The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Tignes and Val d'Isère

Col de la Grassaz is a great choice to keep you away from any temptation to take things any steeper if avalanche conditions dictate, whilst also giving you a fantastic view of the Tarentaise giant the Grande Casse as you pass in front of it....

Starting at the base of the Leisse chairlift, this route can be completed in a half day, even when you choose to take your time and stay for a few beers at the Refuge de la Leisse (if it’s open - always check!)....

Leave the Cretes piste and head right in to the bowl just skiers left of the chair line. Cross the Violettes piste and continue down the open slopes keeping close to the chair line, with it always on your right....

Take the furthest variant skiers' right of the Tour de Charvet initial descent, staying as high as you can (this will basically just feel like a long traverse) until you reach the bottom of the valley....

The ‘easiest’ way down from Pointe de la Sana, but don’t let this fool you as your legs will be feeling it after almost 1000m of ascent up from the Charvet valley! The summit of Pointe de la Sana is reached by starting at the top of the Grand Pre chairlift and taking the Tour du Mont Roup ascent path, going onto the Barmes de l'Ours ascent path when it veers off right at the rocky pass....

Crossing the Vanoise is a key link through this part of the Alps. This route is certainly the easiest option and we picked it due to category 4 avalanche risk and stormy weather....

This is not a ski tour you would ever choose to do in isolation. In fact it is stretching the definition of a ski tour. Yes we had skins on, but only to go up the piste....

Instead of heading straight into the main Grand Vallon route, traverse to the left along the ridge before descending a short pitch to a well-defined saddle. Stay high and cross the saddle to access a treasure-trove of fun "mini-golf" terrain....

Enjoy off-piste skiing without straying too far from the lifts. Apart from a short section, the skiing is not very steep and so it is to be avoided in deep snow....

Start as if heading to Col Pers but instead of going over the Col, take off your skis and climb the steepish slope directly opposite. The ascent passes initially above a small cliff and then below another on the south-facing slope above the Combe du Géant piste, before cutting back and following the ridge to a saddle beneath the summit of the Signal de l'Iseran....

The Pyramides chairlift takes skiers over an open amphitheatre of fun and easily-accessible off piste terrain. Follow the obvious valley veering off skier's right of the Pyramides piste. The obvious route is to follow this wide gully all the way down, but it'll be tracked out fastest....

More of a ski tour than off-piste skiing but an excellent introductory tour for those with skins or snow shoes. The climb is around an hour and a half but you get over 1000m of skiing for your efforts....

A long and varied run often on good snow. Start down the OK piste and after about 100 meters go off the piste to the right and traverse high under the rock band....

Never too far from the S piste the "Super S" provides great skiing in the right conditions. The relatively low altitude and West facing aspect can mean the snow doesn't stay good here for long and it can be avalanche prone....

Probably the best known off piste run in Val. Great skiing with a few variation for the brave. From the Grand Pre lift traverse down and left towards the Col. Once through this, continue traversing left as you descend avoiding the large cliff band....

Having reached the summit of l'Ouillette from the top of the Cugnai chair, turn left along the ridge to the north. This wide open high face with its northerly aspect often holds great snow long after a storm....

Hike to the obvious col immediately above the top the Grattalu lift and pick your way through the tight chutes off the backside. Be careful of rocks and windslabs through this short, technical section....