Skiing a freshly groomed piste in La Plagne

Skiing & Snowboarding in La Plagne

A Guide to the best Skiing and Snowboarding, plus everything you need to plan your trip

Plan Your Trip

La Plagne is linked by the Vanoise Express double-decker cable car to Les Arcs and the vast 425 km Paradiski area. The resort is made up of six high-altitude villages and has some outstanding uncrowded off-piste terrain.

Freeriding

Freestyle

Pistes

Superb off-piste terrain that stays relatively untracked.

More than its fair share of flat spots. Unattractive resort architecture.

Elevation

Summit

3250 m

Vertical Drop

2000 m

Base

1250 m

Lifts

Total

84

Cable cars

10

Chairlifts

36

Drag Lifts

38

The Skiing

Freeriding

Don't miss the great lines off the north face of Bellecôte and the Rosset couloirs.

Freestyle

Ride the snowpark in Belle Plagne, the freestyle park in Montalbert, the airbag or boardercross run.

Pistes

Lots of blues so good for intermediates. Wax that board, there's lots of flat spots.

Beginner Pistes

10

Intermediate Pistes

72

Advanced Pistes

30

Expert Pistes

15

Total Riding

225 km (425 km Paradiski)

Plan Your Trip

La Plagne

Piste Map

La Plagne Piste Map

View printable version

Practical Information

Opening times

14 December to 26 April

Resort prices

74.00 € Day Pass, 348.00 € 6-Day Pass

Nearest airport

Chambery (1 hr 10 min), Lyon (1 hr 50 min), Geneva (2 hr 20 min)

Tourist Office

Office de Promotion de la Grande Plagne
73211 Aime La Plagne
France

Phone: +33 (0)4 79 40 04 40
Web: www.la-plagne.com
Email: infos@la-plagne.com

La Plagne

Accommodation

La Plagne, part of the Paradiski network of resorts in the Tarentaise Valley, has a huge amount of accommodation available whether you’re a solo traveller, or travelling in a group. For something a bit more upmarket and convenient, Araucaria Hotel & Spa in La Plagne Centre provides ski-to-door access, so you can roll out of bed straight onto the slopes. It has a spa and wellness centre, perfect for relaxing tired limbs after a day on the mountain.

If you’re looking for a blend of comfort and traditional alpine charm, you might want to consider Sun Valley Residence, which offers well-appointed apartments with access to a heated indoor pool, hammam, and hot tubs. Its proximity to the slopes makes it a super convenient choice.

For a more budget-friendly option, think about renting a self-catering apartment. There are options in Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre with accommodation right at the foot of the slopes, offering flexibility and value for families or groups.

Another option if you want a more independent stay without compromising on luxury is CGH Résidences & Spas White Pearl Lodge, which offers upscale apartments with spa facilities, including a sauna and hot tub.

Ski & Snowboard Guide

With its huge number of blue runs, La Plagne has a well-deserved reputation for being a good ski resort for intermediates. There are a few stellar challenges for the expert but they on the whole limited to the off-piste terrain. Don’t forget though that from La Plagne you have easy access via the formidable Vanoise Express cable car to the vast snowboarding playground of Les Arcs. Click to Tweet

The skiing and snowboarding

La Plagne really excels for those who like piste skiing and boarding with lovely cruisey blues and reds with exceptional views (60% of all pistes at the resort are blue). There are 225 km of slopes to play on serviced by 80 lifts, so for a week’s skiing you should be kept plenty busy.

For freeriders there are some nice wooded areas, in particular around Les Coches and Champagny en Vanoise, but be aware that a lot of the higher backcountry riding is not accessible by lift and will require a fair bit of hiking and most likely a guide – definitely seek out the wooded area from the peak of St Jacques. The major draw for the expert boarder at La Plagne is the Face Nord which offers some steep descents and nice couloirs action.

There is a great snowpark in the centre of La Plagne that has great rails, a range of kickers, rainbows and a cannon train. Some of the kickers are challenging. The resort does pipes really well, and if your up for it there is a complete monster of a superpipe standing at a whopper 22 feet. There is also a little park for beginners with some nice small objects for the newbs.

In fact, beginners will fare generally well in La Plagne – it’s a great place to learn and there are 12 free lifts for those first few days.

In terms of snow quality you should be able to find good snow all season long. There is such a large height differential between the lowest and highest parts of the resort that bad weather on either end can easily be avoided.

Where to stay

La Plagne is composed of 10 separate villages, 2 of which are original, traditional Sayovarde villages and the rest of which have been built to service the snow sports industry with varying degrees of success.

Really high end accommodation is lacking though the recently developed Carlina looks set to be a trend changer. If it’s access to the pistes your most concerned with, seek out accommodation in Belle Plagne (accommodation is mostly self-catering apartments).

Les Coches is a pretty village with direct access to the Vanoise lift and some great ski-in ski-out chalets.

Where to eat

While you won’t be tucking into any Michelin starred food in La Plagne, there are plenty of good quality restaurants in each of the villages, some good options include Le Chalet des Verdons Sud, Aubon Vieux Temps, or La Cloche.

Après shred

La Plagne is a sociable spot, but definitely not for party monsters. Good après can be found in La Mine in 1800, Scottys or the Igloo Bar. There are a few late bars knocking about (the Cosy Bar is great) and if you’re looking for hardcore, late night debauchery hit up The Mouth.

La Plagne Skiing & Snowboarding Videos

Watch this: La Plagne Ski Resort Guide 4K

In this video you’ll discover the unique charm of each of La Plagne’s villages to help you choose the perfect place to stay for your trip. From how to get to La Plagne and understanding the resort’s layout with detailed maps, to diving into the vibrant après-ski scene, this video guide has you covered. Packed with travel advice, skiing tips, and insider knowledge, it’s designed to help you make the most of your ski holiday. Watch and find out why we believe La Plagne deserves its spot as one of France’s top ski resorts!

Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your ski holiday to France, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!

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