La Plagne Soleil Ski Holidays
"Sitting above Plagne Centre, Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages have doorstep skiing making them good bases for beginners and experienced skiers wishing to explore further afield."
Jonny Heywood, Senior Sales Consultant (Team Leader).
Offering jaw-dropping “can’t-be-real” views of the incredible Mont Blanc, Plagne Soleil and Villages are two separate hamlets but their proximity to each other (they’re only a 10-minute walk apart) often sees them considered as the same resort. The resort's location provides fantastic access to La Plagne’s 225km of fun slopes to play on, including a connection to the epic Paradiski area with another 200km of runs on the Les Arcs side via the Vanoise Express. And with a wide choice of ski-in, ski-out accommodation across the entire resort, the slopes are practically always right on your doorstep. The resort’s high altitude pretty much guarantees snow surety all season, and with its southern-facing slopes, you’ll get plenty of mountain sun providing that “just-right” temperature for a long day on the hill.
Plagne Soleil/Villages Mountain Facts
Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil have about 133 runs in total, including 17 black runs and 35 reds that offer a worthy challenge for more experienced skiers, as well as 73 beginner-friendly blues, 8 wide and open greens and 11 fun play areas. The resort area includes slopes that reach a jaw-dropping altitude of 3,250 meters at the peak of the Bellecôte Glacier, which offers excellent snow conditions and snow surety right to the end of the winter season! Add the incredible 425km of pistes on offer in the legendary Paradiski ski area to the mix and you’ll start to see why La Plagne is an absolute playground for skiers of all levels and abilities. Plus, with Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages located right in the heart of it all, you’ll have easy and convenient access to the entire area. And as we’ve demonstrated, there’s a lot to explore!
Snow Conditions in Plagne Soleil/Villages
Thanks to their impressive high altitude, Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages are known for their reliable snow record which almost guarantees excellent conditions throughout the entire ski season. The slopes within La Plagne’s main villages are mostly north-facing, which keeps the pow fresh and fluffy for longer (that means less ice – which is music to the ears of any skier or snowboarder!). The resort typically sees regular snowfall up to mid-April, and you can usually count on decent snow cover for those end-of-season trips if you want to maximise the spring sunshine and get good skiing conditions. There’s also a network of snow-making facilities at the ready to provide extra cover should the slopes need it.
In recent seasons, official statistics have shown La Plagne enjoyed:
- Total snowfall: 678cm
- Snowfall days: 48
- Biggest snowfall: 40cm
- Maximum base depth: 225cm
- Average base depth: 138cm
- Maximum summit depth: 490cm
- Average summit depth: 272cm
Why ski in La Plagne?
Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil aren’t only a gateway to the incredible slopes on offer within the expansive Paradiski ski area, but they provide easy access to snow-sure slopes and a state-of-the-art lift network that links La Plagne to its world-class neighbouring resort of Les Arcs. Here are Erna Low's top reasons for booking Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil:
- The majority of La Plagne’s slopes are above tree level, so there’s an excellent selection of expansive motorway pistes to play on throughout the main bowl, with Plagne Soleil, Plagne Villages, Plagne Centre and Plagne 1800 forming the main hub of the resort. Each village is conveniently connected to the lifts and gondolas, making it easy to get around the mountain.
- There are loads of beginner-friendly blues as well as a decent selection of green runs just above Plagne Villages that cruise down to Plagne Bellecôte. Beginners and less confident skiers will be more than happy learning the basics and building confidence here before making the logical next step to some of the resort’s more challenging runs.
- If making tracks in fresh powder sounds like your idea of fun, make a beeline for Les Verdons or Grande Rochette. Or, for a bit of variety, head over to the other side towards Champagny-en-Vanoise to pit your wits and skill against some of the more challenging terrain.
- You’ll find incredible forest runs with jaw-dropping views down to Montalbert, Champagny and Les Coches. Montchavin – Longefoy and Montalbert are located in the woods at an elevation of 1200m and have awesome cross-country trails, a freestyle area, plenty of blue runs and four ski lifts. In blizzards and whiteouts, this is a fantastic spot to find shelter as you continue your descent through the trees. Don’t forget to take a photo!
- The summit of the Bellecôte Glacier is 3417m and, if you’re an experienced or confident skier, you’ll find some of the toughest and most exciting black runs and off-piste descents you can find in La Plagne; especially on the challenging couloirs and traverses of the north face.
