Travel by luxury coach from London to Les Arcs with Snow Express from only £54
Les Arcs is a purpose-build ski town with instant access to a huge ski area called, "Paradiski".
Les Arcs is very much a purpose built ski area, with the emphasis on convenience of skiing. Les Arcs is made up of several villages, Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 2000 and Arc 1950. They are fairly easy to get between either by skis, walking or the resort bus.
Les Arcs is famous for its speed-skiing track above Arc 2000, the setting over the years for a number of world records. For a modest fee anyone is allowed to have a go from a lower starting point that keeps your speed down to a sensible level. Les Arcs was a pioneer of snowboarding in Europe. The terrain park is situated between Arc 1800 and Arc 1600.
Town CentreSummary
The 425km of skiing in Paradiski covers every conceivable type of run, but most of it is given over to enjoyable red and blue motorway pistes that are ideal intermediate terrain. Long runs start above the tree-line and descend through the woods to outlying hamlets, and in good mid-winter conditions you can ski all the way down to Bourg-St-Maurice at 850m.
The easy pistes above Arc 1800, served by the Transarc gondola and a whole series of chairs spread across the mountainside, attract the crowds – but more enterprising skiers and riders will explore further afield.
A gondola and a cable-car from Arc 2000 take you up to the 3226m Aiguille Rouge, the highest point in the ski area and the starting point for some classic steep runs including a 7km descent down to Le Planay and/or Le Prè.
The area is so large that even accomplished skiers must work at travelling by lift and piste in a single day from Le Prè, at one end of Paradiski, to Champagny-en-Vanoise, at the other – and back again. Each of the Arc villages has its own dedicated nursery slopes, but the best are found at 1800.
As one reporter summed it up: 'A vast ski area, superb variety of long runs for all levels, great snow. Enjoy'.
History
Les Arcs was one of France's great new areas developed during the boom years of the 1960s. Ex-Olympic champion Emile Allais lent his name to the project and the first village of Arc 1600 opened in 1968. Les Arcs has come a long way since then. In 2006, the 200 passenger, double decker ski lift 'Paradiski' was opened to link the resorts of Les Arcs & La Plagne. This provides a combined area of 425km of piste. In reality, the individual ski areas are so large that the lift has not proven as popular as predicted.
Nightlife and Activities
Les Arcs is not famous for its night life, fortunately the UCPA centre is big enough that it has a real party vibe already. Outside of the UCPA try Apokalypse and L'Igloo at ARC 1800, Chalet de Luigi at 1950 has a nightclub that is building a reputation as the best in the resort.
Other Things to Do
Swimming pool, hiking, snow shoeing.
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Our Top TipsThe fastest way to get from Bourg St Maurice is to take the funicular railway - included in your lift pass.
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Hire your Skis, Boards, Poles, Boots and Helmets etc. Great discounts and equipment to suit all standards of skiers and boarders.
Buy your lift pass online to take advantage of some great savings on resort prices.
Whether you want group or individual Ski or Snowboard lessons, we can book them for you here.
Taking the coach out and flying back? No problem! We can arrange an airport transfer for you.
