Easy access to the whole ski area
For those families wanting to spend a day on the slopes together the resort of Les Arcs 1600 offers ideal conditions. There is a special practice area where novices can venture out onto the slopes for the first time before moving on to the blue and red runs of which there are plenty in the area around Les Arcs 1600.
For more advanced skiers there are 2 deep snow pistes taking skiers down into the resort, whilst fans of snowboarding are just 2 lifts away from the Apocalypse freestyle park, a fully-equipped facility with a whole range of obstacles and a special area for beginners.
Once a year in March ski fans can look forward to another highlight – that is when skiers and snowboarders venture out on the Waterslide run on the Clair Blanc piste right next to the Apocalypse park. The aim is to ski across the 15-metre long and 50 cm deep pool at the end of the piste and arrive on the other side completely dry! For skiers looking for a slightly less hair-raising experience but one which is just as memorable, Les Arcs 1600 offers the opportunity twice a week throughout the season to practise their technique after dark on the floodlit blue Combettes piste.
In addition to the runs close to Les Arcs 1600, skiers also have very easy access to the ski areas of the 3 other high altitude stations/resorts. Just 2 chair-lift rides away are the The Les Arcs 1950/2000 ski areas with a choice of deep snow downhills as well as the challenging slopes at the foot of the Aiguille Rouge glacier. Less demanding, a series of attractive blue and red runs lead from Col de la Chal back to the two highest Les Arcs resorts. There is also a large boardercross course and the Rodéo park has a 3-kilometre long toboggan run at 2,600 metres.
Just one chair-lift ride take you from Les Arcs 1600 to Les Arcs 1800 from where one of the longest blue runs in the whole ski area, the Belvédère piste, passes on its way to Vallandry. Skiers therefore have the choice whether to head for the long, easy to moderate runs above Les Arcs 1800, the network of slopes at Peisey-Vallandry or the La Plagne ski area. For even more options the double-decker Vanoise Express gondola lift from Plan Peisey to Les Coches gives access to a further 225 kilometres of pistes. It is no surprise that the Les Arcs ski areas and La Plagne together make up one of the largest connected ski areas in the whole of Europe, known as Paradiski.
Après-ski fun for young and old
Les Arcs 1600 is not just great for family skiing – there is also plenty going on off the slopes. Since it opened in 1967 as the first of the Les Arcs high altitude stations, this small resort has grown steadily whilst still managing to retain its cosy atmosphere – its traditional wood and stone buildings add to this authentic ‘feel’.
A shopping street around the central Place de Soleil is a delightful place for a leisurely stroll during the day and in the evenings there is a good choice of bars (some offering live music) and restaurants. With a disco and a cinema too, there is definitely no shortage of aprės-ski fun to be had!
To round off a busy day’s skiing or for a spot of relaxation on a ‘non-ski’ day, Les Arcs 1600 has two spas offering sauna and massage facilities. There is also a large pool complex in Bourg Saint Maurice which has a 25-metre indoor pool and a spa treatment area.