Snowboarding in Plagne Soleil/Villages
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Freeriders, park rats and even beginner snowboarders will have more than enough to explore at Plagne Soleil/Villages. Here are some of our top highlights for snowboarders:
- Park rats should make a beeline for the Belle Plagne Terrain Park, where you’ll find several different sections that are especially ideal for beginners or unconfident snowboarders.
- In contrast, experienced freestylers will feel more at home in Le Grand Parc at the top of Belle Plagne. It boasts a 20ft red kicker as well as an airbag and 20 rails and tables. You’ll also find an epic 22ft superpipe that’s perpetually groomed by the park shapers who keep it in great condition.
- The off-piste runs on the north face of the Bellecôte Glacier, which is easy to get to via the Traverse chairlift, offer some of the best freeride snowboarding in the valley. La Grande Face and La Petite Face Nord also offer can’t-miss highlights to pit your wits and skills against on the same side of the glacier. Tackle a nerve-wracking vertical drop of 2,000 that eventually ends up in the village of Nancroix in the valley below.
All ski resort accommodation in Plagne Soleil/Villages
Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages offer a wide range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets. Our handpicked selection of fully customisable Plagne Villages and Plagne Soleil ski packages include self-catering apartments, budget-friendly hotels, luxurious five-star properties and hotels with all the holiday-making facilities you could wish for... the list goes on! Most accommodation is also ski-in, ski-out, with access to the slopes right on your doorstep. Whether you’re a couple or a bigger group of friends where there are multiple needs to cater for, you can find just about anything to fit your preferences.
All Ski Resort Accommodation in Plagne Soleil/Villages
How can I make the most of Plagne Soleil/Villages ski holidays?
Apres-ski in Plagne Soleil/Villages
Plagne Soleil/Villages is a family-focused ski resort and its facilities are spread across many villages, so it’s a bit quieter and more laidback than some of its high-energy neighbours. Nevertheless, there’s a great choice of low-key bars for enjoying a few cheeky après beers as well as a handful of brilliant nightclubs for dancing the night away in your ski boots. Here’s where to head once you’ve packed your skis back in your locker for the evening:
- Igloo Igloo is a bijou bar in Plagne Centre that serves up signature cocktails, great music and legendary live DJs. The interior is actually shaped like an igloo (hence the name!) and the fun décor features polar bear and penguin statues that really set the mood for the evening!
- Le Bonnet is a contemporary chalet-style bar located on the slopes at Plagne Bellecôte. Think big screens playing action sports movies, DJs spinning tunes on the outdoor terrace and tasty hot dogs and burgers on offer as well as a variety of accompanying refreshments that are sure to hit the spot after an exhausting day on the hill.
- Bar Fort Colorado at the bottom of the Pollux piste above Plagne Centre is a complex of wooden huts arranged like a Wild West fort. It’s the perfect spot to chill out with a cheeky après tipple (or two) as you spend a couple of hours listening to laidback tunes played by the resident DJs.
- Après into the early hours, anyone? If you feel like partying late into the night, then head to Saloon Bar in Belle Plagne for lively vibes and late-night raving. You can pretty much guarantee the dance floor will always be packed while legendary live DJs hype the crowd as they bust out their best dance moves.
Facilities in Plagne Soleil/Villages
Despite their relatively small size, you’ll find a wide range of facilities and amenities in Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages. Both villages have a small supermarket, ski hire shops and ski schools, while Plagne Villages also has a souvenir shop/tobacconist. There are multiple points to pick up ski passes and you’ve got easy access to the neighbouring villages in La Plagne via the free shuttle bus, Télémétro, telebus and Belle Plagne cable car services.
Facilities for children in Plagne Soleil/Villages
As you’d expect from a family-focused resort, Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages have a range of facilities designed for children of all ages. You’ll find crèches, kindergartens and play zones for younger kids here, making the logistics of travelling with children much simpler.
Why choose a ski holiday to Plagne Soleil/Villages with Erna Low?
- Experience and service: As ski experts since 1932, we know what the easiest ski holiday looks like – which is exactly what you can expect when you book with Erna Low.
- Incredible-value holidays: We’ll beat any competitor's price ensuring you always get the best value holidays.
- Huge choice of accommodation: Whether you’re looking for a bargain ski break or a 5-star premium, you’ll find something to suit your tastes and budget.
- Customisable travel: We offer fully customisable holidays that mean less time researching and more time choosing.
- Fully protected bookings: As ABTOT and ATOL members, we abide by their Code of Conduct.
"Sitting above Plagne Centre, Plagne Soleil and Plagne Villages have doorstep skiing making them good bases for beginners and experienced skiers wishing to explore further afield."
Jane Bolton, Product Director
