Les Arcs – One of the Most Famous Ski Resorts in France
Les Arcs is one of the most famous ski resorts in France, and together with the villages of paisey, Vallandry and Villaroger constitute almost half of the Paradiski Ski Area.
Les Arcs ski resort is actually 4 villages, Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000. The numbers point out to the altitude of them.
Arc 1800 from the northwest.
In this article, we will show you the most important things you need to know before booking a vacation in Les Arcs and show you the uniqueness of each village and the differences between them, And if you read until the end, you’ll get some great tips that will help you to make better decisionsת save time and money and have a more enjoyable vacation.
Arc 1950 from northeast
How to get to Les Arcs?
The closest airports to Les Arcs are Chambéry, with a transfer time of 2 hours and Lyon, Geneva and Grenoble, with a transfer time of 2 and a half hours.
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If you are coming on the train, the nearest train stop is in the town of Bourg St Maurice, where you need to take a 30-minute bus drive to Les Arcs, depending on which part of the resort you’re staying in.
If you are staying in arc 1600, we recommend you to use the funicular that will take you there in just 7 minutes.
Funicular to Arc 1600. Bourge st Maurice station
You can also take the funicular to arc 1600 and use the inter villages electric shuttles To arrive to one of the other villages.
Another option is to stay in Bourg St Maurice.
2022 Funicular.
If you are coming with a car, an indoor public parking will cost you around 88 euros per week, while outdoor parking will cost you 71 euros per week.
Les Arcs ski area
Les Arcs has a long ski season beginning in mid-December and last to the end of April.
Les Arcs ski area is comprised of two main sectors, separated by an impressive sharp mountain ridge:
The first contains Arc 1600 and Arc 1800, which are terraced into a steep mountainside.
Arc 1600
The second above Arc 2000 and Arc 1950, contain the Aiguille Rouge iceberg which is watching from above on all the area and from both sides, half circle ridges creating the largest bowl in any ski resort in Europe,
The bowl under Aiguille Rouge. Huge
making it one of the best off-piste areas in ski resorts anywhere.
The ski of Les Arcs itself has 200 kilometers of ski runs, more than 100 pistes for all ability levels. Overall there are 16 black runs, 42 red runs, 55 blue runs and 10 green runs in the ski area of Les Arcs connected by 52 ski lifts.
Cachette run above Arc 1600
Les Arcs area connected to La Plagne thus creating Paradiski super ski area which can be available with the Paradiski pass with a total of 425 kilometers of connected ski runs.
Plan Peisey. Les Coches on La plagne side. Here’s the connection that creates paradiski
Furthermore, you can reach a very snow able height of 3,226m at Aigulle Rouge. But you don’t need to head that high for great snow, most slopes are north facing with extensive snowmaking system so snow cover is rarely a problem.
Renard run between Arc 1800 and Vallandry. North facing runs.
The longest groomed trail, is Aiguille Rouge run, which start at peak of Aiguille Rouge above Arc 2000, and is a 7km long black into red piste onto the village of vilaroger with a vertical drop of over 2,000 meters.
Aiguille Rouge peak. The black part of Aiguille Rouge run.
From most runs in the resort you have great views on the mont blanc, the tallest peak in the alps.
Arc 2000 from southwest. Mont blanc and La Rosiere ski resort in background.
For intermediates to advance skiers Many of the best pistes in Les Arcs lie above the villages of Arc 1600 and Arc 1800. They’re broad well-groomed and tree lined base for parts which make them beautiful for skiing.
Les arcs snowpark.
For Advanced skiers Aiguille Rouge piste is a classic. However, keep a close eye on snow conditions before you try it, the best time to have a run at it is early in the morning after a blizzard. The whole area of Aiguille rouge is great for advanced skiers and considered a mecca for free-riders
For beginners the best area is at Arc 2000, and 1950 at the buttom of the aiguille rouge bowl where you can find many blue runs
Vallee de l’Arc 3 run. Gentle slopes above Arc 2000 and Arc 1950.
The most important lifts to know are:
The famous Vanoise Express, connecting between Les arcs and la Plagne, and located between plan paisey and vallandry, it is the largest cable car in the world. This double-decker lift can carry 200 passengers and with the option of looking down the glass floor on the valley below is a tourist attraction of its own.
