Val d’Isère has received its first snow fall and unveils exciting news for the 2025/26 Winter Season

Andrea Thompson

ByAndrea Thompson

September 25, 2025
France has reopened its borders to British tourists after ministers in Paris eased restrictions on non-essential travel. From this morning, Britons travelling to the country only need to show proof of vaccination and a negative test taken no more than 24 hours before departure. The requirements for 48-hour quarantine on arrival and a compelling reason to enter the country have been dropped. Alexandre Holroyd, the French MP responsible for expats living in the UK, confirmed the news and thanked Jean Castex, the French prime minister, for listening to his requests. The news is a boost for holiday- makers who have booked a skiing trip to France. It is the UK’s most popular winter sports destination, attracting about one million skiers a year. The French border closed to holidaymakers from the UK on December 18 as ministers in Paris sought to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, but since the decision was made the number of Covid cases in France has soared. The country recorded more than 360,000 new infections yesterday. “We waited impatiently for this decision and are delighted to welcome our British clients again,” Vincent Lalanne, director of the Val Thorens office of tourism, said. “The snow conditions are exceptional so we hope to see them en masse from this weekend onwards.” Many French resorts reported that their visitor numbers had plummeted because of the restrictions and that they were suffering financially. They are now preparing for the return of British holidaymakers, especially over the February half term. Eurostar said that it would increase the number of services to meet demand. Airlines and tour operators also reported a sharp increase in bookings. Nick Morgan, managing director of Le Ski, said that it was looking at the possibility of flying Britons to its 33 chalets in the French Alps from as early as Sunday. Other operators, such as Brighton-based Ski Beat, are preparing to fly their first guests tomorrow. Chris Logan, managing director of Crystal Ski Holidays, Britain’s biggest winter sports operator, said: “Like the rest of the ski community, I’m delighted that we’ll be able to hit the slopes in France once again. Bookings to France doubled [yesterday] even before the announcement and we would expect to see another very positive uptick now that it’s official.” From Saturday, booster jabs will be mandatory for anyone aged 18 to 64 who has been fully vaccinated for more than seven months. Boosters are a requirement for a pass sanitaire, which is used to enter bars, restaurants, museums and ski lifts, among other public venues in France. Charles Owen, managing director of Seasonal Businesses in Travel, which represents ski companies, said: “This is very welcome news not only for the thousands of UK holidaymakers and people visiting friends and family in France, but also for the thousands of UK ski tour operators that have been in an effective shutdown for 22 months.” Last week travel rules in Britain were eased by ministers, including scrapping the need for passengers to take a test before travelling to the UK. The government also removed the requirement for a PCR test on or before day two after arrival, replacing it with a cheaper lateral flow test. The change came into effect on Sunday. The need to quarantine before receiving a negative result has also been removed. The US Supreme Court has blocked the Biden administration from imposing vaccine mandates on large American companies. The mandate came into effect from Monday, requiring all businesses with more than 100 staff to ensure all employees are vaccinated and to impose rigorous testing in the workplace. The court yesterday ruled that the White House had overstepped its authority.

Val d’Isère, France is delighted to announce its latest news for the 2025/2026 season, as the world-renowned alpine resort prepares to open for another magical winter on the slopes from the 29th November 2025 – 3rd May 2026.

With its combination of world-class sport, luxury accommodation, cutting-edge gastronomy and sustainable commitments, Val d’Isère promises an unforgettable winter, cementing its position as one of the world’s leading mountain destinations.

Skiers won’t want to miss ‘First Tracks’

The opening weekend from the 29th November – 30th November 2025, where visitors can book two-nights accommodation, ski passes, equipment tasters and entry to the leisure centre, alongside other special deals when booking direct through Val d’Isère Reservations.

New Accommodation

Adding to its world-class accommodation offering, Val d’Isère is excited to announce several new additions to the resort. Following the successful opening of Experimental Chalet last season, the hotel is introducing new penthouses on the top floor. Designed by Dorothée Meilichzon in a forest theme, the three penthouses are defined by their large interior spaces and breath taking views of the mountains and village from the hotel’s fifth floor.

