Beginner Skiing in La Plagne

La Plagne is amazing for beginners, intermediates and families. With it’s huge number of wide, well-groomed pistes, the terrain is perfect for those getting to grips with skiing or boarding. And amazing skiing aside, it’s easily accessible from nearby airports, has a variety of restaurants and bars and plenty of different villages to stay in.

But where do you event start? If you’re new to skiing – we’re here to help make it easier. We’ll guide you through everything you need to know about skiing in La Plagne – including what you need to bring, where you can hire skis, and more.

Skiing for beginners in La Plagne

A large portion of La Plagne’s ski area is a beginner’s playground and it’s well known for being a beginner-friendly resort. There are a number of open green and blue slopes (83 out of 132 pistes in total) situated on a rolling plateau high above the tree line. The wide, well-groomed pistes across the resort leave much space for beginners to practice their turns on. La Plagne has also been doing a lot of work the past few years to make it even better for beginners with less congestion and new beginner designated areas.

Beginner Areas – You can find separate areas just for beginners in almost all the La Plagne villages. These are sectioned off from other pistes so that you can learn in a calm and safe environment with other first-timers.

Magic Carpets – These are like travelators that move you up the beginners slopes – all you have to do is stand still! You’ll find magic carpets in the ‘Zone Debutant’ in each village.

What lift pass should you buy?

There are 18 free lifts in all of La Plagne, which are mostly magic carpets and a few buttons lifts. This means that your first day (or two) you won’t even have to purchase a lift pass.

Once you are ready to move onto bigger slopes and proper chairlifts, you’ll probably be find with buying a La Plagne ski pass only. La Plagne is linked to Les Arcs which makes up the Paradiski area, so you can buy a pass for the whole area. However, there is plenty of skiing in La Plagne alone without needing access to Les Arcs as well. It will also save you a bit of money.

Where can you rent ski gear in La Plagne?

We recommend hiring skis for your first time, as it’s quite a large investment to purchase skis. Ski hire is really affordable and you get great service and advice from the ski technicians. When you hire skis, the standard package comes with ski boots, skis and poles. However, you can also rent a helmet as well.

We’ve partnered with SkiSet who are offering New Gen clients and friends an exclusive discount on hire. You can access the discount and book your ski hire here.

What do you need to bring?

Aside from ski equipment, you’ll want to make sure you’re bringing all the right gear for your days on the slopes. This includes warm clothing for layering, waterproof outer-layers to keep you dry and other essentials such as goggles, gloves, and thick ski socks.

Here’s our ultimate ski trip packing list.

Get to grips with skiing with proper instruction

When you’re taking your first steps on skis, its important to get proper instruction from a professional. We offer group ski and snowboard lessons in La Plagne, which are perfect for learning in a social setting. Our groups run for just 2hrs per day, so you have plenty of time to practice what you’ve learned and ski with family and friends the rest of the day.

We’ll help you get to grips with everything as quickly as possible, so you have more time to enjoy the mountain and your holiday. Here’s everything you need to know about your first time skiing.

Where to stay in La Plagne

Think La Plagne is the place for your to learn how to ski? Here’s where we recommend you stay.

For the easiest access to a number of easy slopes, it’s best to stay in one of the higher accommodations centres, such as Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre. Belle Plagne has both great skiing and a great nightlife, which is connected by bus to Plagne Centre has a lot going on in the evenings. Where as Plagne Centre is purpose built (and therefore not the prettiest) but it’s the hub of the area with all the amenities – bars, restaurants, Tourist Office, banks etc.

Here are a few tour operators and agents with whom you can book stays in La Plagne:

• Ski Weekends – Weekend trip specialists.
• Ski Hiver – Luxury catered ski chalets with excellent service.
• Alpenglow Ski – A specialist chalet agent with a wide range of catered chalets to suit all budgets.
• My Chalet Finder – A website specialising in self-catering chalets and apartments across the world’s top ski resorts.
• SNO – Ski deals and cheap holidays with the biggest tour operators in La Plagne.

Where to eat in La Plagne

La Plagne offers a large variety of dining options, so you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. Here are some of our favourites in resort.

Eating on a budget:

• Pizzeria Ti & Yu in Plagne Centre does takeaway pizzas (whole or by the slice) for a quick bite.
• Chalet de Inversens, reached when skiing down from Roche de Mio, has an amazing view and as it’s self service, is very reasonably priced for a slope side restaurant.

Mi-range:

• Le Refuge in Plagne Centre has a traditional Savoyard atmosphere. If you order their grilled meat speciality you can even cook your own dinner under the hot copper hoods!
• La Cantine in Plagne 1800 – does pizzas, burgers, salads and tapas. We’d highly recommend!
• Le Chalet des Colosses in Plagne Bellecote has an old fashioned red phone box outside and serves an international menu inside. We recommend the curries!
• Au Forperet in Montalbert is a great place to take the kids.

Fine dining:

• Le Carlina in Belle Plagne offers a gourmet menu in the restaurant within the 4* Hotel.
• Chalet de la Roche in La Roche for amazing mountain top hand-made pasta from the Italian head chef.

Where to hang out after the lifts close.

If it’s music you’re after, then head to Plagne Centre. They’ve got loads of bars playing host to a wide range of musicians with raucous après and evening gigs most nights. Try Igloo, Fort Colorado and The Switch. Or if you’re in Plagne 1800 La Mine is a popular option, and a great opportunity to see the traditional mining tools they used in the village many moons ago.

For adrenalin-packed action there’s the Olympic bobsleigh run. It’s not for the faint-hearted though as you whizz down between 80-130km an hour! Or for more family fun, try the indoor and outdoor swimming pools in Plagne Bellecote, and bowling In Belle Plagne.