Despite its size and its range of flight options, Lyon remains the least popular of the airports near the Tarentaise resorts for a ski holiday. This is due mostly to its more convoluted (and less frequent) connections to the Isère resorts. Nonetheless, if you are planning a trip to the area from Lyon, there are choices available – although most are limited to the weekends. Below is our guide for La Plagne travel options for Lyon LYS airport.

Travel advice for Lyon to La Plagne

1. By private transfer from Lyon airport to La Plagne: Most of the transfer operators will take you from and to Lyon airport – but you should expect to pay considerably more than the other options listed below. By nature, a private transfer will always be more expensive – although these companies will operate around you and can offer transport outside the more regimented schedules of other transport options. Also, a private transfer takes you door-to-door without having to rely on in-resort buses or transport from the valley.
2. By coach transfer from Lyon airport to La Plagne: Bigger transfer companies offer routes from Lyon – although many of these services stop in Moûtiers or Aime rather than in the main resorts, meaning you’ll need to find your way from there. Thankfully, Aime in the valley below La Plagne, is on the main train line from Moûtiers and the town is very well-connected to the higher resorts with a regular bus service. Check the La Plagne valley bus schedule for more information. If you’re staying in Champagny-en-Vanoise, Moûtiers would be your last stop anyway. Thereafter, there is a local bus service up the valley to the town. If you’re staying in Les Arcs, Bourg is about half an hour by train from Moûtiers. At the terminus, it’s just a short walk to the funicular up to Arc 1600. From there, you can take a taxi or shuttle bus to your accommodation.
3. By coach service from Lyon airport to La Plagne: Altibus is the main bus operator in the region and offers a limited service direct to La Plagne’s main resorts from Lyon. These mostly fall on the weekends. You should check the link to ensure your flight times work with their schedules. If you’re staying in Les Arcs or other local ski areas, they also offer direct routes.
4. By train from Lyon airport to La Plagne: There is a regular train service from Lyon airport but the journey is considerably more convoluted than travelling from Geneva or Chambéry. The trip involves two changes (with accompanying wait times) at both Montmelian or Chambéry and Grenoble. So, to sum up the journey to La Plagne, you would go Lyon airport > Grenoble > Montmelian/Chambéry > Aime > valley bus to the resorts. You can find schedules and prices on the main SNCF link – Lyon to Aime la Plagne.
5. BlaBlaCar from Lyon airport to La Plagne: Many people forget the great service offered by BlaBlaCar, the travelshare app and website. BlaBlaCar is a French company that has been helping travellers find the best deals on journeys since 2006. At time of writing, it offers carshare services in 21 countries and has now also expanded into bus services. With reference to its core travelshare operations, the concept is simple – enter your start and end destinations and BlaBla will search its database for car owners who have confirmed they’re taking the same route on the same day. Often you’ll find people going at least somewhere close to where you need to be. In my experience, many drivers will happily take you the extra leg if you ask them nicely. I’ve used this service many times to get around France – the most. notable of which was to get from Albertville to Chamonix on a journey that would have cost ten times more and taken many extra hours if I’d taken traditional transport routes.
6. Helicopter Transfer from Lyon airport to La Plagne: If you’re feeling particularly flush, you could try and find a helicopter transfer from Lyon airport. Be warned though – the prices involved may involve taking out a second mortgage.
7. By train from Lyon airport to other Tarentaise resorts: For Trois Vallées resorts, Champagny or Pralognan-la-Vanoise, Moûtiers is your last stop. Regular buses run from the train / bus station to the main ski villages. If you’re staying in the other main Tarentaise resorts at the end of the Isère valley (Les Arcs, Tignes, Val d’Isere, La Rosière or Sainte-Foy), the above route applies but you should stay on the train until it terminates in Bourg-St-Maurice. From Bourg, there are regular buses up to the resorts (the bus and train station are one and the same). Click for Lyon trains to Tarentaise ski areas booking and schedules. Also, scroll to the bottom of this page for Moûtiers and Bourg bus services.

Getting around La Plagne

Local Buses and Taxis: Once you arrive at La Plagne, getting around the resort is a breeze with the La Plagne shuttle bus and taxi services. The La Plagne free shuttle bus system connects the various villages within high Alpine stations. This service is a convenient way to travel between the different ski areas and access amenities. Taxis are also available if you prefer a more direct, personalised mode of transportation.

La Plagne month-by-month guide

A detailed month-by-month guide to what to expect from a ski holiday in La Plagne: Have a look at our guides that detail typical snow, conditions, traffic congestion, etc month by month: La Plagne in December, La Plagne in January, La Plagne in February, La Plagne in March and La Plagne in April. There’s also an abbreviated, shorter version explaining when is the best time to ski in La Plagne.

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