two children on a slide in a swimming pool

a child on a sledge in a colourful tunnel

a child playing music on the side of the piste

Snowshoeing / winter walking in Les Arcs

Why Les Arcs is great for families

From the enormous ski area to activities on & off the pistes for all ages

featured in News & reviews Author Penny Schroder-Smith, Les Arcs Reporter Updated 9 February 2017

When it comes to family ski holidays, it can be difficult to balance everyone’s needs and abilities. Juggling ski schools, non-skiers, kids and teens who want to spend more time in the snow park than with their parents requires a venue that can truly cater for the whole family.

Les Arcs is the perfect resort, offering something for everyone, whatever particular interests those in your family might have. Here’s why…

The ski terrain

Whether you have wee ones or teens, beginners or experts in tow, there is a wide variety of terrain suitable for any level of skier or snowboarder here. Thanks to the Vanoise Express, linking Les Arcs to La Plagne, this combined Paradiski area offers 435km of pistes, at altitudes ranging from 1,200 metres to 3,250 metres.

For beginners, the wide open slopes above Peisey Vallandry and the tree-lined Mont Blanc piste over in Arc 1600 are both great for steady practice and building confidence. For something more challenging, Malgovert the popular un-pisted piste above Arc 1600 or the beautiful panoramas of the Aiguille Rouge at the very highest point of the ski area are also worth a visit.

Mille 8

The biggest development to happen in Les Arcs in the last year, ‘Mille 8’ is an easily accessible entertainment and activity hub, designed specifically with families in mind. Having redesigned the lower slopes of Arc 1800, the outside area of Mille 8 boasts a specially designed learning area with magic carpet, a 900m toboggan run, a freestyle area including a boarder cross, look-out points for picnics and weekly ‘snowga’ yoga classes, a forest footpath for non-skiers, and the popular Pingouins area for the little ones to progress and play.

a child on a sledge in a coloured tunnel
Mille 8 on the inside includes a restaurant, providing stunning views of the valley, and an indoor/ outdoor 3800m2 swimming pool and aquatic centre complete with caves, waterfalls, jacuzzis, hammans and saunas. Next door is a gym and spa. Everything is easily accessible by the new Villards and Dahu cable cars.

Children playing in an indoor pool

Off the piste activities

If you’re planning on having a day off the slopes, or want to rest your weary ski legs, there are still plenty of things to do. For something relaxing, head to the charming Cinema L’Eterlou in Vallandry for an evening at the pictures, or go to the swimming pool and spa at the Vanoise Hotel in Plan Peisey. If you still want to be outdoors, I can highly recommend a day out at the Vanoise National Park where sleigh rides, hiking, cross country skiing and husky sledding are all on offer.

There are also seven official winter walking trails across Les Arcs, ranging from a trip to the top of the Aiguille Rouge, a ride on the Funiculaire down to Bourg St Maurice, and a stunning walk to the beautiful Notre Dame des Vernettes baroque church located above Nancroix. There are free shuttle buses to for easy access too. Make sure to pick up a ‘Guide Pietons’ from your local info centre or lift pass office, as well as a weekly resort agenda for what’s happening in your resort while you’re in town.

two people walking on snowshoes in the trees

On the piste activities

Today, one of the most popular on-piste slope features is night skiing, which is available most night of the week in all the Les Arcs resorts, and really does offer a brilliant evening experience on those planks. Find details in our events calendar. For the freestylers in the family, take them to the Snow Park over in the Arpette area. When the sun’s out and the music’s turned up, the park has a fantastic atmosphere. It's great for people watching too.

Just across the piste from the park is L’Altiport bar and restaurant. The outside deck provides the perfect view for the biggest crowd-pleaser in Les Arcs, the pond skim. But if you’d prefer not risking getting a soaking, there’s always the airbag right next to it to practice your jumps.

a water pool for skiing over in les arcs
At the top of the Transarc bubble, above Arc 2000, is the Rodeo Luge, a 3km toboggan run, popular with children, adults and every age in between. Once you’ve wound your way down the track, head to the ‘Grotte de Glace’ the ice sculpture caves, located at the bottom of the Arcabulle chairlift. Inside the caves is an exhibition of stunning figures carved from ice and snow, created by sculptors from all over Europe.

a train sculpted in the snow
If you’re aiming to book the family in for some lessons, ESF now accept children from the age of 3 into daily classes. For all levels and abilities or if you’d like some off-piste experience, speak to one of the ski schools or private ski instructors.