Review of Les Arcs, France

Resort Overview for Les Arcs:

One of the most fashionable of the French purpose-built resort complexes that were originated in the late '60s. Les Arcs has its own unique design of curving apartment block complexes which seem to hug the mountainside and, timber clad, seem more in keeping with their natural environment than most. The Arcs are car free, with covered walkways between buildings and doorstep skiing throughout.

The resort has a reputation for being at the cutting edge of snow sports and is famous for pioneered the Ski Evolutif tuition method of tuition for beginners who learn parallel skiing. It was also a mecca for mono-ski in the early '80s and of course 'boarding as well as other 'sports nouveau'. There is a famous flying kilometre speed skiing course where world records have been set.

There are four 'Arcs', at 1600, 1800, 1950 and 2000 metres each with its own reputation. At different times the Arcs have had various names but at present 1600, 1800 and 2000 are known simply by their numbers. 1600 is known as the 'family' resort with 1800 the main centre with most of the facilities and night life. Arc 2000 was originally the sporting mecca with little there besides first rate sports facilities for those who needed a fully equipped gym to work out in after a full day on the slopes. All have grown to become more multi-function however.

Arc 1950 - Le Village is the newest develeopment, and a pioneering model for europe brought over by North American developer Intrawest. The concept is for a high quality, purpose designed resort with all facilities available on your doorstep., Very like the traditional French purpose built resort the other Arcs are examples of but with greater attention to architecture, 21st century comforts and quality of service and product.

The resort has one of the world's largest ski areas, linked to the villages of Villaroger, Vallandry and Plan Peisey, there is also a funicular railway down to Bourg Saint Maurice from where you can easily reach La Rosière on the other side of the valley with its lift link over to La Thuile in Italy. In 2003 the resort was lift linked by the spectacular Vanoise Express double decker cable car to another neighbour, La Plagne, to create the Paradiski area of 425km of trails. Finally it participates in the Savoie Olympic Pass which also includes Val d'Isère and Tignes in the Espace Killy and the Trois Vallées resorts such as Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires.

The Skiing in Les Arcs:

Les Arcs ski area is one of the world's largest with one of the biggest verticals and has an excellent variety of terrain. Although the vertical between the top of the Aiguille Rouge and the bottom of Les Arc's own skiing is broken by the need for a lift ascent half way down, it is possible to make a spectacular descent of over 2000m from the same point to the neighbouring village of Villaroger, the lowest point on the circuit at 1200m. The ski area takes in glacier skiing, wooded slopes and above tree-line bowls - in short pretty well all imaginable conditions.

The terrain will suit all levels of skier with Arc 1600 based in thickly wooded terrain, surrounded by largely gentle trails through the trees, and both 1800 and 2000 located at the treeline with wide open sunny slopes above. Beginners can benefit from tuition using the famous ski evolutif graduated ski method. All of the centres have gently sloping meadows directly beside them for the first few runs. Intermediates, as with all 'super ski areas' can perhaps get the maximum enjoyment of all, being able to tackle most of the slopes. Most will even cope with the red down from the imposing Aiguille Rouge, the highest point of the ski area where the cable car broadcasts a recorded announcement (one you're ascending) advising that the terrain is not safe for inexperienced skiers.

Much of the terrain is long fast motorway cruising, although there is more variety than at many comparable resorts. Experts have plenty to keep them happy including extensive off-piste terrain. The legendary 7km (4.5) mile long black from the top of the Aiguille Rouge down to Villaroger is one of the world's longest and covers the world's biggest vertical for a run of this grading, a full 2000 metres.

Plenty other challenges including mogul runs like the Dou d'Homme. The increasingly frequented off-piste route from La Plagne to Les Arcs is a great excursion returning via the Nancroix forest.

The Vanoise Express cable car, which departs from Peisey Vallandry, takes 200 people at a time (120 on the lower deck, 80 on the upper one) over to La Plagne and the joint Paradiski area in just four minutes.

For cross-country skiers there are three 5km long loops, one by each resort.

Après Ski in Les Arcs:

Les Arcs mirrors most of the French purpose built ski centres in not having a particularly strong après ski reputation. For the livliest nightlife Arc 1800 is the place to be, with one of the resort's night clubs - the Apocolypse, otherwise there are a selection of bars - some of them lively. Impromptu appartment parties are quite common amongst the financially challenged.

The hotel du Golf has a piano bar and the most sophisticated end of the 1800 market. The cinemas in the resort show English language films several times a week.

At Arc 2000 there's another night club, KL92 but the Red Rock Cafe is perhaps more the focus of evening activities, serving a good choice of cocktails and with live music often performed.

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