Tignes Lift System & Passes

It is possible to ski in Tignes pretty much all year round courtesy of the Grande Motte Glacier. In 2009, it opens for the winter on Saturday 26th September with further lifts opening and the official start of the winter season on 28th November 2009.

The entire Tignes lift system, including the links over to Val d'Isere, are open from 19th December 2009 to 3rd May 2010 but it is usually possible to ski a reduced Tignes/Val area (inc. links) from the end of November.

It's worth noting that reduced rates are available on ski passes between 28th November to 18th December 2009 for those who can squeeze in a bit of pre-Christmas skiing!

You still have till the 2nd of May to enjoy espace killy pure sensations. And for those who need even more, Tignes’ ski area will remain open till the 9th of May!

With eco-issues and climate change being ever-more important to mountain resorts Tignes has come up with the Ecopass. This recyclable version requires no deposit and can only be bought in resort. A photograph is required for 8-21 day passes. Recycling bins for old cards can be found by the lift pass offices. For maximum convenience you can buy or recharge your pass online here. ... see "Tignes Lift Pass Options - Winter" for more

It is possible to buy a pass for just the Tignes ski area, or for the Espace Killy area which is valid throughout the entire Tignes and Val d'Isere ski domain, giving you access to 300kms of piste. The Nissan and Swatch snowparks are free to use, but you will need to buy a lift pass to access them. You can purchase your lift passes online here. ... see "Tignes & Espace Killy Lift Pass Prices - Winter" for more

The Grand Motte glacier and snowpark opens each summer for those of you who can't wait until next winter to get your skis/snowboards back on! This year the opening dates are from 19th June until 29th August. The Grand Motte Funicular runs from Tignes Val Claret up to the Grand Motte glacier, it is a daily service starting early and operating until the afternoon (weather dependent).

From Tignes Le Lac, the Aeroski gondola and the Palafour chairlift also remain open throughout the summer for pedestrians and mountain bikers. 

There are no shortage of activities to do in Tignes during the summer; from mountain biking to golfing or summer skiing to beach football, you will also find a lift or activity pass to perfectly suit your requirements.  ... see "Tignes Lift Pass Options - Summer" for more

Tignes and the Espace Killy are linked by a variety of different lifts. The lifts marked on the piste map using straight black lines are of four types; button tow/drag, chair, telecabine and telepherique. They have the corresponding abbreviations:

• TK - téléski (drag)
• TS - télésiege (chair)
• TC - télécabine (gondola)
• TPH - téléphérique (cable car)

For télécabine think bubble car and for téléphérique think cable car. Anything prefixed/suffixed with “Express” means a 6 person modern fast chair lift.

Tignes also has the Grande Motte Funicular, a high-speed inclined cable railway that leaves from Val Claret and takes skiers, hikers and sightseers up to the Grande Motte Glacier at 3032m.  The journey of 3484m takes between 6-8 minutes and the 'funi' can carry up to 280 passengers at a time, which equates to 2500 people per hour when at full capacity.  Funiculars operate on a kind of pulley system; the two trains are connected by long stretches of cable and travel along the same track (except for when they pass in the middle).  The weight of the train travelling downhill assists the progress of the train travelling uphill, making it an energy-efficient mode of transport.  The views from the funicular are spectacular and at the top you will find the Panoramic Restaurant, the Ice Caves, walking trails and a great ski area.