La Plagne Overview
The twin resorts of La Plagne and les Arcs make up one of the largest ski areas in the world, Paradiski. The two sectors, which are divided geographically by the Porturin Gorge, are now one thanks to the Vanoise Express, a vast double-decker cable car with a capacity of 200 passengers per cabin. This remarkable feat of technology has created a vast and varied wintersports playground. Paradiski is almost as extensive as The 3 Valleys and has a snow record that rivals the Espace Killy, but it’s far better value for money than either. And it’s the ideal place to take the family.
Getting To La Plagne
Taking a low cost Snowjet flight to Chambery is a cheap and speedy route to La Plagne. On a good run the 120km from airport to resort will take you between an hour and a quarter and an hour and three quarters, depending on whether you choose to stay in one of the six purpose-built centres or one of the four lower lying ‘village resorts’. The Y-front formed by La Plagne’s six high-altitude resorts reaches up from the valley town of Aime. Each of these snow-sure centres offers ski-to-the-door convenience and is well linked lift-wise. Each is compact and is easily negotiated on foot and each is linked to the others by a shuttle bus that runs until midnight. Several of the resorts are also pedestrianised, so if you are thinking of hiring a car, investigate the availability and cost of parking before committing. There are no such restrictions in the so-called ‘village resorts’.
While the six main centres are up there with the best in terms of skiing convenience, they are some what lacking in the looks department. Plagne Centre and Plagne-Bellecôte are living monuments to the concrete monoliths of 1960s architecture and Aime-La-Plagne resembles a battleship run aground on the mountainside. Belle-Plagne is mercifully easier on the eye and Plagne-Villages/Soleil and Plagne-1800 almost succeed in uniting ski-in-ski out convenience with Alpine charm. But for all the wood cladding, the two are still purpose-built, so for a more genuine rustic appeal stay in one of the original settlements of Montchavin, Les Coches, Plagne Montalbert or Champagny en Vanoise. In the past, choosing one of the four ‘village resorts’ would have meant a tedious schlep up through an antiquated lift system but today state-of-the-art people movers whisk you up to the best of the skiing in next to no time.
The Mountain
La Plagne is continually investing in its lift system and today boasts a modern network which rivals any in the Alps, so the chances are you won’t get yourself into any lift queue spats. In 2003, 16 million euros were invested in a single project, the Vanoise Express cable car, the 200 man double-decker which links La Plagne to Les Arcs. This has doubled the terrain available to skiers in both resorts and is a real bonus for those staying in Montchavin and Les Coches, from where the newly conjoined areas, collectively known as Paradiski, are equally as accessible. Unless you choose to stay in either of these ‘village resorts’, it’s probably best to stick to a La Plagne lift pass. With over 200km of piste and some fantastic off-piste itineraries available, you won’t feel the need to venture further a field for several days. If you do fancy spreading your wings, it makes more financial sense to pay a daily supplement on a couple of occasions than to fork out for a week long Paradiski pass.
The terrain in La Plagne itself is both extensive and varied. And since the majority of the skiing is above 2000m the snow stays in optimum condition. Here, above the treeline, much of the terrain is given over to long, wide motorway pistes that are perfectly suited to beginners and intermediates. If the treeless lunarscape is not to your liking however, there are also some beautiful, meandering trails through the woods to the lower villages. And there’s off-piste to challenge even the most seasoned skier. The highest lift-accessed skiing is at 3250m on the impressive Bellcôte glacier. From the summit of the Glacier chair there are several steep off piste itineraries; strictly for the hardcore and even then a guide is a must.
If you’re more freestyle than freeride, you won’t be disappointed with the facilities. The 2.5 hectare ‘7 Cube’ Terrain Park situated at Plagne Centre is equipped with more than 20 obstacles of varying degrees of difficulty and the boarder-cross in Belle Plagne is well maintained. For real adrenaline junkies there’s a massive 5.5m high, 90m long half-pipe at Plagne Bellecôte. If you are literally only interested in catching air, you can do it for just 20 euros a day: the special lift pass ‘Passpark’ is exclusively for budgeting freestyle enthusiasts, allowing access to the terrain park, boarder-cross and half-pipe.
Bars & Clubs in La Plagne
La Plagne is not renowned for its nightlife; however, in each of the six purpose-built centres you’ll find one or two watering holes of merit. In Plagne-1800, La Mine draws a rowdy seasonaires crowd with live music in the après ski slot. The No’bl’m Café Bar, is the spot that goes off in Plagne Centre, though Brit run Scotty’s Pub is pretty good too. In Bellecôte you can take advantage of the free late night shuttle bus to party with the DJ until the small hours in Cozy Bar. Monica’s Pub in Plagne Soleil has a great deck for lunch in the sun and is also the top venue for live music at après. But Belle Plagne is probably the one single centre that lends itself to a decent pub crawl, with a good selection of local bars.
La Plagne Après Ski
As well as some of the best skiing in the Alps, multi-centred La Plagne has all the non-skiing facilities you’d expect from a top ski resort and more. Once you’ve put your ski equipment away, take to the snow on a quad bike or skidoo. Or take to the sky, either paragliding or with a scenic flight over the Mont Blanc massif. And real thrill seekers can scare themselves silly on the hair-raising Olympic bobsleigh track. The track is unique in France and for a small fee you can reach speeds approaching 100km as either passenger or driver. Also unique to La Plagne are the Ice Falls, a 22m high manmade ice cascade. The ice climbing tower is formed by spraying water onto a metal framework and is suitable for climbers of all standards. After all that high octane activity, relax with a well earned swim and sauna at the spa in Plagne Bellecôte.
Something for the Kids
La Plagne is reckoned to be one of the best resorts for a family ski holiday. Ski passes are free for children under-6, which gives you a bonus extra year for free compared with most other resorts, and there are superb childcare facilities in all of the accommodation centres. There are also secured, floodlit tobogganing areas for kids in Plagne Centre, Plagne Bellecôte and Plagne Montalbert, and icerinks in Aime-la-Plagne, Plagne Bellecôte and Montchavin-les Coches. For something different, treat the little ones to a pony ride across the snow or a thrilling dog sled ride. In Bellecôte, bigger kids will get a kick out of either icekarting or paintballing, the latter is available from mid-March, but be warned it stings.
La Plagne Accommodation Links
Other Snowjet.co.uk Resort Guides:
Chamonix Ski Resort Guide
Courchevel Ski Resort Guide
Les Arcs
Ski Resort Guide
Meribel Ski Resort Guide
Sainte Foy Ski Resort Guide
Tignes Ski Resort Guide
Val d'Isere Ski Resort Guide
Val Thorens Ski Resort Guide
