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The Paradiski Area really lives up to its name. Comprising the high up, multi-tiered resorts of Les Arcs and La Plagne, it truly is a promised land of endless, powdery snow, sweeping pistes and stunning Alpine views.
Here are some incredible stats:
In total, there are 425km of pistes across the two resorts, and 258 slopes, making it one of the largest ski areas in the world
70% of the pistes are above a snow sure altitude of 2,000m, with skiable terrain ranging from 1,200m to 3,250m
The whole area is served by 129 lifts, making it easy to get around and discover all the Paradiski has to offer
Over half the slopes are green or blue, which means it’s great for beginners
There are also dozens of reds and blacks for intermediate and advanced skiers
Slopes colours are fairly evenly distributed between the two resorts, so whichever resort you stay in, you’ll find slopes to suit your abilities.
Paradiski also features 24 ‘play areas’, which includes freestyle parks and fun slopes for kids
Les Arcs and La Plagne are linked by the Vanoise Express, a double-decker cable car that can transport 2,000 people per hour
It takes only 4 minutes to cross from Plan Peisey in Les Arcs to Les Coches in La Plagne.
Whether you’re staying as a group or a family, we're sure you’ll have an excellent holiday in the Paradiski!
Beautiful La Plagne is one of the most popular ski resorts for Brits
Ski Resorts in Paradiski
The Paradiski links two French resorts, Les Arcs and La Plagne.
There’s a multitude of different villages across the ski area, varying in altitude, atmosphere, accommodation and proximity to the slopes and the après bars. This means you’ll have loads of options when it comes to planning your perfect stay.
Below, we brush aside the snow to reveal a little more of the character of these fantastic resorts and their many villages.
La Plagne
While much of it is purpose built, La Plagne is a popular and relatively attractive ski resort that’s made up of 10 distinct villages
There’s a free bus service that covers most of the resort until midnight, so you won’t be restricted to the restaurants and amenities next to your accommodation.
La Plagne is home to just over half (225km) of the Paradiski’s pistes and has a roughly even share of the ski area’s greens (8), blues (73), reds (35) and blacks (17). Many of the greens are clustered around the villages, making them very accessible for novice skiers.
As well as its high altitude runs and extensive snow cannon coverage, La Plagne is home to the Bellecôte glacier, which ensures skiable conditions from December to April.
La Plagne’s ten villages are:
Plagne Centre: Plagne Centre is the purpose-built heart of La Plagne. It might lack traditional character but it’s a buzzy place and it's where you’ll find most of the shops, bars, and restaurants.
Belle Plagne: Nestled up at 2050m, Belle Plagne offers ski-in-ski-out accommodation and a village atmosphere, as well as plenty of amenities.
Plagne Bellecôte: Up at 1930m, Plagne Bellecote’s biggest selling point is its proximity to La Plagne’s pistes. It mostly consists of apartment blocks that have a traditional alpine feel.
Plagne 1800: Plagne 1800 is notable for its many traditional alpine chalets and apartments, chilled out atmosphere, and easy access to the slopes.
Aime La Plagne: In Aime La Plagne you’ll find piste-side accommodation, epic valley views and a small town centre with a nice selection of shops, bars and restaurants.
Plagne Soleil: One of the smallest villages in La Plagne, Plagne Soleil is pleasant and well-equipped, and the perfect place to stay if you want peace and quiet after a day on the slopes.
Les Coches: Although one of the newer villages, Les Coches has a traditional feel and, thanks to its lower-altitude location, is often less crowded than its neighbours.
Montchavin: Montchavin is a rustic village a little further down the valley. It’s surrounded by spectacular scenery and offers easy access to the Vanoise Express.
Montalbert: Montalbert is another traditional village that’s situated on the other side of the resort. It’s characterised by cosy chalets and tree lined runs.
Champagny: Champagny is the most remote of La Plagne’s villages. With its church and old farmhouses, it’s something of a hidden gem and still offers good access to the pistes of the entire Paradiski area.
Les Arcs is a similarly fantastic ski resort, with a healthy mix of villages
Les Arcs
Like La Plagne, Les Arcs is notable for the variety of its villages,
Many of these villages are made up of purpose-built, ski-in-ski-out accommodation and offering convenient access to both the slopes and the resort’s amenities.
Les Arcs is home to an almost equal share of the Paradiski’s pistes (123 to 133) and, again, has a healthy distribution of greens (11), blues (55), reds (42), and blacks (16). Wherever you stay, you won’t feel short changed on the skiing front.
