Les Arcs Ski Resort Guide 2026/27: Stay, Travel & Passes

From valley to mountain

Les Arcs resort layout: from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Arc 2000.

Les Arcs is built in layers above Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The valley town is the rail hub, Arc 1600 is the funicular terminus, and Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 sit farther up the mountain. The ski area then extends sideways through Peisey-Vallandry and, with the Paradiski pass, across to La Plagne.

Read Les Arcs from the valley upwards

Start with Bourg-Saint-Maurice at the bottom. The funicular lands at Arc 1600, not at every Les Arcs base. Arc 1800 sits farther across the mountain, while Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 form the upper sector. That matters on arrival because the number in the accommodation address tells you how much of the journey is still left after the funicular.

On the mountain, Classic covers the 200 km Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry area. Essential adds the Vanoise Express crossing to La Plagne and extends the linked skiing to 425 km.

Where to stay in Les Arcs

Where to stay in Les Arcs: Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Arc 1600, 1800, 1950 or 2000?

Bourg-Saint-Maurice is the valley base; Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 are on the mountain. The address changes the final part of the journey, the local shuttle or lift you use, and where you start skiing each morning.

Funicular terminus

Arc 1600

Arc 1600 is where the funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice arrives. It sits in the forest and acts as the changeover point for travellers continuing by shuttle to the other numbered Arcs.

FunicularForest settingShuttle interchange

Shops & services

Arc 1800

Arc 1800 has a large concentration of shops, restaurants and resort services. The Transarc lift is one of the main ways out of this part of the resort and into the wider ski area.

RestaurantsShopsTransarc

Pedestrian village

Arc 1950

Arc 1950 is fully pedestrian and arranged around a compact centre. The Cabriolet gondola links it directly with neighbouring Arc 2000 when operating.

PedestrianCabrioletArc 2000 link

Upper mountain base

Arc 2000

Arc 2000 sits in the upper Les Arcs sector with lift access towards the Aiguille Rouge side of the ski area. The Cabriolet provides the pedestrian connection down to Arc 1950 when it is running.

Upper resortAiguille RougeCabriolet

Valley town

Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Bourg-Saint-Maurice is the valley rail hub and the lower station for the funicular. Anyone staying here starts each ski day with the climb to Arc 1600 before continuing onto the mountain.

Rail stationServicesFunicular

Getting to Les Arcs

How to get to Les Arcs: Bourg-Saint-Maurice, the funicular and airport transfers.

For rail travellers, Bourg-Saint-Maurice is where the mountain journey changes gear. The station sits beside the lower funicular; seven minutes later you are at Arc 1600, and anyone bound for Arc 1800, 1950 or 2000 continues from there.

Les Arcs by train

Trains arrive in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, at the foot of Les Arcs. The resort currently promotes direct or seasonal connections from Paris, Lyon and several European cities.

Rail hub: Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Official guide states around 5 hours direct from Paris
Official guide states around 3 hours direct from Lyon

The Les Arcs funicular

The electric funicular runs from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Arc 1600 in about seven minutes. From Arc 1600, free shuttles continue to the other mountain sites.

Journey time: 7 minutes
Arrival point: Arc 1600
Included with valid Classic, Essential, Premium and pedestrian passes

Driving to Les Arcs

Driving gives flexibility, but the resort recommends checking road conditions, reserving parking and carrying the required winter equipment.

Official guidance: about 6.5 hours from Paris
Official guidance: about 2.5 hours from Geneva via Annecy
You can park in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and finish by funicular

Les Arcs airport transfers

Taxi and private-driver services listed by Les Arcs serve the main regional airports. Availability and journey times vary by date, traffic and weather.

Geneva
Lyon Saint-Exupéry
Chambéry
Grenoble

Don’t stop the journey at Arc 1600: the funicular terminates there. If your accommodation is in Arc 1800, Arc 1950 or Arc 2000, allow for the onward shuttle as part of your arrival.

Getting around Les Arcs

Les Arcs transport: funicular, inter-resort shuttles and Cabriolet.

There is no single shuttle looping around every base. The funicular links Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Arc 1600, free shuttles continue towards the other numbered Arcs, and the Cabriolet connects Arc 1950 with Arc 2000 when it is operating.

Funicular, shuttles and Cabriolet

Within the mountain resorts, most local journeys are made on foot, by lift or by shuttle rather than by car.

Winter timetables change through the season, particularly for arrival-day and late-evening services.

Valley → mountainBourg-Saint-Maurice → Arc 1600

Use the 7-minute funicular from the rail hub to Arc 1600.

Inter-site shuttleArc 1600 ↔ Arc 1800

Free inter-site shuttle connection published by the resort.

Inter-site shuttleArc 1600 ↔ Arc 1950 / 2000

Free shuttle service connects Arc 1600 with the upper-resort sector.

Upper resortsArc 1950 ↔ Arc 2000

The Cabriolet gondola provides the direct pedestrian connection between the two neighbouring resorts when operating.

Using the ski area

Les Arcs piste map: 200 km locally, 425 km with Paradiski.

The Vanoise Express is what turns a Les Arcs ski day into a full Paradiski day. On the Les Arcs side you have 200 km across Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry; cross the cable car and the linked skiing continues into La Plagne. Beginner progression areas are closer to the resort bases in Arc 1800 and Arc 2000.

Progression areas in Arc 1800 and Arc 2000

Les Arcs uses staged progression courses so new skiers can move from first glides to first descents in dedicated areas.

