La Plagne sits in the Tarentaise region of France which is home to some of the world’s most prestigious ski areas including Trois Vallées, Val d’Isère / Tignes, La Rosière and Sainte Foy. Collectively, these areas are famed for some of the best on and off-piste riding on the planet, but just how big is La Plagne Paradiski and what does it bring to the party?

If you’re an early intermediate or above, La Plagne will be enough on its own – but you do still have the option to get the Paradiski lift extension which opens up Les Arcs and pretty much doubles the area. This particularly suits more advanced riders who’ll find more challenges in Les Arcs. Take a look at this guide for getting from La Plagne to Les Arcs. Also, for the wider picture and to see how La Plagne fits into the epic list of Tarentaise ski resorts, our La Plagne nearby resorts guide shows what else is within reach for trips.

Taken together, La Plagne Les Arcs Paradiski is renowned as being the world’s third-biggest lift-linked ski area, offering 425km of pistes ranging from 1250m up to around 3000m.

In total, Les Arcs and La Plagne share around 35,000 acres of skiable terrain, making this a true monster of a ski domain. To put that into perspective, Paradiski is more than four times larger than North America’s biggest ski area, Whistler-Blackcomb.

If you’re planning a trip, you should think about tightening up the practical bits too – accommodation first, then transfers. Once they’re dialed in, start to consider things like ski hire and La Plagne ski insurance for your trip.

Just on its own, La Plagne offers 225km of pistes spread over a huge variety of runs. A quick look at the piste map shows why it’s ideal for improving beginners and intermediates. Around 80% of La Plagne’s pistes are graded blue runs (55%) or red runs (25%) which makes the area perfect for honing skills on long, wide pistes.

For route ideas, see La Plagne’s best intermediate runs.

While it’s true the majority of La Plagne’s pistes suit intermediate riders, the resort is also famous for some of the Alps’ most challenging off-piste riding, especially the Bellecôte North Face.

There are also many easier-access long routes available, particularly in Champagny-en-Vanoise, Montchavin and the main Plagne Centre bowl.

If you’re going beyond the pistes, make sure your cover matches what you’re doing. Our readers often use True Traveller ski insurance because it’s clear on what’s included – which is a lot, even just with standard cover – plus it’s built for mountain sports.

With such a big vertical drop, there are some truly thigh-burning pistes across the area. La Plagne’s longest piste, the Mont Blanc blue, drops around 1km over 7km down to Montchavin.

See our article on La Plagne’s longest runs and the La Plagne longest descents page for combination routes that maximise both ride time and vertical drop.

Each of La Plagne’s 11 villages has its own personality.

If you prefer a quieter holiday, consider the lower villages of Plagne Montalbert, Plagne Montchavin, La Roche or Champagny-en-Vanoise.

If ski-in / ski-out convenience matters most, go for Plagne Centre, Plagne Aime 2000, Plagne Soleil, Plagne Villages, Plagne Bellecôte or Belle Plagne.

Note, the number of villages jumps to 20 when you include the stations on the Les Arcs side of Paradiski.

La Plagne tends to attract families who are less interested in wild nightlife, but there are still good options on offer. See our best après ski bars and La Plagne nightlife guides.

As a general rule, the higher resorts have more going on, with Plagne Centre and Belle Plagne being the best choices for a good variety of bars and restaurants. 

In terms of amenities, Plagne Centre, Plagne Bellecôte and Belle Plagne have the widest choice of off-snow activities including spas, cinema, swimming pool, gym and ice rink.

As the world’s third-largest ski area, La Plagne Paradiski is also one of the best. From its massive variety of pistes to its huge off-piste potential and varied villages, you will not go far wrong booking a La Plagne ski holiday.

When you throw Les Arcs into the mix and take the resort as a whole, Paradiski is a genuine gem that offers almost everything you could want from a ski or snowboard trip.

If you’re planning a trip to a ski area this big, these guides help you lock in the key decisions without guesswork.

Trip planning

• La Plagne month-by-month guide
• Quietest times to visit La Plagne
• Paradiski piste map

By ability level

• La Plagne for beginners
• La Plagne for intermediates
• La Plagne for advanced riders

To get a real feel for La Plagne before you arrive, head over to the iRide YouTube channel. You’ll find piste rides, village tours, snow reports and travel guides filmed throughout the La Plagne and Paradiski area.