Val d'Isère and Tignes Market Update - December 2025
- Tessera Swallow
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Val d'Isère and Tignes Real Estate Property Market Update December 2025
Climate Change, Snow Reliability & the Future of Alpine Property Investment
Bonjour!
Now that we are fully into the winter season, I want to talk about a topic that comes up in almost every conversation I have with buyers: climate change, and how it might affect the long term value of an Alpine property.
Every week, I speak with clients who share the same concerns. And every week, once we talk it through, they realise something important: as long as you buy in the right resort, climate change is not a threat to your investment, it is strengthening it.
In this Val d’Isère Tignes Real Estate Market Update is the outline of what I typically share in these conversations, and I hope you find it helpful and reassuring.
Climate Change: What We See on the Ground
Winters in the Alps are different from how they were twenty or thirty years ago. The snowfall is still excellent, but the pattern is more erratic.
Some years bring lighter starts and huge late season snowfall, including over two metres as late as April last season, while others deliver consistently strong conditions from January onwards.
This variability naturally raises questions, but it doesn’t mean weaker long term performance. In fact, it is creating a much clearer divide in the market.
Why High Altitude Resorts Matter More Than Ever
As lower lying resorts struggle with reliability, buyers and developers are increasingly focusing on high altitude destinations.
Resorts above 1,800 metres benefit from:
Colder temperatures
Better natural snow retention
Longer and more dependable seasons
They also benefit more from snowmaking.
Snowmaking technology has advanced enormously in recent years, with machines producing higher quality snow and operating more efficiently than ever.
However, the key factor is temperature:
If it isn’t cold enough, snow cannons simply cannot run
This is why high altitude resorts like Val d’Isère and Tignes will always be more reliable, they have the stable, low temperatures needed for both natural snowfall and effective snowmaking throughout the season.
Because of this combination, Val d’Isère and Tignes remain exceptionally well positioned, even as the broader climate shifts.
The Glacier Advantage
Glaciers are one of the strongest protective factors for future proofing your investment. They provide skiable terrain and dependable conditions even in warmer or lower snow periods.
Val d’Isère: Pissaillas Glacier (up to 3,200 m)
Tignes: Grande Motte Glacier (up to 3,600 m)
This level of altitude and glacier access places both resorts in the top tier of long term resilient Alpine destinations.
A Shift Toward a More Premium Market
For the last 30 years, skiing has become increasingly accessible to the masses.
Looking forward, I believe we will see the opposite. Skiing is likely to become more premium and exclusive for the following reasons:
Rising demand for snow certainty
Investment in high-end infrastructure
Better resort facilities
Higher quality accommodation and services
In strong resorts, this will support:
Higher rental yields
Continued capital growth
Increased scarcity
Long-term desirability
As mentioned in a recent FT article
“The money will always follow the snowline”
Choosing the Right Resort Matters
When deciding where to buy, I always advise clients to focus on resorts that consistently deliver:
High altitude
Glacier access
Strong infrastructure
Long term investment and planning
A clear premium positioning
Val d’Isère and Tignes excel in all of these areas, which is precisely why they attract informed, long term buyers and why they remain two of the most resilient markets in the Alps.
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