In addition, Purple Ski has introduced a brand-new luxury chalet, spread across three spacious floors, and just a short walk from the village centre. Chalet Cervinia offers ultimate indulgence with features such as a private cinema room, ski room, spa with an indoor hot tub, sauna and massage room as well as a large indoor swimming pool. Guests can also enjoy all of Purple Ski’s premium services, including a private chef, chauffeur and concierge.

Families and groups will also find a selection of new luxury aparthotels by Village Montana, located on the top floor of the Ski Lodge Hotel in the heart of the village, combining space, comfort and access to all of the hotel’s services. At the foot of the slopes, Le Parc 1963 introduces eleven beautifully designed apartments by Capezzone Architecture, three of which are managed by Hip Hideouts for a highly personalised stay.

The four-star Alpina Lodge is also reopening following a full renovation, offering modern Alpine apartments with private hammam showers and high-end services.

New Restaurants

Val d’Isère is also adding to its unrivalled food offering this season. IMA, a vibrant new
restaurant, will bring the flavours of the Near East to Val d’Isère in a lively, celebratory setting, while Bottleneck at K2 Chogori, named after a passage taken to reach the summit of K2, will serve traditional dishes with creative flair, complemented by fine cheeses and patisserie from award-winning chefs. Further up the mountain, La Folie Douce reinvents its culinary and creative space with the launch of “La Petite Cuisine -Gare Centrale”, a dynamic 650m2 hub that combines all of Folie Douce’s services – food, drinks, performances, workshops and music in an industrial-chic setting.

Smart Skiing

On the slopes, Val d’Isère is unveiling a series of innovations designed to make the skiing experience more immersive and accessible than ever. At the top of the Vallon gondola, a newly opened station brings Alpine history to life through an interactive installation, while two panoramic terraces at Solaise and Fornet provide refuge and breath taking views over the surrounding peaks. Pedestrian access has also been simplified with QR code entry across the ski lifts from La Daille, Solaise and Le Fornet, ensuring seamless movement around the resort.

This year also marks a historic sporting milestone as Val d’Isère celebrates the 70th edition of the Critérium de la Première Neige, one of the most prestigious Alpine skiing competitions in the world. From 13 to 21 December 2025, the world’s top athletes will gather on the renowned slopes of Face de Bellevarde and Oreiller-Killy.

Fun for Families

Known as one of the most family friendly ski resorts, Val d’Isère has further added to its
offerings with a range of thoughtful initiatives. Children under eight can ski for free on the whole Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area, allowing families to explore the extensive slopes and enjoy the Val Kids area with an adventure slope, play area and picnic area. The Folie Douce has also introduced an innovative and immersive selection of workshops for children to get their creative juices flowing.

For children aged 6 to 14, they can choose from three different workshops: Chocofolie, a chocolate-filled experience, First Track, introducing kids to the world of DJing, and Studio Folie, to customise their own fashion accessory and take part in a photo shoot.

In addition to these exciting workshops, every week, in both summer and winter, the Tourist Office rolls out a programme of free entertainment activities for all ages including; sledging, cross-country and downhill skiing races, torchlight descents, animal watching with the Vanoise National Park wardens, and much more.
Sustainability also remains at the heart of the resort’s vision for the future.

The new “Preserve Val d’Isère” campaign calls for collective awareness, and highlights the resort’s goal of becoming a zero-litter mountain by 2030, while its fleet of electric buses has expanded to fifteen, with the ambition of becoming fully electric next season. Accessibility is also a priority, with expanded initiatives from the Val d’Isère Handisport Association and a strong focus on inclusive tourism across the village and ski area.

https://www.valdisere.com/en/

Andrea Thompson

ByAndrea Thompson

Andrea can be found either in the Travelling For Business office or around the globe enjoying a city break, visiting new locations or sampling some of the best restaurants all work related of course!