Les Arcs

Les Arcs, France

Rated: 4/5 (from 7 ratings)

Ski Area Highlights

Recommended For	Freeriders, Expert Skiers, Intermediates, Beginners, Snowboarders and Snowfall!
Total Piste Length	200km124 miles
Highest Lift	3,230m10,597ft
Resort Height	1,600m5,249ft
Nearest Airports	Cannes and Saint-Tropez
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Les Arcs

Les Arcs, including four resort centres in 2 valleys (at 1600, 1800, 1950 and 2000 metres altitude) and several adjacent villages, is one of the great French ski areas with skiing from gentle Blues to seriously steep Blacks and extensive off-piste and freeride terrain.

Summary

The ski area of Les Arcs is in the French Alps at an altitude of 1,600m5,249ft, with 200km124 miles of marked runs.

Les Arcs is part of the Paradiski area with access to 425km264 miles of downhill skiing, with 475 marked pistes, served by a total of 141 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Les Arcs itself (200km124 miles of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Paradiski ski resorts of La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry.

Les Arcs comprises the villages of Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000.

Snowboarding

Les Arcs is very highly rated by Snowboarders and there are a variety of Snow and Terrain Parks in Les Arcs.

Notable Ski Runs

The longest possible descent in Les Arcs is 7km4 miles long and the most difficult run is the 'Robert Blanc'.

Ski Area Stats

Skiing

The ski area of Les Arcs is one of the world's buggest with a massive vertical range and an excellent variety of terrain.

The Vanoise Express cable car, which departs from Peisey Vallandry, takes 200 people at a time (120 on the lower deck, 80 on the upper one) over to La Plagne and the rest of the joint Paradiski area in just four minutes.

Les Arcs for Beginners

There is terrain to suit any level of skier with Arc 1600 down in the woods, surrounded by largely gentle trails through the trees, and both 1800 and 2000 located at the tree line with wide open sunny slopes above. All of the centres have gently sloping meadows directly beside them for the first few runs.

Les Arcs for Intermediates

Intermediates, as with all 'super ski areas' can perhaps get the maximum enjoyment of all, being able to tackle most of the slopes. Much of the terrain is long fast motorway cruising, although there is more variety than at many comparable resorts.

More confident intermediate skiers should be able to cope with the Red down from the imposing Aiguille Rouge, the highest point of the ski area where the cable car broadcasts a recorded announcement (when you're ascending) advising that the terrain is not safe for inexperienced skiers.

Les Arcs for Experts

Experts have plenty to keep them happy including a number of 'proper' Black runs, and extensive off-piste terrain. The legendary 7km (4.5) mile long Black from the top of the Aiguille Rouge down to Villaroger is one of the world's longest and covers the world's biggest vertical for a run of this grading, a full 2000 metres.

There are plenty of other challenges including mogul runs like the Dou de l'homme and the increasingly frequented off-piste route from La Plagne to Les Arcs, returning via the Nancroix forest.

Cross Country

For cross-country skiers there are three 5km long loops, one by each resort.

There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.

Location and Map

Where is Les Arcs?

This ski resort is in the French Alps in Draguignan, Département du Var.

Map

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