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Transfer options for Les Arcs

Discover the top Les Arcs airport shuttle options

Updated

Les Arcs is located in the Tarentaise Valley in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and, together with La Plagne, is part of Paradiski, one of the largest ski areas in Europe. The most convenient airport for Les Arcs is Geneva as it offers the greatest choice of airlines, frequent flight times and the most competitive prices. To reach the Paradiski's world-famous pistes from Geneva airport quickly and comfortably, your best bet is to book an airport transfer.

We’ve got the inside track on what to know and watch out for when booking a transfer from Geneva airport to Les Arcs, so read on for our complete guide.

Snow White Ski Transfers

How to get from Geneva airport to Les Arcs

Geneva airport is 218km from of Les Arcs. To get here, we recommend you book an airport transfer.

How do you get from Geneva airport to Les Arcs?
The easiest and most convenient way to get to Les Arcs is to book an airport transfer. The Geneva to Les Arcs transfer time is around 2h45 but will be longer on snowy days and in peak weeks, such as Christmas, New Year, school holidays and Easter.

Another option if you can't easily find transfers for the flight times you have chosen is to hire a car from Geneva airport, which also gives you the freedom to move around and visit neighbouring resorts. Nevertheless, driving on the snow means that you have safety and potential damage to consider, while snow tyres should be added to the final cost on the hire options.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Closest airport to Les Arcs

Even if Geneva is the most convenient airport when travelling to Les Arcs, it’s not the nearest one. There are other airports that offer shorter transfer times, however, they also present a few drawbacks.

What's the nearest airport to Les Arcs?
The closest airport to Les Arcs is Chambery, a little under 140km from the centre of resort. While it’s faster to get to Les Arcs from Chambery (around 1h50), flights are generally more expensive and rarer, as they are usually tour operator charters.

These are the average transfer times and distances from the main airports and train stations to Les Arcs. The values are approximate and can be affected by snow, bad weather or peak holiday times:

Airport to Les Arcs Transfer Times & Distances
Geneva to Les Arcs 2h45 218km
Grenoble to Les Arcs 2h35 217km
Lyon to Les Arcs 2h35 214km
Chambery to Les Arcs 1h50 137km
Bourg St Maurice train station to Les Arcs 35mins 26km
About Transfers to Val Thorens

Transfer prices in Les Arcs

Les Arcs ski transfer prices will vary depending on whether you're booking a private or a shared transfer, as well as on dates (with off-peak weeks generally offering cheaper transfers), times (it may be cheaper to travel in the middle of the day as transfer companies will be able to group more people together), availability, vehicle and/or group size, etc.

How much do Les Arcs airport transfers cost?
The average price of a one-way shared transfer from Geneva to Les Arcs starts at around €60, going up to €400 for a private transfer. From other airports, most Les Arcs ski transfers are on a private basis, with a one-way starting at around €250. If you’re after something a bit fancier and most definitely faster, the sky can literally be the limit with a private helicopter transfer taking off from €3,000.

Find out average transfer prices from the main airports to Les Arcs:

Airport to Les Arcs Transfer Prices
Geneva to Les Arcs From €60 (shared)
Grenoble to Les Arcs From €250 (private)
Lyon to Les Arcs From €250 (private)
Chambery to Les Arcs From €250 (private)
About Transfers to Val Thorens

Shared vs private transfers

When booking your airport transfer you’ll find that there are two main Les Arcs transfer options: shared or private. These depend on whether you book the whole vehicle for yourself and your group or you share it with other people.

What's a shared transfer?
A shared transfer is when companies group passengers arriving at a similar time in the same vehicle, sharing costs among them. They are cheaper than private transfers, the trade-off is that they usually involve longer waiting and travel times. This is because they won't leave the airport until everyone’s plane lands, even if waiting times are usually under an hour. There will also be several stops on the way to drop people off, increasing the journey’s length.

What's a private transfer?
A private transfer is when the vehicle is reserved for your party only. Generally more convenient than shared transfers, they’re also more expensive. They’re the best option for groups and a good alternative when you can’t find a shared transfer around your flight time. Private transfers will leave the airport as soon as you arrive and go straight to your accommodation, making the waiting and journey times shorter. Those who prefer to travel in style will be able to book the latest luxury eco-friendly cars or even fly high in a helicopter.

About Transfers to Val Thorens

Public bus transfers to Les Arcs

Using public transport can help keep the costs down on your trip to Les Arcs. However, it can take considerably longer than a shared or private transfer as buses usually stop several times along the way and you may need to make a connection in Bourg Saint Maurice, the nearest transport hub in the area.

How do you get from the airport to Les Arcs using public transport?
Public bus transfers run from the airports to Les Arcs in the winter season, especially during weekends. Many also stop at the closest train station in Bourg Saint Maurice, where Eurostar ski trains from London St Pancras stop.

There is a funicular connecting Bourg Saint-Maurice and Arc 1600 every day in winter and summer. From Arc 1600, shuttle buses will take you to all the other resorts in Les Arcs. The Bourg Saint Maurice to Arc 1600 funicular transfer time is around 15 minutes. Access to the funicular is included in any Les Arcs and Paradiski lift passes, while there are also single and return tickets available. From Arc 1600 to Arc 1800, it's only a 10-minute bus ride, while it takes 15 minutes to get to Arc 1950 and 20 minutes to arrive at Arc 2000.

A bus also runs between the Bourg Saint Maurice train station and the villages in Les Arcs every Saturday in winter. From Bourg Saint Maurice to Arc 1800, the bus transfer time is 30 minutes or 50 minutes to Arc 1600. It's a bit longer to get from Bourg Saint Maurice to Arc 1950 (1h10) and to Arc 2000 (1h45) by bus. You can find the latest bus timetables on our Bus Services in Les Arcs page.

More inspiration...

Read our How to Get to Les Arcs Guide for more information on all the different ways to travel to the Paradiski, including by plane, by train and by coach.