Les Arcs Mountain Sports

Les Arcs and La Plagne are two of the best downhill mountain biking sites in Europe. The riding is challenging, the views are spectacular and the long tracks just keep on flowing! Probably a resort best suited to intermediate/advanced riders, you’ll find plenty of demanding technical trails and steep downhill plummets. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT. (Vélo tout-terrain!)) ... see "Les Arcs Mountain Biking" for more

Catch Le Grizzly lift from Vallandry and you will find your take-off point just to the right of the top of the chairlift, or from the top of the Cachette or the Ours run you take-off and land in the valley in of Bourg Saint Maurice or Ilette. Once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply run (in summer) or point your skis/snowboard (in winter) downhill and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air. Taking off can seem a bit scary, but once you are in the air the sights and the peaceful flying is a truly amazing feeling. The instructor will control where you go, aiming to catch thermals, which will keep you up for longer. As you glide through the air, take the time to absorb the spectacular scenery on display from a different perspective, sit back and relax if on a tandem paraglider, letting the instructor control your moves. A usual tandem ride will last about 20-30 minutes, depending on the thermals keeping you up for longer. Landing is very gentle, and no more of an impact than jumping off a step - but as you touch terra firma you could discover your legs have turned to jelly! ... see "Les Arcs for Paragliding" for more