 Poster: A snowHead
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I’ll be heading to Les arcs on the 11th of January for a week it’s a solo trip and my first time at this resort and I’m starting to get exited now so I’m looking for advice from people who are familiar with the area about must ski pistes any hidden gems I should know about, any tips for decent restaurant spots for lunch and places to go in the evenings. Also any extra activities that are available I’d love to hear about (it was through reading posts last year about ADH that I found out about the helicopter transfer to deux alpes that turned out to be one of the best days ever so anything like that I’d love to know about in advance).
I’m staying at 1800 and have gone for the full paradiski pass and I’m hoping to alternate each day between the two resorts and see as much of the area as I can in the 6 and a half days that I have there, is it possible to get to the other end of la plagne and back and ski a decent amount of runs within the day.
Also what it’s the quickest way to get over to the Vanoise express from 1800 I’m staying in nova apartments
Tia
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I know Les Arcs fairly so I'll try and answer some of your questions.
Not sure about must ski pistes and hidden gems. They are all in plain sight. There are definately some pistes I like and some I tend to avoid. For example I like Refuge but not keen on Grand Col. So in no particular order
Barmont
Morey
Belette
Combe
Vagere
Carreley: very short but rewarding
Clocheret
Arolle
Malgovert: The classic Les Arcs piste
Comborciere
Arandelieres
Refuge
Robert Blanc
All 3 black pistes from Varet
Solliet
Where to eat:
Hotel Vanoise
Rocky Mountain
Labouche
I cannot remember any other names
Other activities include:
Rodeo sledge run
Light show in Varet telecabine garage
Zip wire down to Arc2000 (I've never done it but may if I can get a second morgage)
First tracks
To get to Vanoise express from 1800: simply take Vagere and ski directly to the Vanoise Express, then embark on a long series of lifts. With the new Transarc it will probably be slightly quicker to take that up to the midstation but it depends on queues. It is possible to get get a good amount of skiing in in La Plagne. We have skied over to Champagny for lunch before. This year I fancy trying Montalbert and Villaroger in one day
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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To get to the Vanoise Express from 1800:
Either The TransArc lift to middle station and Blue Plan Bois Then follow the signs (bottom of Red Ours or keep on the blue). Obviously can go from the top of TransArc via Red Reches, Blue Renard then follow the signs
OR Vagere Lift then blue Charmettogger which takes you to the middle station of TransArc
The Vanoise Express is well signposted
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Cabane des Neiges in 1800 for an evening meal.
L'escale Gourmande in 1800 for an evening meal.
Benjis Bar and Before 2 Cafe for drinks
Malgovert
Renard
Arandelieres
Mont Blanc
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can you not get from Les Arcs to 1800 to the Vanoise Express before it opens if you really want to maximise your time in La Plagne? Shuttle bus to Charmettoger, ski (pole) down(ish) the blue run Belvedere which takes you to Vallandry and I would imagine that from there is another shuttle bus to the Vanoise Express. While I have used Belvedere to get from 1800 to Vallandry I haven't used wither of the shuttle buses that would be necessary
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There is a navette running between Arc1800 and Vallandry. I'm not sure of the timetable, but it is not as frequent as the other navettes. Personnaly, I'd just get the first lift and ski across. If the speed of the new transarc is to be beleived it should only take 15 or 20 minutes from getting on the lift to being at the Vanoise Express.
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Some very good suggestions so far.
Definitely one to tick off is Aiguille Rouge top to bottom. The cable car often has significant queues but early January is quiet time so you may get away with it. From the top it’s absolute glorious, 2km of vertical and 7km of piste all the way to Villaroger. I love that side of the mountain, it’s usually really quiet but the lifts over there are painfully slow compared to the rest of the resort.
Personally I’d suggest there’s absolutely plenty within Les Arcs to keep you occupied for the week. Though at least one trip over the Vanoise Express on a clear day is worth the money alone and explore La Plagne (I much prefer the pistes on the Les Arcs side, particularly above Peisey/Vallandry.
Also it’s much fun for one day to ski into all the Les Arcs villages, including skiing through the centre of 1950 (and stopping for a waffle at La Cascade Sucree, devilishly delightful little things). The beauty of Les Arcs is that the major villages (Villaroger aside) are very well connected and to get from any one to any other doesn’t take very many lifts, often just one or two.
