Tignes offers a compact collection of very different off-piste experiences: open slopes, narrow couloirs and the long descent through the Sache valley.
Campanules and Lognan introduce the terrain around Val Claret. Petite Balme and Chardonnet bring steeper variations into the picture, while Vallon de la Sache is a longer mountain journey whose lower sections deserve as much attention as the start.
These five accounts bring together the terrain, walking demands and Fredrik’s experience of the different variants. Read the whole story before discussing the day’s choice with your guide; a familiar name can cover several quite different lines.
Choose the day’s route with a qualified local guide. Avalanche, cliff and glacier hazards require specialist judgement; carry a transceiver, shovel and probe and know how to use them.
Tovière · Val Claret
Close to the lifts, steep slopes give Campanules a sharper edge on the Tovière side of Tignes. The classic off-piste sector shares its name with marked runs nearby; the terrain described here lies beyond those signed runs.
Read Fredrik’s Campanules storyPalet · Val Claret
Rolling terrain, little steps and changing gradients make the off-piste around Lognan a playful place to develop your rhythm with an instructor. Terrain traps and sun-affected snow make the day’s conditions important.
Read Fredrik’s Lognan storyGrande Motte · Val Claret
High on the Grande Motte side, Petite Balme pairs an expansive alpine setting with north-facing slopes and playful changes in terrain. Several variations give the descent different personalities. Cliff bands make local route knowledge essential.
Read Fredrik’s Petite Balme storyGrattalu · Chardonnet
Dramatic couloir skiing gives Chardonnet its reputation. The best-known north-facing line widens as it descends, with views towards Mont Blanc adding to the occasion. A memorable classic for strong off-piste skiers, among steeper and more committing variations.
Read Fredrik’s Chardonnet storyAiguille Percée · Les Brévières
A long, scenic valley journey with wide upper spaces and tighter terrain below. The off-piste lines are separate from the marked black Sache piste, and the lower gorge makes careful route-finding essential.
Read Fredrik’s Vallon de la Sache storyThese are ideas for professionally guided outings, not route directions. Beyond the marked pistes, avalanches, cliffs and glacier hazards demand specialist judgement. Choose the day’s route with an appropriately qualified local professional; carry a transceiver, shovel and probe and know how to use them.
Icons describe terrain, skiing demands and walking, including route variants. Skiing labels are descriptive, not official grades. Open terrain describes the landscape, not the snow conditions; a missing terrain icon does not mean that feature is absent.
Photographs from Fredrik’s collection. Photo credits.
Historical reports linked to these routes or their wider sectors. Each account explains the connection.
All avalanche reports →