Things to do in Les Arcs
Restaurants, food and drink
Les Arcs is an excellent ski resort for eating out with a wide choice of restaurants both on and off the mountain. Up in Arc 2000, the rustic Chalet de L’Arc is a must stop for lunch. The prices can be expensive but the traditional atmosphere is highly recommended – especially the strong smell of reblochon and other French cheeses.
The French flavours continue off the mountain. In the centre of Arc 1950 the popular Le Mazot restaurant specialises in traditional Savoyard cuisine, such as fondue and tartiflette. Tables book-up quickly and we suggest booking in advance for your evening meal.
Just around the corner from Le Mazot, Le Vache Rouge is also highly recommended. This quirky restaurant greets outside visitors with a large red cow and the cow theme continues inside, both with the funky interior and on the menu. Beef steaks and burgers abound, but again it is the fondue (with meat platter) that makes us want to go back.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Arc 2000, the delightful Au Refuge Gourmand is as cozy as it is charming. A very small restaurant – what it lacks in size it makes up for in friendly service and delicious food and drink.
Finally, if you’re looking for a quick snack in Arc 2000, it’s hard to find many better restaurants than the Bois de L’Ours, which specialises in delicious sandwiches, burgers and cakes.
Lower down the mountain, in Arc 1800, there are plenty of restaurants to welcome skiers. La Fruitiere, which is part of the La Folie Douce, serves delicious local and authentic food in an incredible setting. If you are looking for a quick lunch spot L'Altiport Restaurant near the bottom of the Les Arcs Snow Park serves quick bites such as burgers and hotdogs.
Après, bars, clubs and nightlife
There are plenty of bars dotted around Les Arcs. The main après scene is in Arc 1800, head to Folie Douce for authentic French apres or the Bar King Mad (known as BKM) at the end of the ski day. Later in the evening partygoers head from BKM to Red Hot Saloon. Just a few doors down in the Arc 1800 village, this bar has a large terrace, which is an excellent place for chilling out on a bluebird day. Live music inspires crazy dancing until late into the evening.
At the top of resort, Arc 2000 has a great variety of après destinations. One of our favourites is the Bowling Arc 2000 – a fabulous mixture of bowling lanes, pool tables, arcade machines and, of course, a cocktail bar. The expert mixologists will even deliver your drinks to your bowling game. Chill out at the Village Igloo bar, a bar carved out of ice with an adjoining ice grotto. It is definitely worth going just for the photo opportunities. Clubbers are also welcomed in Arc 2000. Latino Loco is the go to destination for late night dance music and DJ sets.
Arc 1950 has a much quieter après scene, but we’ve had loads of fun at Les Belles Pintes Irish pub, dancing to cheesy eighties pop music until late into the evening. The piste side terrace of Chalet de Luigi Bar is frequently heaving at the end of the ski day.
Shopping
Shoppers should head to Arc 1950. There is a variety of sports equipment shops – from upmarket boutiques to specialised children’s sports retailers like Les Petits Troubadours.
Amongst the many equipment shops there are also a several places to buy gifts. Cascade Sucre, as the name implies, sells anything sweet, and has an excellent range of chocolates. There is even a little stall where you can buy ice cream.
You can also buy traditional Savoyard products, from ornaments to fine cheeses and liquors, at regional produce shops in both Arc 1950 and 2000. They make an excellent gift for friends and family who sadly couldn’t join you on your holiday.
Supermarkets are easily found across the resort, with one of the largest located in Arc 1950.
Spas and relaxation
Les Arcs has a fabulous range of spas and leisure facilities. The Cinq Mondes spa in Arc 1950 is a luxurious swimming pool complex and wellness centre. The indoor swimming pool is particularly impressive with grand chandeliers and rock features.
In Arc 1800 both the Hotel Eden and the Hotel du Golf have their own spa and relaxation facilities. And the state of the art Mille 8 complex has a stunning aquatic centre, just off the slopes and overlooking Mont Blanc. The exciting slides and water features are perfect for children.
