The superb ski area of la Plagne is a well connected and extensive ski area with a glacier, plenty of tree lined runs and a good choice of mountain restaurants for lunch. The well designed resort comprises some ten villages, each with its own character and infrastructure. Plagne 1800 has all the individual wooden chalets and along with the aptly named Belle Plagne is the most scenic, whilst Plagne Soleil is ideally situated in a sunny bowl and offers easy ski in/ ski out accommodation. Plagne Centre provides quick and easy access to the slopes and is the focal point for shops and apres ski.
Ski holidays in La Plagne
Wonderfully varied and extensive skiing, capped by the Bellecôte glacier
Latest from La Plagne
Ski and Snowboard Information
Skiing Levels
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Beginners
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Intermediates
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Advanced
- Snowboard
- Cross Country
Beginners skiing and snowboarding in La Plagne
Beginner skiers are well catered for in La Plagne. There are several beginner areas and it is simple to progress from green runs to blues and beyond. La Plagne is well connected with a series of free lifts in most of the villages, so that complete beginners can easily learn before heading out onto the mountain proper. And with lots of blue runs leading off the mountain and into the villages it is simple for beginners to ski back to their hotel - a rewarding way to end a day on the slopes.
Intermediates skiing and snowboarding in La Plagne
La Plagne is known as a heaven for intermediates. And with blue and reds making up 80% of the groomed pistes the reputation is well deserved. With long winding runs, La Plagne offers visitors ample opportunities to cruise and perfect those parallel turns. There are a fantastic range of runs to explore, from skiing on top of the Bellecôte glacier, which at 3250m is the highest lift served location in the resort, to slalom courses and tree lined pistes. We recommend the Mont Blanc blue: a gorgeous, long and winding, and well maintained piste running all the way down to the Vanois Express gondola from the top of Dos Rond.
Advanced skiing and snowboarding in La Plagne
Alongside its reputation for incredible intermediate runs, La Plagne is also renowned for its amazing, high altitude, off-piste – a veritable freeride paradise. Take the Crêtes drag lift and hike into Le Biolley to experience the fantastic powder, chutes and spines. Or head-up to the top of the north face of the Bellecôte Glacier to attempt some of the most challenging off-piste in Europe. We recommend you ski with an experienced guide as you explore this challenging part of the mountain.
The Bellecôte glacier is also fantastic for advanced on piste skiing and boarding. Heading from the top of the glacier down into the steep, black le Dérochoir run provides thrill seekers with a bumpy and winding challenge as the piste is rarely groomed.
Freestyle and terrain parks in La Plagne
There is a strong freestyle scene in La Plagne and the resort has a number of snow parks available in which you can practice your jumping and trick techniques. These include Le Petit Park for beginners and Le Grand Park for more experienced freestylers. Together the parks offer a strong range of kickers, tables and rails and there is also a couple of boardercross courses and a halfpipe available in resort.
There are several schools offering freestyle lessons in La Plagne. So if you have never tried freestyle skiing or boarding, and have always wanted to, this might be the holiday where you give it a go.
Mountain Facts
- Area 425 km
- Resort Altitude1200m
- Ski Alt. From1200m
- Ski Alt. To3250m
- Runs
- Longest Run7 km
- Lifts Lifts 1 , Chairlifts 58 , Free Baby Lifts Yes , Baby drags 25 , Cable car 4 , Draglifts 43 , Gondolas 16 , Magic Carpets 1
- Lift Times
7 days open until about 16.40 until Jan 4, 17.00 until Feb 8 and 17.20 after that (approx times vary for different lifts).
- Lift Ski LockersNo
- Whole Area Pass Lifts122
- Night Skiing IncludedYes
- Glaciers1
- Mountain Restaurants15
- Snow Cannons626
- Cross Country Trails
133km in the Paradiski area
- Off-piste OptionsYes
- Slope Direction,N,E,W
- Snowpark Info
2 snowparks
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from£679pp
- Sleeps: 15
With a fantastic position near the slopes and ski lift and the additional bonus of a hot tub.
