Les Arcs - World Snowboard Guide

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Most people delight in telling you that Les Arcs is a massive, concrete carbuncle on the arse of the French Alps - but these people probably haven’t been here, let alone spent any sort of time in the place. Ignore such comments, come with an open mind, and ride one of the best sets of mountains in the world.

Les Arcs itself is split into five distinctive resorts - 1600, 1800, 1950, 2000 and Bourg-St-Maurice. Each place has a different feel to it, so choose wisely. 1600, where most of the chalets are situated, is quite chilled out with loads of trees. 1800 is the party place, while 2000 is a bit hideous and isolated, but has good access to some amazing terrain. The latest village is 1950, next to a 60m waterfall which opened in 2003 and has been created by those Intrawest people.

Despite having a huge riding area, Les Arcs has managed to retain a cosy feel as it's dead easy to get from one area to another, and you are only likely to run into heavy lift queues during the height of the French holidays. On the mountain, Les Arcs has it all, from mellow beginner slopes to some of the most challenging runs anywhere in France, with hardly any moguls.

What Les Arcs does have however, is a lot of punters as this is a very popular resort, but with such a vast expanse of snow to explore, the slopes are left fairly quiet.

The Vanoise Express opened in Dec 2003 and now links the resort up with La Plagne creating the Paradiski area.

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New for season

Vanoise Express opened in December 2003 linking Les Arcs with La Plagne. 2 new 6-seater chairlifts Les Marmottes, and Bois de l'Ours. Cabriolet cablecar between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000

Top holiday offers

£399

Les Arcs, France
12/Jan/13 , Gatwick

Le Village Apartments - Self Catered
Designed with the skier in mind, Le Village offers the ultimate convenience of a ski-in, ski-out car-free resort with a host of facilities including swimming pool, shop

Property	Date	From	Basis	Price
Chalet Tetra	05/Jan/13	Gatwick	Cater	£ 719
Chalet Tetra	19/Jan/13	Gatwick	Cater	£ 758
Chalet Petit Ours	24/Feb/13	Southampton	Cater	£ 743
Chalet Yogi	03/Mar/13	Birmingham	Cater	£ 709
Chalet Yogi	16/Dec	Birmingham	Cater	£ 609
Chalet Yogi	30/Dec	Manchester	Cater	£1,139
Chalet Yogi	06/Jan/13	Bristol	Cater	£ 579
Chalet Yogi	06/Jan/13	East Midlands	Cater	£ 579
Chalet Yogi	06/Jan/13	Manchester	Cater	£ 589
Chalet Yogi	16/Dec	Southampton	Cater	£ 560
Le Village Apartments	29/Dec	Gatwick	SC	£1,600
Hotel du Golf	22/Dec	Gatwick	HB	£1,113
Hotel du Golf	26/Jan/13	Edinburgh	HB	£ 793
Hotel du Golf	16/Mar/13	Exeter	HB	£1,482
Hotel L'Aiguille Rouge	05/Jan/13	Manchester	HB	£ 693

Resort Statistics

Resort Type: Alpine
Winter: Dec to May
Summer: None

Lifts

Total Lifts: 76
Cable cars: 1
Gondolas: 3
Chair lifts: 30
Drag lifts: 40
Other lifts: 1 Funicular, 1 Telebenne
Max people per hour: 68,000
Board Leashes required: No

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 121
Total ride area: 241km
Longest run: 7km

Top lift: 3226m
Vertical drop: 2026m
First lift: 1200m

Piste suitability

Green runs: 50%
Red runs: 33%
Black runs: 17%

Lift Passes

Lift Passes:
Les Arcs:
1 Day pass 38 euros
6 Day pass 181 euros
Paradiski:
6 Day pass 220 euros
Lift times:8.30am to 4.30pm

Snowfall

Average annual snowfall: 5m
Artificial snowmaking coverage: 25%

Facilities

Night Riding: : 3 slopes lit, and it's free !!
Arc 1600 - Tue & Thurs on the Combettes chair till 7pm
Arc 1800 - Tue & Thurs on the Carreley & Chantel chairs 'til 7pm
Arc 1950-Arc 2000 tues & thurs on the Marmottes chairlift until 9 pm.