Located high in the mountains of the Savoy region of the majestic French Alps, La Plagne is one of the most famous and attractive ski resorts in France . With the advent of the Vanoise Express lift connecting it to Les Arcs , the resort has become one of the largest skiing areas in the world. This lift connects the two resorts of La Plagne and Lise Arc, creating a unified area called Paradiski. The cabins of the Vanoise Express lift, designed for 200 people, will take you at an altitude of 380 meters directly from Plan Pays to Le Coche, La Plan. The entire route of 3000 meters from the station to the station will take only four minutes.
La Plagne means “mountain plateau” in the Savoy dialect. La Plagne is larger than Les Arcs – in terms of area and number of resort villages located here, in terms of the length of descents and the number of cable cars. The first ski resort of Plani was built in the early 1960s, when the first lifts and small chalets were built. Today, La Plan consists of several small settlements: Plan Center, Em-La Plan, Champagne, Montchavin, Bellecote, Le Coche, where there are many fashionable hotels and cottages; all of them are at different heights – from 1250 to 2050 m above sea level.
One of the largest and most interesting stations is Belle Plan (2050 m). There is no car traffic here (vehicle access is limited to a large underground parking lot), and there are no roads as such – you can go to and from the residence on skis: sidewalks and footpaths replace numerous stairs, elevators and transitions, which create the impression of a real space station !
In general, the resort can boast of excellent infrastructure, so you won’t have to get bored here.
But the main advantage of La Plana is the possibility of skiing or snowboarding directly from the doors of the hotels, thanks to the numerous lifts located throughout the resort.
How to get there
By air
The nearest airports are located in the following cities: Geneva (149 km), Lyon (196 km), Chambery and Grenoble. From where you can get to the resort by regular buses.
By car
From Paris to the resort – 645 kilometers, from Geneva and Grenoble – 149 kilometers, from Lyon – 196 km.
On the train
From almost any major city in France, you need to take a train to Aim La Plagne, Moutiers or Landry. You can get there by bus or taxi
Ski tracks and lifts
The resort of La Plan , which is part of the Paradis Ski area, is a large skiing region, which includes 10 zones: Plan Village / Plan Soleil, Em La Plan, Plan 1800, Plan Center, Plan Belcot and Belle Plan, Champagne en Vanoise , Plan Montalbert and Montchavan / Le Coche. All of them are connected by a huge network of lifts, so moving between them will not pose any problems.
Villages and areas for skiing are connected by a powerful system of lifts. The resort is notable for its wide straight tracks and snow reliability. It is simply a paradise for beginners and intermediate skiers, so blue and red pistes predominate here. The descent from Grand Rochette in Champagne can be offered as an example of a favorite among skiers. The descent from Roche de Mio to Belle Plan is also interesting. Risky intermediate skiers can ride the beautiful route to Le Bauche and on to Les Arcs. The village of Plan 1800 is located in the middle of a pine forest below the center of Plan, where there are ski schools and rental offices. There are two long black tracks at the resort that start at the Belcott glacier and go away from the lift system, but only confident skiers can master them.
The height difference in the resort is 1250-3250 m. The resort has a total of 125 ski tracks with a total length of 215 km. Of them:
Green tracks (light) – 16%
Blue tracks (medium level of difficulty) – 33%
Red tracks (difficult) – 38%
Black (for professional skiers) – 13%.
By the way. There is an Olympic bobsleigh track with 19 turns and a length of 1,500 meters.
The tracks of La Plan occupy an area of 10,000 hectares. This is more than at any other resort. Here, most of the slopes are intended for skiers and snowboarders with intermediate training, because there are as many as 66 blue slopes. For professionals, the choice is not so great: there are good “red” slopes in the resources, Champagne-en-Vanoise and Grand Rochette. Extremes are assigned black tracks, under the names “Kamikaze” and “Harakiri”. It is also worth trying the longest 15-kilometer track located on the Belkot glacier.
The slopes of La Plagne, with the exception of Champagny-en-Vanoise, have two or three pleasant easy descents. The most comfortable are the tracks located in the L’Arpett region (descent to Belle Plan).
La Plagne offers excellent skiing opportunities. The main number of red descents are steep, well-prepared slides that are conveniently connected to each other. In Ems-la-Plane, the descents are much steeper. Belle Plan is equipped with a wide variety of slopes, the Roche de Mio is especially recommended. Deserving the attention of skiers is the 1,800-meter descent of Croise in Les Bauches, and next to it, Mont de la Guerre and Le Verdon, located in Champagne-en-Vanoise. In the winter season, the summer glacier bugels do not work.
