Overview of Paradiski
Situated in the Tarentaise Valley in the heart of the French Alps, Paradiski is a magnificent area for winter sports enthusiasts. It features a mammoth 425 km of pristine pistes, 238 slopes, 4 snow parks and 2 half pipes spread throughout the fun and lively resorts. The ski centres are all self-contained and have their own shops, bars and restaurants for when you aren’t hitting the slopes.
There is a max altitude for skiing of 2550m, with great conditions found at the higher altitude. There are also ski schools for beginners and well-positioned nurseries for the little ones.
For group parties, Paradiski is ideal thanks to the availability of spacious accommodation found here.
Resorts in Paradiski
MAIN SKI RESORTS IN PARADISKI
La Plagne
Overview of Ski Resort
Spread over 10 charming villages, each with their own distinctive atmosphere and across a fair distance, La Plagne has wide and gentle slopes which are ideal for families and beginners. With this in mind, you should be aware that February half-term can be very crowded.
Best for:
- Families
- Beginners
- Intermediate
Piste Guide
For beginners, families and lower intermediates, you will struggle to find a better resort than La Plagne. A wonderful winter playground with wide and gentle slopes: this will help to develop your skills and confidence whilst ensuring that you have plenty of fun. For the beginners, the higher accommodation centres of Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre are closest to many of the easy blues.There are also nursery slopes and a bunch of ski schools to choose from.
For more advanced skiers, the 2,700m Roche de Mio and Bellecote Glacier will give you the adrenaline rush you are seeking. A guide is essential for traversing the couloirs on the north face.
There are also two fantastic snow parks, which cater for people of all abilities. Here you will find a number of jumps which are all graded the same as the pistes, as well as rails and boxes, a wall ride, a half-pipe and a well-situated picnic area.
Facilities
The ski lifts can take you from 1,200 m to 3,250 m, but they are relatively slow and you may have to wait during peak hours. However, there is a cable car link to Les Arcs (Vanoise Express) which spans the valley in just 4 minutes and offers spectacular views.
La Plagne also features ten pin bowling, electronic golf, an ice rink and luxurious outdoor heated pool.
Après
After a thrilling day on the slopes, La Plagne comes to life with an electric Après scene. Belle Plagne is a hotspot for party seekers and is the liveliest of the villages, with the brilliant Wild West themed bar and nightclub Le Saloon hosting unforgettable parties each night. Here you will find many other incredible bars and nightclubs which create an exciting atmosphere under the stars.
Another excellent venue for evening entertainment is the Igloo in Plagne Centre, which is an igloo-shaped novelty venue complete with half life-sized polar bears and penguins. This can all be enjoyed whilst sipping on cocktails and listening to the live DJs.
For those searching for a quieter way to spend the evening, there are many other pubs, bars and restaurants across the villages, each with their own ambience and themes.
Les Arcs
Overview of Ski Resort
Joined by the fabulous Vanoise Express cable car is Les Arcs; a glorious resort which has a great variety of slopes and a number of exhilarating and challenging runs for experts. The woodland runs, in particular, are not to be missed. Les Arcs is comprised of 4 modern, purpose built resort units (Les Arcs 1600, Les Arcs 1800, Les Arcs 1950 and Les Arcs 2000) that each have their own character.
“Bourg-St-Maurice view from Les Arcs ski resort” by Dmitry A. Mottl – Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons.
Best for:
- Intermediate
- Experts
- Snowboarders
- Families
Piste Guide
Experts will get a real kick out of Les Arcs, which features 18 incredible and rewarding black runs. Tricky runs off the Aiguille Rouge glacier are sure to get your heart pumping, which is also where you will find the breathtaking 7 km run with a 2,100m vertical drop. There are also terrific off-piste options which will keep you entertained, including secluded and beautiful slopes towards Villaroger.
For intermediates, 200km of piste ensures that you will be able to find a run suited to your skill level. The woodland courses above Peisey-Vallandry and Villaroger are particularly good for strong intermediates, whilst there are numerous blue slopes for the more cautious intermediates. These include the excellent Edelweiss route to Arc 1950 via Cold de Frettes.
Copyright: Agence Urope – Les Arcs
Additionally, mixed ability groups will help to improve your skills and confidence on the slopes.
Les Arcs is also very popular with snowboarders due to the superb terrain park and the free riding, wide open slopes at 1800 and Vallandry.
Facilities
The four villages benefit from quick chairs and lifts, ensuring that you almost never have to wait long to hit the slopes. This is also the case for Peisey-Vallandry and the lifts higher up. Les Arcs has 49 ski lifts, but be warned that Arc 2000, Arc 1800 and Plan Peisey should be avoided during peak season if queuing is an issue for you.
Après
Les Arcs features many excellent and diverse bars, nightclubs and restaurants which allow for a varied and fun nightlife whether you are looking for a quiet beer or a full-on party into the early hours.
Although Les Arcs is not as lively as some resorts, Arc 1800 is the party hotspot and home to the Red Bar – a popular bar with live music (rock or DJs), a large dance floor and lively atmosphere. Other popular nightclubs include The Apokalypse Club (1800) and KL92 (2000), which both stay open till 4am for the hardcore partygoers.
If you are looking for a typically British experience, Chez Boubou at Charvet (1800) will feel like home and football fans flock here to watch the Premier League games which always generate a fun atmosphere. For fans of live music, there are many bars and clubs which have gigs each night.
How to Get There
The resorts of Paradiski: La Plagne, Peisey-Vallandry, Les Arcs and Champagny-en-Vanoise, can all be reached from Geneva (GVA), Chambéry (CMF), Grenoble (GNB) and Lyon (LYS) airports. There are budget flights from the UK to these destinations but the most accessible is Geneva, which has the highest volume of flights at the lower costs.
To reach your resort from these airports you can book a private transfer shuttle service which will help you get all your ski and family equipment to your final destination.
About Shuttle Direct
One of the foremost airport transfer services in the French Alps, Shuttle Direct provides professional and efficient transfers from your airport or train station to resorts in the Paradiski area.
Their experience in winter ski transfers across Austria, Italy and the French Alps means that you’ll reach your resort without stress or hassle. Shuttle Direct will carry your ski equipment for free – just make sure you tell them in advance.
With transfer option in the French Alps from Geneva (GVA), Chambery (CMF), Grenoble (GNB) and Lyon (LYS), Shuttle Direct offers shuttle services for all group sizes and budgets.