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from£589pp
- Sleeps: 14
Ideally located in the centre of Plagne 1800 and a mere 40m from the slopes, Chalet Chanterelles occupies an absolutely prime location for both resort and ski area access.
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from£725pp
- Sleeps: 10-13
This chalet has proved to be one of our most popular in France. It is a charming chalet situated close to the lifts and shops of Plagne 1800.
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from£919pp
- 72 rooms
The Araucaria Hotel & Spa was completely renovated for Winter 17/18. Exceptionally well located at the bottom of the slalom run in Plagne Centre, this exciting update has been managed by the same owners as the Rockypop and Heliopic Hotel in Chamonix.
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from£1419pp
- 47 rooms
Tastefully decorated and furnished in traditional alpine style, the Carlina offers a lovely, homely atmosphere. The food is of excellent quality and offers a varied nightly menu.
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from£949pp
- 40 rooms
Built in a traditional and rustic chalet style, the hotel offers genuine ski-in/ski-out convenience and a comfortable base for your stay in Belle Plagne with excellent leisure facilities, restaurants and bars and an on-site mini supermarket.
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from£799pp
- 42 rooms
Tastefully decorated, the Hotel Vancouver enjoys a fantastic piste-side location in Plagne Soleil and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
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from£519pp
Built in a traditional and rustic chalet-style, the apartments offer genuine ski-in/ski-out convenience and a comfortable base for your stay in Belle Plagne.
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from£439pp
Positioned on the piste in the village of Plagne Soleil, these apartments have been built in a traditional chalet style with large balconies, many of which have amazing views.
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from£474pp
Located in the heart of Belle Plagne we are pleased to introduce the ski-in/ski-out Constellations Apartments.
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from£579pp
- 81 rooms
This high quality residence is located in the centre of Plagne Soleil and offers direct access to the pistes as well as fantastic views and facilities. Among the best apartments in the resort.
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from£469pp
- 67 rooms
Located close to the ski lifts, these recently renovated apartments are close to the amenities of the pretty village of Plagne 1800.
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from£509pp
- 65 rooms
Built to a very high standard this wonderful residence offers excellent accommodation and leisure facilities in a perfect location right on the piste.
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from£469pp
- 76 rooms
Built in 2016, these lovely ski-in/ski-out apartments are in a prime location at the foot of the La Bergerie chairlift in La Plagne Village.
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from£519pp
- 46 rooms
The Résidence Le Centaure overlooks the village of Belle Plagne; ideally located at the foot of the slopes, it has magical views!
Inghams Plus
- Groups - Up to 1 in 7 go Free - W18/19
- Early Booking Offers at selected hotels
- 2-For-1 Ski/Snowboard Hire when when you pre-book your lift pass
- Free Paradiski lift pass upgrade offer for adult, child & senior passes - Departures 23 Mar & 30 Mar 2019. (Winter 2019/20 dates to be announced)
- Free child helmet when booking skis & boots
- Free child lift passes (5-12yrs) when 2 adults pre-book Paradiski Unlimited passes - Departures 22 Dec, 6 Apr & 13 Apr. (Winter 2019/20 dates to be announced).
- Save up to £13 on each adult lift pass - pre-booked prices based on Paradiski 'TRIBU' offer
- Inghams Rep based in resort
Special Offers
Things To Do
Restaurants, food and drink
La Plagne is a Shangri La for food loving skiers and snowboarders. There are plenty of excellent restaurants serving delicious, traditional French dishes. For lunch, we recommend the lovely Le Chalet du Friolin. Nestled in a beautiful valley on the way to Montchavin, this delightful restaurant just off the pistes serves excellent French cuisine and the terrace has the added advantage of being a real sun-trap too. Le Matafan restaurant in Belle Plagne is another firm favourite here at Inghams. This charmingly, rustic restaurant serves traditional Savoyard cuisine. When we visited for dinner we sampled the delicious beaufortain – a cross between fondue and raclette.
