La Plagne

La Plagne is very much one of the Tarentaise big hitters, with mega mileage, bomb proof snow security, yawning snow bowls, and pretty little tracks through woods to cobble and stone villages with actual cows! It’s strange to leave a purpose-built ski metropolis like Plagne Centre and eat your lunch in Montchavin, a charming little village with little orchards and farmyards.

There are ten villages, most purpose built, some traditional, but all linked with convenience uppermost. Piste grooming and uplift are first class and queues are surprisingly rare for such a popular resort.

La Plagne is definitely an intermediates playground and is great for those who want to rack up the kilometres. You’ll get a great sense of journey as you travel between the villages. There are huge motorway blues and gentle runs through the trees, useful when the weather closes in. There are acres of smooth, gentle slopes for beginners and loads of easy blues to help you find your snow legs. Although there are a few tough blacks, experts will find the best skiing off-piste and we highly recommend hiring a local guide. The glacier is also good fun. Most glaciers are flat. Not this one.

Plagne 1800 is a nicely built, modern resort with convenience uppermost. The low-rise wood clad buildings are built on the human scale in traditional Savoyard style. There’s a few shops, 2 or 3 restaurants and a couple of café/bars. This is a new village which is fairly quiet so you do need Plagne Centre for livelier nightlife and more shops. Although it’s only a short distance as the crow flies, it takes 15mins or so to walk, but there’s a very good free bus service circulating constantly until almost 01.00. After that, the bars operate a mini-bus service for late night revellers until 04.00. We have a perfectly located new chalet Plagne 1800 for 2004.

Plagne Centre, built in the 1960’s, still serves as the main focal point for après ski and nightlife. It’s fairly lively and well equipped. The access to the skiing is first class. As it’s the name suggests, Plagne Centre is at the heart of the system and lifts radiate to all sides of an enormous bowl. Our cosy chalet is new to our programme for 2004.

Village Facts

La Plagne 1800 is quite small, but has a few bars, shops and cafes. The list below includes Plagne Centre, Plagne Belle Cote and Belle Plagne.

• Fitness centre
• squash
• cinemas
• bowling
• winter walks
• paragliding
• skidoos
• climbing
• skating
• hang-gliding
• dog sleigh tours
• bobsleigh
• luge-ing
• night skiing
• skating
• sleigh rides
• snow mobiling
• free shuttle service to Mairieus for cross country skiing and bobsleigh
• 6km snow shoe loop
• ice rink
• snow tubing
• helicopter rides
• fitness centre
• swimming pool
• sports centre