Family Activities in La Plagne

Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding in La Plagne

The main draw for people coming to La Plagne in winter is of course the skiing and snowboarding. With the whole of the Paradiski to ski in, La Plagne has something for every level of experience.

Badminton

The sports centre in La Plagne has a multisports court where you can play badminton.

Basketball

Facilities to practice basketball are available at the multi-activity sports hall in the sports centre at La Plagne

Canoeing / Kayaking

Canoe rafts are an unsinkable, stable type of inflatable canoe that allow you, without too much technique to profit fully from the joys and fun of white water river descent. The descents are taken on by groups of 4 to 5 boats, accompanied by a fully qualified guide. You are equipped with neoprene suits and shoes, a safety jacket and a helmet. The course which you take is chosen according to the water levels and experience of the participants.

Canyoning

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!

You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.

Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of adventure companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.

Childcare

Depending on the age of your child there are a number of childcare options available in La Plagne. There are also numerous babysitting and nursery facilities available in the area.

The main winter establishments are the ski schools which offer a combination of tuition and childcare for children 3 years and older. You can book your child in for full or half day programmes and lunch can also be provided for an extra charge.

You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kidsclub during the summer holidays, normally from 1st July to 30th August, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes & picnics.

Cinema

Catch the latest films and releases in La Plagne on your winter or summer holiday. Some cinemas open their doors early on a bad weather day, otherwise you'll find most screenings in the evenings. Look out for VOST for English speaking films.

Climbing in La Plagne

Culture and guided tours in La Plagne

The Ice Grotto in La Plagne is not to be missed, with beautiful ice sculptures it is a fun and beautiful experience for everyone. At the top of the Plagne Bellecote glacier at 3417m you can explore the Ice cave and grotto and enjoy the wonderfully sculpted animals and ice statues. Accessible to all pedestrians and skiers a pass for the glacier costs 8€ and is free for children 6 years old and under. Every season the glacier changes and the sculptures are re-designed. The glacier is made up of many layers meaning the colours in the cave range from blue to green a truly beautiful sight and one not to be missed.

Cycling in La Plagne

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in La Plagne and what better way to explore La Plagne than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in La Plagne without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

Farm Visits

Down in Montalbert is a pretty little farm where you can take the kids in summer or winter, dine in the restaurant, try come of the local produce or just take a look at the cute animals.

Fitness and swimming in La Plagne

Flying in La Plagne

Geocaching

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in La Plagne! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

Horse riding in La Plagne

There are a few places in and around La Plagne where you can enjoy horse riding. Learn the techniques to safely ride a horse, soak up the beautiful mountain views and enjoy the scenery all on horseback.

Husky-dog rides

Be in charge of your own sled and team of excitable husky dogs, driving them along forest paths in winter. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start, you set off following the guide’s team. If this all sounds a bit much you can opt for a less physical outing where you sit in the sled and the guide does all the hard work! It's a very popular winter activity, so booking at least 48 hours in advance is a must. They run from early December to the end of April (snow-permitting).

Hydro-speeding

Ice-skating / Hockey

There are a number of places you can go Ice-skating in La Plagne. It's a fun thing to do with the family, or in a group if you want to do something a little bit different for après ski. Near the centre of Les Coches you've got an artificial covered rink which is open every Tuesday in summer and in winter every Tuesday and Wednesday but only during the school holidays. It's at the top of the Montchavin gondola. There is also an open air skating rink in Plagne Bellecote, near the cable car, where you can skate yourselves, or go to watch the ice hockey matches.

Igloo experience

Have you ever wanted to spend the night under the stars, up a beautiful mountain and surrounded by snow? Now you can with Black Sheep Igloos, they are offering you the opportunity for a truly unique experience - an overnight stay in an Igloo up the mountains. Set in the shoulder between the villages of La Plagne Centre, Village Plagne Soleil, Bellecôte and Belle Plagne, the igloo village is at the heart of La Plagne with an altitude of 2118 meters and facing Mont Blanc. Each igloo sleeps up to 5 people so you can really make an evening of it. Included in your overnight stay is a mulled wine by the fire followed by a Fondue meal (inside the igloo) made from local produce and served with local wine and finally a hot drink to finish. After the meal you can head to your ice bed get tucked up in your sleeping bag and have a peaceful mountain sleep. In the morning a guide will wake you with breakfast and return you to reality.

Indoor activities in La Plagne

Bowling is a good thing to do if the weather turns bad or if you've got a larger group to entertain.

