Part of the Paradiski range in the Tarentaise Valley of France, La Plagne is a multifaceted, well-connected ski resort with 225 km of wide, open pistes. Think of La Plagne as a constellation of 11 stars, with each star representing one of its unique villages. Each village (the highest reaching 2,100 metres and the lowest at 700 metres) has an individual personality: one is more style conscious; one is sportier, and another more discreet. However, each one has everything guests would need, and want, in order to have an incredible winter holiday surrounded by impressive snowy peaks.
It’s easy to book your ski trip this winter, thanks to La Plagne’s very own dedicated travel agency. The La Plagne travel agency is a one-stop-shop for accommodation, transport, insurance, lift passes, ski equipment and activities, with everything grouped together in one booking. You can book in total confidence thanks to their Serenity Pledge, which allows you to enjoy a stress-free holiday with free cancellation up to 7 days before your arrival on a selection of accommodation.
La Plagne at a Glance
- Location: Paradiski area, Tarentaise Valley, Savoie, France
- Altitude: villages from 1,200m to 2,100m; skiing up to around 3,250m on the Bellecote glacier
- Pistes: 225 km and 135 runs in La Plagne alone; 425 km and 258 runs across the linked Paradiski area with Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry
- Lifts: 73 in La Plagne; 129 across Paradiski
- Altitude advantage: 70% of the ski area sits above 2,000m
- Villages: 11, from Champagny-en-Vanoise at 1,200m up to Plagne Aime 2000 at 2,100m
- Also on offer: 186 km of cross-country trails and 40 km of ski touring routes
- The link: the Vanoise Express, a double-decker cable car that crosses the valley to Les Arcs in around 4 minutes, 380m above the ground
The Skiing
La Plagne’s terrain is famously confidence-building, with a high proportion of blue runs that make it a favourite for intermediates and progressing beginners.
- Beginners: The CoolSki Zones offer gentle, free-lift learning areas dotted across the resort, with dedicated slopes at Plagne Bellecote, Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre.
- Intermediates: Long, open blues and reds link every village in the resort, making it easy to rack up the kilometres without repeating a run.
- Experts: The Bellecote glacier and the off-piste around Aime 2000 open up serious terrain, with steep couloirs and vast powder fields for those with a guide.
- Freestylers: Five freestyle zones, a snowpark and a mini halfpipe at Bellecote give younger riders somewhere to play.
The free Yuge app helps everyone track routes, find their bearings and check lift queue times across the whole Paradiski area.
Ski Passes
The La Plagne pass covers all 225 km and 135 runs within the resort, while the Paradiski pass opens up the full 425 km and 258 runs shared with Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry.
- La Plagne pass: 225 km, 135 runs, 73 lifts
- Paradiski pass: 425 km, 258 runs, 129 lifts
- Village Pass (Champagny-en-Vanoise, Montalbert, Montchavin-Les Coches): around €56/day adult, €45/day child and senior (5-12 and 65-74)
- Cool Ski Pass (beginners): around €37-38/day flat rate
- Free lifts: 16 beginner lifts across the resort
Prices update for the new season each September. Check the latest rates on the official La Plagne ski pass page or buy online at skipass-laplagne.com.
Where to Stay: The 11 Villages
Each of La Plagne’s villages has its own character.
- Plagne Aime 2000 (2,100m): The highest village, with striking 1960s “snow ocean liner” architecture.
- Belle Plagne (2,050m): Car-free, snow-sure and purpose-built, split into upper and lower sections.
- Plagne Soleil (2,050m): A relaxed base opposite Plagne Villages, with a wide range of accommodation.
- Plagne Centre (1,970m): The main hub, at the crossroads of the whole domain, with the widest choice of shops and restaurants.
- Plagne Bellecote: Modern, ski-in/ski-out architecture at the intersection of all La Plagne’s sites.
- Plagne Villages: A relaxed, family-friendly base close to Plagne Centre.
- Plagne 1800: A former mining village with a calmer, more traditional feel.
- Montalbert: A convivial, traditional village with easy access to the lower slopes.
- Montchavin-Les Coches (1,250m and 1,450m): Famille Plus certified, with Mont Blanc views.
- Champagny-en-Vanoise (1,200m): A charming, south-facing Savoyard village with plenty of sunshine.
- La Plagne Vallee: A lower-altitude base around 20km from the high villages.
Explore the villages and book your stay via the La Plagne travel agency.
Dining & Gastronomy
From high-altitude tables to Michelin-trained kitchens, La Plagne takes its food seriously. Le Chalet du Plan Bois has scaled back to 23 covers to focus on quality Alpine cooking; Le Forperet is the place for a proper fondue and a secret tartiflette recipe; and Union in Plagne Montalbert, opened by chef Phil Howard, runs a six-course tasting menu from €75. For something different, book a table around the grill at the Finnish Kotas in Plagne 1800, or work up an appetite at the Aperitif Escape Game before dinner.
Read our full La Plagne gastronomy guide.
Non-Skiing Activities
La Plagne is home to France’s only Olympic bobsleigh track, built for the 1992 Albertville Games, where you can hit 120 km/h on a Bob Racing run or take the family-friendly Bob Raft down the 1.5 km course. For something more restful, spend a night in the Over the Moon snow groomer suite at 2,000m, complete with a private whirlpool and Mont Blanc views. There’s also snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice climbing, paragliding and a Family SPA with a 35 degree outdoor pool to fill a day off the slopes.
See our full guide to non-skiing activities in La Plagne.
Family-Friendly La Plagne
With gentle beginner terrain at Plagne Bellecote, Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre, three Famille Plus villages, and family suites with kids’ clubs at the Hotel Club in Aime 2000, La Plagne is built for family holidays. The Family SPA and airbag jump at Belle Plagne, plus a “Teen’s Squ@t” games lounge, mean there’s something for every age.
Read our full guide for families in La Plagne.
Getting There
La Plagne sits within 90 minutes of Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon airports, with car hire, transfers and buses all available. It’s also one of the easier resorts to reach by train, with services running to Moutiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the Tarentaise Valley, including seasonal Travelski Express packages direct from London St Pancras. Driving from Calais, via Eurotunnel or ferry, takes around 10 hours, and there’s ample parking in resort.
Full travel details on getting to La Plagne.
Sustainability
La Plagne welcomes nearly 2.5 million visitors each winter and takes that responsibility seriously. Its lifts already run on green electricity, its groomers use biodiesel, and it’s working with agencies Poprock and Utopies on a full carbon footprint assessment and climate action plan. With 70% of the ski area above 2,000m, the resort has a natural buffer against warming, and its Environmental Observatory has logged over 6,300 wildlife sightings since 2014.
Read more about sustainability in La Plagne.
InTheSnow Verdict
With 11 villages to choose from, a genuinely vast and varied ski area, and one of the best value-for-money bases in the Alps, La Plagne works for confidence-building families and serious mileage-hunters alike.
Add in an Olympic bobsleigh track, a booking process that could not be more straightforward, and a serious approach to sustainability, and it’s easy to see why La Plagne remains one of France’s most popular resorts.
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