Despite the supposed steepness of the descents, some of the black tracks of La Plana can hardly be called really difficult. The most difficult of them is the glacial black descent from Galcier de Bellecot. The steepest slopes of Em-la-Plane are distinguished. And the longest black descent to the area of the resort is Emil Alli.
Of the unspoiled slopes, the most popular are the glacier zones, and the unequipped “wild” slopes of Le Bosch and Montshaven. Worth the attention of experienced skiers is the slope located west of Le Biolley. The descent from the Col du Nant, located in Champagne-en-Vanoise, is quite good, but you will have to get back only by bus.
Snowboarders, despite a good selection of slopes for freeride, do not particularly give La Plagne their attention. Carver likes the well-kept look and wide slopes of the La Plagne area much more. The Col de Forcle fan park is located between Plan Village and Plan Belcot, and Montshaven also has its own park.
All snowboarders gather at the Col de Forcle lift, because there is a fan park with big air and a half pipe. Another place for snowboarders is the fan park in Montchavan / Le Coche.
Ski schools and equipment rental
The resort will delight vacationers with 46 shops where you can rent equipment. Only updated inventory is provided here, which experienced sellers will help you choose.
There are also 15 ski schools at the resort, where classes are held for children and adults. More than 300 experienced instructors will help you get on skis or snowboard for the first time, as well as organize a master class on off-piste skiing.
Ski passes
La Plan is 10 villages located right on the slopes – it is part of the extensive ski region of Paradiski (more than 420 km of slopes including Les Arcs). The Paradiski Unlimited ski pass is valid on all Paradiski slopes (420 km), it makes sense to buy it for those who ski quite well and expect to see the slopes of La Plana and Lise Arc. Price for 6 days: €254 for adults, €190.5 for children 6-13 years old. The Paradiski Discovery ski pass is valid on all slopes of one of the regions (Les Arc or La Plagne) and gives you the opportunity to ski with your neighbors for 1 day. Price for 6 days: 237 € for adults, 178 € for children 6-13 years old. There are special types of ski passes and special offers for beginners and families with children.
The new six-person chair lift “Verdons Sud” has opened in the Champagne-en-Vanoise sector. Its carrying capacity increased by 1,540 people. / hour up to 3600 people. / hour Of the 12.7 million euros invested in the Paradiski skiing area in recent years, more than 9 million are intended to improve the lift system.
Elevators
La Plana resorts are mainly designed for a quiet family vacation. Skiing here is mostly comfortable – 60% of the tracks have “blue” markings. However, even those who consider themselves experts have something to do in this part of Paradiski.
Wide sunny slopes, ideally prepared for learning skiing, are at Belle Plany, Plan Village and Plan Soleil, above Plan Center, in many other parts of the region. The gentle “blue” slopes on both sides of l’Alpette (2385) and the lower tracks of Grande Rochette (2505), on the descent to Emm La Plan and the forest paths of Fornelet (1970) above Plan Montalbert are always full of children and beginners.
Having ascended from Plan Belcotte on the 6-chair lift Blanches, more experienced skiers can go to the southern slopes above Champagne-en-Vanoise (1250), where there are good “red” slopes. The adjacent 6-seater gondola lifts to the top of Roche de Mio (2700), on the north side of which there is a wide, medium-difficulty track, while the “red” Sourses, which goes along the western slope, is, on the contrary, narrow, with a stone crumb under legs From Plan Center, the 24-seater Funiplagne lift takes you to Grande Rochette – several “red” runs with a very decent slope start from there. Pleasant forest descents await skiers with average skiing experience above Montshaven / Le Coche; using the Vanoise Express funicular, from here you can get to the slopes of Les Arcs.
On the opposite edge of La Plan, for experts, there is a very steep unexplored “black” descent of Morbleu, which starts on the crest of Biolley (2350), above Em la Plan, and leads to the bottom of a beautiful deserted valley. From Verdons (2500) in the direction of Champagne, there are two routes with the telling names of Harakiri and Kamikaze. It is also interesting for professionals at the very top, on the slopes of Bellecote (3417), where a 6-seater gondola cable pulls; there are two serious “black” descents with a kilometer-long altitude difference and several options for off-piste routes.
Hotels and cottages
There are many comfortable hotels, small chalets, boarding houses and apartments of different levels and stars on the territory of La Plan resort . All of them are famous for the fact that you can start skiing right from the doorstep.
The best accommodation option is the four-star Hotel Araucaria , located right next to the ski lifts.
Each Araucaria hotel room has a private balcony with a wonderful view of Mont Blanc and the ski slopes. Cable TV, a mini-storage camera and an Internet signal are at the guests’ disposal. Amenities include a separate bathroom with a bathtub or shower.
