Les Arcs Transport & Parking

Transport & Parking in Les Arcs

For each of the 4 Les Arcs villages it is unlikely that you would need a car, as they are linked by a bus service during the day and each has sufficient night life to keep you in your village at night time.

If you do decide to drive remember that it is a legal requirement in France to carry a warning triangle and spare bulbs, and that the Motorway speed limit depends on the weather. You can find out more about driving in France in our FAQ section.

Car Parking in Les Arcs

Indoor and/or outdoor parking is available at each level of the Les Arcs resorts and in certain places, i.e. Arcs 1950, it is compulsory as the resort is traffic free. Both Bourg St Maurice and Arc 1600 have free outdoor parking, but the remaining designated parking areas (covered or uncovered) are all paying.

Arcs 1600
Free outdoor car park and one covered parking - La Cascade.

Arcs 1800
Four outdoor car parks and three covered parkings - Charmettoger, Charvet and Villards.

Arcs 1950
One compulsory covered car park. You will be allocated a space most conveniently located for your residence

Arcs 2000
Five outdoor parking areas and one covered - Lac des Combes.

If you are prepared to leave your car 5km away by the Comborciere chair lift where the parking barrier is (from which you take a ticket to park nearer to resort) there is a free shuttle bus to take you into Arc 2000 and 1950.

Plan-Peisey and Vallandry both have numerous outdoor car parks but there isn't any communal covered parking in either resort. If you want to ensure that you can park your vehicle underground during your stay, enquire at the time of booking to see if your accommodation has private covered parking spaces.

last updated 21-May-2008

Public Transport in Les Arcs

With the mainline train station at Bourg St Maurice, the funicular railway to Arc 1600 is a convenient and easy route into resort. It takes 7 minutes and runs every half hour, starting at 08.30 and running until 19.30. The train is free for all children under the age of 12 who are accompanied by an adult. The cost for adults is €7, with the return journey free, or you can travel for free with a valid lift pass.

Between Arcs 1600,1800,1950 and 2000 there is a free (to all lift pass holders) inter resort bus link, which starts at 7.30 and continues until 19.40. To travel between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 a short gondola lift (Cabriolet) is available.

Plan Peisey and Vallandry are serviced by a free shuttle bus service which runs every 30 minutes between the 2 villages from 09.00 to 18.15. There is also a free bus from the 2 villages to the Nordic ski area at Nancroix, from 08.35 until 18.15. The service runs around 5 times a day. From Plan Peisey/Vallandry a free bus will take you to Landry (where there is a train station). This service starts at 07.55 from Landry or 08.50 from Peisey/Vallandry. The last train from Landry is at 16.55 and from Peisey/Vallandry at 18.45.

All the Les Arcs villages can be reached by ski or board using the ski lift system.

Arc 1800 and Peisey-Vallandry are linked by La Fđret ski run which can be used to walk between the 2 places. Otherwise you would need to organise a taxi. You can reach other ski resorts and towns by bus or take the train.

Bus Timetable Les Arcs 1600 - 1800
Bus Timetable Les Arcs 1600 - 1950 - 2000
Bus Timetable Les Arcs 1800 Chantel - 1800 Charvet

last updated 14-May-2008

Travelling Between the Airport & Les Arcs

Chambéry airport is the closest airport to use for Val Les Arcs at just 2 hours away on a good day by motorway and then by mountain road. Chambéry is used by several UK tour operators and there are some low-cost carriers who use it too but usually just on weekends.

Next up is Geneva and Lyon St. Exupéry (Satolas) each being 3˝ and 4Ľ hours away respectively.

To travel from these airports you have the choice of scheduled bus, shared shuttle, hire car, taxi, tour operators, private helicopter transfer or train. However, make sure you check with whomever you booked your accommodation with to see if they make arrangements for you anyway or as an 'optional extra'.

Buses:
From Geneva Altibus provides a means for booking coaches on-line, wih SAT being the principal operator for the route. Moreover, a timetable for buses departing Geneva Airport for all ski resorts, can be found at Geneva Ski Resort Bus Timetable
From Lyon St. Exupéry Satobus.
From Chambéry Altibus operate one bus runs per day.
Shared Shuttle:
Alps-based company ATS run shared minibuses which take you door-to-door. Booking on-line in advance of your holiday is recommended. Also, Mountain Transfers run shared minibuses which take you door-to-door. From Geneva the cost one way starts at around €280 (journey time 2˝hours), from Chambéry, prices start at around €220, (journey time 1ľ hours) and from Lyon, the one way cost is around €320 (journey time 3 hours). Each of the costs mentioned are for up to 4 people and increases with each additional person

Car hire:
Car hire can be arranged from each of the airports above and if there are several people travelling is not always an expensive option. Pre-booking is highly recommended if not obligatory. Try using Holiday Autos for the best searches and prices

Taxi:
A taxi for up to 4 people will cost approximately €350 from Chambery/Lyon/Geneva. For more than 4 people the cost will be higher. See Taxis for contact details

Tour Operators:
Here there are two possibilities:
1. You can book a Flight & Transfer with an operator which they sell through their agents/web-sites/call-centres - therefore is paid for in advance and you will appear on the transfer manifests
2. You can make your own flight arrangements and upon arrival at the airport catch up with a rep from one of the companies and book onto their coaches.
In both cases as the reps are unlikely to know where you are staying (they have no details as you made your own accommodation arrangements), make sure you establish the return journey procedures: give them the flight you are on, get the resort office's contact details and call on Thurday evening for transfer details/confirmation.
Method 2. is not guaranteed but is ususally fine. Expect to pay €50 one-way for Geneva-Chamonix and you will have to pay the two journeys seperately (as the return cannot be guaranteed till the end of the week).
See Tour Operators for contact details

Helicopter:
A helicopter transfer with Whitetracks for up to 5 people (without much luggage) can be arranged to Les Arcs. There are two heli-pads in resort, one in Arc 1800 and a privately owned heli-pad between Arc 1950 and Arc 2000. Both provide easy access to the resort and neither charge a landing fee. In bad weather conditions the helicopter cannot fly and it must arrive during daylight hours.

Train:
Although it is possible to come from/go to all the above airports by train a journey would involve changing at least once and would take a great deal of time and is therefore not recommended, perhaps with the exception of Chambery.

last updated 12-Feb-2008