La Folie Douce
This celebrated après-ski haunt is situated at the top of the Daille cable car. Known around the world for its top-notch entertainment and wild parties, La Folie Douce is the place to party on the piste in Val d'Isere.
January in Val d'Isère: What's on and weather
Plenty of snow, quiet slopes and some spectacular events
Truly the heart of the winter. The crowds dissipate and it's time to enjoy everything.
After the Christmas holidays are over, January is the quietest part of the main winter season. This means you have the slopes to yourselves, rarely have to queue for a lift and can enjoy pistes in great condition.
The quiet conditions on the mountain don’t translate to quiet nights in the town. There are fewer families and more adult visitors, meaning it can be easier to get a table at a restaurant, and the bars are buzzing with plenty of live music and party nights to keep you entertained whilst you warm your hands on a glass of vin chaud.
Read on for a look at what we like to do in resort throughout January.
What are the weather and snow conditions like?
There is regular snowfall - on average nine days - and subzero temperatures keep it nice and fresh. In January the average daytime temperatures generally fall between a high of 0°C and a low of -8ºC, getting around five hours of sunshine. Definitely pack those thermals!
Skiing
With all those empty pistes, no lift queues and perfect conditions, we like to get out into the mountains on our skis and snowboards as much as possible.
If you visit the resort in January you can buy a lift pass and join one of the local ski schools' many ski or snowboard lessons taking place around the resort.
Nightlife in Val d'Isere
At this time of the season we are looking forward to some live music sessions, whether from local bands or even one of the open mike nights and jam sessions that the local bars often hold. So, whether you fancy yourself an Adele, Bob Dylan or a Satriani, there's definitely somewhere you can 'entertain' the crowds.
Of course, that's if we've made it home from one of the many après-ski events taking place every evening across town.
Bars & Clubs in Val d'Isere
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Alexandra Bar and Four Seasons Takeaway
Bar Alexandra is opposite the post office and offers a lively atmosphere with live music, pool tables and great food all winter.
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Le Petit Danois Bar
Le Petit Danois is one of Val's most reputed drinking establishments, interestingly providing both the illness and the medicine.
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Le Salon des Fous Restaurant and Bar
This restaurant and bar is located in the centre of Val d'Isère on the main street.
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La Cave sur La Comptoir
The French do great wine, great cheese and great meats, and this little gem of a wine bar serves all three.
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Avancher Bar
Discover the bar at Hotel Avancher and their extensive menu with a hand picked selection of wine as well as homemade cocktails and delicious cold meat platters.
Winter Things To Do in Val d'Isere
Alternative winter sports
It doesn't just have to be piste based adventures you take part in. Ski-touring and split-boarding have become extremely popular in recent years, and there's nothing that gets the heart pumping like gaining altitude under your own steam. When it's a 'white out' you'll find us changing tack entirely, pulling on some raquettes (snowshoes) and venturing forth into the wilderness on one of the many snowshoeing routes around the valley, all the while dreaming of tomorrow's bluebird powder day.
Wintersport Things To Do in Val d'Isere
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Helicopter tours
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
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EMTB on snow
Try something new this winter with a guided e-bike session on snow (from eight years old). Join a sunrise ride above Val d’Isère or hire an electric bike in the afternoon and head off on your own adventure.
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Dog Sledding
Sledding tours and adventures in the Tarentaise.
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Heliskiing/boarding
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
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Snowmobiling
Passenger or driver, it’s up to you to decide!
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Guided snowshoe hikes
Discover the charm of snowshoeing and venture to parts of the mountains even skiers don't go.
January events in Val d'Isere
Aside from what's going on up the mountain in the daytime, there are some evening events and races that are worth watching out for, plus music festivals and live bands in town.
Events in Val d'Isere
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Criterium de la Première Neige
One of the biggest events of the season with the world's best men's and women's slalom racers competing on the Face de Bellevarde and OK (Oreiller Killy) slopes in Val d'Isère.
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Evenings at the Aquasportif Centre
For every pool entry purchased between 19:30 and 21:15, access to the Wellness area is complimentary.
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Christmas in Val d'Isère
Celebrate Christmas in Val d'Isère at the magical Christmas village, a winter wonderland in the centre of resort.
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Snake Gliss
Sledging of the future! Why not try this snake-like sledging where a group of you are linked together in a chain of up to 10 people.
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Video game tournaments
Keep your kids entertained during the school holidays after the lifts have closed with a videogames tournament at the Mediathèque.
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Torchlit descent of the Face de Bellevarde
The ESF Val d'Isère put on a special show with skiing, telemarking and freestyle before the torchlit descent of the Face and a fireworks display with free mulled wine.
More inspiration...
This is only a small selection of the events taking place in Val d'Isère during the first month of the year. Take a look at our events calendar for a full rundown.