Visitors to Arc 2000 have a fine choice of spas too. The Paradiski’s first ever 5 star hotel, the luxury Taj-I Mah has a large spa area and indoor pool complex. Guests have access to saunas, steam baths, sensory showers and a solarium. Massages and beauty treatments are also available to buy locally. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day spent skiing.
Arts, culture and events
The winter season begins in Les Arcs with the yearly Les Arcs European Film Festival. Ten feature films go head-to-head to try to win the coveted Crystal Arrow – awarded by a prestigious jury of filmmakers.
Festive celebrations run throughout mid-December into the New Year, including a torch lit descent, fireworks and dancing at the Place Olympique on New Years Eve.
Freeride Week takes place in Arc 1950 towards the end of January and offers a week of competitions to freeriding skiers and snowboarders from across the globe. The event includes the Freeride World Qualifier and the Freeride Junior Tour as well as talks on skiing safely off-piste.
Finally, Les Arcs turns into a home-away-from-home on the last week of March when The Great British Celebration arrives in resort. The whole resort is decked in Union Jack bunting and a series of events are hosted to celebrate all things British.
Set at the top of the Varet gondola in Arc 2000 you can find the Fresques Lumineuses de l’Aiguille Rouge, a unique passageway in the gondola garage, with a range of illuminated murals. The theme this year is 'Seasonal Lights' so you can admire a range of different displays - it is included with your ski pass, and is open daily throughout the winter.
Les Arcs Resort Activities
Paradiski is renowned amongst Alpine resorts for its outstanding skiing and it certainly deserves its reputation as a skier’s paradise! However, while you could ski from the crack of dawn until the last lift every day of your ski holiday, and will never tire of the incredible slopes here, Les Arcs has so much more to offer both on and off the piste.
Museum of Mountain Animals
This free museum showcases mountain flora and fauna, learn about the mountains eco-system and appreciate the nature surrounding the resort. It can be found at the top of the Vallandry cable car.
First Tracks
Join the pisteurs to be the first skiers on the mountain where they will point out the main peaks and accompany you as you enjoy the freshly-pisted slopes before sharing breakfast as the sun comes up. Mandatory registration is required before 15:00 on Tuesday (Subject to change. Check with our representatives whilst you are away for the most up to date information)
Tobogganing
Fun and thrills are guaranteed with the toboggan run in 1800. Open each day and for a small local fee you can fly down the dedicated toboggan run.
The Rodeo Park Luge
Enjoy whizzing down the 3km descent with twists and turns on sledge. Every Wednesday afternoon this adrenaline-packed, three-kilometre toboggan ride from the top of the Arcabulle lift in Arc 2000 stays open after the pistes close so you can sledge after sundown. The nocturnal descent is bookable by reservation only.
Minimum ages and heights apply. Your Inghams representative can help you to book this activity locally.
Parapenting
Like hang-gliding, but with skis on. Strap a parachute on and join a guide in an adrenaline-filled jump off the edge of the mountain, where you will soar through the skies above the pistes before coming to a gentle landing above either Arc 1600 or 1800. Speak to your local representative for advice on how to book this adrenaline rush of an experience.
Dinner in a yurt
Join local expert Yourtine for a Savoyard evening by the fire in an authentic Mongolian yurt. After snowshoeing from Arc 1950 or riding there by snake gliss, you’ll walk to the yurts along a torch-lit pathway. A traditional Savoyard meal of seasonal vegetable soup, tartiflette and other Alpine specialities is served by the wooden stove.
Speak to your Inghams representative for assistance booking this trip.
Géants de Malgovert
Take the children to explore the giant 7 metre tall wooden statues in the Malgovert forest, with a range of climbing walls, platforms and rope nests, it is an excellent way to experience the beauty of nature from above. Designed to raise awareness to the woodland setting, you can find the Malgovert giants just down from the Mont Blanc chairlift.
- The Varet Glacier Exhibition
- Ice climbing in Champagny-en-Vanoise
- Night skiing in Arc 2000
- Igloo Village and Ice Grotto
- Aiguille Rouge Zipline
- Aiguille Rouge Panoramic Footbridge
