The Ski Resort
Les Arcs is a really interesting New Year skiing proposition. If you are looking for the big party on the slopes then it is not the place to go in our opinion, likewise if you are looking for a New Year ski resort with charm and character, although Les Arc 1950 is pretty - but, if you are looking for a great high altitude New Year skiing for a mixed ability group, a good value one too, and the other two factors are not critical, Les Arc is a great option in our view for the New Year ski holidays.
Yes some of the Les Arcs villages are the Ugly Sisters of the region, but the mixed ability skiing can more than make up for it. Ski snobs here might ridicule the fact that Les Arc is a beginners and intermediates ski resort, take no notice (you may want at this point to ask them if they have even ever been) as we have heard it loads and to be blunt we think it is unounded here at New Year Ski. Place the ski snobs at the top of the Aiguille Rouge and offer them either the black runs or the off-piste and they might not be so sure of their claims. Likewise the moguls under the Varet Gondola! Yes Les Arcs is a superb ski area for beginners and intermediates, but it is very good for advanced skiers too. The tree line skiing above Peisey-Vallandry is a little milder but very good generally during the New Year ski holidays, as is the itinerary route from Malgovert down to Arc 1600. Total beginners will start at the Ski Tranquille and then progress to the many blue runs in the local area. There are also several red runs and hence why it is great for intermediates. It is also well laid out as well with most routes having an easy and difficult run down, allowing mixed ability groups to ski together or meet at the bottom and share ski lifts as well as a nice lunch together.
There are a handful of Les Arcs villages to stop at during the New Year ski celebrations. Les Arc 2000 is the highest but just half a dozen high-rise apartment blocks that are very unattractive. The lowest is Les Arc 1600 which sits at the top of the Bourg St Maurice funicular and is functional and generally adequate, without being charming. Les Arc 1800 is the largest development and a mixture of developments that again will not win top prize in a beauty contest. Nevertheless its location is central to the Les Arcs skiing as well as close to Plan-Peisey Cable Car that links the Les Arcs skiing so worth considering. Plan Peissey is not spectacular but not an unattractive ski village either and just along for Les Arc 1800. It is the village that has the spectacular Vanoise Express that spans the wide valley between Les Arcs and La Plagne. Whilst good links to La Plagne, it is at the far end of the skiing for Les Arcs. The last and best in our view for a New Year ski holiday is Les Arc 1950. The latest development is pretty and modern and definitely the Cinderella of the area. It is below 2000 so has on its doorstep some of the best skiing. It also has a handful of bars and restaurants to keep all but the heavy partying crowd happy.
Worth Knowing
Start the New Year ski party in London. St Pancras Eurostar trains depart twice at the weekend for Bourg St Maurice which is litterally right below Les Arcs 1600 (linked by the Funicular). One departs late Friday and arrives early the next morning, the other departing Saturday morning and arriving Saturday evening.
Off Piste Skiing
If you like it steep, the Aiguille Rouge is a good place to start. The Col de la Chal is somewhat less challenging but still great fun and is a better introduction also for New Year skiers seeking to venture off the marked trails. It is also worth a visit to La Plagne via the Vanoise Express fhead for the Mont de la Guerre run down to the pretty village of Champagny. The New Year skiing is excellent here in good conditions, the lunch from our memory even better.
Ski School
The main ski schools in Les Arcss is ESF. The New Year ski holidays are probably the busiest in the calender so we recommend booking prior to arrival.
Snow Boarding
Snowboarding is excellent in Les Arcs at New Year, good off-piste, excellent snowboarding through the trees and something on the piste for all levels. The Aiguille Rouge is particularly good for experts and the slopes below the Col de la Chal are great and relatively stable. There are also numerous blues and reds to enjoy.