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• Resort Guide

Resort Height: 1600m/2000m

One of the most avant garde ski resorts of the 1970s and 80s, Les Arcs has continued to evolve, most recently adding a whole new resort, built by the company behind Canada’s Whistler. The resort now spreads across five different village bases, each a short hop apart by skis or lift, but up to 45 minutes away by road.

In the valley there’s the original, traditional resort of Bourg St Maurice. It is linked by funicular railway to the lowest altitude resort (they’re all known by their height in metres), Arc 1600. Then comes Arc 1800 – marginally the largest in accommodation terms, next the new Arc 1950 and finally the highest Arc 2000. There are other villages in the region you can also ski too, although not officially part of Les Arcs – they include Villaroger, Vallandry and Plan Peisey.

For the past five years the already huge Les Arcs ski area has been linked across the valley to the equally vast La Plagne ski area by the spectacular double-decker Vanoise Express cable car. Until beaten by a new lift at Whistler in 2008-9, this held the record for the widest span between two support towers and for being suspended the highest above a valley floor – even though there’s now a lift that’s higher and wider, this one is still pretty impressive. Together the two areas form one of the world’s largest ski regions, known as Paradiski, with 425km (265 miles) of piste spread across 10,000 hectares.

Beginners

Les Arcs has always been an innovative teacher of skiers, originally pioneering a now discontinued method of teaching, Ski Evolutif, in which skiers started on short skis and progressed on to longer ones, always skiing in the parallel position, never bothering to progress through snow plough. The invention of modern carving skis rather superseded the need for this however. But the ski schools which operate at each centre remain progressive and the convenience of slopeside lodging, nursery slopes next to the resort and easy access to all facilities make Les Arcs quite a good choice for beginners. Many larger tour operators offer packages inclusive of tuition, lift ticket and equipment rental which are much better value than buying these elements separately.

Intermediates

Les Arcs is one of the world’s largest ski areas on its own even without the doubling of available terrain possible with the Paradiski pass. There are seemingly endless blue and red runs criss-crossing the entire area, ranging friom wide motorways through powder bowls above the treeline to runs descending through the woods to nearby villages like Villaroger and Vallandry. The crossing to La Plagne should be tackled at least once during a week in Les Arcs. The full Paradiski ticket is one of Europe’s most expensive but if you’re on a budget you can take the more affordable route of buying a daily extension to your Les Arcs pass.

Advanced

The vast Paradiski area brings huge opportunities on and off the piste for advanced skiers. The seven kilometre long black from the top of the Aiguille Rouge down to Villaroger is one of the world’s legendary runs, and claims the longest vertical descent of a black run in Europe at 2000m from top to bottom. Another ‘must-ski’ for the brave of heart is the Flying Kilometre speed track near Arc 2000 where world record speeds of around 250kph are set by the professionals. Off piste opportunities with a guide are more or less endless but popular areas include the Nancroix Forest if you ski back from La Plagne rather than making the return trip on the Vanoise Express.

Snowboarding

Les Arcs has been at the forefront of snowboarding since the sport’s inception and some of the earliest extreme boarding movies were shot here as well as the first competitions staged. As you’d expect there’s an excellent terrain park complete with boxes and rails as well as well as two boarder cross courses, but no pipe. As well as lots of natural hits for experienced riders to enjoy, Les Arcs is a good place to learn to board with good tuition, wide open slopes and easy uplift.

Other Activities and Facilities

There is a selection of shops covering basic holiday requirements at each Les Arcs base with a slightly bigger choice in Arc 1800 . There are ice rinks at 1800 and 2000, cinemas at 1600, 1800 and 2000 and bowling at 1800. Activities available in the area (usually a short bus or taxi trip away) include dog sledding, helicopter tours, paragliding, ski biking and snowshoeing. There’s also an ice grotto to visit and the Olympic bobsleigh run at La Plagne where you can ride in a genuine bobsleigh as a taxi passenger or in a slightly slower (but still fast enough) self steering raft with a group of friends.

