Skip to main content

Les Arcs 1600

Arc 1600 blends a quaint village feel with excellent mountain access, accommodation and on-slope facilities

Located in
Arc 1600
Featured in
Towns & Villages
Updated

The original Les Arcs village, Arc 1600 sits at the base of the slopes just minutes from Bourg Saint Maurice. Pedestrian-friendly and well connected, it offers a range of accommodation, restaurants and bars, with ski lifts and schools right from the village centre. Perfect for beginners and seasoned skiers alike.

Arc 1600 is the original village of Les Arcs and the lowest of the mountainside resorts, perched just a seven-minute funicular ride from Bourg Saint Maurice. Despite being one of the smaller villages, it retains a charming local atmosphere while offering excellent access to the rest of the mountain. The village is predominantly pedestrian-only, making it easy to explore, and is served by free shuttle buses linking you to all other levels of the resort.

You’ll find a variety of accommodation here, from cosy apartments to larger ski-friendly properties, complemented by a good selection of bars and restaurants. Ski lifts ascend directly from the village, with ski schools operating from the snow front, making it ideal if you’re travelling with beginners or want easy access to the slopes. Arc 1600 is at the heart of Les Arcs, offering a perfect balance of convenience, character and connectivity for your ski holiday.

LocationKm from Les Arcs 1800Best for
Arc 160019Quiet hamlet vibe
Arc 1800-Lively central location at the heart of things
Arc 195013.6Pedestrianised alpine vibe
Arc 200015.2Snow sure purpose-built
Plan Peisey4.1Small and quiet, great access
Vallandry4.1Small and quiet, great access
Towns and villages in Les Arcs

Sights & Attractions in Arc 1600

Arc 1600 faces Mont Blanc and there are universally spectacular views of the Tarentaise valley, although the vistas naturally improve as you climb further up the mountain. The village is primarily focussed on skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. When it snows, the Mont Blanc and Cachette chairlifts transport people onto the main pistes, whilst Combettes is popular with beginners who want to try out the local Tommelet and Verzaille draglifts. For mountain biking, the Cachette chairlift is fitted with ‘bike hangers’ and gives access to blue, red and black downhill runs, although you can take different enduro trails directly from the centre of resort.

Dining in Arc 1600

Arc 1600 genuinely has a surfeit of riches when it comes to eating out. Le Cairn is one of the best (and most popular) pizza restaurants on the mountain, with generous portions and fresh ingredients. Le Sanglier Qui Fume is the perfect piste-side lunchtime stop-off, complete with outdoor terrace, excellent views and a roaring fire. It is also worth mentioning Le Panoramic which offers a great view of Mont Blanc and serves tasty, reasonably-priced meals through the summer and winter seasons. Finally, for the best skin-on chips in the world, check out the Snowdwich snack bar next to Abreuvoir pub.  

Restaurants in Arc 1600

See all Restaurants

Events in Arc 1600

Events in Les Arcs

See all Events Calendar

Things to do in Arc 1600

Depending on the season, most people are enjoying skiing and snowboarding on the snowy pistes, or riding and walking on the mountain trails. There is a spa in L’Arcadien hotel featuring jacuzzis, saunas and a variety of available treatments. A small children’s playground sits next to La Coupole (a fun circular building in the middle of the village). Due to its quick transport links to Bourg St Maurice and the other Les Arcs resorts, Arc 1600 is often a staging point for big events like the spring Ski2Bike competition, the Arcadienne MTB championship race and the Pierre Blanche ski touring contest.

See our Activity Guide

Nightlife in Arc 1600

Arc 1600 is not the clubbing capital of the world. During the winter, the best place for some après ski dancing is probably the L'Arpette Bar, which is positioned a few hundred metres above resort and has a DJ spinning tunes every afternoon. In the village Abreuvoir is the best place for a late-night with an early evening happy hour and regular live music.

See our Nightlife Guide

Chalets in Arc 1600

Chalets in Arc 1600

See all Chalets

Holidays Rentals in Arc 1600

Conceived as a resort of apartment blocks, to limit the unnecessary spread of buildings across the mountainscape, Arc 1600 has plenty of accommodation options which are close to both pistes and amenities.

Holiday Rentals in Arc 1600

See all Holiday Rentals

Hotels in Arc 1600

The hotels in Arc 1600 are generally very well appointed, with ready access to the village centre, swimming pools and spa facilities being the norm. Check out the options below.

Hotels in Arc 1600

See all Hotels

How to get to Arc 1600

Transfers for Les Arcs

See all Airport Transfers

See our Getting Here Guide

Location

Map of the surrounding area

News

  • Latest gear - best new clothing for spring 2019
  • Latest gear - Mountain running equipment for 2019
  • Latest gear - Camping equipment for summer 2019
  • a mountain biker jumping in the air

Events

  • Thursdays in Bourg Saint Maurice
  • Traces des Ducs de Savoie 2019, Bourg St Maurice
  • the main market square in sarlat la caneda
  • Runner on Trail du Petit St Bernard
  • an image of a person with red gloves holding a snow heart