Whether you’re looking to ski all day and sink down in front of a log fire in the evening or ski all day and party all night, you can find it in Les Arcs.
Here’s a snapshot of each of the six villages that make up the resort:
Les Arcs 1800: Arc 1800 is the centre of Les Arcs and the busiest of its villages. It’s where you find many of the amenities and is conveniently situated for exploring the rest of the resort.
Les Arcs 1950: Although the most recently built village in the resort, Arc 1950 was designed to look and feel authentic, and it certainly does - full of beautiful ski-in-ski-out accommodation, loads of bars and restaurants, and surrounded by pine trees.
Les Arcs 2000: Perched up high and with easy access to the resort’s most exciting skiing, Arc 2000 is the place to be if you want to maximise your time on the slopes.
Les Arcs 1600: First timers and families will love Arc 1600. It’s near to the beginner slopes and a funicular ride away from Bourg St Maurice, the train station.
Villaroger: Among the quieter villages in Les Arcs, Villaroger offers a peaceful atmosphere and a few local restaurants.
Peisey Vallandry: A quiet village that’s situated near the Vanoise Express, Peisey Vallandry is great for families that want easy access to the entire Paradiski area.
Ski holidays in the Paradiski
The Paradiski is a vast interconnected ski area with snow sure, high altitude (max 3,250m) slopes, varied skiing and accommodation, and a friendly and relaxed ambience.
Apres isn’t top of the agenda, as it is in some of the larger resorts in the Three Valleys or the Portes du Soleil, but there’s plenty of post-ski revelry to be found if that’s your scene.But that’s the beauty of the Paradiski and the 16 villages that are scattered across its slopes and nestled in its valleys: there’s a scene to suit every taste in each one.
Top reasons to ski Paradiski
Here are just a few reasons why you should choose the Paradiski area for your next ski trip:
Huge ski area
With 425km of slopes and 258 pistes, the Paradiski area is the third largest in the whole of France, which, in turn, makes it one of the largest in the world.
This vastness has room for all types of terrain, from gentle greens and spacious blues to gnarly blacks and some truly excellent freerding opportunities.
Snow sure
Reaching heights of 3,250m and with 70% of its pistes above 2,000m, the Paradiski is very snow sure. And that’s not all. Les Arcs and La Plagne have a glacier each, Les Houches and the Bellecôte respectively, which hold their snow late into spring.
It’s these qualities that bagged both resorts in our list of the most snow sure resorts in France, with Les Arcs taking second place.
Fantastic variety of accommodation across different villages
Much of the accommodation in the Paradiski is ski-in-ski-out and has been purpose-built with convenience in mind. But this doesn’t mean it’s all the same. There are cosy apartments, grand hotels, luxury chalets and everything in between.
Whether you’re visiting as a massive group or a family with young children, you’ll find something to suit your needs.
A friendly, laid back atmosphere
The Paradiski is often quieter than France’s larger and more popular resorts, especially during off peak times in January and March, when you can look forward to quick queues and plenty of space on the pistes.
There also isn’t such an emphasis on the après side of things, meaning that, in many places, you can enjoy a relaxing night out without having to contend with drunken revellers.
Excellent for beginners
With 19 greens and 128 blues, as well as a handful of ‘fun areas’, well over half of the pistes in the Paradiski area are beginner-friendly.
Group ski holidays in the Paradiski area
If your group consists of skiers of varying abilities, the Paradiski is perfect. There’ll be something to please everyone from your least to your most experienced skier. There are also plenty of properties large enough to accommodate big parties of friends or families.
In particular, groups looking to hit the bars every evening should stay in the livelier villages of La Plagne Centre, Belle Plagne, or Les Arcs 1800. It’s also here you’ll find the greatest choice of accommodation.
Family ski holidays in the Paradiski area
Families are well catered for in the Paradiski area. As well as a high proportion of kid-friendly slopes and decent ski schools, there’s a ton of accommodation that’s perfect for families and loads of activities to keep children entertained in the evenings.
If you want maximum choice of accommodation and amenities, the hubs of Plagne Centre and 1800 could be good places to stay.
Les Arc 1600, Aime La Plagne and Peisey Vallandry are also wise choices for families - each has a Club Med, which are great if you’re after the ease and affordability of an all-inclusive affair. Check out Club Med in Les Arcs 1600, La Plagne 2100 in Aime La Plagne, and Club Med Peisey-Vallandry.
Beginner ski holidays in the Paradiski area
The Paradiski is a haven for beginners. As we’ve already said, the majority of the pistes are either greens or blues, and many of those blues are long, wide and wind their way down from the resort peaks to the village centres, so you won’t feel like being a novice skier is preventing you from seeing all that the Paradiski has to offer.
