La Plagne

La Plagne is one of the best resorts in the Alps for beginners. There are numerous dedicated learning areas across the resort, many with free lifts, making it accessible and affordable to get started.

Plagne Centre offers one of the strongest beginner hubs, with a snow kindergarten and nursery slopes, a long green run served by its own slow-speed beginner chairlift. For progression, there are cruisy blues from the top of the Colorado lift.

Smaller beginner zones exist throughout the resort, allowing flexibility depending on where you stay. There is easy access to blue runs across the whole ski area once confidence builds.

Intermediate skiing is the standout strength of La Plagne. Around 80% of the slopes on the La Plagne side of Paradiski are blue and red, creating an ideal environment for cruising and exploring.

Wide, open pistes dominate the main bowl, while there are also long pistes that maximise your time on the slopes. The red Mont de La Guerre run offers 1250m of vertical descent from Les Verdons down to Champagny. Tree-lined runs into villages such as Les Coches and Champagny provide variety and shelter in poorer weather.

The scale is exceptional, with enough terrain to ski new routes every day, even without venturing over to the Les Arcs side of Paradiski.

Advanced skiers are well catered for, particularly at higher altitude. The Bellecôte Glacier and Roche de Mio areas provide steep black runs, moguls and off-piste terrain for strong skiers.

Naturide and ungroomed sectors offer further challenge, while off-piste opportunities are extensive across the domain. With access to the wider Paradiski area, experienced skiers have a huge playground to explore.

La Plagne features numerous fun areas including snowparks, boardercross tracks and themed runs. Highlights include tunnels, music zones and family-friendly playful pistes. Across the wider Paradiski area, there are multiple snowparks, a half-pipe and several boardercross courses.

There is extensive cross-country skiing available on the La Plagne side of Paradiski with 85km of trails. The most beautiful of these are the 30km of trails around Champagny-le-Haut. Across La Plagne and Paradiski, there are over 150km of trails, ranging from beginner loops to scenic routes through forests and valleys.

La Plagne is not one single resort but a collection of interconnected villages spread across the mountain. Each has its own personality, from the central hub of Plagne Centre to more chalet-style bases like Plagne 1800 and traditional villages like Plagne Montalbert.

Higher purpose-built villages such as Plagne Soleil and Belle Plagne offer altitude and ski-in ski-out convenience, while lower villages like Champagny-en-Vanoise and Les Coches provide a quieter scenic base. This variety allows guests to tailor their experience without sacrificing access to the same ski area.

Because La Plagne is quite spread out, choosing the right village is key. Livelier villages offer more amenities and après-ski, while smaller ones provide peace and value. Whilst your ski day might take in all the villages, you'll be more likely to go out where you are staying after the slopes close.

All are well connected by lifts (and shuttle buses), so wherever you stay, the full ski area and other villages, particularly those closest to your accommodation, remain accessible.

The best village depends on your preferences. Plagne Centre is ideal for convenience and access, Plagne Soleil and larger Belle Plagne for altitude and views, Plagne 1800 for a quieter family base, Les Coches for convenient access to the Vanoise Express across to Les Arcs, and Plagne Montalbert or Champagny for traditional charm. All offer access to the same ski area.

La  Plagne offers some standout experiences, most notably the Olympic bobsleigh track built for the 1992 Winter Olympic Games, but which is still used for European and World events today.

This amazing track is 1.5km long and has 19 bends, it’s located just below Plagne 1800. You can see it as you drive up, and you might recognise it from an episode of the BBC’s Top Gear programme. There’s a choice of ways to enjoy the experience; try Bob Raft for 4 people, which is driverless with automatic steering and braking; Mono Bob – just you and the ride of your life; Taxi Bob for 3 people and a professional driver, meaning you can reach speeds of over 100km/h.

Another highlight is Aerolive, an open-air cable car experience that delivers breathtaking views and a real thrill as you ascend the mountain.

You can also spend a night in a snow groomer at 2,385m altitude that has been adapted with a queen-size bed, glass roof and home cinema so you can spend the night under the stars. All these unique activities add a memorable dimension beyond skiing.

For a slower pace, snowshoeing and walking routes provide a chance to explore the mountain away from the pistes. Scenic forest trails and panoramic viewpoints offer a different perspective of the Alps.

Yes, La Plagne is extremely family-friendly. It offers excellent ski schools, beginner areas and a wide range of activities. Villages like Plagne 1800, Plagne Soleil and Plagne Montalbert are particularly popular with families due to their atmosphere and facilities.

Families are particularly well catered for. Sledging areas, fun parks and activity zones are spread across the resort, making it easy to keep children entertained. The Colorado Park toboggan run in Plagne Centre is 1,500m long, while Eldorado Park in Plagne Bellecôte is 2,440m long.

Events, snow play and easy-access activities ensure there is always something to do, both on and off the slopes and an activity programme from the tourist office highlights what’s on where. The resort’s layout and village variety also help families find the atmosphere that suits them best.

La Plagne offers a broad dining scene, from traditional Savoyard restaurants to casual cafés and modern eateries. Mountain restaurants are a highlight, with scenic terraces and varied menus across the ski area and in each resort village.

Food quality is consistently high, with local specialities such as fondue and raclette widely available, alongside international dishes.

Après-ski varies significantly between villages. Plagne Centre is good for family-oriented après, while smaller villages offer a more relaxed atmosphere.

For those seeking more of a party scene, there is a lively slopeside bar, La Bergerie, above Plagne Villages, and La Bodega in Belle Plagne has DJ sets and signature cocktails.

Plagne Centre acts as the main hub, with the widest selection of shops, supermarkets and essential services. However, each part of the resort has at least a mini-market and bakery providing all necessities for self-catered stays.

Lift links (for example the little yoghurt pot lifts between Plagne Villages and Plagne Centre) and shuttle buses make it easy to access different areas for shopping, dining or entertainment.

La Plagne itself offers 225km of pistes. It is part of the Paradiski ski area, which links with Les Arcs to provide 425km of skiing. This makes it one of the largest connected ski areas in the world, with extensive terrain across multiple sectors.

Yes, La Plagne is very snow-sure. With most of the ski area above 2,000m and a top altitude over 3,200m, snow conditions are reliable throughout the season. Extensive snowmaking also ensures coverage on lower slopes when needed.