Resort Guide to La Plagne, France

The giant ski area is made up of 10 mainly purpose-built villages set at different altitudes above the valley town of Aime. The lifts join La Plagne to the rest of the Paradiski ski area (joined with Les Arcs). Snow cover is reliable due to the Bellecôte Glacier. There is a telebus (8am to 1am, €3 for two trips) and the free of charge Telemetro and Shuttlebus.

 

Skiing & Boarding

The Paradiski area is so huge that one could ski for the whole week, without covering the same area twice. La Plagne is the perfect ski destination with a long vertical drop, snow-sure high-altitude runs, ski-in ski-out hotels and apartments, and a sophisticated lift system. Find powder bowls and wide motorway skiing at the top, peppered with hidden off piste delights, and scenic tree lined runs at the bottom.

 

Beginners

La Plagne is one of the best resorts for beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders as far as prepared trails go. The scenery and views are stunning and can be enjoyed by all levels from the highest point, where trails for all abilities will lead even novice skiers safely down again. Beginners are well catered for with nursery slopes adjacent to all the villages and novice runs between centres.

 

Intermediate

Ski holidays in La Plagne are perfect for intermediates with over 70% blue and red runs. To mention a few, the run from La Grand Rochette to Champagny is a particular favourite. There are lots of gentle blue motorway pistes in the main La Plagne bowl.

 

Advanced

Adventurous skiers can find plenty of challenge along the fringes of the resort. Experts will want to drop behind the ridge above Aime La Plagne, basically following the Morbleu and Les Etroits trails looping around to the Les Coqs lift, and then challenge the Les Coqs and the Emile Alais trails. Also try taking the Bellecote cablecar from the peak of Roche de Mio to the Glacier of Bellecote this ride takes you down to the glacier, advanced skiers can follow the Bellecote or Le Rochu runs down to the Chalet de Bellecote lift. Skiers with guides will take the Traverse lift and set off across the face of Bellecote and drop towards Les Bauches.

 

Off Piste

You need a guide to discover the long, sweeping descent from the Glacier de Bellecôte down to Les Bauches, as well as the challenging Cul du Nant run from the back of the glacier into the Champagny-le-Haut valley.

 

Snowboarders

Terrain parks are located at Plagne-Bellecôte, Montchavin-Les Coches, and at Champagny. Plagne Centre has the Pro Snowpark.

Check out the (Access by the Colorado chairlift)7cube park: A 2.5 hectare snowpark equipped with 20 or so obstacles. Accessible to riders of all levels, four areas are at your disposal; green, blue, red and black.
The Green with two bumps is all about discovering the joys of jumping on skis with virtually no risk.
The Blue is equipped with two bumps (a little higher) and two 3.5m rails. This is where things start to get serious. The Red consists of two tables, one rail of 7m and another of 6m. Ending on a fun box of 10.50m and a rail that'll really get you fired up. The Black: rails including an S, a table, a wave and a fun box. The position, under one of the resort's most popular slopes, provides the team with a permanent stock of snow..

The Snowpark of Champagny en Vanoise is just off La Rossa chairlift. It contains 3 tabletops, handrails, a transfer, 15 metre spine, big kickers, boardercross circuit, about 20 jumps suited to all levels, a BBQ with picnic tables, and is maintained daily. Freestyle sessions are held every Wednesday and Boardercross competitions every Thursday.
At Bellecôte there is a naturally occuring halfpipe that snakes between trees with some handrails and jumps.

 

 

Towns and Villages

Aime-la-Plagne (2100m) and Plagne-Bellecôte (1930m) are high rise purpose built villages. Belle-Plagne (2050m) is easier on the eye with a pleasant village centre. Plagne-Villages (2050m), Plagne-Soleil (2050m) and Plagne-1800 are built in harmony with their beautiful scenic surroundings.

Lower down the mountain, Montchavin and Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montalbert are rich in french farming town culture and make excellent and attractive bases from which to explore the region. The main beneficiaries to staying in the villages are instead of hiking up through the lift system on the La Plagne side, they can explore the equally rewarding terrain above Vallandry and Arc 1800. A new eight-seater chair across the Ponturin Valley shortens the journey from Belle Plagne and Plagne Bellecôte to Peisey-Vallandry to just 20 minutes.

 

High Level Resorts

Good Allrounder

Good Snow Record

Large Ski Area

 

Après Ski   The best places in Plagne-Bellecôte are the Saloon and Le Cosy Bar (shuts 4am). Le Bleu Night disco in Aime-La-Plagne is packed in high season. Champagny has Le Galaxy disco, and high-decibel Oxygène in rural Montchavin keeps the cows awake until the early hours. Monica's Pub in Plagne-Soleil has bands and DJs in the evening. La Mine, La Tete Inn and Le Cheyenne Café are busy after skiing. Most of the action later on lies in Plagne-Centre at Scotty's Pub, where you will find the saisonnaires hanging out, and Le No'blem café/bar has DJs playing a mixture of indie, hip-hop and rock.	Activities   La Plagne hosted the bobsleigh in the 1992 Winter Olympics and anyone can take a ride down the 1.5km serpentine track. Besides the fantastic skiing, snowboarding, and olympic bobsleigh, other activities include ice skating, dog sled rides, ice climbing, a night skiing slalom stadium, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Hang gliding, Paint ball, pony rides, quads, skidoos, and paragliding are also available. People with disabilities can also enjoy paragliding and bobseigh. Check out the latest events in La Plagne.	Eating Out   Try Au Bon Vieux Temps below Aime-la-Plagne and Le Forperet is on the piste down to Montalbert. Pappagone next to the Roche de Mio gondola at Belle Plagne, is good for pizzas. Les Verdons is a large chalet offering excellent local cuisine. Le Petit Chaperon Rouge above 1800 is an old farmhouse decorated in modern style. Les Borseliers in Champagny is known for tartiflette and other Savoyard dishes. In Montchavin, La Boule de Neige and La Ferme de César, are both recommended. In Plagne-Centre try La Métairie and Le Refuge. La Cloche and Le Loup Blanc have good local cuisine at value prices.
Ski/Board Tuition   Oxygene are highly recommended. The ESF in has around 500 instructors working from branches in each of the 10 villages. In Montchavin and Les Coches Evolution 2, is recommended. In Plagne-1800, Reflex is a small independent school. In Belle-Plagne El Pro is the alternative to the ESF. Antenne Handicap in Aime-la-Plagne teaches disabled skiers.	Ski/Board Hire   Champagny en Vanoise offers 6 rental shops, Aime La Plagne has 3, there are 2 in Plan Soleil and 2 in Plan Villages, 8 in Belle Plagne, 7 in Plagne centre, in Plagne 1800 there are 3, 5 in Montchavin, 6 in Les Coches, and 4 in Montalbert! Ski and Board hire in La Plagne.	Childcare   Most villages have both non-ski and ski kindergartens, and have nurseries and clubs for older children. In Plagne-Centre, Les P'tits Bonnets cares for infants from 10 weeks to three years, but prior booking is recommended. In Montchavin Le Chat Bleu provides daycare. At Plagne Montalbert Les Bambins looks after children from 18 months to six years. At Belle-Plagne the ESF Nursery takes children from 18 months. At Plagne-Bellecôte, La Garderie Mini-club cares for children from 2 years.