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Paradiski is the combined ski area that links La Plagne and Les Arcs - two of the French Alps' biggest individual resorts - via the Vanoise Express double-decker cable car. The two sides have very different characters: La Plagne is wide, gentle, and spread across ten villages at various altitudes; Les Arcs is steeper, more dramatic, and built for speed. Together, they make one of the largest ski areas in France.
The area covers 425 km of marked piste served by 141 lifts, sitting between 1,250 m and 3,250 m. There are 259 runs in total: 11 green, 120 blue, 79 red, and 49 black. The season typically runs from mid-December through to late April. Glacier terrain on the Bellecôte above La Plagne reaches 3,417 m. Four resorts share a single lift pass, with La Plagne and Les Arcs forming the two main ski domains.
La Plagne's ten villages range from purpose-built Aime 2000 to the traditional hamlet of Champagny-en-Vanoise. Les Arcs has four altitude stations from 1600 to 2000, plus the separate village of Peisey-Vallandry which sits between the two sides. Whether you want slope-side convenience, varied terrain, or a quieter base, there's a good fit somewhere in the area. Browse Paradiski ski deals on WeSki to start planning your trip.
La Plagne is really ten villages spread across a huge, west-facing mountainside. The main altitude stations - Plagne Centre (1,970 m), Belle Plagne, Bellecôte, and Aime 2000 - are purpose-built and ski-in ski-out, connected by free shuttle buses and pistes. Lower down, Plagne 1800 and Plagne Soleil are slightly quieter, while Montalbert (1,350 m) at the base has more of a village feel with trees and a gentler pace. The skiing is famously wide and forgiving - long blue motorways and gentle reds that make it one of the best areas in the Alps for building confidence. Higher up, the glacier terrain above Bellecôte adds serious altitude.
Les Arcs has four altitude stations: Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950, and Arc 2000. Each has its own character - 1950 is the newest, built entirely in the last twenty years with a car-free pedestrian centre and slope-side accommodation. Arc 1800 is the largest and liveliest, with the most shops and restaurants. Arc 2000 sits highest and gives the quickest access to the Aiguille Rouge (3,226 m), the area's signature peak. The skiing is steeper and more varied than La Plagne, with dramatic descents off the Aiguille Rouge and excellent tree-lined reds through the forest above 1600.
Peisey-Vallandry sits at 1,600 m on the Les Arcs side of the Paradiski area, right next to the Vanoise Express cable car that links to La Plagne. It's a quieter, more traditional cluster of hamlets than the purpose-built Les Arcs stations, with tree-lined slopes and a relaxed atmosphere. The position is excellent - you can ski into both La Plagne and Les Arcs without having to go through either main resort. It's a particularly good pick for families and intermediates who want a calm base with maximum flexibility.
Champagny-en-Vanoise is a traditional village at 1,250 m on the La Plagne side, with a gondola linking into the main ski area. The village has a proper Savoyard character - stone buildings, a church, local restaurants - and sits at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park. It's the quietest entry point into Paradiski and a strong choice if you want a village with atmosphere rather than a purpose-built base. The gondola takes you directly up to the La Plagne skiing, and from there you can access the full area.
Champagny-en-Vanoise ski deals
La Plagne is one of the best places in the Alps to learn to ski. The wide, gentle blues across the main plateau are ideal for building confidence, with long, sweeping runs that give you plenty of room. Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre both have nursery zones separated from faster traffic, and the progression from greens to blues is smooth. On the Les Arcs side, Arc 1800 has a good learning area, and the tree-lined blues above Arc 1600 are gentle and sheltered. Peisey-Vallandry also has a quiet beginners' area near the village.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available through WeSki in La Plagne and Les Arcs, for adults and children.
WeSki tip: La Plagne's blue runs between Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre are some of the widest and most forgiving in the Alps. They're perfect for those first days off the nursery slope - wide enough that you never feel hemmed in, with a gentle gradient that lets you build speed at your own pace.
With 120 blues and 79 reds, Paradiski has enormous range for intermediates. On the La Plagne side, the long blues from Roche de Mio (2,700 m) down to the villages are satisfying, sweeping runs. The Les Arcs side is where things get more interesting - the reds from the Aiguille Rouge summit drop over 2,000 m of vertical, and the runs through the trees above Arc 1600 are some of the best-groomed in the area. Crossing via the Vanoise Express to ski both sides makes a brilliant day out, and you'll cover serious vertical.
WeSki tip: The run from the top of the Aiguille Rouge (3,226 m) all the way down to Villaroger at 1,200 m is a 7 km descent with over 2,000 m of vertical - one of the longest in Europe. Start early for the best snow, and take the Villaroger side rather than the main face for a quieter run.
The 49 blacks are concentrated on the Les Arcs side, particularly around the Aiguille Rouge. The north face of the Aiguille Rouge is a demanding descent with sustained steep terrain and variable snow. On the La Plagne side, the Bellecôte glacier at 3,417 m gives access to a long, committing off-piste route down the Combe de Bellecôte - a classic backcountry run that requires a guide. The Nancroix valley off Peisey-Vallandry also has excellent tree skiing after fresh snow. A mountain guide is strongly recommended for any off-piste in the area.
WeSki tip: The north face of the Aiguille Rouge gets tracked out quickly after fresh snow. If you're an early riser, the first cable car up to 3,226 m puts you on untracked slopes before most of the resort is awake. Check the avalanche bulletin the night before.
