- Details
- Written by: Roger Fulton
- Last Updated: 27 Jun 2025
La Plagne is the collective name for a group of seven purpose-built, high-altitude resort villages and the ski domain that surrounds them. The name also includes four further outlying linked villages, making 11 in total. In terms of skiable terrain, this makes La Plagne the largest single ski resort, not just in France, but in the world. Yet La Plagne is itself only one half of the even greater Paradiski area that includes the adjacent, and similarly extensive, ski area of Les Arcs.
These two giants of winter-sports tourism have been linked since 2003-04 season by the astonishing 200-person capacity double-decker Vanoise Express cable cars. They span the 380m-deep Ponturin Gorge, creating an immense twinned domaine skiable that covers a grand total of 425km of pistes across 10,000 hectares.
"In terms of skiable terrain, La Plagne is the largest single ski resort, not just in France, but in the world"
La Plagne's core accommodation bases are prime examples of the French club/village style of planning and architecture that first developed in the 1960s and '70s. Love it or hate it, the design is undeniably convenient for snow sports. The downside of the fragmented layout of separate bases at different altitudes is that it weakens any sense of unified resort ambiance, which impacts the après ski scene. People tend to disperse early from all but the largest hubs.
Nevertheless, the overall package—with its vast ski area, high altitude slopes, excellent beginner and freestyle facilities and mix of affordable and high end accommodation—makes it, in the opinion of our experts, not just one of the best ski resorts in France, but also one of the best ski resorts in the world. La Plagne truly has earned the right to be described as a resort offering "something for everyone"—it's even (whisper it) something of a unknown freeride paradise, as one of the team discovered when they explored the secret side of La Plagne recently.
The seven core La Plagne resort villages are: Plagne 1800 (1,800m); Plagne-Bellecôte (1,930m); Belle-Plagne (2,050m); Plagne-Centre (1,970m); Plagne-Soleil (2,050m); Plagne-Villages (2,050m); and Aime 2000 (2,000m).
The four outlying linked villages are: Champagny-en-Vanoise (1,250m); Montalbert (1,350m); Les Coches (1,450m); and Montchavin (1,250m).
La Plagne - Ski Map & Pistes:
Even before you branch out into the wider Paradiski area, there's a lot to explore in La Plagne's 'local' extensive ski area. There's a great variety of slopes across a diverse range of topography from a glacial peak, through wide-open bowls, to sheltered wooded pistes. The largest sectors here are the two huge bowls spread out around the two biggest bases, Plagne-Centre and Belle-Plagne; these open bowls are well above the tree line and are predominately characterised by lots of good intermediate runs, ranging from motorway-wide long blues and fast reds to some more testing narrow link routes.
Snowboarders need to plan routes carefully in order to avoid the many flat areas in La Plagne, with the slopes above Belle-Plagne definitely worth avoiding. Lift links within the bowls and to the surrounding ridges are well thought out and fairly straightforward, but they can get very busy; queues are a common feature at this resort.
"The best beginners' zones are to be found at Plagne-Centre, Plagne-Bellecôte, Plagne 1800, and Aime 2000"
All of the resort villages have at least one beginners' slope served by a free lift, the best beginners' zones are to be found at Plagne-Centre, Plagne-Bellecôte, Plagne 1800, and Aime 2000.
The most challenging runs are to be found in the south-western Le Biolley sector, in the valley beyond the ridges above Plagne-Centre and Aime 2000. The outlying sectors of Champagny, Montalbert, and Montchavin-Les Coches all add further dimensions to the domain of La Plagne. Montchavin-Les Coches is the most extensive, with attractive wooded slopes housing some of the best intermediate runs in the area, and is closest to the western terminal of the Vanoise Express for the connection with Les Arcs.
La Plagne - Off-Piste, Backcountry & Ski Touring:
Despite its family-friendly rep, La Plagne's extensive, high-altitude, lift-accessible terrain makes it an off-piste paradise. Just don't tell the powderhounds, who tend to flock to the more famous resorts of the Tarantaise valley (Val d'Isère, Tignes, even neighbouring Les Arcs) when there's a dump.
