High valleys above Le Fornet, the wooded slopes of Solaise and the faces around Bellevarde give Val d’Isère several very different off-piste days.
Col Pers and Vallonnet bring the scale and remoteness of the high mountains into the day. Closer to the village, Lièvre Blanc and the Danaïdes change character as the terrain draws into the trees. Bellevarde adds its own variety, from the Charvet outings to Spatule above La Daille.
Explore seventeen routes below. Each has a short terrain profile, walking information and Fredrik’s full account, with photographs and video where available. The route names are starting points for choosing an outing with a local guide.
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.
Bellevarde · Manchet
Behind Bellevarde, broad slopes give way to steeper ground and a narrow valley finish. This mountain journey towards Manchet offers a complete change of scenery from the busy pistes above. South-facing sections make timing and snow texture important.
Read Fredrik’s Tour du Charvet storyBellevarde · Charvet
A mountain face on the Charvet side of Bellevarde. Warmth and refreezing can transform the snow, so timing is central to the day.
Read Fredrik’s Face du Charvet storySolaise · Cugnai
A long descent into a quieter mountain setting beyond Solaise. Rocky features and steeper passages add variety and commitment among its different lines. Confident skiing in variable snow matters here, as does the choice of descent.
Read Fredrik’s Cugnai storySolaise · Manchet
An off-piste classic on the Manchet side of Solaise, among the valley’s varied mountain terrain.
Read Fredrik’s Super Arcelle storySolaise · Laisinant
Open slopes give way to trees on this classic descent towards Laisinant. The changing landscape is its appeal, but rock and cliff bands make route-finding a serious part of the day.
Read Fredrik’s Danaïdes storySolaise · Laisinant
A valley-side classic above Laisinant, with a different feel from Solaise’s high, open pistes. Its variations belong to the same off-piste neighbourhood as Danaïdes and Lièvre Blanc.
Read Fredrik’s Super L storyLaisinant valley
Steep woodland gives Lièvre Blanc a distinct character among Val’s big, open mountain descents. Its lines lead towards Laisinant: a forest-skiing name for experienced skiers to discuss with a local guide.
Read Fredrik’s Lièvre Blanc storyFornet · Signal
A vast, mostly north-facing valley gives Grand Vallon its sense of scale. The long descent towards the Isère takes in different aspects and variations across the mountainside, making it a rewarding prospect for a day built around a substantial mountain run.
Read Fredrik’s Grand Vallon storyFornet
Fornet at its more committing: steep terrain, cornices and complex route-finding give Vallonnet a serious character. The return can also involve flat ground and effort, so this is an outing to judge as a whole, rather than simply a descent.
Read Fredrik’s Vallonnet storyPissaillas
High in the Pissaillas sector, Pays Désert is all space, rolling snow and mountain views. Gentler options give it a different character from the steeper valley descents. A short walk or skin can open up variations in this high-mountain setting.
Read Fredrik’s Pays Désert storyPissaillas · Fornet
Broad valleys and imposing rock walls give Col Pers its grand scale. The scenery changes throughout the outing, and the return is a serious part of the plan: the Malpasset gorge can be impassable, so the exit must be assessed by your guide.
Read Fredrik’s Col Pers storyBellevarde · La Daille
North-facing slopes, couloirs and trees give this Bellevarde-side descent a varied character above La Daille.
Read Fredrik’s Spatule storyTovière · La Daille
Open valley terrain and lower larch woodland make this a varied descent towards La Daille. The gentle-sounding name is no difficulty guarantee: variations include steeper ground and terrain hollows that call for local judgement.
Read Fredrik’s Altiport / Familial storyBorsat
The north-facing side of Borsat, one of Val d’Isère’s classic off-piste names.
Read Fredrik’s Envers du Borsat storyBellevarde
A short climb adds a sense of occasion before a steep couloir opens onto a broad face above the village. The view is part of the attraction, but this is a committed choice for experienced off-piste skiers.
Read Fredrik’s La Table d’Orientation storyBellevarde
A long descent with a sun-facing character, La Banane brings rocky passages and changing snow into the same outing. Its south-easterly aspect can transform quickly in the sun, making timing central to the experience.
Read Fredrik’s La Banane storySolaise
An off-piste area on the Solaise side, with several variations.
Read Fredrik’s Combe des Américains 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 →