Why I love La Plagne

Well that was my third time to La Plagne (over a 15 year period) and it is one of my favourite resorts. It's a vast area (bigger than it looks on maps) and then you can add Les Arcs to it as well.

We were there 6th-13th January 2013 – the place was deserted. Longest "queue" all week was just 3-persons deep, and only then because it was a main link just after lifts opened.

By the way, this was a family trip, with pre-teen kids who were in their second week of skiing, so the review is from that perspective.

Flights were Heathrow/Grenoble, about a 2½ coach transfer (non-stop direct) to resort. We stayed at the Hotel Christina in Plagne Centre. Plagne Centre has a decent range of shops, typical 'tat' souvenir shops but also some nice deli's and a useful spar. For skiing, Plagne Centre is a pretty good base to get to all the villages, Bellecote is slightly more central, but having said that the whole resort is so well connected you can jump from one area to another with ease.

We used Oxygene ski-school who were really good, well organised. Private lessons were 95 euro for 2 hours for 2 people (afternoon lessons). I didn't hear any complaints from other hotel guests about the group lessons either. We hired equipment from Intersport, good and reliable.

In my opinion La Plagne is ideally suited to beginners/intermediates, some lovely long wide blues to cruise and they can get to experience some good distance in a day. Some of the blues do however throw in a few surprises with some short more difficult sections to give the beginners something to think about.

Many of the lifts are fast six-seaters, although you'll come across a few slightly slower fours too. We didn't touch a slow 2-seater nor a drag lift all week :) .

Also a great plus we didn't have the fear of getting stuck in the wrong valley after 4pm. From most parts it is only ever one or two lifts and you can get home. If the worst happens and you miss the last lift then there is a free bus linking Belle Plagne, Bellecote, Soleil, Plagne Villages and Plagne Centre.

We were lucky with the conditions, which were fantastic. Days 1-4 were blue skies; overnight & into day 5 was heavy snow; day 6 ended our week with blue skies and fresh snow :D .

La Plagne offers a range of terrain options. Tree-line runs down to villages of Montalbert and Montchavin. It is a good idea to head over to the Champagny valley first thing in the mornings (sunny side!). Up to the L'Arpette area for some good blues, but this is a rather bland part of the resort. Up to Roche De Mio (2700m) taking the great 'Le Tunnel' run back down. You can go further up from Roche De Mio to access the Glacier, but there's not much up there for beginners and it's a cable car ride back.

Other than skiing, there's the Olympique Bob sleigh run open for 'tourist runs'. As an alternative to competition bobs, they have a more stable 'raft'. A couple of minutes of thrill of speed junkies. As it was 120 euro for a family of four, we didn't bother.

Instead we spent our pocket money on the absolutely fantastic sledging run at Plagne Centre. 8 euro each, plastic sledge (with some limited steering/breaking capability) and then launch yourself down a dedicated piste. Sledging in UK will never be the same again. You get the 'Colorado' lift up (without skis (!)) then take the 10-20min run back down. A time range of 10-20 mins because it depends on how often you wipeout – it was a blast! Although I do add the caution that you are more likely to break/injure something in those few minutes than the rest of the week put together. Open 4:30-6:30 Mon-Sat, floodlit after dusk. (Helmets compulsory (sorry bobblers ;-) ), 1.4m min height.

Recommended runs (and maybe some photos) to follow....

A recommended good day's skiing is a Day Trip to Les Arcs (you'll need an unlimited area pass or a 'discovery').
From Plagne Centre you head towards Bellecote, using La Bergerie [lift] with a simple run down 'Trieuse' [Blue], partway down 'Trieuse' you can peel off to the right and take a natural gulley which is fun. Once in Bellecote, use Arpette [lift]. Off the lift there's a short run down to a rope drag (flat link). After here there is the really long 'Mont Blanc' [blue] all the way down to the Vanoise Express [double-decker cablecar link to Les Arcs].

