The resort
La Plagne has eleven villages, including purpose-built stations around the 2,000 m bowl (Plagne Centre, Belle Plagne, Soleil, Villages, Aime 2000, 1800, Bellecôte) plus traditional villages on the flanks: Montchavin-Les Coches, Montalbert, Champagny-en-Vanoise and the valley towns. Check the lift and bus connections for the village you book.
The skiing
The home area runs to 225 km, from tree-lined runs above the low villages to the glacier, where the Glaciers 2 gondola (ten minutes on from Roche de Mio) arrives at 3,080 m. The Funiplagne Grande Rochette gondola and the Roche de Mio gondola provide access from the central bowl. Across the valley, the Vanoise Express (two double-deck cabins carrying 188 passengers each) crosses to Peisey-Vallandry and Les Arcs in four minutes, making Paradiski: 425 km on 129 lifts, 70% of it above 2,000 m.
Snow & weather
The high central bowl stays colder than the lower village runs. That difference becomes more important in March, when returns through the trees can soften. The month-by-month record, in °C and °F, is on the La Plagne snow & weather page.
Lessons & ski schools
La Plagne’s schools operate from different villages. Book the branch near your chosen base and confirm the meeting point; a course elsewhere in the ski area may involve a long journey before the first lesson.
Passes
The La Plagne pass covers all 225 km on 73 lifts; the Paradiski pass adds Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry for the full 425 km, with a per-day extension supplement as the halfway option. Village-only passes (Champagny, Montalbert, Montchavin-Les Coches) and the beginners' Cool Ski pass cover smaller areas for local skiing and learning. The official shop is skipass-laplagne.com.
Where to stay
Belle Plagne and Plagne Centre have accommodation in the main bowl with ski-to-door access; Plagne 1800 and Bellecôte sit below them. Aime 2000 is the highest base, with large purpose-built buildings.
For an older village, compare Montchavin-Les Coches (1,250–1,450 m), Montalbert (1,350 m) and Champagny on the Vanoise side. All have lifts into the shared area.
Getting there
Geneva is 149 km, Lyon 196 km. The railheads are Aime-la-Plagne, with the S71 bus climbing to the altitude villages, and Moûtiers for Champagny. By road it's the A43/A430 to Albertville, the N90 to Aime, then the D220 climb. Winter tires or chains apply (November 1 to March 31).
Beyond the pistes
La Plagne’s Olympic bobsleigh track offers several public ride formats, including Bob Raft and rides with a professional driver. Age restrictions and availability vary by activity. The Colorado Luge run and dog-sledding outings near Montalbert are other options; check the current booking details before arranging a rest day.
Who it suits
The central bowl gives families and mixed-ability groups a choice of purpose-built bases. Compare Champagny or Montchavin for a traditional village, and the Paradiski pass if you plan to cross to Les Arcs and the Aiguille Rouge.
Quick answers
Which La Plagne village should you stay in? The main choice is between the central bowl and the lower villages. Belle Plagne, Plagne Centre, Soleil, Villages and Aime 2000 sit around or above 2,000 m in the main bowl; Plagne 1800 and Bellecôte sit below; Montchavin-Les Coches, Montalbert and Champagny are the traditional lower villages with their own lifts in. The same pass covers all eleven villages.
Is La Plagne linked to Les Arcs? Yes: the Vanoise Express, a double-deck cable car crossing the valley in four minutes, links Montchavin to Peisey-Vallandry on the Les Arcs side. Together they are Paradiski: 425 km on 129 lifts, 70% of it above 2,000 m.
Can you ride the Olympic bobsleigh run? Yes: La Plagne keeps the 1992 Albertville Games track (1.5 km, 19 bends) open to the public: the four-person Bob Raft reaches about 80 km/h, the solo Speed Luge about 90, and Bob Racing hits around 120 km/h with a professional pilot at the front.