The Paradiski ski pass covers all 425 km of piste and 141 lifts across La Plagne, Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry, and Champagny-en-Vanoise on a single ticket. Passes are available from one day up to the full season, with discounted rates for children, teens, and seniors. If you're staying on one side, individual La Plagne or Les Arcs passes are available at a lower rate, with upgrade options if you decide to cross the Vanoise Express.
You can add the lift pass directly to your WeSki booking, along with ski equipment hire at Les Arcs (1600, 1800, 1950, 2000), La Plagne (Centre, 1800, Aime 2000, Belle Plagne, Bellecôte, Soleil, Montalbert), Champagny-en-Vanoise, and Peisey-Vallandry - so everything's sorted before you arrive.
WeSki tip: If you're staying for six days, the full Paradiski pass is well worth it even if you only cross the Vanoise Express once or twice. The days you spend skiing the other side are often the most memorable of the trip, and upgrading later costs more than buying the full pass upfront.
The closest airport is Chambéry, around 1 hour 30 minutes' drive to most resorts. Lyon and Grenoble are both roughly 2 hours 30 minutes away, and Geneva is about 2 hours 45 minutes. By train, the Eurostar and TGV run to Bourg-Saint-Maurice - the railhead for Les Arcs, with a funicular directly from the station to Arc 1600. For La Plagne, the nearest station is Aime-la-Plagne, with shuttle buses up to the resort. Free inter-village buses run within both La Plagne and Les Arcs during the season.
WeSki has private and shared transfers to La Plagne and Les Arcs, plus private transfers to Champagny-en-Vanoise and Peisey-Vallandry. Add them to your booking for a straightforward door-to-door trip.
The season runs from mid-December to late April. The upper slopes above La Plagne and the Aiguille Rouge above Les Arcs sit well above 2,500 m, which keeps snow conditions reliable through the winter. The glacier on the Bellecôte adds extra security. January to mid-March typically sees the deepest snowpack and the most consistent conditions across the full area, including the lower tree-lined runs.
School holiday weeks in February are the busiest, particularly in the purpose-built villages. If you've got flexibility, the weeks either side of UK half-term tend to be noticeably quieter. Late March and April bring longer days, spring snow, and warm terraces - the south-facing runs on the La Plagne side are particularly enjoyable in the afternoon sun.
Yes, particularly on the La Plagne side. The wide, gentle blues across the main plateau are ideal for learning and early progression. Belle Plagne, Plagne Centre, and Arc 1800 all have dedicated nursery areas separated from faster traffic. Ski and snowboard lessons for adults and children are available through WeSki in La Plagne and Les Arcs.
Paradiski covers 425 km of marked piste served by 141 lifts, ranging from 1,250 m to 3,250 m. There are 259 runs in total: 11 green, 120 blue, 79 red, and 49 black. Four resorts share the same lift pass, with La Plagne and Les Arcs as the two main ski domains linked by the Vanoise Express cable car.
La Plagne is wide, gentle, and spread across ten villages - it's particularly strong for beginners and intermediates, with long, cruising blues and a relaxed feel. Les Arcs is steeper and more varied, with dramatic descents from the Aiguille Rouge (3,226 m) and better terrain for advanced skiers. La Plagne has more village options across different altitudes; Les Arcs has four compact altitude stations. Both connect via the Vanoise Express cable car.
The Paradiski season typically runs from mid-December to late April. Glacier terrain on the Bellecôte above La Plagne reaches 3,417 m, adding extra snow security. The upper lifts on both sides tend to hold conditions well into April.
Fly to Chambéry (1 hr 30 min drive), Lyon (2 hr 30 min), Grenoble (2 hr 30 min), or Geneva (2 hr 45 min). Alternatively, take the Eurostar and TGV to Bourg-Saint-Maurice for Les Arcs (a funicular runs directly from the station to Arc 1600) or to Aime-la-Plagne for La Plagne. WeSki has private and shared transfers available.
The Vanoise Express is a double-decker cable car that crosses the valley between La Plagne and Les Arcs, linking the two ski areas into the combined Paradiski domain. The crossing takes about four minutes and is included in the Paradiski ski pass. It departs from near Peisey-Vallandry on the Les Arcs side and arrives at Plan de l'Homme on the La Plagne side.
No. The Vanoise Express links La Plagne and Les Arcs on the mountain. Free shuttle buses run between the villages within La Plagne and within Les Arcs. Champagny-en-Vanoise and Peisey-Vallandry are both connected to the lift system by gondola. There's no need for a car once you're at your resort.
Yes. Ski and snowboard lessons are available through WeSki in La Plagne and Les Arcs. Ski equipment hire is available across both resorts - at Les Arcs (1600, 1800, 1950, 2000), La Plagne (Centre, 1800, Aime 2000, Belle Plagne, Bellecôte, Soleil, Montalbert), Champagny-en-Vanoise, and Peisey-Vallandry. You can add everything to your booking along with your lift pass and transfers.
Yes. The Glacier de Bellecôte above La Plagne reaches 3,417 m. It's accessed via the Bellecôte gondola and provides high-altitude skiing with reliable snow cover throughout the season. The glacier terrain is above the treeline and includes some demanding off-piste routes as well as the marked Bellecôte run.
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