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In terms of pistes my personal favs:
La Plagne:
Sources
Verdons
Emile Allais
Mont Blanc
Esselet
Les Arcs:
Aguille Rouge
Grand Col
Combe
Ours
Grand Renard
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| Robzill wrote: |
| I’m staying at 1800 and have gone for the full paradiski pass and I’m hoping to alternate each day between the two resorts and see as much of the area as I can in the 6 and a half days that I have there, is it possible to get to the other end of la plagne and back and ski a decent amount of runs within the day. |
Definitely.
We stay in Les Coches which makes it really easy to go one side or the other. But 1800 is almost as easy.
If the weather isn't great there is lots of tree skiing just the other side of the VE.
If the weather/conditions are good then lots to explore of the top of Roche de Mio and Grand Rochette.
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Definitely doable to get to champagne and back from 1800, yes! Once you get to the top of the chain of lifts from the Vanoise Express you'll ski down to the Crozat lift which brings you up above Pagne Bellecote. You can take the left and take the Inversens lift for a quick route up to Roche de Mio, or there should be a new option this year from December - brand new gondola from Bellecote to Roches de Mio with a halfway point near the top of Leitchoums piste. This will allow you do get off halfway and take a route down Geisha towards Champagny, but the better pistes are from Roche de Mio.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Sir Bitton, is spot on with the best way to get to Champagny. From the Vanoise express you need the Lac Noir, Bijolin, Crozats and Inversens lifts to Roche de Milo then Milo, Levasset and Les Bois pistes for a 1500m descent to Champagny. A wonderful run; the only problem will be that La Bois is frequently (usually) closed.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Highly recommend a pitstop at Les Inversens eateriy below Roche de Mio - our favourite! Good selection, hefty portions, decent value (for France!) Great views if it's clear. Then again, you probably wouldn't have earned your break by that point 
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@Robzill, you don’t say but sounds like you’re at least a strong and confident intermediate. If so, I’d say better to spend more time on Les Arcs side than La Plagne, especially as you’re based there. That includes Villaroger and Peisey, same side of the Vanoise Express.
Had a very good fair priced lunch in 1600 last time there. Between shopping centre and Mont Blanc chairlift. Restaurant with outdoor seating and good views down valley. Can’t recall name but @johnE, might know??
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You know it makes sense.
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Just ski it all, it's a great area and you'll cover it all in a week.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Robzill, wish you all the best for your ski trip in January.
We are based in 1800 La Plagne, but know both sides of the Vanoise quite well.
Like others so far, I reckon if you try charging over to La Plagne for 3 of your 6½ days, you will miss out on a lot of the good stuff in Les Arcs.
Racing over to the Vanoise can make you miss all the super runs through the trees above Vallandry.
And definitely don't miss out on the section towards 1600 which is often a forgotten area and so much quieter.
Definitely go for the run all the way down to Villaroger, but I don't rate top bit down from Aiguille Rouge and prefer starting from the top of Lanchettes.
Bombing all the way down in one go from the top of Transarc to Comborciere via Plan Vert, Edelwieiss and Vallée de l'Arc is exhilerating, and a good way to get you to Malgovert - always an experience.
Our favourite mountain restaurant is the Blanche Murée (Plan Bois piste between Transarc mid station and the Derby)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Jonpim, +1 for those runs through the trees above Vallandry, especially good when visibility low but a good blast any time.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Quote: |
Racing over to the Vanoise can make you miss all the super runs through the trees above Vallandry.
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I've lost count of the number of times I've been heading over to La Plagne and been seduced by these runs in Vallandry and in the end never bothered going over.
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Thanks for all the info everyone looks like I’ll have plenty to keep me entertained.
So what are the ques like for getting up the the higher points like Aguile rouge etc. in alpe d Huez last year I loved the pic Blanc but only went a handful of times due to the que always being over half an hour long.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Robzill, 11th Jan shouldn't be too bad I'd imagine - especially if you go at lunch time.
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Renard, one of the best charges in The Alps.
Edelweiss for views and the Mont Blanc piste on a sunny day, which surprisingly has a great view of .......er......Mont Blanc - nothing challenging, just nice skiing
I like all that Peisey/Vallandry sector personally and really like Les Arcs. Some of the best tree-lines anywhere.
Then Borselliers in La Plagne
New Transarc lift this season too.
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@Robzill, there are aways huge queues for the aiguille rouge telepherique. Though it leeds to some excellent runs (Robert blanc springs to mind) the queue has put me off the last couple season. But do not worry there is tons of other good skiing
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I'd spend an hour or two looping Arandelieres (and the blues below) from the Varet lift above arc 1950, always puts a smile on my face and a great way to get some carving in if that's your thing.
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FAQ
