Ski Holidays in Belle Plagne, France

• Belle Plagne Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	N S E W
  Very Easy Runs	10
  Easy Runs	69
  Medium Runs	33
  Difficult Runs	18
  Toughest Run Name	Le Rochu
  Skiable Vertical	2000m
  Number Of Lifts	80
  Top Lift Height	3250m
  Night Skiing	Y
  Snowboarding Parks	1
  Half Pipes	1
  Swimming Pools	1
  Night Clubs	5
  Mountain Restaurants	20

• Belle Plagne Piste Map+

  

• Belle Plagne Transfer Times+

  Geneva:	2 hours
  Lyon:	2 hours and 30 minutes

Belle Plagne (or "Beautiful Plagne") is one of Europe's highest ski centres at 2050m. The compact ski resort is one of ten separate ski villages that together form La Plagne, which is amongst the world's biggest ski resorts. Belle Plagne is the closest to La Plagne's highest ski slopes on the Bellecote Glacier. Although purpose-built, this is one of the newer ski resort developments in France and buildings have been constructed in an attractive traditional style of the local Savoie region using local wood and lauze slate roofs. The high altitude and modern design mean that there is skiing from your apartment door all season.

La Plagne's giant ski area is linked by the spectacular Vanoise Express double-decker cable car to neighbouring Les Arcs. The two areas offer a joint lift ticket, called 'Paradiski' which is one of the world's five biggest ski areas. Although the Paradiski pass is one of Europe's most expensive lift tickets it is possible to buy day extensions to a La Plagne pass for only a few more Euros if you only want to make the crossing once or twice during your stay rather than every day. Indeed Belle Plagne is one of the best placed resorts ion La Plagne for reaching the Vanoise Express quickly - the La Plagne area is so big that if you are based at one of the centres furthest away from the lift you can spend much of the day getting there and back so have little time to actually ski in Les Arcs when you get there before you have to start heading back!

• Skiing for Beginners+

  Belle Plagne is surrounded by gentle blue ski runs so first timers do not need to travel far from their apartments to get started - cutting down the hassle that can be a factor before you even start trying to ski at less well designed resorts. There are several tow lifts that operate free of charge for beginners to practice on in La Plagne.
  
  The ski school also offers special package deals which include comprehensive lessons and discounted lift pass covering a limited beginners area which makes skiing much more affordable than otherwise. It does not make sense to buy the full area pass if you are not going to use most of the lifts and runs.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  La Plagne's vast ski area is an intermediate level skier's paradise even without the option of carrying on in to Les Arcs' terrain thanks to the Paradiski lift pass. There are around 110 blues and reds to speed around on the La Plagne side alone, with an impressive array of high speed lifts (nearly 30 are quad or six-seater chairlifts) to keep you moving back up the slopes.

• Advanced+

  There are about 30 expert runs across the Paradiski area, but that's just the start of it. La Plagne has a wealth of little couloirs and untouched powder fields which a mountain guide will be happy to show you. The well-heeled can also buy a helicopter drop off over the nearby border in to Italy (heliskiing is banned in France) or book a ski safari or ski touring trip through the ski school.

• Snowboarding at Belle Plagne+

  A special low priced lift ticket priced at a fixed 'per day' rate is available. This gives boarders access to the terrain parks of La Plagne, which are highly regarded worldwide. They include Le 7cube at Plagne Centre which is accessed by the Colorado chairlift and the half-pipe at Plagne Bellecôte accessed via the Trieuse blue run and the nearby boardercross course off the Blanchets blue run.
  
  Eric Laboureix, five times World Champion in acrobatic skiing is based in Belle Plagne where he runs a ski shop and the El Pro ski and board school.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Belle Plagne+

  Belle Plagne has a cinema, bowling centre and a fitness centre which includes Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, beauty salon, sauna and fitness machines. Out on the snow the ESF ski school organizes snowshoeing excursions and paragliding from the top of Roche de Mio (2,700m). The school can also arrange descents in a 'taxi-bob' or a self-guiding inflatable bob (slower but you're on your own) down the Olympic bobsleigh run at the resort. Ice climbing, dog sledding and snow biking are other possibilities.
  
  Other facilities include a bank, ski rental as well as grocery shops, lift ticket office and medical room.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  Belle Plagne is not a good choice if you are hoping for a lively nightlife as there only about a dozen bars and restaurants, most of them rather low-key. However a free shuttle bus links the six other altitude La Plagne villages together until after midnight, so it is possible to easily reach larger resorts nearby such as Plagne Centre for a wider choice of nightlife. The resort's Radio La Plagne station (101.5FM) broadcasts details of what events are on where in the evenings.
  
  In Belle Plagne options include Cheyenne for Mexican or the popular Matafan which has a good reputation for the quality and quantity of its cuisine. The main late night bar is Le Saloon.

• Ski Holidays in Belle Plagne suitable for Families+

  Belle Plagne is a family friendly resort and has a special award from the French government to prove it. On the slopes the Ecole du Ski francais (ESF) operates a snow garden for children aged from three to six years old and ski school for older children. Packages including lift pass are available and bookings can be made for half days or full days, but advance reservation is essential. Children under six years old get a free lift ticket anyway. Families of four or more receive a special discounted 'family price' when buying a six days or more ticket for the ski lifts.