Skiing in Plagne 1800
La Plagne 1800, also known as Aime La Plagne, is a ski resort located in the French Alps, in the Savoie region. The resort is part of the larger ski area of La Plagne, which is made up of 10 villages and offers a total of 425km of ski slopes. La Plagne 1800 is situated at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level and offers a wide variety of slopes for skiers of all levels.
La Plagne 1800 is also part of the Paradiski ski area, which is connected to the Les Arcs ski area by the Vanoise Express cable car. This allows you to access over 425km of slopes and explore two different ski areas during your stay.
Plagne 1800's enjoys a vibrant après-ski scene that involves everything for everyone; from après-ski drinks at a lively bar to indulging in delicious French cuisine at one of numerous eating spots. The resort offers a perfect combination of stunning alpine beauty, diverse skiing terrain, excellent facilities, and vibrant après-ski options, making it an ideal destination for a memorable winter getaway.
Plagne 1800's enjoys a vibrant après-ski scene that involves everything for everyone; from après-ski drinks at a lively bar to indulging in delicious French cuisine at one of numerous eating spots. The resort offers a perfect combination of stunning alpine beauty, diverse skiing terrain, excellent facilities, and vibrant après-ski options, making it an ideal destination for a memorable winter getaway.
The ski season in La Plagne 1800 typically runs from December to April, and the resort offers a wide variety of slopes for skiers of all levels. The resort has a total of 91km of slopes, with the longest run stretching for 7km. There are also a variety of off-piste and free riding options for more experienced skiers. A La Plagne ski pass gives access to the resort's modern lift system, with a total of 50 lifts, including chairlifts, gondolas, and surface lifts.
La Plagne 1800 also offers a variety of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly apartments. Many of the accommodations offer ski-in/ski-out access, making it easy for visitors to hit the slopes. There are also a number of shops, supermarkets and ski rental shops in the village, making it easy to stock up on supplies or rent ski equipment.
The ski area has a maximum altitude of 3,250 meters at its highest point, which is the summit of the Bellecôte Glacier. Plagne 1800 itself is situated at an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters (5,905 feet) above sea level, giving skiers and snowboarders access to a wide range of ski runs with varying levels of difficulty. The altitude of the resort ensures good snow conditions throughout the winter season and the possibility of skiing at high altitudes, which offers beautiful panoramic views over the surrounding mountains.
Overall, Plagne 1800 offers a great ski experience for visitors of all levels. With its combination of modern facilities, a wide variety of slopes and après-ski activities, and its connection to the Paradiski ski area, it's no wonder that the resort is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders.
The terrain in La Plagne offers skiers a fantastic range of options, from beginner slopes at 1800m to advanced runs at 3417m. The resort is particularly popular with beginners and intermediates, with the majority of its slopes perfect for learning and building confidence.
Beginners should look out for the ‘zone debutants’ marked pistes for easy blues on low-enough gradients that allow calm and steady transition down the slopes.
Advanced skiers can find challenging black runs on Morbleu, Les Coqs, and Les Étroits with the latter offering one of the area's biggest challenges. Plagne 1800 also has fantastic off-piste opportunities for advanced skiers to explore.
La Plagne attracts snowboarders and freestylers alike thanks to its snowparks and excellent terrain. The main snowpark sits under the funicular, just above Plagne Centre. It is easily accessible and serviced by a good network of lifts. It has a well-maintained 900m long piste as well as a mixed variety of boxes, rails and waves.
Although the snowpark predominantly caters to experienced boarders thanks to its length and advanced level obstacles, it also features a good variety of smaller and easier objects catered to beginners and intermediate freestylers and snowboarders.
Beginners will find Plagne 1800 pistes ideal for improving their skills on. There are up to 12 beginner lifts across the wider La Plagne area connecting beginners to wide-open blues that are perfect for honing in on their skills.
Plagne 1800 enjoys excellent snow conditions throughout the winter season, which typically runs from December to April. The resort benefits from high altitudes, which ensures good-quality snow over the duration of the season; and this is one of the reasons it is such a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts.
As part of the larger Paradiski ski area, which has over 425 kilometers (264 miles) of ski runs and a range of altitudes between 1,250 and 3,250 meters (4,101 and 10,663 feet) above sea level, there is a variety of snow conditions, with higher-altitude areas having more snow and longer seasons. The resort also has a good snowmaking system, with over 1,000 snow cannons covering over 50% of the ski area, allowing for snow to be made when natural snowfall is insufficient. This ensures that even during periods of low snowfall, the slopes remain skiable.
For a quiet village in La Plagne, Plagne 1800 offers a number of exciting apres ski options. It has a few pubs but party hunters should also explore neighbouring Plagne Central as well for a wider selection of bars to visit. Check out a few of our recommendations below.
La Mine – Plagne 1800
La Mine is one of Plagne 1800’s popular hang-out spots. As suggested in the name, the overall theme of the bar is a mine. Conveniently located at the foot of the pistes, La Mine, is an ideal bar to kick off your apres ski evening. It has a great atmosphere, great music and particularly quirky interior décor ( to go with the theme of the mine). Open until late every day, there is a DJ set, live music and big screens showing live international sporting events. There is also a large outdoor terrace heating and ample seating. Overall a vibrant place to hang out after a day on the slopes; if you’re visiting with a group of family or friends, make you capture some of the memories at the photo booth.
Igloo Igloo Bar
Located not far from Plagne 1800 in the Galerie du Pelvoux in Plagne Centre, Igloo Igloo is quite easy to get to from Plagne 1800. Another themed bar, Igloo Igloo has an igloo-themed interior. It is a lively bar well-known for its wide selection of beers, tasty cocktails, DJ sets and live music featuring local bands. Igloo Igloo is open every day from late afternoon until the early morning hours every day. Its menu features a wide selection of drinks and tasty nibbles.
Le Luna Bar
Le Luna is a nice bar to visit for relaxed drinks after a day on the slopes. Its centrally located and only a few minutes away from Igloo bar and other pubs. It has a wide selection of drinks to choose from however it is well known, particularly for its cocktails. Luna Bar is also a chilled-out spot that offers a bit of refuge from the loud, raucous bars and clubs. There are pub games like darts, pinball, pool and table football.
Plagne 1800 has excellent facilities across the resort; majority of which are close together. Approximately 2h30 transfer from Geneva, La Plagne is one of Europe's most visited ski resorts each year and all its villages have fantastic facilities to cater to a wide range of ski holidaymakers every season.
Plagne 1800 is a family-friendly ski resort and has excellent facilities for children visiting the resort. Read further for more information on facilities for children.
