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Snowmobiling in Les Arcs with Arc Aventures

Riding a skidoo makes going uphill an exhilarating experience

featured in Activity reviews Author Sam Birch, Les Arcs Reporter Updated

You may have sometimes seen snowmobiles on the pistes or parked outside the mountain security huts and, like me, wondered what it would actually be like to ride one. Well, puzzle ye not, because in Arc 1800 you can try it yourself.

Snowmobiling is considered a “dangerous activity” so is highly regulated in France. Since 1990, there has been only one company in Les Arcs licensed to provide snowmobile tours, ArcAventures. I joined them for an early-evening tour of the ski area and, regardless of the weather, am very glad I did.

a snowmobile in les arcs

The Build-Up

Snowmobiling trips can only start after the lifts have closed and the skiers have vacated the pistes. I was booked in for 5.45pm and, having been emailed a comprehensive information pack beforehand, I easily found the meeting point just beyond the Transarc gondola lift. There I met Hervé, one of two skidoo instructors who lead the tours, maintain the vehicles and explain how everything works.

Once you have signed a declaration that you will comply with the instructions provided, you are given a shiny orange and black helmet (complete with hygienic single-use hairnet). In addition to wearing weather-proof ski gear and suitable footwear (not ski boots) the pre-activity information requests that you bring low-light or clear goggles, but I found the helmet visor more than adequate protection for the drive. There is then a short 5 minute safety briefing, after which the group was led to the snowmobiles and taught how to ride them. As there was a mixture of French and English speakers, Hervé explained everything twice; once in each language. He spoke excellent English and was very careful to ensure everyone understood and that any questions were answered before we set off.

The skidoos comfortably seat two people and Hervé explained it would be possible for pairs to swap drivers halfway through the hour-long tour. On this trip, the instructor himself had a pillion passenger and it is possible to book that seat at a reduced rate (€40).

skidoo trip in les arcs

The Ride

There are a maximum of five snowmobiles, including that of the instructor, and you essentially follow one another around the pistes of Arc 1800. You begin at a more leisurely pace, doing a short tour of the lower slopes, whilst you learn to manoeuvre, accelerate and decelerate. During this time Hervé was pausing regularly to keep the group together, taking corners very gingerly and, where necessary, giving individual advice to the drivers. After a short while, as we all grew in confidence, the pace began to pick up. Having started the ride at dusk, it was not long before I was relying on the headlamp and simply chasing the red light in front of me.

We began a “grand tour,” riding up marked runs, down single-lane tracks, through trees and across off-piste areas until we reached a significant altitude. By that time it was pitch-black and snowing rather heavily and wel had front-row seats for a firework display occurring above in the resort. I was trying to mentally keep track of our route but a series of quick ascents followed by any number of twists and turns soon had me completely disorientated.

I had never ridden a snowmobile before and it is entirely unlike almost anything I have tried previously. Shifting your weight seems as important to steering as turning the handlebars, so it is a bit like quad-biking, but the uncertainty inherent in driving on snow makes it all the more interesting. The excursion is billed as “low speed” but, at times, feels the complete opposite. You can absolutely hammer uphill and, on a couple of occasions, I certainly saw over 50 km/h. Believe me, that feels very quick on the snow in the dark. Downhill is another kettle of fish entirely; you are practically using a normal pair of skis to steer a massive, heavy, 500cc snowmobile with potentially two people sat on it. Suffice to say, downhill is the harder portion of skidoo riding.

a brake light on a skidoo in les arcs

By the end of the journey, we were dropping off fairly precipitous ledges off-piste, traversing moguls, riding through wooded areas and, of course, accelerating hard on the ascents. Although it snowed throughout, and was dark from very early on, it was a thoroughly excellent experience. I imagine the views would be more spectacular if the visibility was better or that, later in the season when the days are longer, you might enjoy being able to see more than 50 metres in front of your skidoo. But, for me, riding hard through the darkness following an expert guide was very exhilarating and totally worthwhile.

The snowmobile itself was very comfortable, with two wide, soft seats, a backrest for the pillion passenger, a large protective windscreen and heated handlebar grips for the driver! It is fully automatic, so very easy to control, with one lever to accelerate and another to brake. With a 500cc, 4-stroke engine producing around 80hp, it certainly had more than enough power.

skidoos in les arcs

Further Practical Information

ArcAventures provide snowmobiling trips every day from Monday to Friday. The tours start at 17:15 in December and January, 17:45 from February onwards. Each trip is an hour in duration, which includes a short safety briefing. You can ski to the meeting point and leave your equipment there, but do remember to bring suitable footwear for riding the skidoo. If you are staying in a resort which is not Arc 1800, the earlier sessions provide enough time to catch a free shuttle bus (and, if necessary, funicular) to the other villages. The resort itself has free parking for up to four hours.

It costs €95 per skidoo, which can accommodate one or two people. All drivers must be over 18 years old, holding a full car or motorcycle licence, and passengers must be over ten years old. Helmets are included for both driver and passenger. You can book in person at the ArcAventures office on the Arc 1800 snow-front (between and below the Vagere and Villards lifts) or by telephone. All the staff speak both English and French. There are spaces for nine people on each excursion, or the office can arrange bespoke sessions for larger groups.

Before you undertake any new activity, ensure that you have the correct insurance. Many travel insurance companies automatically include cover for snowmobiling, but it is worth checking before you jump on the skidoo.

a man stood next to a skidoo

Location

Map of the surrounding area