The hotel’s Araucaria restaurant serves authentic French cuisine and original Savoyard dishes. You have the opportunity to take a drink at the bar and relax in a corner for leisure.
The relaxation complex offers guests a steam room, a hammam and a jacuzzi. Daily room service, massage is organized.
Another popular place is the Le Cocoon hotel, located in the skiing area La Plan-1800, just 300 meters from the ski lift. An outdoor sauna, a ski storage room and a luggage storage room are at guests’ disposal.
A cheaper accommodation option is the Hotel Chalet Hermine La Plagne, as well as the Apartment Les Chalets Edelweiss.5, where for €40 per day per person, a beautiful Alpine-style room with a beautiful view of the mountains awaits you.
Chalet Hermine La Plagne
Chalet Hermine La Plagne B&B is located in the ski resort of La Plagne, next to the Le Coche Gondola, 26 km from the Melises Ski Lift and 27 km from the Berger Ski Lift. It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and a garden. Guests are provided with 3 parking spaces.
All rooms are equipped with a dishwasher, oven, coffee machine, microwave and kettle. Some rooms have a dining area and/or terrace.
You can go skiing in the surroundings. The ski slopes start right next to the hotel.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice is 14 km from the bed and breakfast, while Aimé-la-Plane Ski School is 27 km away. Geneva International Airport is 150 km from Chalet Hermine La Plagne.
Apartment Les Chalets Edelweiss.5 3 star hotel
Les Chalets Edelweiss apartments with a balcony are located in La Plana , just 700 m from the boulevard and 800 m from the Colorado ski lift. Private parking is available. The apartments are located 600 m from the Telebus gondola lift.
The apartment has 2 bedrooms, a TV, a dining area and a kitchenette with a dishwasher and a microwave.
The area is popular for skiing and cycling.
Nearby are such popular attractions as Funiplan-Grande cable car, Berger and Verdon Nord ski lifts. Meitet Airport is 111 km from Les Chalets Edelweiss.
Restaurants and cafes
La Plan is a large ski resort, which is also reflected in the large number of places where you can eat: there are more than 100 bars and 95 restaurants that offer a variety of dishes that can satisfy the most sophisticated requests. Vacationers will be especially pleased that even in the most popular and expensive restaurants, the bill will not exceed €50.
The most respectable restaurant in the resort is Restaurant d’Altitude Les Inversens , which offers a gorgeous view of the mountains. A self-service system works here, so visitors will be able to have a tasty and inexpensive snack. The average bill will be around €20. Another popular place is the restaurant Le Dou du Praz, which specializes in Savoy cuisine. It is located on a picturesque mountain plateau, so the views here are stunning.
Sights and entertainment
In addition to mountain skiing and snowboarding, you can find a lot of other entertainment at the resort, which will suit both active and relaxing vacation lovers. There are 5 cinemas, 8 discotheques, a bowling alley, a fitness center, a game area, paintball, swimming pools and an ice rink. In addition, from La Plan, you can take the lift to the small town of Bourg Saint-Maurice, where there are several museums, many shops and an indoor swimming pool. Therefore, you will definitely not have to be bored here.
In the skiing region there is a snow park, excellent tracks for snowboarders, slopes for off-piste skiing. Other opportunities for active recreation and entertainment: mini-pool in Plan Bellecote, bowling and electronic golf in Belle Plan, fitness centers, night clubs, discos, restaurants, bars. For thrill-seekers, there is a descent on the Olympic bobsleigh track.
Among the other news of the resort is the opening of the wellness center “L’Espace Paradisio” in the village of Montchavan-le-Coche. The new wellness complex with a panoramic view includes a pool with hydromassages, a hammam, a sauna, an infrared cabin, a bath with ice water and a jacuzzi, a playground for children and a spa center for their parents.
One of the best hotels in La Plana, Carlina this season received the fourth star. Located on the slopes in the village of Belle Plan, this hotel offers a cozy family atmosphere and a modern spa center with a spacious pool, jacuzzi, sauna and treatment rooms.
The spa hotel operates under the Payot brand. Carlina will be the first four-star hotel in Belle Plan and one of the best in the entire La Plan region.
The new spa center will also appear in the MMV le Centaure club residence. “Ô Pure Spa” – the name of the new spa – will also work with Payot cosmetics and will offer guests a jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, indoor heated pool and massage rooms .
La Plan also offers ample opportunities for recreation with children. The little ones can have fun in the kids’ clubs, ride mini cars or even play mini golf. Various activities are often organized here for children.