There are also a few dedicated beginner areas, especially around Plagne Bellecôte, Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre. Les Arcs also has its fair share of beginner zones.
The Paradiski Area is a great choice for skiers of all abilities
Skiing from La Plagne to Les Arcs (or vice versa!)
Getting from La Plagne to Les Arcs
La Plagne and Les Arcs aren’t just nearby resorts that are linked in name only.
The double decker Vanoise Express cable car will ferry you from La Plagne to Peisey-Vallandry in just 3 minutes and 50 seconds. This makes it easy to explore the entire Paradiski, whatever level of skier you are.
How long does it take to ski from Les Arcs to La Plagne?
Peisey-Vallandry, where the Vanoise arrives and departs in Les Arcs, is nearby to the resort centre of 1800.
From there you can take the 5 minute Peisey chair and meander down on one of the blues to 1800, where you’ll find a hub of chairlifts and gondolas to take you further afield in Les Arcs.
If you’re heading from Les Arcs to La Plagne, you’ll be dropped off by the Vanoise Express in Les Coches. From there you’ll have to take a few lifts up so that you can ski down into Bellecote. You can then take the 4-minute Colosses lift and ski down into Plagne Centre.
Paradiski: Key Information
Discover all the essential info on the Paradiski area below:
Paradiski location
The Paradiski is in the Tarentaise Valley in the French Alps.
Size of the Paradiski area
The Paradiski has 425km of pistes, making it the third largest ski area in France. It’s so vast that it would take you around 4 hours to ski from the furthest end of La Plagne to the furthest end of Les Arcs.
Nearest airport to Paradiski
Geneva is around 2 hours 45 minutes from Les Arcs and 2 hours 30 minutes from La Plagne. Chambery is a little closer but it doesn't have as many convenient flights. If you’re staying in Les Arcs, you could take the Eurostar to Bourg St-Maurice and then jump on the seven minute funicular to 1600.
Highest point in Paradiski
The highest point you can reach in the Paradiski is the Aiguille Rouge, which is in Les Arcs and peaks at 3226m.
Longest run in the Paradiski
Unsurprisingly, the longest run descends from the highest point. The piste of the same name, the Aiguille Rouge, is an 8km black/red that takes you from the 3,226m peak over a vertical descent of 2,000m all the way down to Villaroger at 1,200m.
It’s a beast, but worth it for the challenge and the spectacular views.
Most difficult run in Paradiski
The Aiguille Rouge is certainly a contender for the most difficult. But those in search of a further challenges should try the Lanches, Crêtes and Dou de l'Homme blacks in Les Arcs, also down from the Aiguille Rouge peak, or, if in La Plagne, the Bellecote and Rochu runs on the glacier, which are ungroomed.
Glaciers in Paradiski area
There are two glaciers in the Paradiski area, Les Houches and the Bellecôte.
Top après bars in Paradiski
Although not the top après destinations in the Alps, there’s plenty of partying in the Paradiski if you know where to look.
In particular, we’d recommend La Bergerie in La Plagne. On the slopes above Plagne Centre, you’ll regularly find live bands and DJs in this converted farmhouse. You could also bask in the sun on the lively terrace of Le Bonnet in Plagne Bellecote.
Over in Les Arcs, check out L’Arpette on the slopes between 1800 and 1600 or Folie Douce next to the Gondola de Villard for a guaranteed good time. Late nights can be found at the Red Hot Saloon and the Jungle Cafe in the Les Villards area of 1800.
Read more:
Thinking of skiing in La Plagne? We've compiled a list of the best apres bars around each of La Plagne's villages, which may help you to decide on which village to stay in.
Paradiski lift pass cost
With the Paradiski pass, you can access the entire span of Les Arcs and La Plagne’s pistes.
The prices for the 23/34 season were:Adults: 1 Day - €70, 6 Days - €369
Children and Seniors: 1 Day - €56, 6 Days - €296
Over 75s: 1 Day - €10, 6 Days - €10
Discover the best deals on Paradiski holidays
Do you want to swoosh down the pristine pistes of the Paradiski on your next ski holiday? Les Arcs and La Plagne are calling, and here at Iglu Ski we have amazing offers on literally hundreds of incredible properties, from chalets in high altitude Arc 2000 to apartments in lively Plagne Centre.
With package and non-package deals available, you’re sure to find the perfect property for your needs, whether you’re travelling as a large group or a small family with young children.