Les Arcs Ski Area

The Les Arcs ski domain is made up of 128 pistes. The area is split into the following resort villages:

Arcs 1600

The Arcs 1600 area faces south-west and provides extensive tree-lined skiing enabling descents to the unspoilt villages below resort level. It is an “all weather” ski area that holds the snow well, but the abundance of artificial snowmaking machines this mean you are virtually guaranteed being able to ski back to the village.

Arc 1800 

This part of the resort sits around the tree line and is surrounded by wide, sunny, pistes that offer plenty of room for those on their first week. 90% of the runs into resort are graded blue, making it a great base for beginners and intermediates. It is best to try to avoid the bottom of the Maïtaz, Villards and Charmettoger runs where they converge at the Transarc gondola; this is usually teeming with people and, as it can get very icy, can catch out even the best of us, so try to use the mid-station point of the Transarc to get up and over to 2000m.

Arc 2000

Arc 2000 is more suitable for intermediate to expert skiers as the runs here tend to be more reds and blacks and the off-piste around resort is truly amazing. More advanced skiers will love the challenging runs off the Aiguille Rouge glacier where you will also find the longest run in resort, at 7km long with 2100m of vertical drop! But don’t miss out on Arc 2000 if you are only just beginning to ski or snowboard as there are some fantastic rolling blues which are shallow enough for you to learn on.

Arc 1950

The area known as Arc 1950 is the more recently built neighbour to Arc 2000 so it also gives you swift and easy access to the more challenging runs in the area. Built by Intrawest (who also built Whistler in Canada), with convenience in mind, you can ski right back to the heart of the resort and step out your skis at the door.

Peisey-Vallandry

Peisey-Vallandry has many beautiful tree-lined pistes which are perfect for beginners. Despite being the gateway to La Plagne (via the Vanoise Express), this tends to be the quieter side of the valley. There is a good mixture of blue and red runs in this sector, allowing you to choose your difficulty at the top of practically every lift. There are some wide-open pistes higher up, but if you like to ski between the trees then this is the place to do it. When the snow has dumped, the slopes around Peisey-Vallandry can seem almost heavenly.

For advanced skiers, the Aiguille Rouge cable car accesses the Varet Glacier above Arcs 2000, offering challenging black and red runs, extensive off-piste, and the resort’s longest run - 7km with over 2,000m vertical to Villaroger. The area also hosts the “Kilometre Lancé” speed piste. Thrill-seekers can enjoy moguls on Dou de l’Homme or off-piste through Nancroix forest. A mountain guide is recommended due to glaciers and cliff hazards.

Les Arcs is ideal for beginners, with each village offering gentle blue runs and nursery areas. Arc 1600 has 15 blue pistes through the trees, perfect for learning and progressing to reds. Arc 1800 features two green and 11 blue pistes at Mille 8, ideal for practicing turns on wide, tree-lined runs. Arc 2000 offers 20 rolling blues suitable for novices. Peisey-Vallandry has one green and 14 blue pistes, while Villaroger provides four short blues. Fun zones, including baby snowparks and boardercross courses, are available at Mille 8 and Rodeo Park, offering playful learning experiences.

The Apocalypse Parc, located between Arc 1600 and Arc 1800 by the Snowpark lift, offers features for all levels, from blue jumps to black kick-rails and a quarter pipe. It includes rail slides, a spine jump, a gap jump, and a boardercross course. Beginners can practice safely on the permanent airbag, and Peisey-Vallandry also has a free rails park at the Cabri chairlift base. All features are free to use.

Les Arcs offers something for every skier, from mogul fields and steep blacks to quiet tree-lined pistes and long cruisy runs. 

For the longest descent, take the Aiguille Rouge cable car at Arc 2000 for a 7km run into Villaroger, starting as a black and turning red mid-way. Mogul enthusiasts can tackle Comborciere or Muguet, while the unpisted Malgovert “natur” run offers natural obstacles for advanced skiers. 

For a long blue cruise, try the Forêt run from the Grizzly lift above Peisey-Vallandry. The Derby lift provides three runs of varying difficulty - Renard (blue), Belette (red), and Bosses (black) - ideal for groups of mixed ability, all with off-piste options for extra adventure.

The Grand Col is an off-piste haven, with one red and one black run that see fewer crowds and retain fresh snow above 2,500m. Arc 1800’s Vagere lift offers off-piste near Golf and Vagere reds, though hidden streams require caution. Beginners can try partially unpisted terrain above Peisey-Vallandry, while skilled skiers can explore tree runs near the Derby lift and around Arc 1600. Always heed safety warnings and consider hiring a mountain guide when venturing off-piste.

In Les Arcs, the lower resorts - 1800, 1600, Plan Peisey, and Vallandry offer tree-lined slopes that provide excellent definition in low visibility. Long rolling blue runs from 1800 to 1600, accessible via the Chantel or Les Villards lifts, are ideal for cruising. Off-piste skiers can explore tree runs near the Vanoise Express between 1,950m and 1,300m. If caught in poor weather on the glacier, seek shelter at a restaurant and wait for conditions to improve, but always ensure you have a safe route back down.