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Where to go for...
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With such a big ski area to explore, it's sometimes good to have a little bit of inside information… For your pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite places for challenging and steep runs, the places to go on bad weather days, and the nicest and sunniest spots for lunch. For those wanting to check out the off-piste, Les Arcs also has vast areas which are easily accessible from the lifts. |
| Leisurely Runs in Les Arcs |
For some nice quiet rolling blue runs, which will ease you into your holiday, try either the Plan Vert piste, which starts just down from the top of the Transarc gondola, follow onto the Edelweiss run until you reach the Marmottes chairlift or try the Cascades run from the Bois de Lours chairlift to the Pre de St Esprit chairlift.
Arc 1800 is truly a resort which caters for everyone. The runs here are wide and often tree lined ensuring plenty of room for those on their first week. It is best to try to avoid the bottom of the Maïtaz, Villards & Charmettoger runs where they converge at the Transarc gondola, this is usually teeming with people as it is nearly always icy and can catch out even the best of us, try to use the mid station point of the Transarc to get up and over to 2000.
Arc 2000 is more suitable for intermediate to expert skiers, the runs here tend to be more reds and blacks and the off piste around resort is truly amazing. But don’t miss out on Arc 2000 if you are only just beginning to ski or snowboard, there are some fantastic rolling reds/blues which are shallow enough for you to learn on. |
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last updated 13-Feb-2008 |
| Intermediate Runs in Les Arcs |
At the top of the Cachettes chair from Arc 1600, go back on yourself, under and around in front of the lift, bearing right and you should find the Arolles. This run dips and dives for some fantastically fast paced skiing and then slows down into rollers for a slower paced descent onto the Sources which will take you back into 1600. This is normally a very quiet run, even during the peak season as most people tend to miss it.
In the Peisey-Vallandry area, from the top of the Plan Bois lift you will find a blue run which leads onto the red – Bellette, this is a wonderfully wide, fast run which if you turn right half way down, leads into Le Rhodos, a blue run which is nearly always empty and has a succession of rollers which are fun for everyone. |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
| Our Favourite Runs |
If you want to try the longest run in the world, then get yourself to the top of the Aguille Rouge cable car at Arc 2000. From here you can travel 16km into Villaroger, on the Aguille Rouge black run. At about a third of the way down it changes into a red, but it is still demanding. The only problem with this is the queue to get on the cable car and the busyness of the slopes once the run converts into a red, so have this on your list for the first run of the day.
Or if you love moguls the head to the top of the Comborciere or the Ours black runs. Both of these runs are on the side of the mountain where you would drop in from the 1800 lifts. They are very demanding and steep which means that even with a dump of fresh snow, you’ll need your legs to be ready for the challenge!
From the top of the Comborciere chair lift take the Malgovert run into Arc 1600, often quiet and wonderful after a good dump of snow. |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
| Off Piste Skiing in Les Arcs |
In fresh snow conditions, Les Arcs has some of the most exhilarating and steepest powder skiing and now with the access to La Plagne via the Vanoise Express you can discover some truly outstanding powder areas.
But in terms of safety and finding the best terrain, it really does pay to hire a guide for all off-piste ventures. It is best to contact the local ski school to hire a guide and never venture off piste without wearing an avalanche transceiver.
Heli-Skiing in France is illegal but this is not the case in Italy and due to the closeness of Les Arcs to the Italian Alps it is possible to organize heli-skiing outings. See here for contact details of helicopter companies. |
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last updated 17-Jun-2008 |
| Deserted Pistes |
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Arc 2000 and 1800 tend to be the busiest areas in Les Arcs so if you are looking for quieter areas to ski then head to either Peisey-Vallandry or stay more on the Arc 1600 side. That said, in Peisey-Vallandry try to avoid using La Foret, which is a very shallow and therefore slow, very narrow and extremely busy path. |
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last updated 12-Feb-2008 |
| Mountain Restaurants |
Les Arcs is a widely spread resort and restaurants are few and far between in some areas and abundant in others. As in any resort it is good to know where to go and what to expect from a resort. Below are a few suggestions for people who like both quality and value from their food on the slopes whether it be a quick snack or a leisurely three hour lunch! All of the restaurants mentioned are accessible on skis or snowboards but may also be accessed on foot via a telecabine where stated.
Au Pré Gourmand is a large restaurant that uses quality local produce located on the piste near the bottom of the Pré St. Esprit chair lift and also on the road up to Les Arcs 1950 and 2000. The restaurant is cosy inside with a big traditional fire but also has a large terrace where you can eat when the weather permits. There are two options to choose from for lunch time eating. Expect to pay around €15 for the middle value self service option which consists of different choices of starters, hot and cold main courses and desserts. For the more traditional table service option a medium menu will cost around €23. Desserts here are renowned as they are made by a local Chocolatier.
Les Chalets de L’Arc is located at an altitude of 2200m and is near the resort of Arc 2000, five minutes from the Arcabulle chair lift. The building itself is a beautiful, traditional chalet with a terrace that always has the sun as long as it is shining. Set menus start from €18 but you can chose from a menu of dishes from €10 and there is also a good children’s menu. All bread is made on site in the old style ovens and great pride seems to be taken in all preparation and presentation of the food served here. This is a highly recommended restaurant to visit.
There a few restaurants over towards Villaroger, but two in particular that should be visited while you are there. The first is on the way down to the village on the longest marked run in Europe (7km in total) if you start from the top of the Aigulle Rouge. You may need a break halfway down anyway so a good excuse would be to visit Chalet du Solliet at 1750m. The building is an authentic mountain chalet in an exceptional location with a couple of well positioned terraces and good menus. Again, you can choose from the self service (salads, soups, sausages and polenta, omelettes) or restaurant options (Fondues, Raclettes, Tartiflettes) and there is also an interesting menu with specialities from the South West of France including confit and breast of duck and Foie Gras. In the winter you can only access this restaurant via the piste but it is open and is very popular in summer with walkers and bikers.
The second gem that we found in the Villaroger area is La Ferme, located in the village itself, but which can normally be reached on skis throughout the winter. A short walk is involved from the bottom of the piste but it is worth it for the restaurants rustic charm and the buzz that there is when you walk upstairs during a busy lunchtime period. A particular favourite dish of ours is the rabbit casserole from the self service counter which, although not cheap, is deliciously tasty.
If you are looking for a break from French cuisine then head to the Mont Blanc bar and restaurant in Vallandry which is a lively, English run place, popular with seasonnaires and younger holiday makers. The menu is typically English – think ham, egg and chips, bangers and mash and curry. You can also have an early tapas supper or you can choose to grab a burger or homemade soup from the ‘Snack Shack’ at the back of the hotel bordering the Aigle red run.
For more quick bites like paninis, cups of soups (not Cuppa Soup) and tasty deep pan pizza slices go to the very conveniently placed Le Snack. There is plenty of picnic bench seating with spectacular views across the descending slopes and the valley below, there is also always good music playing and it is cheap and has a cool vibe. This is the perfect ski in/ski out snack bar just above and parallel to the mid-station of the Trans Arc bubble.
Click here for Mountain Restaurants on the La Plagne side
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last updated 13-Jun-2008 |
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