Much of La Plagne’s local ski area is on a gentle plateau made up of wide, undemanding slopes way above the tree line. As these descend into the forest on the south and north faces, they become steeper.
Towering over this largely beginner and intermediate playground is the 3,417m summit of Bellecôte, its slopes the starting point for some challenging, long off-piste descents. However, with the opening of the Glacier gondola in 2023/24 at a cost of €26 million, the top of the ski area is at 3080m, a ten-minute ride from Roche de Mio. It will offer a panoramic “Live 3000” experience and snack bar with terrace overlooking the Vanoise glaciers.
The spectacular Vanoise Express cable car links La Plagne to Les Arcs, spanning a valley 1,800m wide and 380m deep; the two resorts together form the enormous 425km Paradiski area (an area which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023/24).
La Plagne’s most distant outpost is the traditional village of Champagny-en-Vanoise. It’s possible to travel from here across half a dozen valleys to the outskirts of Villaroger at the far end of the Les Arcs area. However, it entails a frustratingly long time spent on lifts. If on a week’s holiday it makes sense to mainly concentrate on the substantial amount of slopes La Plagne has to offer and make a one-day foray to Les Arcs.