Après Ski and Dining Out

There are at least 40 places to eat spread across the five Les Arcs bases serving everything from crepes and pizza through to fondues and raclette. Arc 1800 has traditionally been the liveliest centre and 1600 the quietest, concentrating on families. Arc 2000 has been reborn to a large extent over recent years, perhaps rubbing off some of the shine from its new neighbour at 1950, and there are now several laid back bars such as Latino Loco that are great to chill out in. Arc 1950 has been designed with socialising in mind, much of it centred on Luigi’s which is the multi-purpose venue for live performance, big screen sports events and late night dancing.

Families

With a choice of accommodation especially built for families, traffic-free resorts, family-friendly facilities and slopeside convenience, Les Arcs is a good choice for most families keen to ski or board.

There are nurseries in all four of the Les Arcs altitude bases, most of them accepting children from age three or four months in purpose-built facilities. If you are not booking through a tour operator it is worth making sure you book in advance (this can be done online) to ensure your child has a place, especially if you plan to visit in the busier holiday periods.

There are special snow gardens for children three and older to take their first steps on skis and of course children’s ski school for older kids.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[No]
Suitable for beginners:	[5]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[4]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[5]

Piste Map for Les arcs

Accommodation in Les arcs

• Alpages Chantal - 3 star, self catering
• Alpages Chantal - 3 star, self catering
• Alpages De Chantel - 4 star, self catering
• Annapurna - 4 star, catered
• Arc 1950 Apart - 4 star, self catering
• Arc 1950 Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Chalet De L Ours 1 - 4 star, catered
• Chalet De L Ours 2 - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Des Lys - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Etoile - 4 star, catered
• Chalet Horizon - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Madeline - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Madeline - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Mariette - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Mariette - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Monique - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Monique - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Natalie - 0 star, catered
• Chalet Sabine - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Sabine - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Sylvie - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Sylvie - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Veronique - 3 star, catered
• Chalet Veronique - 3 star, catered
• Charmettoger Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Charmettoger Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Charmettoger Apartments - 2 star, self catering
• Charvet et Villards - 2 star, self catering
• Du Golf - 4 star, half board
• Du Golf - 4 star, half board
• Du Golf - 4 star, half board
• Grand Hotel Paradiso - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Aiguille Rouge - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Du Golf - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Du Golf - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Les Melezes - 3 star, full board
• Hotel Les Melezes - 3 star, full board
• Hotel Village Club Du Soleil - 3 star, full board
• Koala - 4 star, catered
• L'aiguille Rouge - 3 star, catered
• La Cachette - 3 star, half board
• La Cachette - 3 star, half board
• La Cachette - 3 star, half board
• Le Belmont Apartments - 4 star, half board
• Le Belmont Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Le Belmont Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Le Ruitor - 3 star, self catering
• Les Alpages De Chantel - 4 star, self catering
• Les Alpages De Chantel - 4 star, self catering
• L`aigulle Rouge - 3 star, self catering
• L`aigulle Rouge - 3 star, half board
• L`arollaie Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• L`oree Des Cime - 4 star, self catering
• L`ours Brun - 4 star, catered
• Panda - 4 star, catered
• Petit Ours - 4 star, catered
• Polaire - 4 star, catered
• Radisson 1950 - 4 star, catered
• Radisson 1950 - 4 star, self catering
• Radisson 1950 - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson 1950 - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Arc 1950 - 5 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Arc 1950 - 5 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Arc 1950 - 5 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Arc 1950 - 5 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Arc 1950 - 5 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Arc 1950 - 5 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Sas Resort - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Radisson Sas Resort - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Residence Belmont - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Le Belmont - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Le Belmont - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Le Belmont - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Le Belmont - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Le Ruitor - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Le Ruitor - 3 star, self catering
• Residence Le Village - 4 star, self catering
• Residence Le Village - 4 star, self catering
• Ruitor Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Ruitor Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Ruitor Apartments - 3 star, self catering

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