Les Arcs

Les Arcs is a purpose-built ski resort made up of a number of different villages. Renowned as a family-friendly ski area, it genuinely offers something for everyone. Since 2003, Les Arcs has been connected to La Plagne by the valley-spanning, double-decker Vanoise Express gondola, creating the Paradiski ski domain and providing adventurous skiers with access to 425km of pistes.

Situated in the heart of a 300-year-old Swiss stone pine forest, Les Arcs was the first resort of its kind in Europe with Arc 1600 being the original village which opened up as a ski resort in 1968. The concept was very innovative at the time – accommodation built specifically for convenient skiing and doorstep access to the slopes – but it has since been replicated many times over across the Alps and beyond.

Today, Les Arcs is made up of four modern, purpose-built resorts: Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000, each offering direct access to the slopes. Largely pedestrianised and self-contained, they all have their own bars, restaurants, supermarkets and a range of activities. There are also three smaller, traditional villages within the ski area: Plan Peisey, Vallandry and Peisey Nancroix.