Après, bars, clubs and nightlife
The après scene in La Plagne isn’t focused on one single area but instead spread between the many villages. This has led to a diverse range of options for the die-hard aprés skier – from cozy pubs, via igloo themed bars to open-air bars with DJ performances by the piste. Scotty’s is one of the best known après bars in resort, thanks in part to its location right at the bottom of the Olympic run in Plagne Centre. Another good option is Le Saloon, an American themed bar in Belle Plagne is one of the best places on the mountain to party all night. Perfectly located in the centre of Plagne 1800 and with its quirky, mining inspired décor and regular live music, Bar La Mine, is another fantastic place to spend a night out.
Shopping
Winter sports is the principle past-time in La Plagne and this is reflected in the number of sports shops selling mountain equipment and clothing. Away from the usual winter sports services there are plenty of tabacs selling souvenirs and postcards to send home to friends and family. Visitors to La Plagne staying in self-catering accommodation will find Spar supermarkets located across the resort.
Spas and relaxation
Many of the hotels throughout La Plagne provide spa and wellness facilities, including the Hotel Carlina in Belle Plagne which has a sauna, whirlpool and Turkish bath; the Hotel Araucaria in Plagne Centre has excellent spa facilities including a hammam, pool and sauna; and the Les Granges du Soleil Apartments in Plagne Soleil has a Jacuzzi and a sauna. All offer beauty treatments which you can purchase locally.
It couldn’t be easier to get straight from the slopes to the sauna when you stay at either the Hotel Vancouver or the Sun Valley Apartments. Both offer door-step skiing complete with an indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Available to the public, there is an open-air, heated pool in Plagne Bellecôte where the water is kept at a toasty 29°C. It’s a relaxing and unique way to experience the mountains of La Plagne.
Arts, culture and events
Throughout the season La Plagne buzzes with a thriving calendar of events, both cultural and sporting. The resort consistently hosts professional competitions and tournaments including the Ice Climbing World Championship in early February and the FIS Telemark World Championships in late March, fantastic spectator events for any visitor to La Plagne.
From folk to jazz via rock-n-roll and dance, the Snow Music Festival entertains skiers both on and off the mountain in early February. An eclectic range of musical genres are performed live and in the open-air, with performances lasting until late into the day. Later in the month the Festi'Gliss is your opportunity to road-test some of the latest and wackiest inventions created for getting down the mountain. This surreal showcase will let you test such modes of transport as the yooner, the airboard, the snake gliss and the snowscoot (to name but a few).
The season ends in La Plagne with a massive party. The Subli’Cimes transforms six separate summits into differently themed areas, truly highlighting the diversity of the resort. From adrenaline junky activities to magic shows and beauty treatments, the entertainment on offer is genuinely eclectic.
Activity Information
There are a full range of après ski activities and events in La Plagne, so even if you aren’t skiing or snowboarding you will certainly find an activity to keep you entertained. Our representatives in resort can help you to book many of the activities we’ve listed below – so if you see something which captures your imagination be sure to mention it to your rep.
Ice Grotto
At the top of the Bellecote glacier the La Plagne ice grotto makes for an interesting and beautiful diversion from a day on the slopes. The grotto is filled with ice sculptures which change every year as the glacier moves and reforms.
Olympic bob-sleigh experience
There aren’t many places in the world where you can experience an Olympic bob-sleigh track but Plagne 1800 is one of the few places where you can. The 1500m long bob-sleigh run complete with 19 thrilling bends is an unusual and memorable experience. You can choose from 4 grades of experience ranging from the 80kmph bob raft to the full-on 130kmph Olympic experience.
Parapenting
Parapenting or paragliding where you soar around the mountain by parachute is a popular mountain pursuit. And there are many activity operators in La Plagne offering visitors the opportunity to experience this exciting sport, both in Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre. Your Inghams representative can help you to find the parapenting experience that is right for you.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is an exciting way to explore the mountainside and the glaciers and wide pistes of La Plagne are perfect for bombing around on on a skidoo. There are a number of activities operators in La Plagne offering this experience and our representatives can help you find the most appropriate tour one for you.
Tobogganing
When the weather is favourable Le Colorado Park opens its mile-long sled run to the public. This lengthy and exciting toboggan run next to the Colorado ski lift in Plagne Centre provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountainside, including glimpses of Mont Blanc.
