Ski area in La Plagne

Located in southeast France, in the Savoie department of the Rhone-Alpes region, La Plagne benefits from a mostly southern exposure and is therefore synonymous with sunshine. 

The area also includes the resort Peisey-Vallandry, which since 2003 have been linked by the Vanoise Express to the Grande Plagne area, thus forming one of the largest ski areas in France, the Paradiski. 

La Plagne consists of six high altitude resorts (linked by a free public transport service), and four village resorts:

• Belle Plagne
• Plagne Bellecôte
• Montchavin
• Les Coches
• Plagne Soleil
• Plagne Village
• Plagne Centre
• Plagne 1800
• Champagny
• Aime 2000
• Montalbert
• Longefoy

No matter where you stay, you have access to the whole Paradiski area, (see the piste map).

La Plagne itself has a total of 135 pistes with 74 blue pistes, 34 red pistes, eight black pistes and nine green pistes. These are accessed by a network of 74 ski lifts. 

The various villages all offer something different, from great beginner areas to more advanced, technical pistes and some lovely long cruisey slopes. Its several snowparks offer you the chance to bonk, jib and learn new tricks, whilst the off-piste areas allow you to explore more of this beautiful region, plus there's around 80km of cross-country skiing, a half pipe, and it's the only resort in France with an Olympic Bobsleigh track.

Belle Plagne and Plagne Bellecôte

From either of these two villages, you get access to the highest part of resort via the Bellecôte gondola, up to the glacier at 3,417m. From here there are a handful of red runs, a couple of blues lower down, and access to lots of off-piste skiing. 

Access the Roche de Mio

Midway down the mountain is the top of the Roche de Mio lift which gives you access either directly back down to resort, or you can take skiers right and end up at the top of the runs in Les Coches and Montchavin.

Montchavin and Les Coches

There are six other lifts here linking lots of blue and red pistes, cross-country trails and a few mini freestyle areas.

Vanoise Express

From here you'll find access to the Vanoise Express, the large gondola that links across to Peisey and Les Arcs.

Plagne Soleil, Plagne Village, Plagne Centre and Plagne 1800

This cluster of villages forms the centre of resort, with numerous lifts and gondolas and just below Plagne 1800 is where you'll find the start of the Olympic Bobsleigh track.

Something for everyone

There are a fair few green pistes and blue pistes just above Plagne Village that drop you back into Plagne Bellecôte, or you can head up to Les Verdons at 2,500m or the Grande Rochette at 2,505m. 

Alternatively, drop over the other side of these mountains into Champagny.

Champagny

The village sits at 1,250m and has its own gondola plus four lifts linking to central La Plagne. 

Off-piste fans might like to try some of the tree lines on this side, or if you prefer the piste then there are a choice of blue and red runs, plus a slalom area, snowpark zone and freestyle areas. Cross-country skiers can head over to Champagny en Haut.

Aime 2000

With its angular buildings jutting out of the ridgeline at 2,000m, it stands out. You can circumnavigate Aime 2000 on a red run and then join the blue piste down to the bottom of the Bobsleigh track below Plagne 1800. Alternatively, head on down the mountain to one of the lowest parts of resort in Montalbert.

Montalbert and Longefoy

Lying at around 1,200m elevation, with four ski lifts, lots of cross-country itineraries, blue pistes and a small freestyle area. The runs are in the trees down here which makes it a good place to be on bad weather days. The main Montalbert lift is a bubble-lift, making it much quick and comfortable.

Comprising of four villages, Les Arcs has around 200km of piste, a high point of 3,226m and excellent snow-making facilities that guarantee back-to-resort skiing all season long (see the piste maps). A haven for intermediate skiers, it's mostly blues and reds. 

The area is split into the following resort villages:

• Arcs 1600
• Arc 1800
• Arc 2000
• Arc 1950
• Peisey-Vallandry

Les Arcs is made up of 137 pistes including 63 blue and 45 red pistes. There are also 12 green pistes and 17 black pistes, all accessed by 53 ski lifts, a high point of 3,226m and excellent snow-making facilities that guarantee back-to-resort skiing all season long (see the piste maps). 

The winter season usually runs from mid-December to mid-April, with any early lift openings depending on snow conditions (check ski lift opening dates for this winter's schedule). 

Your holiday will be very much determined by the weather and snow conditions, and therefore the time of year you choose to visit is important. If it's sunny pistes and a cold glass of wine on a mountain restaurant terrace, come in March or April. If your perfect ski break is about quiet slopes and lots of fresh snow, then January is the time to come. Or if you want numerous activities organised for your children during their school holidays, February is for you.

Whenever you choose to come, as long as the lifts are open, the local pisteurs will make the best of the snow (real and/or artificial), and groom the pistes to perfection so that you get the best possible conditions.

The Paradiski area offers a large selection of off-piste lines and difficult pistes for the more advanced skier or snowboarder, as you'd expect from one of Europe's largest ski areas. A

nd even though La Plagne has a reputation for being a slightly easier resort in terms of piste skiing, there is plenty to keep an advanced skier occupied.

Bellecôte

The first place to go if conditions allow is the Glacier de la Chiaupe or the Bellecôte glacier as it is more commonly known. There are a couple of great blacks up there, Le Rochu and the Bellecôte, that are definitely worth trying in any snow conditions.

