La Plagne: Montchavin Slope Height 1250-3250 m

Paradiski - FRANCE

AMAZING SKI CHALETSLa Plagne: Montchavin

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Ski Chalets in La Plagne: Montchavin
Ski Chalets in La Plagne: Montchavin

Montchavin is one of the newer resorts in La Plagne. It is more more secluded and quiet, away from the hustle of the resort centre. La Plagne is one of the most famous and exciting high altitude ski areas in the world. One of the first purpose-built resorts in France, La Plagne comprises ten ski centres, each with shops, restaurants, ski schools and children's village, with direct access onto the ski area. The villages are well-connected and gondolas and a bus service run between them. Skiing has taken on a new dimension with the introduction of the Vanoise Express cable car combining the two areas of Les Arcs and La Plagne on the Paradiski lift pass.

 La Plagne boasts possibly the biggest single resort lift system in the world and has superb and extensive runs for all grades of skiers and boarder.  Beginners can slowly find their feet on the 11 green slopes, before progressing to the more gentle blues and try their hand at a bit of off-piste before the week is up.  Intermediates can clock up the miles, whilst experts can take on some truly terrifying off-piste.  Paradiski is vast but its intricate network of variously graded runs mean almost all levels of skier can take themselves from one end of the resort to the other and return back to their chalet with a real sense of achievement.

The excellent family resort of Montchavin overlooks the Tarentaise valley from an altitude of 1250 metres, on the edge of Vanoise national park. It is a living example of a village that has adapted to ski tourism - charming its visitors with its authentic old streets and renovated chalets. The "Vanoise Express" cable car, linking La Plagne and Les Arcs departs from just above the village providing easy access to the whole Paradiski area.  Doorstep skiing, or a short walk, is available throughout Montchavin and the choice of a red or a blue means that pretty much everyone can deliver themselves close to home under their own steam. In terms of apres ski Montchavin is on the quiet side but has a small choice of bars and a nightclub.  Alternatively, brush up on your language skills and visit the local cinema which offers a variety of French or French-dubbed films. Other activities across the villages include paragliding, skidoos, squash, and Turkish and seaweed baths.

RESORT highlights

New for 2017/18

The long, slow Crozats quad chair on the Montchavin side of L’Arpette will be replaced by a smart new six-seater carrying 3,600 people per hour. And new public toilets will be built at the top. The Plan Bois beginner area above Montchavin-Les Coches will be improved. The existing draglift will be replaced by a new moving carpet lift and a new draglift around 500m long will be built to allow beginners to reach the Lac Noir gondola and Plan Bois chairlift to ride back down. The beginner area will be fitted with more snowmaking. A new gourmet restaurant seating just 35 people is opening in Plagne-Montalbert and will be run by British chef Phil Howard who won Michelin stars at The Square and then Elystan Street in London.

New for 2016/17

A new 6-seater chair lift, Les Envers, opened from the valley between Le Fornelet, the low peak above Montalbert, and Plagne Aime 2000, further improving access from Montalbert to the central resort areas. This is more or less in the same place as the Coqs chair, removed some years ago. Presumably the lift co realised that sending everyone down the tricky blue run to La Roche wasn t such a good idea after all. The runs on the glacier are no longer groomed, increasing the area s appeal for adventurous skiers (and meaning these slopes can be opened more quickly after a dump). A family fun run opened at the top of the St Jacques blue piste, in the Bellecôte sector; it has features such as tunnels, jumps, raised bends and bridges. Chauffe Marcel opened on the slopes above 1800 sounds a bit like a Folie Douce, with DJs ‘playing electro and pop’ from 3pm.

best FOR

  • Extensive and varied intermediate pistes, plus excellent off-piste Good nursery slopes High and fairly snow-sure Wide choice of resort villages: ~high or low, convenient or cute Wooded runs of lower satellite resorts are great in poor weather Cable car link to Les Arcs