Heatwave: Spend a few cool nights at altitude!

Heat Wave: Spend a Few Cool Nights at Higher Altitudes!

June 24, 2026

Is it too hot in your apartment or house whenever the region is hit by a heat wave? Escape to the hills at Tignes or La Rosière for the weekend or for a week, where the temperature doesn’t exceed 26/27°C in the shade during the day and 18°C at night.

Tignes : the ultimate cool getaway during a heat wave

What if the solution to your sleepless summer nights were just a two- or three-hour drive from your home? Tignes, France’s second-highest ski resort at an elevation of 2,100 meters, is the perfect “cool” getaway for the weekend ( or even a week) when the weather forecast turns red.

Does the thermometer read 40°C in the shade in Lyon or Grenoble? Up there, it rarely goes above 27°C during the day (and even drops below 18°C at night—a dream!).

While the heat forces people to stay indoors in the plains and valleys to avoid heatstroke and dehydration, Tignes ’s microclimate, on the other hand, invites you to venture out into the open air on trails leading to windy mountain passes, high-altitude lakes (fragile ecosystems where swimming is not permitted), and larch forests that are still lush and green.

Another little paradise to escape to when your body and mind are on the verge of overheating: La Rosière, at an elevation of 1,850 meters. It’s a bit lower in elevation, to be sure, but just as charming, with the Petit Saint Bernard Pass just a few minutes’ drive away (perfect for a day trip to Italy) and its relative proximity to the Isère River rapids (it takes about 40 minutes to reach the Landry whitewater sports center).

Tignes (2,100 m)

🚗 Chambéry → 2: 00
🚗 Grenoble → 2 hours 20 minutes
🚗 Lyon → 3 hours 20 minutes

La Rosière (1,850 m)

🚗 Chambéry → 1 hour 50 minutes
🚗 Grenoble → 2 hours 10 minutes
🚗 Lyon → 3 hours 10 minutes

Book a refreshing getaway at Tignes, Chalet-Hôtel Quartz, Chalet-Hôtel Cap Neige , or La Rosière, Lodge des Glaciers (minimum 2 nights)!

Book your refreshing getaway

Stand-up paddleboarding, glacier hiking, rafting… These activities provide an instant burst of freshness

Stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Tignes:

This water sport—a cross between canoeing/kayaking and surfing—is practiced while standing on a long inflatable board, holding a long paddle. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: keep your balance as you glide across the calm (and *very* cool) waters of Lake Tignes , powered only by the strength of your arms! This activity is included in the My Tignes.

Glacier hike on the Grande Motte Glacier:

An activity that has the thrill of adventure… but is much more accessible than it seems. Equipped with mountaineering crampons, an ice axe, a harness (to rope up), and a helmet, you’ll safely follow in the footsteps of a high-mountain guide from the cable car’s upper station to the summit of the glacier at an altitude of 3,656 meters. Up there, the 360° view of the Grande Casse, the Grande Sassière, Mont Pourri, and even Mont Blanc is breathtaking! Book through our trusted partner, Évolution 2.

Hydrospeed in the rapids of the Isère River:

The most refreshing activity on this list? Probably! Protected from the cold in your thick neoprene wetsuit, with a helmet on your head and a large, rigid float in hand, you’ll need to tighten your abs and kick your fins to navigate the turbulent waters of the Isère (under the watchful eye of your guide, of course). Book through our trusted partner Évolution 2 (hydrospeed, as well as rafting, canyoning, and more…).

A shaded walk along the water's edge in the Bois de la Laye:

Let’s wrap up this list of “refreshing” pastimes with a more leisurely activity: a picturesque hike along the Ruisseau du Lac, a playful stream that rushes down the slopes below Le Lavachet before feeding into Lake Chevril (and its famous dam). Along the way, be sure to stop at the Gouille du Salin (a spring feeding directly from the Grande Motte glacier) and at the waterfall known as the “Bride’s Veil” (you’ll understand why once you get there).

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"La dolce vita" without mercury causing panic? It's possible!*

Just because you’re spending a “weekend in the mountains” doesn’t mean you have to give up all the pleasures of la dolce vita and relaxing by the sea!

In Tignes, fruit and vegetable farmers set up their stalls selling tomatoes, cherries, and juicy peaches every Thursday and Sunday at the market on the Promenade du Rosset, just a stone's throw from the water sports center.

When it comes to terraces, the one at Terrachu is especially popular in the summer for breakfast in the sun by the lake, a delicious lunch featuring vegetables and meat grilled on the barbecue, a waffle or ice cream sundae for an afternoon snack, or a colorful cocktail at the end of the day (Don’t miss Mondays and Thursdays between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.: a floating barge drifts across the lake right up to the terrace, with a DJ or a local band on board).

Want to slip into your swimsuit for a relaxing break? Our resorts Chalet-Hôtel Quartz (Tignes Val Claret) and Chalet-Hôtel Cap Neige (Tignes Le Lac) both feature wellness areas: the former offers a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and solarium, while the latter features a heated indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.

The perfect suitcase for a long weekend in the cool air

It’s hard to imagine, when you’re packing your suitcase in 40°C heat, that it might be cool where you’re heading for the weekend. Altitude Résidences Here’s how to pack your bag for the perfect short getaway in the mountains:

Comfortable, lightweight outfits for your daytime activities: shorts, T-shirts, trail running shoes…
What you’ll need to protect yourself from the sun: a cap and SPF 50 sunscreen. Our tip: Opt for short-sleeved shirts and T-shirts instead of tank tops during your hikes in the mountains (or you’ll end up with red shoulders instead of a tan);
Long-sleeved tops (sweaters, cardigans) and a light jacket for going out to dinner in the evening (or to keep you warm if a cloud happens to dim the blue of the sky while you're out and about);
A swimsuit—or several, if you're planning to go to the pool and try your hand at whitewater sports;
Sandals and a big straw hat for lounging on the patio, a nice cold cocktail in one hand and a fruity sorbet in the other.

Book a refreshing getaway in Tignes, at the Chalet-Hôtel Quartz or Chalet-Hôtel Cap Neige (minimum 2 nights)

Book a refreshing getaway to La Rosière, at Lodge des Glaciers (minimum 2 nights)