La Plagne Ski Breaks Overview
La Plagne offers high altitude skiing in a vast area and is spread out over 11 villages, each with its own personality.
With its 225km ski area La Plagne is one of the largest ski resorts in France. With its link to Les Arcs, via the famous Vanoise Express double decker cable car, it is one half of the Paradiski, which at 425kms, is one of the largest ski areas in the world. With such a vast ski area there is terrain to suit all abilities, the majority of runs are blues and reds making it an ideal destination for mixed ability groups. Snowboarders love it here with wide pistes, a snowpark and boardercross.
Flexiski accommodation is centred around two of the villages. Belle Plagne is the highest village in the area at 2050m and is the most attractive having been built in a traditional Savoyard style. The village is ski in/ski out and traffic free with underground parking helping to preserve the natural environment. Plagne-centre also offers fantastic access to the ski area but having been built in the 1960’s is typical of the era and not particular easy on the eye. It does have all the amenities one needs in a ski resort with plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants.
Skiing in La Plagne
La Plagne is truly a resort for all and the sheer variety and extent of the skiing on offer is unparalleled by other ski resorts. There is a huge selection of wide cruisy blue runs and plenty of more challenging reds and blacks. For a short break La Plagne provides more than enough skiing for a group of mixed abilities. For those who really want to put in the miles and explore and similar sized ski area the connection over to Les Arcs opens up a combined area of 425km of poste making it one of the largest ski areas in the world.
Beginners
La Plagne is an ideal place to learn to ski or snowboard due to the huge about of progressive terrain available. The main villages have ample nursery slopes with ski school meeting points and zones for first timers. Once off the nursery slopes there is a wide range of runs to progress onto and explore the area and perhaps meet up with more advanced members of the group for a spot of lunch.
Intermediates
La Plagne is an intermediates paradise and the perfect place to log some serious distance on the ski app. From the top of Roche de Mio there are some long sweeping blues and narrower and steeper reds. Hara-Kiri towards Champagny en Vanoise can be a lot of fun. Les Sources is a particularly fun favourite with 4km of varying gradients from the top of Roche de Mio down into Belle Plagne.
Advanced
Head up the Becoin chairlift to the Biolley sector and try Morbleu for an adrenaline fuelled and steep ungroomed itinerary (natur) run. Les Etroits is another long and challenging option from this side of the resort. Another couple of favourite options are Bellcotte and Rochu which are both steep ‘natur’ routes.
Off-piste
Hiring a guide is recommend as they will know all the best routes with the best conditions, and as well as being safer, it really helps to make the most of the vast array of off-piste terrain in La Plagne. Off the back of Riche de Mio is a great spot for powder hounds. For the ultimate adventure drop of the North Face of the Bellcotte (with a guide) with 2000m of steep vertical descent and 15km of leg burning skiing.
* Flexiski strongly advise that off-piste skiing should only be undertaken when in the company of a professional ski instructor or guide.
Snowboarding
Snowboarders of all levels will enjoy La Plagne and although there are several drag lifts in the area there are usually chair lift alternatives to get to the same place. There’s a great park for jibbers as well as half pipes and boardercross courses. For the more adventurous there are endless opportunities to head off-piste.
What we love
Built for the 1992 games the Olympic Bob Sleigh run offers the chance to slide down its 19 bends for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Booking in advance is recommended, particularly over peak weeks.
Hire a guide and explore the huge amount of off-piste terrain. The North face of Bellecotte is a challenge for the most expert of skiers.
