Plans and Routes

Never mind the package company brochures that only give it 'good' for 'advanced' skiers and 'excellent' for everything else; it's a 5 star resort all round. Here are the basic facts:

With only 6 official black runs it seems that really good skiers get a raw deal but the vast expanses between and beyond the pistes open a superb domain for the advanced recreational skier. Regular off piste usage results in huge mogul fields developing beyond the marked runs that are capable of testing anyone. Other classic off piste routes, such as the North Face of Bellecote, cannot be bettered anywhere for a really serious powder challenge. From beginner through to those in race training, La Plagne provides every facility necessary to ensure a great holiday………..after all, Jean Luc Cretier, the current Olympic Downhill Champion, is one of our locals!

Of course, there's a DEDICATED SNOW PARK as well :

Snow boarding is definitely no short term fad……and La Plagne has some tremendous opportunities for all levels of boarder. Half pipes, pyramids, sheer powder cliffs and rolling motorways are all to hand for the enthusiast and beginner alike. With such wide expanses to ski and snowboard, the two dominant alpine disciplines exist happily side by side……often literally!

And what's more, we've got EXCELLENT SNOW COVERAGE :

We are never without snow in la Plagne, thanks to its location at the wetter North Western edge of the Alps, its high altitude, sheltering forests and full artificial snow coverage on the lower slopes. The village resorts also have fitted snow cannons so that you can always ski all the way back to the resort. Montchavin has a total of sixty-six outlets (1750 down to 1250 m) whilst the high-altitude resorts have also fitted mobile systems that can be set up wherever a shortage might appear.

And, thanks to an ultra-modern patrol service, we've got OPTIMAL SECURITY:

115 specialist technicians; para-medics, explosives experts, dog-handlers, first-aid instructors and mountain rescue specialists, monitor the slopes, ready to intervene in a matter of minutes. If the weather is poor, highly experienced teams, accompanied by avalanche rescue dogs if necessary, trigger avalanches as a preventive measure. At the end of the day a team of about thirty drivers are busy grooming the snow. When there are heavy snowfalls, the fresh snow is packed from midnight until the slopes open the next morning, so that skiing conditions are as perfect as possible, regardless of the weather.

And there's great X COUNTRY SKIING as well :

Your lift pass also allows you free access (except Champagny) to a hundred kms of groomed and sign-posted X-country ski trails for all levels of ability at an average altitude of 1450 m. Montchavin has it's own 25km circuit. At Champagny en Vanoise, a circuit so good that a number of national teams train there, a modest fee of about £15 a week is charged.

Not to mention organised MOUNTAIN TOURING :

(Yep, that's becoming increasingly popular as well……here's the local promotion of this fast developing activity)

'What could be more beautiful than the pure grandeur of the mountains? With your snowshoes or touring skis you will be able to get off the "beaten track" and explore unsullied nature. Take your time and really appreciate the landscape, breathing pure, clean air. Equipped with your snowshoes or touring skis you can explore Vanoise or Beaufortain and maybe, as you move silently across the snow, you may surprise some of the wildlife, free to go as you please in complete harmony with nature.'

If that or any of the other mountain facilities sounds the perfect thing for you….well, you know where to come. And, if you're still not certain about La Plagne, or if you want more detailed information, please select the 'Plans and Routes' sub page. La Plagne has got something really special to tell you about.