Off-piste opportunities abound in La Plagne: the Friolin area off Bellecôte towards Les Bauches is the most notable lift-served zone, but there's also great shorter (and usually safer) runs to be had heading back towards the resort from the Roche du Mio. The Face Nord de Bellecôte is the mostfamous route here—a serious challenge, and one you'll need a guide for. And the routes off the back of Bellecôte, across the Cul du Nant Glacier and towards Champagny-le-Haut, will take you deep into the backcountry.
If you like touring — well, the possibilities are endless. Come here late enough in the season and you have the entire Vanoise National Park on your doorstep, with countless routes and refuges to stay overnight.
As with the intermediate pistes, the outlying villages are brilliant—especially when the snow is falling and you need trees for visibility. Over in Champagny, the Verdons Sud side of the Grande Rochette is a big open powdered face. Montchavin-Les Coches has many sheltered tree runs as well as big open bowls in between the Dos Rond and the Mont St Jacques. If you love skiing trees, one route worth highlighting is the descent from MSJ to the foot of the Olympic bobsleigh run below Plagne 1800. For novice off-piste skiers there is a gentle run that shadows the blue Les Bauches piste from the top of the Dos Rond.
The main freeride area is, of course, the glacier. The most famous runs are on its north face and there are many to choose from. The Petit Face Nord is the easiest and most accessible, especially with the new gondola that opened in winter 2024-25. The Couloir Canadian is the next step up but this one calls for a bit of an uphill hike, so it takes a some determination to try.
As always, if you're venturing off piste, remember to pack proper backcountry equipment (beeper, shovel, probe) and ideally book a guide from La Plagne's Bureau des Guides.
La Plagne - Restaurants, Bars & The Town:
La Plagne was purpose-built purely as a winter sports resort, and so the focus is very much on the slopes. Plagne-Centre and Belle-Plagne are the liveliest resort villages, but nightlife is generally very low-key at the other villages.
There are outdoor ice rinks in Plagne-Bellecôte and Aime 2000; a fitness centre and heated outdoor swimming pool in Belle-Plagne; a multi-sports centre in Plagne-Centre; a chairlift-served toboggan/sledging run just above Plagne-Centre, with banked turns over a 1.5km course set in attractive wooded slopes; and a snow-tubing slope in Plagne 1800. There are also a number of scenic walking trails, some with fabulous views towards Mont Blanc, so they're always worth checking out.
Sightseeing helicopter flights, snowmobiling, quad-biking, dog-sled mushing, snow-circuit karting, and piste-basher driving lessons are some of the more adventurous alternative daytime activities that are also available, which means there's an activity for everyone to enjoy.
"La Plagne's prime après attraction for adrenalin junkies is the Olympic bobsleigh run"
La Plagne's prime attraction for adrenalin junkies is the Olympic bobsleigh run. It was built for the Albertville 1992 Winter Games and is based just below Plagne 1800. The 1.5km floodlit ice track has 19 bends and a vertical drop of 124.5 metres; it's the only one in France and is open for public descents using specially adapted training bobs, some of which can reach speeds in excess of 100 km/h.
Most of the shops, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs are concentrated in Plagne-Centre and Belle-Plagne, although Plagne-Bellecôte does have a couple of lively bars too. Belle-Plagne also has a tenpin bowling alley, perfect for an evening activity.
Key après ski venues include La Luna and Les Cocottes in Plagne-Centre, and La Tete Inn in Belle-Plagne. All of these bars feature end-of-day happy-hour drinks promos and/or live music. Later in the evenings these same venues, together with a disparate collection of neighbouring basic bars and eateries, provide a reasonably animated nightlife atmosphere. But really, La Plagne isn't famous as a great après ski resort. If you want wild table dancing, you're better off heading to the likes of Val Thorens or St Anton.
La Plagne - Ski Hire:
With so many separate centres, your choice of ski hire in La Plagne will depend on where you stay. There are plentiful outlets throughout the resort - many offering online discounts - including the familiar chains Intersport, Sport 2000, Skimium and Skiset.
La Plagne - Ski School:
As you'd expect, the ESF is the main ski school in La Plagne, offering its full range of group ski lessons and individual classes. You could also seek out the Oxygene Ski School, or the Brit-owned Lime Snowsports.
On Maison Sport, you can find the ideal ski instructor to suit your needs. Whether it’s improving individual performance, exploring off-piste terrain or having a personal mountain guide, you can make your lessons your own. Visit Maison Sport to find your perfect instructor and enjoy the ultimate experience on the mountain.
