Les Arcs

Alpine skiing paradise with views

Les Arcs is set in the heart of Savoie, a region known for its dramatic Alpine peaks and deep snow record. The resort features high-altitude ski slopes in winter and cool mountain air in summer, with trails opening up as the snow melts. Visitors can explore nearby villages like Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with its traditional Savoyard architecture and local markets selling cheese and mountain produce. Hiking trails lead through pine forests and past alpine lakes. In summer, wildflowers bloom across the high pastures, creating colorful vistas beneath the glaciers of the Vanoise.

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Region in France

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.7

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and ski schools. Most lift operators and restaurant staff have basic English skills. However, in more local establishments and shops, French language skills may be helpful.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Les Arcs Summary

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Excellent for alpine skiing and mountain sports. Ski wide slopes in winter, mountain bike scenic trails in summer and enjoy high-altitude views.

Place score

7.9

Best at:

Snow

Skiing

Spotless

Mountains

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🌈 8

LGBTQ+

France – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in cities and tourist areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional but appreciated in restaurants (5-10%) and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in designated areas, but restrictions apply in some cities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces but common in outdoor cafes.

Bastille Day (July)	Parades and fireworks occur nationwide.
Easter (March/April)	Cultural celebrations and closures.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (EU emergency), 15 (Ambulance), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt, Heetch
Other:	France offers diverse experiences, from art and culture to nature and cuisine. Be cautious in crowded areas.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Les Arcs, France

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

🌨️

Apr

🌦️

May

🌦️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

☀️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

☀️

Oct

🌨️

Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, July - Aug.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

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Climate details

Ski season mid December to mid April, part of the Paradiski area with Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne

Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are the busiest and most expensive weeks

Summer lift and hiking season runs roughly early July to late August; most shops and hotels close outside the two seasons

Don't miss

🎿 Ski the vast slopes of Les Arcs ski resort
🛷 Experience thrill on the Rodéo Luge sled track
🧖‍♀️ Relax and unwind at Nama Springs spa
❄️ Explore the ice grotto bar and restaurant
🪂 Try paragliding for sweeping alpine views

You've been here?

Why travel to Les Arcs?

Les Arcs captivates visitors with its perfect blend of accessibility and variety. The resort prides itself on having something for everyone – from gentle green runs for complete beginners to the challenging 7-kilometer Aiguille Rouge descent with its vertiginous 2,026-meter drop for advanced skiers. Each village has its own distinct character: Arc 1950 charms with traditional Savoyard architecture, while the others showcase innovative modern design that still respects the alpine environment. What makes Les Arcs special is its thoughtful design as a car-free resort with efficient lift systems and interconnected villages. The high altitude (with over 70% of the Paradiski domain above 2,000 meters) ensures reliable snow conditions throughout the season. However, be cautious if you're a beginner – some reviewers warn about fast skiers on blue slopes creating hazardous conditions. Also, plan your departure carefully on Saturdays, as traffic can be extremely congested with reports of 3-hour drives just to cover 25km during peak changeover days.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Arc 1950
2 Vanoise Express 1
3 Transarc II
4 Varet

🎡Places for activities

1 Peisey-Nancroix
2 Plan Peisey
3 Arc 1800
4 Arc 2000
5 Vallandry

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Mont Blanc / Monte Bianco
2 Vanoise National Park
3 Aiguille Rouge
4 Squaw Valley

🎈Events

Winter Ski Season Opening
Christmas Celebrations
New Year's Festivities
Les Arcs Film Festival
Ski Competitions
Spring Skiing Festival
Mountain Music Festivals
Easter Holiday Events
Freeride Competitions
End of Season Celebrations

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Knowledge before you go

Buy Paradiski pass. Access 425km pistes linking La Plagne.
Choose Arc 1950 for luxury base or Arc 1800 for lively après-ski and family amenities.
Ski December-April; best snow December-March with Aiguille Rouge's 2000m vertical drop.
Ride Vanoise Express cable car to La Plagne; doubles terrain and offers stunning valley views.

How to travel to Les Arcs

The most popular way to reach Les Arcs is flying into Geneva Airport (175km away) and taking a transfer, which takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Chambéry-Savoie Airport (120km) is closer but serves fewer flights. For train travelers, the high-speed TGV from Paris to Bourg St Maurice takes about 6 hours, followed by a 7-minute funicular ride to Arc 1600. Driving from Paris takes approximately 8 hours, but remember that snow chains or winter tires are legally required for winter driving in the Alps.

Access summary

From Chambéry Airport (CMF): Shared transfer or car, typically around 1.5–2 hours.
From Geneva: Airport shuttle or train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, then funicular, about 3 hours.
From Bourg-Saint-Maurice: Funicular to Arc 1600 in 7 minutes, then free resort buses.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Les Arcs

Les Arcs offers a wide range of accommodation options across its four villages. Arc 1950 is considered the prettiest and, along with Arc 2000, has better amenities than the older villages. Most accommodations are self-catered apartments, offering great value for families and groups. Each village has its own character: Arc 1600 and 1800 have a more traditional feel, while 1950 showcases charming Savoyard architecture and 2000 offers modern convenience. All villages provide ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Base Camp Lodge

9.0

Residence Prestige Odalys Edenarc

Hotel L'Ecrin Blanc by Odalys

Residence Club MMV L'Etoile des Cimes

9.6

Hotel du Golf

9.2

CGH Residences & Spas Le Ruitor

7.9

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Les Arcs

Les Arcs is designed to be pedestrian-friendly with most villages being car-free. A free shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes between the villages, making it easy to explore different areas. The funicular from Bourg St Maurice to Arc 1600 takes just 7 minutes and is the fastest way to access the resort. Once in the ski area, the modern network of 54 lifts, including gondolas and chairlifts, provides efficient transportation across the mountains.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-5 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 5% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Chamonix, France - 39 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£61	£143	£414
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£68	£188
🍝 Food per day	£31	£66	£195
🚕 Transportation per day	£7	£9	£31

Notable additional fees: Adult day pass about €68 (£56.92) for Les Arcs-Peisey or around €80 (£66.97) for the full Paradiski with La Plagne. Ski, boot and pole hire runs roughly €30 – 40 (£25.11 – 33.48) a day.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£11
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£2.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£19
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£12.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£23
🤧 Cold medication	£5
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Les Arcs is generally safe, but caution is needed on the slopes. Some reviewers warn about fast skiers on blue runs creating hazardous conditions for beginners. Always follow ski safety rules and consider helmets mandatory, especially for children.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are available in the resort with specialized mountain rescue services for skiing accidents. Each village has a medical center, but serious cases may require transport to larger hospitals in the valley. Altitude sickness can affect some visitors.

Accessibility

Les Arcs has made efforts to be accessible with modern lifts and facilities. However, the mountainous terrain presents natural challenges for those with mobility issues. Arc 1950 and 2000 have better accessibility features than the older villages.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Les Arcs. The mountain water is clean and refreshing. Most restaurants will provide tap water upon request and there are water fountains available in public areas of the villages.