The Tarentaise valley road is the main artery into some of the best-known ski areas in the Alps, running from Albertville past Moûtiers to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with resort roads branching off along the way. From Geneva Airport it leads to Courchevel, about 150 km and 2 h 15 away, and to Val d'Isère, about 180 km and 2 h 45. AirportsTransfers.ch chauffeurs drive it all season and know where it tends to slow down.
- Route: Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Val d'Isère
- From Moûtiers: Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires and Val Thorens
- From the upper valley: La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d'Isère
- Bottlenecks: Albertville, Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice on Saturdays
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into France near Geneva
From Geneva to Albertville
Leaving Geneva Airport, the route enters France and heads south. Drivers can take the motorway past Annecy and Chambéry before turning east to Albertville, or follow the road along Lake Annecy and through Faverges, which is shorter in distance and very scenic but slower in heavy traffic. Which one is better depends on the day, the weather and the time. Albertville, host of the 1992 Winter Olympics, sits where the Arly meets the Isère, and it is here that the Tarentaise properly begins, with the valley narrowing as the road heads upstream.
Albertville to Moûtiers
From Albertville, a fast dual carriageway follows the Isère upstream through a narrow, industrial stretch of valley to Moûtiers. In winter this is one of the busiest roads in the French Alps, and on Saturdays it is where queues most often form, at junctions near Albertville and on the approach to Moûtiers. Moûtiers itself is a small town and the hub for Les 3 Vallées, the vast linked ski area. Here three side valleys open off the main road: one leads to Courchevel and La Tania, one climbs through the spa town of Brides-les-Bains towards Méribel, and the Belleville valley leads to Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens, the highest of the three. Each of these final climbs takes a further half hour or more, with plenty of hairpins.
Moûtiers to Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Beyond Moûtiers, the main road continues up the valley through Aime, where the roads to La Plagne and its many villages branch off, and on to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Together, La Plagne and Les Arcs form the Paradiski area, linked by a large cable car. Les Arcs can be reached by road from Bourg-Saint-Maurice or by the funicular from the town, popular with train travellers. Peisey-Vallandry and Montchavin, quieter villages within Paradiski, are also signed from the valley. Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a common point of congestion on busy days, as it handles traffic for both Les Arcs and the upper valley.
Up to Tignes and Val d'Isère
From Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the road climbs past Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise towards the Lac du Chevril dam and on to Tignes and Val d'Isère, which share the Espace Killy ski area. This upper section is a true mountain road, with avalanche galleries and tunnels, and after fresh snow chains are often required. Val d'Isère lies close to the head of the valley, below the Col de l'Iseran, which is closed in winter. Because this is the final, highest part of the journey, it is often where time is gained or lost depending on the weather.
Tips for travelling the Tarentaise
The most important tip is timing: avoid the peak hours of a winter Saturday if you can, or allow plenty of margin. Equip the vehicle for winter: the French mountain law applies throughout the valley from November to March. Know which village you are staying in, as resorts such as La Plagne or Les Arcs have several levels and the final road differs for each. For the return journey, leave early to beat the descending traffic. And if you are staying a week, consider making the most of the drive: the Tarentaise valley is lined with dramatic scenery and old Savoyard villages.
Booking a Tarentaise transfer with AirportsTransfers.ch
For Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes or Val d'Isère, book online with AirportsTransfers.ch and see the fixed price per vehicle before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur waits in arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits at no extra charge if it is late. A V-Class takes up to seven passengers with skis and luggage, a Sprinter suits groups and chalet parties, and E-Class or S-Class sedans suit smaller groups. Child seats come on request, skis are declared at booking, and the team answers 24/7 on +41 78 346 56 77, by phone or WhatsApp.