Vanoise Express. the connection to La Plagne.
Transarc gondola system. after apres ski in or coming back from La Plagne this is your last “train” to catch if you are staying at arc 1950 or 2000, if you’ll miss it you can ski to 1600 and then take a shuttle that run every 20 minutes to arc 1950 and arc 2000. The last one departs at 20:20
Transarc gondola at Arc 1800
Where to stay in Les Arcs?
Les Arcs offer all the accommodation styles from basic apartments up to luxurious five-star hotels. But mainly self-catered apartments.
Arc 1600 is the closest village to bourge st mourice, and the oldest village of the 4 arcs, build in 1968.
Arc 1600 from the north. The funicular station is on the bottom left
Arc 1600 from the west
Arc 1800 is the largest village in the ski area, and compound of 4 quarters. In the quarters of Les villards and Le Chavret you will have commercial centers.
Arc 1800
Arc 1800. Boardwalks on the bottom of the slopes connected to underground galleries
Arc 1800 is the only village with good nightlife.
We recommend club 73 or Le carre for the clubbers.
Regarding apres ski, we recommend on L’arpette apres ski bar, on the intersection of Arpette and Belvedere blue runs, just under the snow park.
L’arpette apres ski. from here you can ski directly to Arc 1800 and Arc 1600 on blue runs.
L’arpette apres ski. Cool vibe
les arcs added on 2020 a big name to its apres ski bars list. the new folie douce in 1800, next to the top of les Villards gondola. This folie douce party on until 7pm each day!
this Arc 1950 is the newest village.
Build by Intrawest, the company which developed Whislter resort in Canada, was Completed in 2012.
Arc 1950
this village is different than the others, by abending the 1960’s futuristic vision architectures style, and making an homage for traditional styles of the alps.
Arc 1950 la village. Many traditional styles. Aiguille Rouge in background
Arc 1950, aka arc 1950 le village, is a 1 of a kind concept in Europe of a 5 star apartments resort build like an old village but carefully planed for being ski in out for all buildings, and doing so with a charmful feel.
Arc 1950. charmful
Arc 2000, is the highest village, and named 2000 not just because of its hight, but also to mention the year 2000 vision, from the 70’s perspectives.
Arc 2000
In Arc 2000, you can have a speed riding course for a week or 1 time trial.
Arc 2000 from north east
The villages of 1950 and 2000 are connected by a pedestrian triple egg gondola operates freely until 11pm.
gondola connects arc 1950 to arc 2000 until 11pm
Les Arcs offer many other attractions such as paragliding, dog-sled mushing, snowmobiling, helicopter sightseeing flights, buoy jumps on huge airbags and many other winter activities.
buoy jumps on air matresses near l’altiport restaurant
We recommend toboggan run in Rodeo Luge at Cole De La Chal in arc 2000.
Rodeo Roboggan Course.
Before we will tell you our tips for les arcs,
Here are our numbers for Les Arcs:
Beginners: 8
Intermediates: 8.5
Advanced skiers: 9
Snowboarders :9
Free riders: 9.5
Freestylers: 9
Apres ski :8
Nightlife: 6
Nightlife in arc 1800: 8
Resort charm : 7
Resort charm in 1950 :9.2
Our calculated total score for Les Arcs is 8.8
Arc 1950 from south. mont blanc in background
Insider tips for les Arcs:
If you planned to buy the paradiski ski pass, its best to stay at plan peisey or valandry so you can investigate easily the La Plagne area, or at least stay at 1800 if nightlife is important.
Take note that like other resorts recently, the extended ski pass has 2 levels of prices and both of them have some attraction included, depending on the price level you choose.
Another tip we have, especially if you thinking about free ride, is to pay a visit to Avalanche park at Col de la Chal where you can research avalanche information and practice using search and rescue equipment free of charge.
finally, our final tip:
Near the end of the rodeo sledge course, you’ll find what is claimed to be the largest Igloo village in the Alps
Igloo village above arc 2000 and 1950.
The village contains hotel, ice bar, and ice cave with many ice sculptures and chambers. Makes you feel like you are in a frozen Museum. The entrance to the Ice cave costs 5€.