Arc 1800: conveyor at the ESF snow front for first glides
Arc 1800: Villards gondola for first turns and first descent
Arc 2000: Eldorador carpet for first glides
Arc 2000: Saint Jacques chairlift for the next progression stages

Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry

Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry has 200 km of skiing and rises to Aiguille Rouge at 3,226 m.

Classic pass covers this side of the map
Aiguille Rouge is the high point at 3,226 m
No Vanoise Express crossing is included with Classic

Paradiski

The Essential pass opens 425 km across Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne via the Vanoise Express.

Vanoise Express is the key link to La Plagne
Its status matters before committing to a cross-domain day
Leave enough time to return to the Les Arcs side

Les Arcs piste map

The Vanoise Express is the line to watch on a Paradiski day.

The live map shows lift and piste status across Les Arcs and the route towards Peisey-Vallandry. On a La Plagne day, look at the Vanoise Express and the return route before heading across.

Open Les Arcs piste map →Open Paradiski information →

2026/27 season

Les Arcs ski season 2026/27: local and Paradiski opening dates.

Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry and the wider Paradiski domain currently share the same opening date, but the local area is scheduled to remain open one week longer in April.

Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry12 Dec 2026
→ 24 Apr 2027

These are the currently published winter dates. Individual lifts and pistes remain subject to snow, weather and operational conditions.

12 Dec

Les Arcs opens

The Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry winter area is scheduled to open on 12 December 2026.

12 Dec–17 Apr

Full Paradiski period

The 425 km Paradiski area, including the Vanoise Express connection to La Plagne, is scheduled from 12 December to 17 April.

18–24 Apr

Local area continues

Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry remains scheduled to operate for a final week after the wider Paradiski period ends.

🏔️3,226 mAiguille Rouge summit

🎿200 kmLes Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry

🗺️425 kmFull Paradiski domain

📅12 DecPublished 2026/27 opening date

Les Arcs ski-pass prices

Les Arcs ski-pass prices 2026/27: Classic vs Essential.

Classic covers Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry. Essential includes the same area and adds La Plagne through the Paradiski link.

Pass	1 day	6 days	Area
Classic	€71	€368	Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry
Essential	€78	€412	Paradiski

200 km local area

Classic

1 day€71

6 days€368

425 km Paradiski

Essential

1 day€78

6 days€412

Pass differencesClassic, Essential and Premium

Classic

Local-area skiing

Classic gives access to Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry, covering 200 km of pistes without the La Plagne link.

Essential

Full Paradiski access

Essential includes Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne, plus 14 fast lanes. A 6-day pass also includes a free arrival afternoon from 12:30.

Premium

Price still to be announced

The resort lists Premium benefits for 2026/27, but the 1-day and 6-day prices are still shown as “price to be announced”.

Check official 2026/27 prices

Families & non-skiers

Les Arcs for families: ski school, childcare and getting around without skis.

For families, the base matters. Beginner progression areas are in Arc 1800 and Arc 2000, Arc 1950 is pedestrian, and ski-school or childcare meeting points can be in a different part of the resort from your accommodation.

First-morning logistics

The resort lists childcare options for children from 3 months to 12 years old. Before arrival, locate the exact childcare or ski-school meeting point and work out whether the route is on foot, by shuttle or by local lift.

Childcare options from 3 months to 12 years
Dedicated beginner progression areas
Fully pedestrian Arc 1950
Meeting points vary by resort base

Non-ski days

Pedestrian passes give access to selected lifts, while winter activities include sledging, walking routes and high-altitude attractions. Arc 1800 also has a large aquatic and wellness centre.

Pedestrian lift access
Luge 1800 and Luge 2000
Walking and snow activities
Arc 1800 swimming pool and wellness facilities

Before you arrive

Les Arcs ski holiday checklist: arrival, passes and resort connections.

The accommodation address, funicular, shuttle timetable and ski pass all affect different parts of the trip. Have these sorted before arrival.

Read the full accommodation address

The number after “Arc” changes the arrival route. The funicular ends at 1600; 1800, 1950 and 2000 need an onward connection.

Choose Classic or Essential

Classic covers 200 km locally; Essential opens the 425 km Paradiski domain and La Plagne link.

Know what happens after the train

The station connects to Arc 1600 by a 7-minute funicular, then free inter-site shuttles continue uphill.

Save the winter shuttle timetable

Inter-site services are seasonal, so confirm the current timetable for your arrival and departure dates.

Find the lesson or childcare meeting point

Work from the actual meeting point back to the accommodation so you know whether the first-morning journey is a walk, shuttle or lift.

Save the piste map before a Paradiski day

Use the Les Arcs piste map before long Paradiski days or high-altitude runs towards Aiguille Rouge.

One Les Arcs detail to remember

The funicular does not take you to every Les Arcs base.

The funicular finishes at Arc 1600. Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 need an onward connection, while the Vanoise Express is a separate ski-area link across to La Plagne.

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Sources & checks

Information checked 14 August 2026.

Resort-site information, transport, funicular access, ski-area figures, 2026/27 opening dates, published ski-pass prices, beginner facilities and family information were checked against current official Les Arcs sources on 14 August 2026. Winter transport timetables can change, so check live details again before travelling.

Les Arcs resort sites Getting to Les Arcs by train Les Arcs funicular Les Arcs–Peisey-Vallandry area & dates Paradiski area & dates 2026/27 Les Arcs ski passes Beginner progression areas Les Arcs piste map Family & childcare information

Written & updated by

Josh Milner

Outdoor Travel Writer & Ski Travel Contributor. Josh writes practical ski-destination guides and reviews for Find Cheap Ski Holidays.

Ski travelUpdated 14 Aug 2026

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