One of the best – and most famous – itinerary routes using multiple pistes in La Plagne is the famed Levasset circuit. While it’s possible to cut this route short by stopping at the base of the Borseliers chair, in my opinion, you might as well make the full trek all the way down to Champagny-en-Vanoise village giving an immense vertical drop of almost 1600m. That’s higher than many ski resorts are above sea level, never mind just one track. Read on for more info.

Remember to sign up to the iRide / LaPlagne360 YouTube channel for more videos like this or check the snow report videos that feature other recommended routes around La Plagne.

 

Start by getting yourself to Roche de Mio

To do this route, you need to get yourself to the second-highest lift-served peak in La Plagne, the Roche de Mio. There are multiple options to get here, depending on where you start from. The Roche de Mio gondola is likely the route most will use but don’t forget the Inversens chair if you’re coming from the Montchavin sector or the super-fast Carella chair from the Champagny side. Both will save considerable time, depending on where you start. From there, you’ll need to head in the Plagne Bellecôte direction via the . . .

 

Levasset Haut blue piste

Leaving from the top of Roche de Mio, you need to take the wide track that faces just left of Mont Blanc as you look forward. This part of the route is frequently busy as it serves as the entry point for the Sources red, Inversens red and Tunnel blue as well the Levasset itself. When you near the Inversens restaurant perched on a ledge to your right, you’ll see a piste drop away left into a huge bowl. This is the massively wide Levasset Haut piste. On the way down, you’ll pass under the Roche de Mio gondola after which the run becomes considerably flatter – so it’s a good idea to build up as much speed as possible so you can reach the . . .

 

Plateau de Carella rope tow

The very short rope tow Plateau de Carella is often missed by skiers and snowboarders as it doesn’t exactly stand out and, if no one’s on it, it barely looks like it’s moving. However, it can be a useful lift to shorten the walk over the slight uphill section before you join the second part of Levasset. Snowboarders should note, this lift annoyingly stops just short of where the Levasset run starts to drop again – so you will either need unclip or penguin walk the last section. Once you’re over the flat, you’re ready to join the short . . .

 

Levasset mid blue piste

The short Levasset mid piste is actually quite steep in the middle section for a blue but shouldn’t cause too many problems for most intermediate skiers and snowboarders. There’s a short flattish section before the run veers left in the direction of the base of the Carella detachable chair and the Quillis fixed chair. However, as this flat area also forms the junction of three pistes (Quillis, Tome and Levasset), the pisteurs frequently erect barriers to stop skiers and snowboarders riding too quickly and potentially causing accidents. Consequently, you’ll have little chance of getting over this section without walking at some point. After you pass the Killis restaurant on your right (a good place to stop but there are places with better views in my opinion), you’ll see the . . .

 

Levasset bas blue piste

There’s a very short steep pitch at the top of the Levasset Bas run that you’ll need to use to get enough speed to get over the long flat section that comes soon after. If you’re not that confident at going quickly, as a general rule, you should aim to straight-line from about midway down to ensure you don’t end up running out of speed. Towards the end of the flat, the run starts turning to your right and gradually opens into an incredibly wide blue piste with undulations and small hips that you can air off if you ride quick enough. The piste then turns left where it splits in two – you need to stay left on the pathway section (going right will take you to the base of the Verdons Sud chair). This is one of the most fun sections of the Levasset with a bank to your left that’s perfect for sidehits. The piste then comes to a very short plateau before you technically join the bottom of the Borseliers red. As it’s red, you can use this section to build up speed as you’ll need it to get over the short flat area at the base of the Borseliers chair before linking on to the . . .

 

Les Bois red piste

Although Les Bois is marked red, there are only a couple of steeper sections that might cause less experienced skiers or snowboarders some issues. Also, as much of the piste is a narrow pathway, you’ll need to be comfortable at making shorter, faster turns but, other than that, most riders should handle it fine. It should be noted though that there is one section near the bottom of this run that is almost always in shade so it can get icy (just at the start of the flatter valley section as you run in towards Champagny-en-Vanoise and the Champagny gondola).

The takeout

The Levasset / Les Bois circuit is one of the most enjoyable, varied and longest runs you can make in La Plagne with an immense 1600m vertical riding on mostly south-facing pistes that get a lot of sun. Hit this run after fresh snow and you’ll find multiple routes just to the side of the main pistes that are great for exploring.

To repeat, take the Champagny gondola back up to link onto the Rossa Bas red followed by the Borseliers chair, Rossa chair (you could stop at the Roc des Blanchets restaurant) then the short Tome blue followed the Carella chair right back up to the start point at Roche de Mio – where, again, you could stop at the Roche de Mio restaurant.

 

La Plagne accommodation deals

Booking.com

 

 

Full area piste map