Les Arcs Winter Sports

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Winter Sports

Alpine Skiing and Boarding

Les Arcs offer three top resorts, which are also surrounded by some of the best skiing in the world, each of them is worthy of a week's skiing alone. Close by resorts of the Trois Vallees and the Espace Killy ski area allow some nice day trips to be made to other areas on your ski holidays in Les Arcs. Les Arcs resort is joined to La Plagne by the longest cable car of its type ever made to create one of the largest ski areas in the world Paradiski, with Val d’Isere and Tignes only a short drive away. Already part of the Paradiski area, the new link and the new village of Arc 1950 will make Les Arcs the next big ski holiday destination hotspot.

Cross Country Skiing

More and more people are looking to give cross country skiing a go. It's a great way of exploring the beautiful winter landscapes away from the crowds - you really can experience the wilderness and get in touch with nature just a few kilometres out of the resort. It's a relatively easy sport to pick up as long as you are reasonably fit. Skis and boots are lighter with your heels free to push yourself along. The majority of cross-country takes place on prepared and signed trails called "Loipe", and these are graded from blue to black, easy to difficult, the harder trails having more ascent and descent. But overall, most of the skiing takes places on relatively flat terrain, therefore takes place in valley bottoms, or high mountain plateaux. This is superb sport for those who want to get outside in the mountain air, burn some calories but not necessarily adhere to the descents of alpine skiing! You can hire your equipment from most shops. You can also book yourself lessons to get yourself going quicker. Les Arcs has over 30km of cross-country trails dotted around the valley. Known as "Ski de Fond" in French.

Snow Shoeing

This is a means of travelling through the snowy mountains on foot at either low or high altitudes. Another brilliant sport for those who do not wish to ski. One has to be fit, comfortable with snow and competent in the mountains particularly in winter conditions. It is very enjoyable though since you get away from the crowded pistes and get to see the local wild life such as chamois and marmottes. Known as "Raquettes" in French.

Ski Touring

The Paradiski area is excellent for ski touring. Ski touring is a great way to access nature as it was intended to be seen. There is a vast area of spectacular, glaciated mountains. The lifts provide easy access to the mountain wilderness that make this region special. With the necessary equipment and a bit of hard work, riders will be able to escape the crowds on the slopes and find some great skiing. Known as "Ski de Randonee" in French.

Ski Areas

Les Arcs Piste Map

Paradiski Piste Map

In summary in Paradiski (Les Arcs and La Plagne), there are 425km of pistes, 20 hectares of snow making, the longest run is 10km is length, there is 100km of cross-country skiing, 37 mountain restaurants and 171 lifts (2 cablecars, 62 chairlifts (6 high speed), 94 draglifts, 1 funicular and, 12 gondolas). There is also guaranteed snow (artificial snow) back to resort all season long.

Les Arcs (1600 1800 1950 2000) green blue red black

One of the most extensive and varied ski domains in the world - great for all types of skiers from beginners to advanced, Les Arcs now linked to La Plagne, the new Paradiski area, offers 420kms of pistes, including the Aiguille Rouge glacier above Arc 2000 and the Bellecote glacier in La Plagne, guaranteeing snow. Les Arc is a skiers and snowboarders heaven.

For beginners nursery slopes are conveniently situated above all three villages of Les Arcs. Arc 1800 is the best providing sunny and spacious runs. Easy greens are hard to find but there are some gentle blues like Mont Blanc above Arc 1600, and some snow sure easy runs down from Col de la Chal to Arc 2000.

For intermediates one of the strengths of ski holidays in Les Arcs is the diversity of choice for intermediate skiers. Most main routes have an easy and a more difficult alternative ideal for mixed-ability groups. Plenty of challenges for the adventurous and less confident intermediates will rejoice that they can move around the area without to many surprises. Les Arc Peisey Vallandry is great for the speed hungry groomer fans, while both ends of the full domain contain some great wooded runs. Higher up the runs get steeper but are friendly due to good grooming.

For advanced there is much to offer experts on ski holidays in Les Arcs. The Aiguille Rouge peak offers some excellent blacks with nice steeps located above Arc 2000. A couple blacks are spread amongst the other areas as well. For some beautiful wooded runs head over to either Arc Villaroger Le Pré on one side or Les Arc Peisey Vallandry on the other. One run stands out with a vertical drop of over 2000m you can go from the top of the Aiguille Rouge ridge down to the village of Arc Villaroger Le Pre, with some great variations throughout. Off-piste opportunities for ski holidays in Les Arcs are numerous as is typical of great Alpine ski resorts.

For snowboarders, Les Arcs is the self proclaimed 'home of the snowboard' Les Arcs holds a certain attraction for boarders due to the superb board park and half-pipe.  Les Arcs has a great mix of terrain, boarder friendly lifts, a good sized park and half pipe. There are so many natural hits to play on in the Clocheret area that there is no danger of running out of things to do. There is also abundant terrain for beginners to progress on all week.
 

Paradiski (Les Arcs and La Plagne) green blue red black

We have already noted half of this in Les Arcs above, now for La Plagne:

For beginners, La Plagne has gentle nursery slopes and excellent English speaking ski instructors, so novice skiers will be enjoying the multitude of blue and green runs across the resort.

For intermediates, La Plagne is  a dream, from exhilarating motorway skiing to quiet powder runs in the trees. Try the long descent down to Champagny from La Grande Rochette.

For the advanced, they will relish La Plagne - try the glorious powder between the trees down to the village of Les Coches or try the 15km off-piste near vertical 2000m drop off the north face of the Bellecote glacier (with a guide though!).

For boarders, the terrain is ideal for all levels.

Other Areas

From Les Arcs you can go for daytrips to La Rosiere/ La Thuile, The Three Valleys (Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens) plus Val d'Isere/ Tignes.