Family Activities in Tignes

The main draw for people coming to Tignes in winter is of course the skiing and snowboarding. With the whole of the Espace Killy to ski in, Tignes has something for every level of experience.

And, if you thought skiing was reserved only for winter, think again! In Tignes you can head out skiing on the glacier throughout the summer months. Located on the Grande Motte glacier, you can enjoy a morning of skiing and then an afternoon of hiking. Check out all the information about skiing in the summer in Tignes

Achery is one of those sports that people all ages love to try. There are a number of places near Tignes to practice archery and become the Robin Hood of the Alps, mainly at the Lognan athletic centre in Val Claret. They will provide you with bow and arrows, and you can also take lessons.

Tignes sports centre, Tignespace, features a large 1600 m² multisports court with a basketball court, as well as a handball court, 3 voleyball courts, 2 trampolines and a roller-hockey rink.

The Sports Beach near the lake hosts a wide range of activities, with a trampoline located near the tennis courts, as well as a playing field next to the children’s recreation area.Throughout the summer, you can play beach football, beach volleyball, beach rugby, tennis and table tennis, as well as petanque.

The naturally formed 25-hectare lake in the heart of Tignes offers catamarans, pedalos and dinghy boats to relax on the water in summer.

Canoe rafts are an unsinkable, stable type of inflatable canoe that allow you, without too much technique to profit fully from the joys and fun of white water river descent. The descents are taken on by groups of 4 to 5 boats, accompanied by a fully qualified guide. You are equipped with neoprene suits and shoes, a safety jacket and a helmet. The course which you take is chosen according to the water levels and experience of the participants.

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!

You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous. Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of adventure companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.

Depending on the age of your child there are a number of childcare options available in Tignes. There are also numerous babysitting and nursery facilities available in the area.

The main winter establishments are the ski schools which offer a combination of tuition and childcare for children 3 years and older. You can book your child in for full or half day programmes and lunch can also be provided for an extra charge.

You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kidsclub during the summer holidays, normally from 1st July to 30th August, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes & picnics.

Catch the latest films and releases in Tignes on your winter or summer holiday. Some cinemas open their doors early on a bad weather day, otherwise you'll find most screenings in the evenings. Look out for VOST for English speaking films.

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Tignes and what better way to explore Tignes than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Tignes without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

The Lognan Athletic Centre boasts the "Eric Cantona" natural grass pitch where you can practice football with the whole family..

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Tignes! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

The Espace Killy area offers a wide expanse of spectacular terrain on which you can saddle up and go exploring. There are a wide range of trails and routes waiting to be explored in Tignes and what better way to explore them than on horse back. A 2-hour ride costs around €55.

Be in charge of your own sled and team of excitable husky dogs, driving them along forest paths in winter. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start, you set off following the guide’s team. If this all sounds a bit much you can opt for a less physical outing where you sit in the sled and the guide does all the hard work! It's a very popular winter activity, so booking at least 48 hours in advance is a must. They run from early December to the end of April (snow-permitting).

Go outdoor ice skating on the frozen Tignes Lake. It's a fun thing to do with the family, or in a group if you want to do something a little bit different for apres ski. Perfect for children and families and those who just want to enjoy the beautiful mountain views whilst playing around on some skates.

You can bowl in Tignes in winter or summer. A great place to go if you're in a family to while away rainy days.

A great activity for the whole family, if you want to give climbing a go in an indoor centre, then Tignes has somewhere for you to go. Climbing equipment is normally provided, or you can bring your own and insurance is normally needed before you hit the climbing wall.

The golf course at Tignes also features a mini-golf course perfect for children and adults who will enjoy going through the path with information about local flora and fauna.

Tignes is a mecca for mountain biking, with varying terrain and fantastic views it is perfect for mountain biking enthusiasts. With the whole of the mountain area to explore, the different and varied terrains suit bikers of all levels. So you can enjoy a leisurely cycle around some of the lower level trails with the whole family. Tignes has an extensive MTB park with lots of of trails to try, from beginner to more advanced levels. You can even try the MTB airbag to do your best tricks on a bike in complete safety.

The Vanoise National Park is located in the heart of the Savoie region. Created in 1963, it was the first French national park and it covers a large territory where you can find a stunning mountain landscape with lakes, and beautiful vegetation. It is also well-known for its population of Alpine ibex, as well as many other animals like chamois, marmots and more than 100 species of birds.

You can practice paddleboarding on the naturally formed 25-hectare lake in the heart of Tignes.

If you are looking for a fun filled family activity, Tignes can provide just that with its paintballing course. Paintballing is a game where two teams play against each other to try and get the scarf located in the middle of the course without getting hit by a paintball from the opposing team.

This is one winter activity that doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment, just grab your sledge and head for the nearest snow-covered hill! You can pick up a sledge at one of the many ski hire shops or sports shops in Tignes.

Raquette à Neige or Snow-shoeing in and around Tignes is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions or for non-skiers. Don't forget to wear comfortable and waterproof boots. Either set out on your own, or join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the ski area. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided by most companies offering this as an experience, or you can hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops or Ski Hire Shops, grab a trail map from the Tourist Office and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go.

Whether you like to take a dip indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Tignes. Most hotels, lots of chalets and apartments have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit, which often come free with your lift pass purchase. In summer and winter you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

Tennis is a great way to get the legs moving and to enjoy the sunny summertime weather. You can play a friendly game or have a lesson, whatever you choose to do it is a great way to have fun with friends and family. Tignes offers 20 outdoor courts between the Sports Beach, the Lavachet activity area, the Val Claret athletic centre and the Brévières area.

Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.

Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8. Guides can be arranged on request and there are a number of adventure companies who can organise your Via Ferrata experience

In the summer months Tignes is a mecca for walking and hiking in the beautiful alpine mountains. As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine, the mountains make an excellent place to head out on a hike or walk. Walking is the perfect activity for groups, families and friends, and you can pick from a number of routes ranging in difficulty including easy child friendly walks. Along the way, enjoy the fantastic mountain views, beautiful scenery and wildlife that is normally hidden in the winter months.

If you haven't experienced white water rafting before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! There are a number of trained guides in resort who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.

For an easier and more relaxing water activity, you can also try the Water Balls that allow you to walk over Tignes Lake in total safety.