Ski Area in Arc 1950

Les Arcs is comprised of four village resorts - Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 .

No matter where you stay, you have access to the whole Paradiski area, plus its two glaciers (at over 3,000m), two snowparks, and around 150km of cross-country ski trails.

Taken independently, Les Arcs is made up of 137 pistes including 63 blue and 45 red pistes. There are also 12 green pistes and 17 black pistes, all accessed by 53 ski lifts, a high point of 3,226m and excellent snow-making facilities that guarantee back-to-resort skiing all season long. 

Arc 1600

South-west facing, providing extensive tree-lined skiing enabling descents to the unspoilt villages below resort level. An “all weather” ski area, it holds the snow well, but the abundance of artificial snowmaking machines means you are virtually guaranteed to be able to ski back to the village.

Arc 1800 

Sits around the tree line and is surrounded by wide, sunny, pistes that offer plenty of room for those on their first week. 90% of the runs into resort are graded blue, making it a great base for beginners and intermediates. Avoid the bottom of the Maïtaz, Villards and Charmettoger runs where they converge at the Transarc gondola; this is usually teeming with people and, as it can get very icy, can catch out even the best of us, so try to use the mid-station point of the Transarc to get up and over to 2,000m.

Arc 2000

More suitable for intermediate to expert skiers as the runs here tend to be reds and blacks. More advanced skiers will find the longest run in resort, 7km long with 2,100m of vertical drop, but don’t miss out on Arc 2000 if you're only just beginning to ski or snowboard as there are some fantastic rolling blues which are shallow enough for you to learn on.

Arc 1950

The more recently built neighbour to Arc 2000, it also gives you swift and easy access to the more challenging runs in the area. Built with convenience in mind by Intrawest (who also built Whistler in Canada), you can ski back and step out of your skis at the door.

Peisey-Vallandry

Many beautiful tree-lined pistes which are perfect for beginners. Despite being the gateway to La Plagne (via the Vanoise Express), this tends to be the quieter side of the valley. There is a good mixture of blue and red runs in this sector, allowing you to choose your difficulty at the top of virtually every lift. There are some wide-open pistes higher up, but if you like to ski between the trees then this is the place to do it. When the snow has dumped, the slopes around Peisey-Vallandry can seem almost heavenly.

La Plagne

This purpose built resort is actually a number of villages all offering something different. Beginners are unlikely to head here from Les Arcs, however if you do there are some very long cruisey slopes, several snowparks, and the off-piste areas allow you to explore more of this beautiful region. Plus there's around 80km of cross-country skiing, a half pipe, and it's the only resort in France with an Olympic bobsleigh track.

The villages to know are:

• Belle Plagne
• Plagne Bellecote
• Monchavin
• Les Coches
• Plagne Soleil
• Plagne Village
• Plagne Centre
• Plagne 1800
• Champagny
• Aime 2000
• Montalbert
• Longefoy

The winter season usually runs from mid-December to mid-April, with any early lift openings depending on snow conditions. 

Your holiday will be very much determined by the weather and snow conditions, and therefore the time of year you choose to visit is important. If it's sunny pistes and a cold glass of wine on a mountain restaurant terrace, come in March or April. If your perfect ski break is about quiet slopes and lots of fresh snow, then January is the time to come. Or if you want numerous activities organised for your children during their school holidays, February is for you.

Whenever you choose to come, as long as the lifts are open, the local pisteurs will make the best of the snow (real and/or artificial), and groom the pistes to perfection so that you get the best possible conditions.

Les Arcs and the Paradiski area offer extensive options for advanced skiers and snowboarders, with over 75 red runs and 35 black runs, and 70 percent of the area above 2,000m. 

The Aiguille Rouge cable car at Arcs 2000 gives access to the 7km black run to Villaroger with over 2,000m vertical, plus the Kilometre Lancé speed piste. 

Other notable blacks include Ecureuils and Fond Blanc, while reds like Bette, Malgovert and Myrtilles provide varied challenges. Arc 1600 features the steep Cachette run, and Aigle above Vallandry offers a fast, tree-lined descent, ideal for visibility and carving.

Les Arcs is ideal for families and beginners, with each village offering easy blue runs and dedicated beginner areas. 

Arc 1600 has tree-lined blues, perfect for progressing from blue to red runs, with Cachettes and Vezaille lifts ideal for practice. 

Arc 1800’s Mille8 features peaceful tree-lined slopes, nursery areas, and ski school meeting points, accessed via the Carrely and Villards chairs.

Arc 2000, better suited to intermediates, offers rolling blues like Plan Vert and Cascades. 

Peisey-Vallandry has tree-lined blues accessible from Peisey and Vallandry lifts, while Villaroger, the lowest village, offers a few short blue runs easily lapped via the Replat chair.

There are two snowparks here. Apocalypse is next to the snowpark lift between Arc 1600 and 1800. There's also a boardercross. Mille 8 has something for everyone, there are lights and a sound system, plus you can tag your photos to appear on the big screens around the zone. Access is via the Villards gondola and entry is included in your lift pass.

Les Arcs is renowned for powder, and it takes longer to get tracked out than many Alpine resorts. Fresh snow tends to last longer at higher elevations. The Grand Col, above 2,500m, is an off-piste playground with consistently good snow, while lower down, the Vagere lift at Arc 1800 provides off-piste around the Golf and Vagere reds. 

Beginners can try the mostly groomed area above Peisey-Vallandry near the 2,300m lift, which has some unpisted patches. Forest runs near the Derby lift and woodland routes down to Arc 1600 offer varied terrain. 

Always check avalanche safety and consider hiring an off-piste guide for expert local knowledge.

In Les Arcs, the lower resorts of 1800, 1600, Plan Peisey, and Vallandry offer tree-lined slopes and rolling blue runs, such as those from 1800 to 1600 accessible via the Chantel or Les Villards lifts. 

Off-piste enthusiasts can explore tree runs near the Vanoise Express between 1,950m and 1,300m. Whilst valleys may be foggy, mountain tops often enjoy sunshine, so checking webcams is recommended. 

Rain in the valley usually means snow higher up, creating fresh powder stashes. Taking advantage of these conditions allows skiers and snowboarders to enjoy quieter slopes and pristine off-piste terrain, making for a rewarding and scenic mountain experience.