Montchavin lift Vanoise Express
The Montchavin lift Vanoise Express isn’t just a ski lift – it’s a feat of engineering. This huge, double-deck cable car was once the world’s biggest and links La Plagne with Les Arcs, effectively doubling the ski area to make the linked Paradiski domain.
The lift opened in 2003 and has closed only once – for the entire 2008/09 season due to safety concerns which couldn’t be repaired until the spring. It has an operating length of 1.8km and travels at 380m above the valley floor – all without any supporting pylons between the main colossal supporting pillars at the stations on either side of the valley.
At a maximum, the cabins can carry 200 people on two floors. The top area is best for sightseeing while the lower cabin has a glass viewing area cut into the floor showing the valley floor below. In busier times of the season, these huge cabins pass relentlessly through the day, shuttling skiers and snowboarders between the two respective areas.
If you’re staying in La Plagne and you’re past total beginner stage, you really owe it to yourself to spend at least one day in Les Arcs to experience the full Paradiski domain – the 3rd largest ski area in the world. Access on the La Plagne side is easiest by following the Mont Blanc blue (although a combination of other Montchavin blue pistes and Montchavin red pistes will also get you there). Once on the other side at Peisey-Nancroix be sure to stop at the small bar-restaurant next to the Les Arcs Vanoise Express base station.
You can take a virtual tour of the journey in either the Paradiski 3D video or the guide to visiting Les Arcs from La Plagne video.
- Very fast
- Access Les Arcs
- Open in all weather
- Queues relatively rare
- Doubles the ski area in just 5 mins
- Really, the only potential bad point is this lift can get busy – but for good reason
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| Connecting lifts: | Connecting pistes: |
| Lac Noir gondola followed by Mont Blanc | All of Les Arcs/La Plagne, depends how you look at it 😉 |
| Sauget drag lift |
Lift stats
| Length: | 1.85km / 1.1m |
| La Plagne alt: | 1548m |
| Les Arcs alt: | 1612m |
| Vert ascent: | 64m |
| Av gradient: | n/a |
| Max gradient: | n/a |
| Capacity: | 200 people |
| People per hr: | 2000 people |
| Av travel time: | 4 mins |
| Type: | Cable car |
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