Les Arcs 2000 – a resort for serious ski fans Les Arcs 2000 (2000 m)

The third oldest and the highest of the Les Arcs stations, Les Arcs 2000 opened at the beginning of the 1980 and at that time consisted of just one building - the Club Med. The resort has now grown but, despite now being the second largest station (after Les Arcs 1800), it is still compact. Les Arcs 2000 today consists of a few large appartment complexes, timbered buildings in the traditional style of the French Alps and, for added convenience, many of the appartment blocks have their own shops and other amenities in the basement.

Thanks to its high altitude location Les Arcs 2000 has become a popular holiday destination for winter sports fans looking for some serious skiing, hence its reputation as a haunt for “ski freaks”.

Situated at the highest point of the ski area, Les Arcs 2000 offers skiers, snowboarders and mono-skiers the biggest challenges, among them a 7-kilometre long black-red run which starts 3226 metres up at the top of the Aiguille Rouge glacier and drops all the way down into the tiny village of Villaroger at 1200 metres – an altitude difference of over 2000 metres.

Glacier ski area and high speed piste

Above Les Arcs 2000 is another highlight not to be missed – the Olympic high speed course piste, the scene every year of a high speed race which anyone can enter – if they have the nerve! This legendary run has an incline of 76% which puts it in the Kilomètre Lancé (K.L.) class. The current world record, established on the “Piste Olympique de K.L.”, stands at over 250 kilometres an hour.

However, Les Arcs is not just for speed freaks. Freeriders will love the skiing opportunities to be had between the rocks and steep gullies of the vast, shady powder snow slopes at the bottom of the Aiguille Rouge peak.

Although Les Arcs 2000 offers great conditions for the most experienced skiers, there is also plenty to attract beginners. The resort has a large practice area with its own lift and there is a choice of blue runs at the foot of the Col de la Chal peak and over towards Les Arcs 1600 and 1800. Parents of children aged between 12 months and 8 years will be pleased to know that childcare is available throughout the day.

A double helping of aprės-ski

Away from the slopes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself in Les Arcs 2000 – in the centre of the the resort is an open-air ice rink and there are also opportunities to go on a snowshoe hike or even try dog-sledding – a great way to see the stunning countryside around Les Arcs 2000 at its very best.

And the evenings are never hard to fill as the resort boasts a number of different restaurants and bars as well as a bowling alley.

There are even more leisure and entertainment opportunities in the neighbouring station Les Arcs 1950, just a short distance away and getting there is no problem – a free gondola operates until late evening between Les Arcs 1950 and 2000 and there is also a free regular shuttle bus service operating between Les Arcs 2000, Les Arcs 1600 and Les Arcs until 9pm.