La Plagne Ski Resort Review
La Plagne ski resort is across the valley from Les Arcs, in 2003 they were linked together by the Vanoise Express Cable Car. In 2007 / 2008 ski season unfortunately the cable car did not run due to emergency maintenance on the cable.
Best known as an intermediate destination, La Plagne ski resort and neighbouring Les Arcs actually boasts more skiable terrain than the entire Epace Killy. You cannot actually ski from La Plagne ski resort to Les Arcs, and therefore you are most likely to spend your days in one resort or the other. Similarly to Les Arcs there is plenty of high altitude snow sure skiing in La Plagne as well as plenty of tree runs, guaranteeing skiing in bad weather and poor light.
La Plagne ski resort is certainly an intermediates playground with 60% blue runs and 22% reds in La Plagne itself and if you are an intermediate you probably can’t find a better place to improve your skiing. However it shouldn’t be overlooked by experts as La Plagne has an abundance of powder and the unpisted terrain means that this can be taken full advantage of. There are plenty of off piste opportunities, try staying right at the top of the glacier runs, walk for about 5 minutes and follow the ridge down past the Pointe de Friolin where you’ll find powder and 2,000m of verticle to play in.
There is plenty of accommodation in La Plagne ski resort, but the resort is split into a number of areas:-
Plagne Centre – the main area with shops and apres ski, shown right, La Grande Rochette, Aime La Plagne, where the ski train stops, Plagne Villages, Plagne Bellecote, Beille Plagne, Champagny and Montchavin. Got all that?!
Champagny and Montchavin are the most outerlying villages. Champagny is often overlooked. Facing Courchevel across the valley it has some great runs and is a charming village with a notable ice climbing centre. Montchavin has been given a new lease of life as the gateway into Les Arcs and is a good option for affordable accommodation.
We’d recommend staying in Plagne Centre or Plagne Soleil (part of Plagne Villages) which has a range of prettier more up to date chalets or in Champagny if you don’t mind being a bit further from the action.
A bus system does run through all the La Plagne villages, so you can get around if you go for one of the more outerlying villages.
What can be said about La Plagne ski resort is that for the majority of areas it hasn’t got that much going for it aesthetically, however there is a large amount of ski in / ski out accommodation, so for those looking for the easy life, then La Plagne ski resort is really a good option.
For apres ski activities in La Plagne you can have a go at the Olympic Bobsleigh where you get plunged down in a 4 man bob, with a pilot of course! Speeds reach 100 km/h. Or go and have a go at the Ice Climbing in Champagny, it’s pretty impressive to look at even if you don’t fancy it.
La Plagne is not a mega big resort for evening entertainment, if you’re looking for that head to Val d’Isere instead. However there are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained all week.
The Ski C resort review in brief for La Plagne: All in all a good resort, with a massive ski area using the Vanoise Express. Perfect for intermediates and powder hounds.
For more information on La Plagne ski resort visit http://www.la-plagne.com/en/Resorts-En.phtml
