La Plagne

La Plagne is home to one of the Alps’ most impressive and varied ski areas and numerous base villages, all of which have their own unique character.

weather Forecast today: Snow

Max temp: -6.8 °c
Min temp: -9.3 °c
Last snowed: Mon 23 Dec

Last Updated: Mon 23 Dec

weather Forecast today: Snow

Max temp: -6.8 °c
Min temp: -9.3 °c
Last snowed: Mon 23 Dec

Last Updated: Mon 23 Dec

62%Beginner

26%Intermediate

12%Advanced

It has some good beginner facilities, but La Plagne really is an intermediate and expert’s paradise,

With a hugely diverse ski area spread over 225km of pistes. For experts, it has huge areas of off piste that don’t get skied out too quickly – an impressive feat given that La Plagne is recognised as the world’s most visited ski resort. This is before you even consider the link to Les Arcs via the impressive Vanoise Express, making up the vast 425km of slopes and 264 pistes of the Paradiski area.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
Value

Pros and cons

Extensive and varied intermediate pistes, plus excellent off piste
Good nursery slopes and family friendly
Most slopes above 2000m and are snowsure
Lots of villages to choose – from purpose-built convenience to rustic alpine

village

Lift system still needs investment despite recent spending
Pistes can get very crowded in places
Few challenging pistes, expert offering relies on good off piste conditions
Lower slopes can suffer during warmer spells

On the Slopes

La Plagne consists of no fewer than 11 separate ‘villages’ and each is a self- sufficient mini-resort. These divide into two groups – seven high altitude, purpose-built resorts and four villages lower down within the trees. The diversity of these villages also means there will always be options suitable for any group, but especially at Plagne Centre and Belle Plagne, the most popular destinations for Brits.

Most of the slopes in the main bowl are above the trees, but there are plenty of tree-lined trails for those bad weather days down towards Montalbert or Montchavin – the latter of which is also where you need to head to catch the Vanoise Express to Les Arcs. La Plagne has some great intermediate cruising terrain (62% of the runs are rated blue) and there is some great off piste terrain on the upper mountain, much of which is fantastically snowsure.

For Beginners

La Plagne is a good place to learn and each of the resort villages has at least one free beginner lift. If you want to guarantee snow then Plagne Centre is probably the best bet as it also has the best slopes in the area for first timers. Progression on to longer, gentle runs is good, just note that the normal French system of using green runs is not in use here – choose easy blues instead.

For Intermediates

Virtually the whole of La Plagne’s area is a paradise for intermediates, with blue and red runs wherever you look. This unfortunately has not gone unnoticed and the main drawback is that some of them get very overcrowded at times. Those looking for longer, tree-lined runs should drop down towards Montchavin or traverse their way across to Montalbert – by doing so you really get a sense of travelling and an appreciation of the scale of the ski area. The sunny Champagny sector is also worth visiting and keen intermediates should buy the Paradiski upgrade to get to Les Arcs.

For Advanced/Expert & Off Piste

This is a great resort for experts, but it does somewhat rely on snow conditions and good visibility as a lot of the best difficult terrain is located well above the treeline from the top of the Bellecote. However, the long runs down are fantastic when the snow is good. A great alternative is the Biolley sector, where several steep, ungroomed ‘natur’ trails are marked on the piste map but are not prepared.

In the Resort

Plagne Centre is the focal point of the resort and is where you’ll want to be based if you’re looking for the liveliest base and the biggest range of shops, restaurants and bars. Belle Plagne is well located for the slopes and has lots of good apartment-style accommodation. Montalbert and the two villages of Montchavin and Les Coches are lower down, quieter and make attractive alternative bases away from the purpose-built hustle and bustle further up.

For Families

There are some fantastic options for families, with numerous UK chalet and tour operators running well-received chalets around the resort. The best facilities, but as a result the biggest crowds, are in Plagne Centre, but there are loads of options to choose from – Esprit operate in Belle Plagne, Ski Famille work in 1800, Family Ski Company run a chalet in Les Coches, whilst Mark Warner operate a chalethotel in Plagne Centre.

For Après

When the resort is busy it certainly can be lively, but après here is nowhere near as raucous as in the likes of Val d’Isère or Les Deux Alpes. In Belle Plagne, the Tete Inn and the Cheyenne are the main bars whilst Scotty’s is popular in Plagne Centre.

Getting to La Plagne

Chambéry is the closest airport to La Plagne and private transfers are the best option – the drive takes around an hour and a half. Geneva is further away, with the drive taking around two and a half hours.

A great option is to travel by train, catching the Eurostar to the town of Aime la Plagne in the valley before grabbing a quick bus transfer up to the resort.

Check out the Ski Club’s Guide to travelling to resort by train.

