Bellevarde is the main ski area of Val d’Isère, the one most people have in mind when they book a stay in the resort. The Rocher de Bellevarde summit at 2,827m gives the sector its name, and the Télécabine de Bellevarde from the town centre is the most direct route up. It is where the men’s downhill World Cup takes place each December, and where you can find everything from gentle cruising runs to steep technical pitches.
Why Bellevarde
The sector covers a broad vertical drop — from 1,850m at the valley base to nearly 2,800m at the summit — with a mix of terrain that suits most levels above complete beginner. Long red runs trace the ridgelines down from the plateau, giving good coaching conditions: plenty of space, consistent gradient, and room to stop and work on specific movements without turning the day into a traffic exercise.
For skiers wanting to progress technically, Bellevarde has the terrain variety needed to push from confident red to early black runs over the course of a few days. The steeper pitches near the summit reward good edge control and solid weight distribution. For returning skiers, the easy blues near the gondola arrival offer a comfortable start before we move to more interesting terrain as confidence grows.
The sector also links directly to La Daille and the Funival, which means we can vary the day without coming back to the valley floor.
How We Meet
We meet at the Télécabine de Bellevarde departure in the town centre. The exact landmark — visible from the main road — is confirmed when you book. Arriving at 8h45 means short queues and first-run snow before the main crowd. Most central accommodation is within walking distance of the gondola. If you need navette from an outlying chalet, the main Val d’Isère bus route passes nearby.
