Family activities in Les Arcs

Archery is one of those sports that people all ages love to try. There are a number of places near Les Arcs to practice archery and become the Robin Hood of the Alps. They will all provide you with bow and arrows and you can also take lessons.

There is a badminton court in Les Arcs sports centre.

The sports centre at Les Arcs has an outdoor sports court where you can play basketball.

Canoe rafts are an unsinkable, stable type of inflatable canoe that allow you, without too much technique to profit fully from the joys and fun of white water river descent. The descents are taken on by groups of 4 to 5 boats, accompanied by a fully qualified guide. You are equipped with neoprene suits and shoes, a safety jacket and a helmet. The course which you take is chosen according to the water levels and experience of the participants.

Kayaking is a fun watersport that can be enjoyed as a team or on your own. Unlike canoeing, paddlers face forward and have a double bladed paddle. It is a versatile sport that you can enjoy on rivers, lakes and the sea. You can take your inflatable or plastic kayak and make your way down the water. Using the double bladed paddle you can control the speed, direction and enjoy the experience and wonderful views in your own time.

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!

You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.

Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of adventure companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.

Depending on the age of your child there are a number of childcare options available in Les Arcs. There are also numerous babysitting and nursery facilities available in the area.

The main winter establishments are the ski schools which offer a combination of tuition and childcare for children 3 years and older. You can book your child in for full or half day programmes and lunch can also be provided for an extra charge.

You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kidsclub during the summer holidays, normally from 1st July to 30th August, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes & picnics.

Catch the latest films and releases in Les Arcs on your winter or summer holiday. Some cinemas open their doors early on a bad weather day, otherwise you'll find most screenings in the evenings. Look out for VOST for English speaking films.

The area of Les Arcs is perfect for a relaxed day out. You can visit one of the "alpages" or high mountain pastures and learn how they make the famous Alpine cheeses, mainly the local Beaufort du Sérac.

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Les Arcs and what better way to explore Les Arcs than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Les Arcs without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

Visit the horses and stables in Bourg St Maurice for something different to do in wither winter or summer.

You can organise a game of football at the sports centre in Les Arcs, where there are facilities outdoors.

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Les Arcs! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

There are a few places in and around Les Arcs where you can enjoy horse riding. Learn the techniques to safely ride a horse, soak up the beautiful mountain views and enjoy the scenery all on horseback.

Be in charge of your own sled and team of excitable husky dogs, driving them along forest paths in winter. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start, you set off following the guide’s team. If this all sounds a bit much you can opt for a less physical outing where you sit in the sled and the guide does all the hard work! It's a very popular winter activity, so booking at least 48 hours in advance is a must. They run from early December to the end of April (snow-permitting).

In Les Arcs you can enjoy ice skating! It's a fun thing to do with the family, or in a group if you want to do something a little bit different for après ski. Perfect for children and families and those who just want to enjoy the beautiful mountain views whilst playing around on some skates.

Have you ever wanted to spend the night under the stars, up a beautiful mountain and surrounded by snow? Now you can with Black Sheep Igloos, they are offering you the opportunity for a truly unique experience - an overnight stay in an Igloo up the mountains. Set in the shoulder between the villages of La Plagne Centre, Village Plagne Soleil, Bellecôte and Belle Plagne, the igloo village is at the heart of La Plagne with an altitude of 2118 meters and facing Mont Blanc. Each igloo sleeps up to 5 people so you can really make an evening of it. Included in your overnight stay is a mulled wine by the fire followed by a Fondue meal (inside the igloo) made from local produce and served with local wine and finally a hot drink to finish. After the meal you can head to your ice bed get tucked up in your sleeping bag and have a peaceful mountain sleep. In the morning a guide will wake you with breakfast and return you to reality.

There are a couple of places to go bowling in Les Arcs - in 1800 and 2000. It's a good thing to do if the weather turns bad or if you've got non-skiers or a larger group to entertain.

There are mini-golf courses at Arc 1800 and Arc 1600, the perfect activity for a family day out!

Les Arcs is a mecca for mountain biking, with varying terrain and fantastic views it is perfect for mountain biking enthusiasts. With the whole of the mountain area to explore, the different and varied terrains suit bikers of all levels. So you can enjoy a leisurely cycle around some of the lower level trails with the whole family.

Standup paddleboarding is becoming increasingly popular. Originally from Hawaii, it is a great way to enjoy the mountain scenery and get away from the summer heat, while not being very demanding. There are a number of wartersports centres in Les Arcs offering paddleboarding.

If you thought toboganning or sledging was just for kids, think again, it can be fun for the whole family and especially in Les Arcs at the Rodeo Park and Mille 8. At the top of the Col de Chal you can make your way down the 3km of tobogganning twists, turns and excitement. The Rodeo park is open from Sunday to Thursday from 13:00 to 16:30. With your entry to the Rodeo Park you will be provided with a helmet and toboggan, the minimum age of entry is 12 years old and you must be over 1.25 metres. It is a great adventure for all the family and can be a fun way to spend an afternoon on the slopes, so go and check out the Rodeo toboggan park. You can experience the Rodeo Park at night time every Wednesday from 16:30. There is also a luge track in Mille 8 in Arc 1800 - take the new Les Villards telecabin to get to the start of the toboggan track and set off on a 900m downhill run with alternating banked turns and forest sections. The experience is enhanced by a light show, sound system and the track finishes in a tunnel with video projections.

Raquette à Neige or Snow-shoeing in and around Les Arcs is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions or for non-skiers. Don't forget to wear comfortable and waterproof boots. Either set out on your own, or join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the ski area. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided by most companies offering this as an experience, or you can hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops or Ski Hire Shops, grab a trail map from the Tourist Office and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go.

Whether you like to take a dip indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Les Arcs. Most hotels, lots of chalets and apartments have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit, which often come free with your lift pass purchase. In summer and winter you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

Tennis is a great way to get the legs moving and to enjoy the sunny summertime weather. You can play a friendly game or have a lesson, whatever you choose to do it is a great way to have fun with friends and family. Open during the summer season there are tennis courts and training walls in Les Arcs. Lessons are usually available in groups or privately. Perfect as a family outing you can hire a court and when tiredness hits you can enjoy some refreshments and snacks at the tennis club or cafe.

Head to the adventure park for a day, and everyone is guaranteed to leave with a big smile on their face. Adventure parks are designed for children and adults to play, explore, exercise and have fun in the natural mountain surroundings.

Enjoy the thrills of adventure courses created in the forest in the mountains. The ropes, swings, tunnels, trees and activities will be a great day for children and adults alike. With all the protective gear provided and safety information given you can head out and enjoy the trees and wilderness. Qualified guides will be around the course throughout to make sure you are safe and having as much fun as possible. Different courses and tracks can be tried and tested, each one with a varying level of difficulty. There are courses designed for children only and tracks for juniors and adults to enjoy.

Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.

Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8, guides can be arranged on request and there are a number of adventure companies who can organise your Via Ferrata experience.

In the summer months Les Arcs is a mecca for walking and hiking in the beautiful alpine mountains. As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine the mountains make an excellent place to head out on a hike or walk. Walking is the perfect activity for groups, families and friends, and you can pick from a number of routes ranging in difficulty, including easy child friendly walks. Along the way enjoy the fantastic mountain views, beautiful scenery and wildlife that is normally hidden in the winter months. Check out our walking and hiking guide for more details on hiking in Les Arcs.

If you haven't experienced white water rafting before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! There are a number of trained guides in resort who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.