Chambéry airport: 1.5 hours (driving)
Geneva airport: 2.5 hours
By train from London: 8-10 hours
Calais: approximately 11 hours driving (615 miles)

Season Dates & Lift Pass Prices

Season Dates

Opens: Saturday 14 December 2024
Closes: Monday 21 April 2025 (Plagne Altitude continues until 26 April 2025)

Lift Pass Prices

Updated for 2024/25

There are two options – either buy the local La Plagne pass or upgrade to also cover the Paradiski which includes Les Arcs, adding up for nearly 600km of skiing. We’d recommend the latter for confident intermediates upwards. A season pass covering La Plagne costs €716 whilst the entire Paradiski pass costs €821 for an adult.

//	1 Day	3 Days	6 Days
La Plagne only
Adult (13-64yo)	€68	€193	€348
Child (5-12yo)	€55	€155	€279
Senior (65+)	€55	€155	€279
Paradiski
Adult (13-64yo)	€74	€216	€389
Child (5-12yo)	€60	€173	€312
Senior (65+)	€60	€173	€312

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La Plagne Piste Map

Top (3167m)

	Mon 23 Dec			Tue 24 Dec			Wed 25 Dec			Thu 26 Dec			Fri 27 Dec			Sat 28 Dec			Sun 29 Dec			Mon 30 Dec			Tue 31 Dec			Wed 1 Jan
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow	Snow	Occasional snow	Mainly fair	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	22 cm	11 cm	4 cm	0.6 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	2.2 cm	4.4 cm
Max temp	-13°c	-13°c	-13.2°c	-10.7°c	-10.7°c	-9.8°c	-4.2°c	-4.2°c	-7.4°c	-3.2°c	-3.2°c	-7.4°c	-4.6°c	-4.6°c	-9.3°c	-4.5°c	-4.5°c	-10°c	-4.8°c	-4.8°c	-10.7°c	-5.6°c	-5.6°c	-11.2°c	-6.3°c	-6.3°c	-10.9°c	-6.6°c	-6.6°c	-8.9°c
Min temp	-13.4°c	-14.3°c	-14.2°c	-13.3°c	-12°c	-11.8°c	-9.7°c	-8.2°c	-8.2°c	-7.7°c	-7.6°c	-8.2°c	-8.2°c	-9.8°c	-9.8°c	-9.9°c	-10.5°c	-10.5°c	-10.7°c	-10.9°c	-11.2°c	-11.3°c	-11.5°c	-12°c	-12°c	-11.2°c	-11.2°c	-11°c	-9.2°c	-9.2°c
Feels like temp	-22.5°c	-21.3°c	-21.3°c	-21.9°c	-17.1°c	-17.8°c	-14.2°c	-4.2°c	-8.2°c	-7.7°c	-3.2°c	-11.7°c	-13.1°c	-4.6°c	-14.2°c	-9.9°c	-4.5°c	-10.5°c	-10.7°c	-4.8°c	-10.9°c	-11.3°c	-5.6°c	-11.5°c	-12°c	-6.3°c	-11.2°c	-16.3°c	-11°c	-14°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow	Snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	22 cm	11 cm	4 cm
Max temp	-13°c	-13°c	-13.2°c
Min temp	-13.4°c	-14.3°c	-14.2°c
Feels like temp	-22.5°c	-21.3°c	-21.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Mainly fair	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0.6 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-10.7°c	-10.7°c	-9.8°c
Min temp	-13.3°c	-12°c	-11.8°c
Feels like temp	-21.9°c	-17.1°c	-17.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-4.2°c	-4.2°c	-7.4°c
Min temp	-9.7°c	-8.2°c	-8.2°c
Feels like temp	-14.2°c	-4.2°c	-8.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-3.2°c	-3.2°c	-7.4°c
Min temp	-7.7°c	-7.6°c	-8.2°c
Feels like temp	-7.7°c	-3.2°c	-11.7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-4.6°c	-4.6°c	-9.3°c
Min temp	-8.2°c	-9.8°c	-9.8°c
Feels like temp	-13.1°c	-4.6°c	-14.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-4.5°c	-4.5°c	-10°c
Min temp	-9.9°c	-10.5°c	-10.5°c
Feels like temp	-9.9°c	-4.5°c	-10.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-4.8°c	-4.8°c	-10.7°c
Min temp	-10.7°c	-10.9°c	-11.2°c
Feels like temp	-10.7°c	-4.8°c	-10.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-5.6°c	-5.6°c	-11.2°c
Min temp	-11.3°c	-11.5°c	-12°c
Feels like temp	-11.3°c	-5.6°c	-11.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-6.3°c	-6.3°c	-10.9°c
Min temp	-12°c	-11.2°c	-11.2°c
Feels like temp	-12°c	-6.3°c	-11.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	2.2 cm	4.4 cm
Max temp	-6.6°c	-6.6°c	-8.9°c
Min temp	-11°c	-9.2°c	-9.2°c
Feels like temp	-16.3°c	-11°c	-14°c

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Resort (1207m)

