Is La Plagne the right ski resort for you? Well, it all depends on what you’re after. If you’ve narrowed down your choices and La Plagne seems like it might be the place to head on your next ski trip, we’re here to share all the reasons why it’s the perfect resort for a ski holiday.
Why You Should Ski in La Plagne This Winter
Why ski in La Plagne?
La Plagne is a great place to ski because it offers something for everyone. It has great beginner and intermediate terrain, 425km of accessible pistes, great off-piste options for the adventurous, family-friendly accommodation and restaurants, and offers snow-sure villages up at high altitude.
Seriously, how can you go wrong?
Here are the top 7 reasons why you should ski in La Plagne this winter.
Best ski resorts for couples1. Access to an insane amount of skiing
La Plagne is now part of the Paradiski ski area, which enables you to access Les Arcs, thanks to the addition of the Vanoise Express in December 2003 – aka the biggest cable car in the world! The resort itself already boasts 225km of skiable pistes, but add in Les Arcs and you’ve upped that to 425km.
La Plagne is situated in the Tarentaise Valley, which has the largest concentration of world-class ski resorts including Espace Killy & The Three Valleys, so you’re amongst good company.
2. Great for beginners
La Plagne is well known for being a beginner’s playground. The vast number of green and blue pistes (76 in total) give you plenty of options to choose from, and many are situated on a rolling plateau just above the treeline. These wide open pistes are often well-groomed which is great for perfecting your plough or parallel turns. The resort has also made a lot of improvements recently with new beginner areas, so you’ll be tucked away from speedy skiers and can practice in a bit more peace.
If you want easy access to a number of blues, we recommend staying in Belle Plagne or Plagne Centre.
3. Snow-sure villages up high
La Plange’s villages situated at a high altitude provide snow-sure conditions and ski-in-ski-out convenience.
If you’re a keen bean and want to get the maximum amount of time on the slopes then Plagne 1800 or Plagne Bellecôte are good options with easy access to the pistes and more or less guaranteeing snow all season. Also, for freestyle enthusiasts, Plagne Bellecôte is very close to the boardercross, snowpark, and halfpipe and at the start of the glacier.
4. The off-piste is amazing
La Plagne probably isn’t the first ski resort that comes to mind when you think of off-piste. And that’s what makes it great – fewer skiers to battle for first tracks.
One of our favourite spots is doing laps under the Arpette chairlift for first tracks in deep snow. Or head off the top of the Traversée lift to reach the north face of the Bellecôte. There are plenty of routes from here. Be careful though as many are steep.
Wherever you head, make sure you have the correct safety equipment and go with a guide or someone who knows the area well.
5. Perfect for the family
La Plagne is a family-friendly resort that is a great option first and foremost because it offers good value for money when it comes to French ski resorts. The plethora of beginner’s terrain also makes it the perfect place for kids to learn how to ski. The slopes gradually increase in difficulty, making it ideal for progression over the years. We offer kids group lessons for 4.5hrs per day during peak weeks, giving you plenty of time to explore resort whilst they’re finding their ski legs.
And the fun doesn’t have to stop once they’re all skied out for the day. There are dedicated sledging zones in almost every village, two indoor swimming pools, and a number of events on during school holidays to keep the kids entertained.
6. Choose a village that suits your needs
The resort is made up of 11 smaller villages. A few are traditional Savoyard farming villages with old mountain charm. Others are purpose-built high on the hill so you can conveniently ski in and out. Some villages have more self-catering, others have tons of catered options. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find.
If you’re after great skiing AND a great nightlife then Belle Plagne, which is connected by bus to Plagne centre has a lot going on in the evenings.
Another option is Plagne Centre. Plagne Centre is purpose built (and therefore slightly less pretty than some of the others) but is basically the hub of the area with all the amenities – bars, restaurants, Tourist Office, banks etc. Imagine it as the crossroads of the whole resort of La Plagne.
For a quieter stay in the area, try Plagne Villages, Plagne Soleil or Plagne 1800; all pretty, chocolate box type villages, in the trees with quiet nightlives. You can always catch the free bus to other areas if you want the odd evening out, but if you stay there then you’ll have a pleasant, tranquil stay.
Lower down the valley, Montalbert and Montchavin are traditional farming villages full of charm in amongst the trees. Like Plagne Centre, Les Coches is purpose built and therefore slightly less picturesque, and it is the lowest in the La Plagne area. However, you have very easy access to the Vanoise Express to get over to Les Arcs and enjoy the full Paradiski area.
7. Where else can you try a bobsleigh run?
Channel your inner-Olympian in this action-packed adventure. La Plagne hosted the 1998 Olympics bobsleigh competition here – the only one in Europe – and have since kept the track up to snuff and offer it as a fun evening experience. It’s truly a unique experience that is completely exclusive to La Plagne.
This truly unique experience is definitely for the adrenaline junkies. You’ll be whizzing down this 1500m-long track between 80-130km per hour, whilst you take on the 19 bends! They offer three different experiences with prices starting at 45€ per person. Do note that health & height restrictions apply.
Have we convinced you yet? Head out to La Plagne this winter and we’ll help you make the most of your time on the slopes in our group lessons or through private tuition. And of course, we have groups for tiny skiers. See you on the slopes!
