a jacuzzi, is the ideal place. Secure changing rooms and showers are available Minimum age for admission: 15

Les Bains du Montana (Les Almes)

Tel. +33 4 79 40 05 12 Swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath, beauty parlours, massages, Endermologie, treatment programmes.

Aquatonic (Le Val Claret)

Tel. +33 4 79 40 25 56 Aquatonic treatment course (walking against a current, leg jets, geysers, aquatic chairs, swan neck showers, whirlpool bath, hydrojet pool, aquabeds), aquagym, fitness, cardio training, weight training, beauty treatments, sauna, Turkish bath, body treatments, etc.

Vitatignes (Le Lac)

Tel. +33 4 79 06 34 78 In l'Arbina Hotel: jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna, hydromassage bath, body exfoliation, massages by a physiotherapist. One-day and one-week packages.

Fitness

Squash

2 squash courts at the Fitness Centre. If you have not brought any equipment, you can hire a racquet and borrow some squash shoes.

Weight training

Around fifteen pieces of dedicated weight training and cardio training equipment to make you feel full of energy. Minimum age for admission: 15

Fitness room

The specialist staff run bums 'n' tums, step and stretching lessons, etc. Everything for getting back in shape and ideal physical preparation for snowsports. Minimum age for admission: 15 Indoor sports center.

Team sports

Basketball, football, volleyball and tennis from 2 to 9.30 p.m.

Climbing wall

Practise on the indoor climbing wall at Tignespace.

Yoga classes

Information on information@tignes.net and +33(0)4 79 40 04 40

Sports-Plus© Card

You may have noticed the Sports-Plus© Card symbol after the activities, all these activities really do come cheaper than you would think. If you buy the Tignes Sport Plus Card you can do 10 activities for just 4 euros per day, which is fantastic value for the whole family.

• Water Sports Centre: 1 of the following activities: pedalo, kayaking, canoeing/2 hour; catamaran, dinghy
• Tennis (1 hour)
• Beach tennis (1/2 hour)
• Beach volleyball (1/2 hour)
• Football on all-weather pitch (1 hour)
• Archery (1/2 hour)
• Trampolining (10 minutes)
• Swimming (1 admission)
• Mini-golf (1 round)
• Football on grass (1 hour)

Check out The Sports Plus Card for more details.

Museum

The 'Heart of Tignes' heritage centre in La Maison de Tignes le Lac.

Seven centuries of history in photographs, artefacts and recorded accounts. 400m² organised into two displays:

Discovery section and Recordings section

• Panoramic screen
• Video glasses
• Interactive models
• Video and audio recordings
• Heritage collection

Check out our History of Tignes article in the In Depth section for more details.

Although some people do decide to cycle the mountain roads to Tignes, for most the journey is hassle free and relatively quick and easy. The proximity to a number of international airports and the international train station at Bourg St Maurice make Tignes easily accessible. Check out our getting there section for travel details.