La Plagne

La Plagne Ski Resort

La Plagne's rather dowdy reputation has been transformed by the opening of the Vanoise Express cable car, which links it with Les Arcs to create the vast Paradiski area.

La Plagne Ski Area comprises ten villages, linked by roads, lifts and pistes. In ascending height order, these are:

• Champagny en Vanoise (1,250m)
• Montchavin (1,250m)
• Montalbert (1,350m)
• Les Coches (1,450m)
• Plagne 1800 (1,800m)
• Plagne Bellecote (1,930m)
• Plagne Centre (1,970m)
• Belle Plagne (2,050m)
• Plagne Villages/Soleil (2,050m)
• Aime la Plagne (2,100m)

Those at a higher altitude are right on the slopes and, being more snow-sure, stay open later while the lower villages are quieter and more traditionally alpine. Plagne Centre is the hub of the resort and has the cheapest and most convenient accommodation.

Ski passes

There is a quite bewildering number of ticket permutations available to both La Plagne and the Paradiski linked area. Check the site, www.la-plagne.com before your trip to work out which pass will suit you best. There are reductions for a Family pass (for two adults and two children), a Freestyle Special pass (fun parks only), a Confined pass (for either Plagne Montalbert, Montchavin Les Coches and Champagny en Vanoise, or for high altitude resorts only) and special free passes for under sixes.

One-day pass: 47 euros
Six-day pass: 243 euros

Tourist office
Office de Promotion de la Grande Plagne,
BP 62-F73211 Aime Cedex
00 44 479 09 79 79