Is La Plagne a big ski resort?
While the age-old debate about whether size matters or not may rage on in other areas of life, it’s undoubtedly true that a larger ski resort offers more in terms of variety of terrain and number of pistes. Also, the size of a resort is often also accompanied by a greater number of faster lifts, thereby having the combined effect to reduce queue times and spread out skiers and snowboarders. If you’re planning a trip to Paradiski, you may well be wondering, Is La Plagne a big ski resort?
Why is the number of pistes important in a ski resort?
While great scenery, lively on-hill aprés ski and resort aprés ski all help make the sum total of a ski holiday, there’s little denying that the variety and number of runs a ski resort can offer has a huge bearing on how enjoyable a winter ski break can be.
So just how does La Plagne stack up to its closest neighbours like Val d’Isère, Tignes and Trois Vallées – and why should you choose to come riding here rather than go to another area?
Is La Plagne big – a study by numbers
For those of you with a short attention span, let’s make this brief. On its own, La Plagne can trounce the majority of global ski areas. With 225km of pisted terrain and 135 runs for you to take advantage of on a La Plagne ski holiday, there’s more than enough here to keep even the most eager skier or snowboarder busy for a month never mind just a week.
Different La Plagne areas with different personalities and appeal
Moreover, each of La Plagne’s sectors has its own identity – its own feel and its own draw. For example, the runs around the Champagny sector offer incredible off-piste opportunities just inches off the main runs while the main Grande Rochette sector above Plagne Centre is a mecca for intermediate riders.
Throw in the incredible tree-lined runs around Montchavin and Montalbert – plus high-mountain riding up on the Bellecôte glacier (as well as its epic off-piste routes for expert riders) and it could be said La Plagne has everything you need for a ski or snowboard holiday.
The Vanoise Express link to Les Arcs – a gamechanger
However, La Plagne isn’t just done there – not by a long way. With the construction of the huge Vanoise Express cable car in 2003 which completed the link over to Les Arcs, La Plagne became one half of Paradiski.
While experts constantly argue on where reigns supreme in terms of being the world’s largest ski areas (mostly because some domains are large but are linked bus rather than by pistes and lifts), there’s little doubting the combined total of 425km of runs between La Plagne and Les Arcs puts it right up there in terms of size. Indeed, most would agree this tally makes La Plagne Les Arcs Paradiski the world’s third-largest ski area.
A huge range of accommodation from valley floor to high Alpine
La Plagne accommodation is also hugely varied, spread from the lower traditional valley villages up to the higher altitude stations. With 11 stations (12 if you include the rapidly developing La Roche), there is accommodation to suit almost every taste from plush hotels and chalets right down to budget-conscious self-catering apartments.
La Plagne’s higher altitude resorts comprise Plagne Bellecôte, Belle Plagne, Plagne Villages, Plagne Soleil, Plagne 1800, Plagne Centre and Aime 2000 while the lower villages are made up of Plagne Montalbert, Montchavin, Les Coches, La Roche and Champagny-en-Vanoise
What is the piste variety like in La Plagne and Paradiski?
The table below shows the piste breakdown in La Plagne and Paradiski to get a better idea of the variety of runs available. However, again for those short of attention, very few ski resorts offer skiing and snowboarding on this scale with this diversity of terrain – and remember, this is just the pisted terrain and doesn’t take account of the off-piste.
| Run grading | La Plagne | Paradiski (with Les Arcs) |
| Green pistes | 8 | 12 |
| Blue pistes | 74 | 137 |
| Red pistes | 35 | 79 |
| Black pistes | 18 | 36 |
An advanced lift network capable of handling even the busiest days
Of course, the number of runs helps spread the load in terms of skiers and snowboarders on the runs but area alone means little if the lift network can’t cope with traffic. While it’s true La Plagne can get almost insufferably busy (particularly through the February mid-term holidays) it mostly copes well. Plus there are ways to avoid the busiest lifts anyway. Below are some lift stats for both La Plagne and Paradiski.
Total number of lifts La Plagne – 77
Total number of lifts Paradiski – 130
Cable cars La Plagne – 2
Cable cars Paradiski – 4
Funiculaire La Plagne – 0
Funiculaire Paradiski – 1
Chairlifts La Plagne – 31
Chairlifts Paradiski – 58
Ski lifts (drag lifts, rope tows, etc) La Plagne – 30
Ski lifts (drag lifts, rope tows, etc) Paradiski – 43
Magic carpets La Plagne – 5
Magic carpets Paradiski – 8
Further info to help plan your La Plagne ski trip
Have a look at our when is the best time to ski in La Plagne article for more information about the times to avoid in La Plagne (if it’s possible).
Also, our La Plagne snow conditions at different points in the season will give you a better handle on when’s best to holiday here – plus give a local insight to where to ride when things get rammed on the front of the mountain.
More info about La Plagne on the LaPlagne360 site
The La Plagne 360 site and La Plagne 360 blog give you the best information on La Plagne. We’ve also got extensive La Plagne activity guides, La Plagne information guides and La Plagne ski and snowboard edits – plus images from our La Plagne gallery to help work out how to make the best of your next La Plagne ski / snowboard holiday and make sure you choose the best accommodation in La Plagne.
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