Once you're over the other side then you'll need to judge how long to stay before heading back. We got over at 10:45 ish. The weather closed-in and started snowing at 12:15 so we had lunch and headed back. We didn't really explore much further over than Arc 1800. The 'Foret' (blue) being a tree-lined wandering road that snakes back-n-forth – a favourite for the beginners, but with some reds to drop down in-between as desired.

The way back is easy from Plan Peisey (Les Arc side) then it's the Vanoise Express back, sign posted blue to either Lac Noir (bubble) or Plan Bois (chair); followed by Bijolin (lift). Short blue run down to the Crozats (lift) which lifts you back to the Bellecote valley. Let it run from the 'La Barrieres' into 'L'arpette' (blues) for some fast cruising. Colosses (lift) is the quick way back to Plagne Centre.

The Mont Blanc run was one of our favourites, if you're not going to Les Arc (and if snow conditions are good) don't miss the full length staying on this run as it carries all the way down to Montchavin/Les Coches (the villages at 1250 & 1450). 60 markers all the way from the top of Dos Rond [lift] down to no.1 marker where there is a small but lovely bar/restaurant down at Montchavin (opposite Montchavin lift]).

Thanks for the comprehensive review. I enjoyed reading it.

Hi Smartski, i went to les arcs with my kids on 12th to 19th, all boarders. We went over to la plagne twice and thoroughly enjoyed it. les arcs and la plagne are both great resorts to ski or board. Would recommend to all.

Hi Smartski,

Thank you for a great review :thumbup:
We are going to La plagne Centre in 2 weeks time and can't wait :D
It will be our first visit to Paradiski area.
We will definitely try the toboggan run :!:

Can you recommend other good mountain eateries?
Did you ski down to Montalbert?
Is it a good run?
Are there any nice live music bars in Plagne Centre?


Regards,

smartski wrote:A recommended good day's skiing is a Day Trip to Les Arcs (you'll need an unlimited area pass or a 'discovery').
From Plagne Centre you head towards Bellecote, using La Bergerie [lift] with a simple run down 'Trieuse' [Blue], partway down 'Trieuse' you can peel off to the right and take a natural gulley which is fun. Once in Bellecote, use Arpette [lift]. Off the lift there's a short run down to a rope drag (flat link). After here there is the really long 'Mont Blanc' [blue] all the way down to the Vanoise Express [double-decker cablecar link to Les Arcs].

Once you're over the other side then you'll need to judge how long to stay before heading back. We got over at 10:45 ish. The weather closed-in and started snowing at 12:15 so we had lunch and headed back. We didn't really explore much further over than Arc 1800. The 'Foret' (blue) being a tree-lined wandering road that snakes back-n-forth – a favourite for the beginners, but with some reds to drop down in-between as desired.

The way back is easy from Plan Peisey (Les Arc side) then it's the Vanoise Express back, sign posted blue to either Lac Noir (bubble) or Plan Bois (chair); followed by Bijolin (lift). Short blue run down to the Crozats (lift) which lifts you back to the Bellecote valley. Let it run from the 'La Barrieres' into 'L'arpette' (blues) for some fast cruising. Colosses (lift) is the quick way back to Plagne Centre.

The Mont Blanc run was one of our favourites, if you're not going to Les Arc (and if snow conditions are good) don't miss the full length staying on this run as it carries all the way down to Montchavin/Les Coches (the villages at 1250 & 1450). 60 markers all the way from the top of Dos Rond [lift] down to no.1 marker where there is a small but lovely bar/restaurant down at Montchavin (opposite Montchavin lift]).

Heathrow to Grenoble?
Never knew about that one

Good call, Tony. I love the 3 valleys, but after visiting Les Arcs & La Plagne, I know exactly what you mean.

There was nothing funnier than watching snowboarders sweating as they couldnt get enough speed up to the tunnel on the same named run!!!! Sadistic but true.....

Lhr to Grenoble?

Ermmmmmmm