Located at an altitude of 3,032 metres on the Grande Motte Glacier at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, the new Tignes aerial tramway belongs to a new generation of equipment. Dubbed Altitude Experiences, the two open-top cabins will offer passengers a unique 360-degree view of one of the most beautiful panoramas of the French Alps with views of Mont Blanc, the Cime de Bellecôte and the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière (3,747 m).

This exceptional new aerial tramway was designed to withstand the weather at an altitude of over 3,000 m, blending in perfectly with its surroundings and offering passengers a unique view of the incredible natural setting. It was designed in Switzerland by Garaventa AG and is equipped with state-of-the-art comfort and safety technologies. It will first open to skiers this winter once the ski area itself is opened. Due to extreme temperatures and heavy snowfall in winter at over 3,000 m, both open-top cabins will be open to the public in May.

Financed by the Société des téléphériques de Grande Motte (STGM)-the company operating the Tignes ski area-this new aerial tramway is part of a global investment project called Altitude Experiences, reaching a EUR 17 million budget. Created as part of a partnership between STGM and the Vanoise National Park, Altitude Experiences is a “Unique, Fun & Educational” route that will start at the Tignes funicular station at 2,100 m and will reach the Grande Motte Glacier at 3,032 m altitude.

The tramway will open to the public in May 2019. It will be accessible to the general public, including people with disabilities. Between an elevation 3,032 and 3,456 metres, visitors will be able to enjoy the spectacular views from various altitudes as they feel like they are flying through mid-air. In addition, educational materials in various shapes and forms will provide information on this exceptional environment and ecosystem.

Here are some interesting technical characteristics:

Dual-rope aerial tramway with two open-top cabins

Bottom station altitude: 3,034 metres
Top station altitude: 3456 metres

Transport capacity: 1,000 people/hour (in each direction)

Total number of carriers: 2 (open-top cabins)

Capacity of each cabin: 100 pass.

Capacity of each open-top deck 20 people

Travel time: 5 minutes

Line length: 1,996 metres

Altitude rise: 421 metres

Max. operating speed: 10 m/s