Indoor climbing

Mini-golf

There are a couple of mini-golf courses in La Plagne, the perfect activity for a family day out!

Mountain-biking & Fat-biking in La Plagne

La Plagne is a mecca for mountain biking, with varying terrain and fantastic views it is perfect for mountain biking enthusiasts. With the whole of the mountain area to explore, the different and varied terrains suit bikers of all levels. So you can enjoy a leisurely cycle around some of the lower level trails with the whole family.

As well as having over 145km of sign-posted tracks to choose from, mountain bikers have also got especially built trails and parks to choose from. You can also try an electric MTB, enjoying mountain biking without having to pedal your way up the mountain.

Nature Reserves & Parks

The Vanoise National Park is located in the heart of the Savoie region. Created in 1963, it was the first French national park and it covers a large territory where you can find a stunning mountain landscape with lakes, and beautiful vegetation. It is also well-known for its population of Alpine ibex, as well as many other animals like chamois, marmots and more than 100 species of birds.

Paddleboarding

Standup paddleboarding is becoming increasingly popular. Originally from Hawaii, it is a great way to enjoy the mountain scenery and get away from the summer heat, while not being very demanding. There are a number of wartersports centres in La Plagne offering paddleboarding.

Paintballing

Challenge your family to a game of paintball! This exciting activity offers fun for groups of all ages. In most cases you're split into teams and a variety of scenarios and courses are offered at the beginning of all games, with each game lasting approximately 2 hours; the ultimate aim is to shoot your opponents with paint pellets and capture their flag before they get hold of yours. There are a number of adventure companies and courses that offer you paintballing fun in La Plagne.

Paragliding / Parapenting

Snow and ice activities in La Plagne

This is one winter activity that doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment, just grab your sledge and head for the nearest snow-covered hill! Some resorts have designated sledging areas and you might even be able to try sledging at night. You can pick up a sledge at one of the many ski hire shops or sports shops in La Plagne.

For something a little different, have a go at Superluge with Oxygene! For a night of thrills and lots of après ski fun you can have a go at the superluge. An hour and a half and 450 metres of vertical descent with state of the art sledges you are promised to have an awesome evening. All the safety equipment is provided, helmets, head torch, route guidance and new sledges with strong metal brakes. The minimum age for the superluge is 14.

Snow-shoeing

Raquette à Neige or Snow-shoeing in and around La Plagne is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions or for non-skiers. Don't forget to wear comfortable and waterproof boots. Either set out on your own, or join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the ski area. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided by most companies offering this as an experience, or you can hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops or Ski Hire Shops, grab a trail map from the Tourist Office and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go.

Spas and massages in La Plagne

Swimming

Whether you like to take a dip indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in La Plagne. Most hotels, lots of chalets and apartments have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit, which often come free with your lift pass purchase. In summer and winter you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

Tennis and racket sports in La Plagne

Tennis is a great way to get the legs moving and to enjoy the sunny summertime weather. You can play a friendly game or have a lesson, whatever you choose to do it is a great way to have fun with friends and family. Open during the summer season there are tennis courts and training walls in La Plagne. Lessons are usually available in groups or privately. Perfect as a family outing you can hire a court and when tiredness hits you can enjoy some refreshments and snacks at the tennis club or cafe.

Tree-top / Forest adventures

If you have a head for heights and fancy an exhilarating experience high above the ground then try out an 'Arbre Adventure' or tree-top adventure course. They often have variations of difficulty, and sometimes courses designed specifically for children. Zip slides are a common feature too. Safety equipment and a practise session with an instructor are the norm, then you set off into the trees to have some fun!

Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.

Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8, guides can be arranged on request and there are a number of adventure companies who can organise your Via Ferrata experience.

There are 2 main Via Ferrata routes in La Plagne: Plan du Bouc and Grosses Pierres. Plan du Bouc is in Champagny le Haut and features 2 courses (1 intermediate and 1 difficult). Grosses Pierres is in Champagny en Bas and is a more challenging and physical route.

Walking, hiking and running in La Plagne

In the summer months La Plagne is a mecca for walking and hiking in the beautiful alpine mountains. As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine the mountains make an excellent place to head out on a hike or walk. Walking is the perfect activity for groups, families and friends, and you can pick from a number of routes ranging in difficulty, including easy child friendly walks. Along the way enjoy the fantastic mountain views, beautiful scenery and wildlife that is normally hidden in the winter months. Check out our walking and hiking guide for more details on hiking in La Plagne.

Watersports in La Plagne

If you haven't experienced white water rafting before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! There are a number of trained guides in resort who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.