Many ski schools are running some October courses on the Grande Motte glacier in Tignes. The some of the one-week course have sold out but there are still a few places left on the weekend course that runs from the 14th – 17th October.

For now 20 kilometres of green to black slopes with 12 lifts, offering a 750 vertical meters drop, can be accessed on he glacier. You’ll also come across a large number of athletes from various national teams who take advantage of the glacier at Tignes to get back in touch with the snow and get their skis on again! Basically at this time of the year Tignes is packed with celebritrie downhill skiers.

The glacier will be open daily from 8:30am until 2:30pm – chairlift access only until the cable car opens on the 8th. Lift passes cost 27 euros for adults and 22.50 euros for children. Lift pass prices 2011/2012

The rest of the Espace Killy (Tignes & Val d’Isere resorts) is due to open on 26th November, so get up on to the glacier in the meantime for a bit of pre-season practise!

More and more slopes then open up, depending on the snowfall, enabling you to return to the resort on your skis as early as possible in the season. The Espace killy Tignes- Val d’Isère is scheduled to open on 26th November 2011.
Here you’ll find 300 kilometres of slopes to tear down, no holes barred, with the fun guaranteed until 1st May 2012.

EasyJet Holidays has launched its first ever range of ski packages. The new offerings include several major European snowfields, including Tignes and Val D’Isere. Flights are offered to Geneva from 11 UK departure airports and to Grenoble from seven.

This year I skied a lot of other ski resorts as my ski apartment was booked for most of the season. To be fair, the snow was great everywhere I been and I had powder most days. However I can’t suppress my excitement about going back to Tignes. There is a different kind of spirit and energy out there in the ski resort and on the slopes… and I can’t wait for my first run down the Grand Motte all they way into Val Claret. I can already feel those legs burning and the head rush of adrinalin.

The weather forecast is great and there has even been some fresh powder last few days, which is not unusual for Tignes in late April. I have been hear on the last day of the season and experienced a dump of 1m powder …. and all the ski lifts closed the next day.

The season in Tignes finishes on the 10th May this year and with current snow levels they could probably go on for another few months. Although most Europeans have finished with the winter and are enjoying spring time activities. Keeping the resort open beyond the end of April is probably not commercially viable.

April skiing in Tignes, especially after the Easter holidays, is propbably the best in the world. High altitude gurantees good snow conditions, lift hours are extended and there tend to be long sunny spells. There are also no crowds at all with 300 km of piste used by very few skiers and boarders.

Cost for a ski trip are also low, with 3 day trips costing as little as 80 – 100 euros including ski pass and ski accommodation.Compare that to a peak time February or March ski holiday.

Having been in Tignes every single month of the year over the past two decades, April must be my favourite month. You will remember my words when you ski down those empty sunny slopes or enjoy a party on the terrace of the Folly Douce overlooking Val D’Isere.  Don’t forget to take the last chairlift back to Tignes. Even in April they don’t run during the night.

Enjoy April holidays in Tignes, I hope you do one day.

skiing holidays Tignes - Val Claret

At 2,100m, Tignes is described by most ski holiday operators as being “sure snow”. This is not just a marketing slogan, Tignes  is reliable in December and April as it has brilliant (possibly the best) glacier skiing on the Grande Motte up to 3500m high.

I am out in Tignes every year early December and for the last week of the season normally up to 10th May. I alway had great snow and it often dumps some more powder at the end of April just to finish of the season (and to the despare of the good people running the ski resort who just want to get on with spring).

There are still loads of deals around for other ski resorts and more heavy snowfalls across the Alps promise the best finish to a ski season already rated the best for 25 years. I still recommend Tignes. With the high altitude, 300km of piste and great track record on end of season snow – why take a risk?

And surprise, surprise, more snow is forecast again this weekend. Enjoy