Mogul heaven

The mogul field at the top of the Traversée chair can be seen from miles away as the moguls are that big, the field itself is also about 200m long – a real leg burner and challenge for the advanced skier. If you like the bumps and feeling the burn there is a piste called Ski des Bosses which means 'ski the moguls' and it is always in great condition, there are also big bumps and moguls to be found on the Verdon Sud.

Aime La Plagne

Another good area for advanced skiers is just above Aime La Plagne at Le Biolley 2,350m. There are several different blacks (Les Étroits, Morbleu, Les Coqs and Plsembleu) with Les Étroits being the longest and the most challenging of the selection. 

If you were to get Les Étroits and the Morbleu first tracks you may find yourself walking out at the bottom as they both come out on a track that follows the river along the valley floor to the Adrets chair.

Montchavin - Les Coches

There are also a couple of short blacks here to play on. Off the back of the Grand Rochette and Les Verdons there are plenty of steeps to enjoy and again there is easily accessible off-piste when the snow is deep. 

There are 16 black runs in the La Plagne resort, but with the whole connecting Paradiski ski area you can head to Les Arcs and discover some more of the advanced skiing there as well.

When the clouds come in and the light turns flat it can be hard to know where to ski and what to do. The high, open pistes can lack the contrast required for orientation during whiteout conditions and slope and sky can blur into one.

The trick is to head for the pistes that are tree-lined; the trees help provide definition when everything else seems to be white. There are certain runs that offer more contrast, providing vast amounts of skiing and snowboarding when the flakes are falling.

La Plagne Montalbert 

Lots of trees lining the pistes making it the perfect place to go out skiing when the weather has closed in. Take the nice and easy gentle blues that cut through the trees making it easy to see the pistes. As it is slightly lower you might even be lucky and avoid the high cloud that is causing the bad weather.

Keep in mind that the valley itself can be covered in an all-encompassing fog, but the top of the mountains can be bathed in glorious sunshine (check out the webcams to make sure you are not missing out on anything!). 

Also, if it’s lashing down with rain in the valley, it means it’s snowing up top. If you can take advantage of days like these, you'll often have great stashes of fresh powder all to yourself.

Predominantly known for its suitability for beginners, there is a wide choice of green and blue runs throughout the different sectors of the resort. 

Plagne Centre

The Zone Débutant has been vastly improved recently and is great for those starting off skiing or boarding. 

The 'debutant' area in Plagne Centre is long enough for a beginner to get up to a good level, comfortable and confident before venturing further up the mountain.

Plagne Villages and Aime La Plagne

There are some small learner areas here designated for the beginner. 

Find all these areas on the piste map by looking for the yellow shaded areas or areas marked ‘zone debutants’. 

Expect rolling easy blues, that although aren't great for the beginner starting off they are perfect for those who have built up more confidence and feel ready to head a bit higher up the mountain.

Montchavin - Les Coches 

More of an intermediate area, but it does offer something for beginners with five free lifts including a couple of learner drag lifts that are easy to get to situated just above the village. The short and gentle pistes are perfect to practise your turns and for building up confidence.

Plagne Bellecôte

Ideal for beginners or those of you that just want to take it easy is here. The number of blue runs running into this area outnumbers any other, and their gradient is gentle and rolling. 

There is also a large ‘debutant’ area with a magic carpet next to the Arpette chair lift that serves four wide rolling blue runs, on which you could spend all day improving your technique once you feel confident enough.

La Plagne has a very good reputation for off-piste skiing, and takes a surprisingly long time to become tracked out unlike many Alpine resorts including La Plagne's neighbour, Les Arcs. The resort is spread over such a large area, that much of it is untouched by lift systems resulting in even more fresh powder, and the smaller villages are good places to head for fresh snow.

Head to the glacier

The main area, of course, is the glacier. The most famous runs are on the north face and there are many off-piste routes to choose from. The ‘Petit Face Nord’ is the easiest and most accessible as it's a pretty simple traverse from the Traversée chair. The ‘Couloir Canadian’ is the next step up and involves a hike up.

Where else?

Champagny 
The Verdons Sud side of the Grand Rochette is a big open face that has an amazing formation and a fun terrain.

Montchavin/Les Coches
Many runs through the trees, also perfect on bad weather days. Big open bowls sit in between the Dos Rond and the Mont St Jacques. Up here there is an amazing route through the trees from the Mont St Jacques all the way to the bottom of the Olympic Bobsleigh run below Plagne 1800.

For beginner powder hounds there is a nice gentle off-piste run that follows the blue Les Bauches down from the top of the Dos Rond.

Vallandry, Les Arcs
The best place to see the north face is from above Vallandry, Les Arcs where you can see the difficulty increasing just by looking from right to left. Parts are very steep and very large avalanches are common, so a guide is definitely needed for all runs on the glacier as with most off-piste.

Always make sure you are prepared before embarking on any off-piste skiing or snowboarding. Check out our Avalanche Safety guide. It's always advisable to hire an off-piste guide who will have extensive knowledge of the area and the mountains.

There are three snowparks here.

The Small Park

Accessible from the top of the Col de Forcle lift, this area has been built with novices in mind.

The Big Park

A whopping 1km long snowpark which caters for people of all abilities. 

The half pipe 

Open to all, take the chairlift called Blanchets right next to the pipe which can be used to access it.

Fun zone

Starting from the top of the Arpette chairlift you'll find a new Fun Slope zone, which includes a number of snow features similar to a boardercross and slopestyle course, which is the longest of its kind in Europe. It features jumps, rails, banked turns, rollers and one awesome spiral turn into a tunnel.