Other activities in La Plagne
- Cinema
- Bowling (Belle Plagne)
- Ice climbing
- Ice hockey
- Ice skating (Bellecôte)
- Snowshoeing
- Speed-riding
- Zip wire
Ski Extras
Winter 2019/20 Pre-bookable Lift Passes, Ski Hire & Tuition
| SKI INCLUSIVE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ski Inclusive – Save up to £70 per person |
Book our Ski Inclusive bundle and save £s on your lift pass, skis / board and boots. See our Ski Inclusive page for details.
FREE Paradiski lift pass upgrade offer for adult, child and senior passes - Departures 4 & 11 Jan, 21 & 28 Mar 2020
FREE child lift pass offer (5-12yrs) when 2 adults pre-book Paradiski Premium passes - Departures 21 Dec, 4 Apr & 11 Apr 2020
FREE Paradiski afternoon on day of arrival when buying a 6 day pass
| Lift Passes | Days | Adult 13-64 |
Child* 5-12 |
Senior* 65-74 |
Family 2 Ad & 2 Ch 5-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradiski | 6 | £263 | £208 | £208 | £889 |
| Local | 6 | L £206 H £229 |
L £165 H £180 |
L £165 H £180 |
L £634 H £764 |
L (14-20 Dec & 18 April-end of season), H (21 Dec - 17 April)
*0-4yrs Free (issued in resort, photo required) /*75+ arrange pass locally (free but the ski card is €10)
| Equipment | Description | Blue | Red | Black |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult 13+ | Skis | £87 | £101 | £114 |
| Skis & Boots | £117 | £136 | £153 | |
| Snowboard | - | £101 | £114 | |
| Snowboard & boots | - | £136 | £153 | |
| Child* 6-12 | Skis & boots | - | £63 | - |
| Snowboard & boots | - | £63 | - |
Equipment Hire (6 days) – Please see here for description of hire categories.
*White category skis/boots available for children aged 3-5: £50
*Snowboard & boots 8-12yrs.
| Tuition (1800, Soleil & Centre) |
Days | Hours | Adult (13+) |
Child* (5-12yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ski | 6 | 2.5-3 hrs per day | £155 L/£186 H | £155 L/£186 H |
| Snowboard | £155 L/£214 H | £155 L/£214 H |
| Tuition (Belle Plagne) |
Days | Hours | Adult (13+) |
Child* (3-12yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ski | 6 | 3 hrs per day | £187 L/£209 H | £187 L/£209 H |
| Snowboard | £200 L/£211 H | £166 L/£216 H |
H (21 Dec - 3 Jan, 8 Feb - 6 March & 4 Apr - end of season) L (all other dates)
*Child snowboard tuition 8-12yrs.
All lessons are in the morning. Timings are: Sun: 9:30am-12pm, Mon-Fri: 9:15am-12pm except weeks of 8, 15, 22 & 29 Feb when the times are Sun-Fri 9:15am-12pm and from 8 Mar onwards when the times are Sun: 9:30am-12:15pm, Mon-Fri 9:15am-12:15pm.
Prices and supplements are correct at time of printing. Up-to-date prices will be confirmed at time of booking.
Useful Information
Resort Code: FRLA
Languages spoken: French
Time difference: GMT+1
Currency: EUR
Travel and Transportation
Flights depart Saturday
To Geneva
From Gatwick
Manchester
Heathrow*
Jersey
Edinburgh
Belfast Int'l
Inverness
Birmingham
Isle of Man
Cambridge
Newcastle
Leeds Bradford
Transfer 2hrs and 45mins by coach
Flights depart Saturdays
To Chambery
From Gatwick
Exeter
Stansted
Manchester
Southamton
Bristol
Transfer 2hrs by coach
Supplements apply on some flights.
*Only private transfers (at supplement) available on these flights.
Rail
Direct Eurostar to Moutiers
Transfer from Moutiers - 30mins
Private transfers and Self drive are available.
Car hire available: No
Evening resort bus service: Yes
Local bus services:
Parking available: Yes
Resort Ski bus available: Yes
Ski bus info:
Free bus links all villages, runs every 15 minutes until about 12:45am.
