Essentials
Resort Altitude
1250 m to 2100m
Snow Range
1250m to 3250m
The Mountain
Piste area - 425km
Black runs - 129
Red runs - 66
Blue runs - 35
Nursery slopes - 12
Mountain cafes - 21
Snow cannon - 309
Parks - 3
Pipes - 1
Transfers
Chambery - 120km - 1.5hrs
Grenoble - 190km - 2.5hrs
Lyon - 200km - 2.5hrs
Geneva - 200km - 2.5hrs
Ratings
Queues - 8
Lifts - 8
Cafes - 6
Snow - 10
Extent - 10
Transfer - 6
Charm - 6
Scenery - 6
Eating Out - 8
Apres Ski - 6
Resort Profile For La Plagne
An intermediates' paradise - La Plagne has a huge amount going for it
Made up of 10 separate villages La Plagne has often been underrated as a ski resort. It had always been ideal for beginners and intermediates, with 225km of local pistes and a predominance of Blue and Red runs. However, it lacked the prestige of neighbouring Les Arcs.
This changed with the establishment of the Paradiski area – linking La Plagne with Les Arcs – rocketing La Plagne’s profile and creating one of the largest ski areas in the world with 425km of pistes.
The deficiencies created by the sporadic feel to the resort are more than compensated for by the abundance of value for money accommodation, extent of the ski area and good mountain restaurants.
Resort Pros
- Variety and extent of the ski area
- Especially good for intermediates and those looking for off-piste
- Great mix of accommodation to suit all budgets
- Mix of high, fairly snow-sure runs with more scenic wooded runs at the lower villages
- Cable car link with Les Arcs – perfect to explore for a day
- Good mountain restaurants
Resort Cons
- Pistes can get crowded in high season
- Many of the pistes in the main bowl are quite similar in range and challenge
- Lack of Green runs for beginners and most Blues have at least one tricky stretch
- Lack of a main resort centre can impact on the apres ski atmosphere
- Some of the lower villages can suffer from the sun in late season
Best For
- Mixed ability families
- High mileage cruisers
SlopeSeeker Tips
- Make use of the day pass option to visit Les Arcs. You don't need the whole week as there is enough to keep you interested with the local ski area.
- Take care when going off-piste as risk of avalanche is high.
- Avoid the 4 o'clock ques at Bellecote.
- Use the free bus service between villages.