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.
| Skiing levels |
| Beginner |
|
| Intermediates |
|
| Advanced |
|
| Snowboard |
|
| Cross country |
|
| Mountain facts |
| Ski area |
425 km
|
| Runs |
12
128
79
37
|
| Longest run |
7 Km
|
| Snowparks |
2 snowparks
|
| Lifts |
Drag lifts 43, Chairlifts 58, Cablecars 4
|
| Slope direction |
N,E,W
|
| Ski/resort bus |
True
|
Things to do in resort
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.
Resort Activities
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
Location in resort
- Longitude: 6.682960
- Latitude: 45.506672
- Nearest Bus Stop: 10 km
- Distance to Resort Centre: 1000 km
- Distance to Lift: 50 km
- Distance to Ski School: 100 km
- Distance to Nursery Slopes: 100 km
For more information on travel and transport visit our La Plagne page