	Mon 23 Dec			Tue 24 Dec			Wed 25 Dec			Thu 26 Dec			Fri 27 Dec			Sat 28 Dec			Sun 29 Dec			Mon 30 Dec			Tue 31 Dec			Wed 1 Jan
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Occasional snow	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	8.8 cm	2.8 cm	0.8 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.8 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	-6.8°c	-6.8°c	-7.9°c	-5.7°c	-5.7°c	-6.6°c	0.9°c	0.9°c	-3.9°c	1.8°c	1.8°c	-4.1°c	0.2°c	0.2°c	-5.8°c	0.4°c	0.4°c	-6.5°c	0.3°c	0.3°c	-6.6°c	-0.4°c	-0.4°c	-7.2°c	-1°c	-1°c	-6.9°c	-1.7°c	-1.7°c	-5.4°c
Min temp	-8.4°c	-7.9°c	-9.3°c	-9.5°c	-7.7°c	-7.7°c	-6.4°c	-4.2°c	-4.8°c	-4.4°c	-4.2°c	-5.6°c	-5.5°c	-5.8°c	-7.1°c	-6.7°c	-6.5°c	-7.9°c	-7.8°c	-6.6°c	-8.1°c	-8.1°c	-7.3°c	-8.7°c	-8.5°c	-6.9°c	-8.3°c	-7.8°c	-5.6°c	-6.4°c
Feels like temp	-15°c	-13.4°c	-15.6°c	-15.6°c	-10.2°c	-12.3°c	-6.4°c	0.8°c	-4.2°c	-4.4°c	1.6°c	-4.2°c	-5.5°c	0.2°c	-5.8°c	-6.7°c	0.3°c	-6.5°c	-7.8°c	0.3°c	-6.6°c	-8.1°c	-0.4°c	-7.3°c	-8.5°c	-1°c	-10.6°c	-12°c	-5.2°c	-9.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	8.8 cm	2.8 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	-6.8°c	-6.8°c	-7.9°c
Min temp	-8.4°c	-7.9°c	-9.3°c
Feels like temp	-15°c	-13.4°c	-15.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-5.7°c	-5.7°c	-6.6°c
Min temp	-9.5°c	-7.7°c	-7.7°c
Feels like temp	-15.6°c	-10.2°c	-12.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.9°c	0.9°c	-3.9°c
Min temp	-6.4°c	-4.2°c	-4.8°c
Feels like temp	-6.4°c	0.8°c	-4.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.8°c	1.8°c	-4.1°c
Min temp	-4.4°c	-4.2°c	-5.6°c
Feels like temp	-4.4°c	1.6°c	-4.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.2°c	0.2°c	-5.8°c
Min temp	-5.5°c	-5.8°c	-7.1°c
Feels like temp	-5.5°c	0.2°c	-5.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.4°c	0.4°c	-6.5°c
Min temp	-6.7°c	-6.5°c	-7.9°c
Feels like temp	-6.7°c	0.3°c	-6.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.3°c	0.3°c	-6.6°c
Min temp	-7.8°c	-6.6°c	-8.1°c
Feels like temp	-7.8°c	0.3°c	-6.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-0.4°c	-0.4°c	-7.2°c
Min temp	-8.1°c	-7.3°c	-8.7°c
Feels like temp	-8.1°c	-0.4°c	-7.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-1°c	-1°c	-6.9°c
Min temp	-8.5°c	-6.9°c	-8.3°c
Feels like temp	-8.5°c	-1°c	-10.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.8 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	-1.7°c	-1.7°c	-5.4°c
Min temp	-7.8°c	-5.6°c	-6.4°c
Feels like temp	-12°c	-5.2°c	-9.9°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	23/12/2024
Snowfall	Next 3 days	7.2 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	133 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	30 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Hard packed
Lifts	Lifts open	67 out of 74
	Resort opening date	Sat 07 Dec 2024
	Resort closing date	Sun 27 Apr 2025

Snow Overview

France

Updated 20/12

The timeline for Christmas week snow is accelerated massively as a huge, dense area of low pressure gets swept in on the Jetstream to cover much of central and northern Europe as the weekend continues. Temperatures will remain cold through this weekend, with a freezing line dropping to 500m on Sunday and, as a result temperatures of -10°C being the norm.

Snow will first arrive in flurries on Saturday, but it is Sunday where things really shift through the gears. At least half-a-metre of snow is expected down, across all elevations as the freezing line falls away, continuing on into Monday when an additional 15cm can be expected. The avalanche risk is already expected to tick up in many areas across France, with a Level 4 – High danger expected from Sunday onwards, with notes for persistent weak layer and wind loading problems. Care should be taken when skiing in the backcountry and careful route planning should be undertaken.

Things are expected to settle down as the Christmas week continues, with Christmas Day itself expected to be fine, dry and bright, albeit remaining fairly cold and fresh. Some beautiful riding conditions are perhaps in store over the Christmas and New Year’s period.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast