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Les Arcs

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Les Arcs Ski Resort Guide

Les Arcs, France

Rated: 4/5 (from 7 ratings)

Ski Area Highlights
Recommended ForFreeriders, Expert Skiers, Intermediates, Beginners, Snowboarders and Snowfall!
Total Piste Length200km
Highest Lift3,230m
Resort Height1,600m
 Nearest AirportsChambery and Annecy
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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 1,600m, with 200km of marked runs.

Les Arcs is part of the Paradiski area with access to 425km of downhill skiing, with 475 marked pistes, served by a total of 141 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Les Arcs itself (200km 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 7km long and the most difficult run is the 'Robert Blanc'.

Snow and Weather

When will it snow in Les Arcs?

The next notable snow forecast is 2cm, expected on 21 March, with around 25cm forecast over the next 7 days.

See our long-range Snow Forecast for the latest update, or   Join our Snow Mail Here

Snow this week

Snow Forecast by day for Les Arcs
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Ski Area Stats

Les Arcs Ski Area

Piste and Lift Stats
Black Pistes
Expert Trails
1843km
Red Pistes
Intermediate Runs
3362km
Blue Pistes
Easy Trails
56
Green Pistes
Beginner Runs
 1 
Downhill
Total Length
200km
Cross Country
Total Length
15km
Ski Lifts
Number of Lifts
77

Paradiski Ski Area

Piste and Lift Stats
Black Pistes
Expert Trails
69
Red Pistes
Intermediate Runs
127
Blue Pistes
Easy Trails
257
Green Pistes
Beginner Runs
22
Downhill
Total Length
425km
Cross Country
Total Length
153km
Ski Lifts
Number of Lifts
141

Altitudes & Slopes

Les Arcs Ski Area Heights

Lift Heights and Resort Altitude
Highest Lift3,230m
Resort Altitude (Les Arcs)1,600m
Lowest Piste1,200m
Max Vertical2,030m

Ski Slope Aspects

N, NE, NW

Les Arcs has ski slopes facing north (good for keeping the snow).

Ratings & Suitability

Ratings for Les Arcs
Freeriders
Expert Skiers
Intermediate Skiers
Beginners
Snowboarding
Snow
Apres-Ski

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.

Ski Hire in Les Arcs

Save on Ski Hire in Les Arcs

Save up to 50%

+5% for 4+ Ski Packs

+10% for 10+ Ski Packs

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7th day Free on selected dates

SkiSet

Ski Hire Shops in Arc 1950, Arc 2000, Arc 1600 and Arc 1800.

For more information, see our page about Les Arcs Ski Hire.

Ski Lessons in Les Arcs

Find a Ski Instructor

To choose a Ski School, and book Group Ski Lessons or a Private Instructor, see Les Arcs Ski Schools and Les Arcs Ski Instructors.

You can select and book a lesson online now, with our partner SkiBro.

  Book Lessons 

Location and Map

Where is Les Arcs?

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

Map

Tap Show Map in Full Screen for Full-Screen, or see J2Ski's Resort map, showing Hotels and Ski Shops.

How to get there

 By Air

The nearest airport to Les Arcs is Chambery, 100 minutes drive away.

Annecy, Geneva and Sion airports are all within three hours drive.

Infrastructure

Ski Lift Capacity

The 77 ski lifts are able to uplift 86,000 skiers and snowboarders every hour.

Snow Making

Snow-making is available, on 22km of ski runs, with 143 snow cannons.

Season Dates

When is Les Arcs open?

We don't currently have confirmed season dates, but hope to soon.

Usual opening is mid December, and usual closing is Late April.

NOTE:- Ski area, lift and piste opening is subject to Current Snow Conditions.

Piste Map

Les Arcs Piste Map
Les Arcs

Talking about Les Arcs

Mentions in recent J2Ski News Items and Snow Reports from our users...

Les Arcs