La Plagne
The resort
La Plagne is a high altitude ski area with glacier skiing and excellent snow record. It has grown into a dozen linked ski stations that provide first rate skiing. Five villages circle Plagne Centre, one of which is Plagne 1800. This vast ski area offers enjoyment for all levels of skiers. There are wide-open spaces for cruising and, with a guide, steep couloirs for those in search of off-piste thrills. The chair lift above the top gondola station serves a good variety of long runs, while interesting piste of all standards take you down through the woods to lunch in one of the lower villages. Furthermore the Vanoise Express cable-car links La Plagne with Les Arcs to form the vast Paradiski ski area, one of the largest ski areas in the world!
The skiing
Beginners
Gentle nursery slopes and excellent English speaking ski instructors in each of the villages ensure that novice skiers will soon be enjoying the multitude of blue and green runs across the resort.
Intermediates
An absolute dream for intermediates, La Plagne offers an unbelievable range of skiing. The largest single ski area in Europe (225Km) offers exhilarating motorway runs to pure powder descents through the trees. With the Vanoise Express now linking La Plagne to Les Arcs to create the Paradiski area, there is now 425Km of skiing to enjoy.
Try the long run down to Champagny from La Grande Rochette then spend the afternoon discovering the high altitude on the Dome de Bellecote glacier.
Advanced
Expert skiers and snow boarders will relish this superb area. Try the glorious powder down to les Coches, or attempt the dramatic near vertical 2000m drop off the north face of the Bellecote glacier (with the aid of a mountain guide). Advanced skiers can also take the off-piste route to Les Arcs (guide essential) where paradiski area lift passes are required. Lift passes also offer a days skiing in the resorts of Val d’Isere, Tignes or the Three Valleys.
If you would like to view an interactive piste map of the paradiski area click here.
Apres-ski
Nightlife is less hectic than in other French resorts, though there is a vast choice of restaurants and a wide variety of cafes/bars. There are several nightclubs, which run their own bus service after hours. A bus runs between Plagne 1800, Plagne Centre and Bellecote until midnight.
Ski facts
Km of piste 220
12 Black
33 Reds
72 Blue
11 Green
277 snow cannons
Longest run 10 Km
Mountain restaurants 23
Lift capacity 1388000/hr
No of ski lifts
5 cable cars
10 gondolas
66 chairs lifts
58 drags
Total 139
Activities
The following activities are normally available in La Plagne, although some of these depend on the weather.
Snowblading, Bob-sleigh, Paragliding, Skidoos, Ice skating, Climbing, Sauna/solarium, Squash, Paint ball, Bowling, Heated out-door pool.
Other resorts
La Plagne is situated in the centre of the best skiing area in France. Should you be adventurous enough, your lift pass enables you too visit many of the other resorts for a day.
