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Family-Friendly Skiing: The Best Slopes for Kids in La Plagne
La Plagne ski resort: A family-friendly ski destination
In case you don’t know, La Plagne is a popular ski destination in the French Alps, known for its diverse terrain and family-friendly atmosphere. So if you're planning a family ski holiday, you'll want to know the best slopes and pistes for kids. From gentle beginner runs to challenging terrain parks, I've got you covered with my guide to the top ski slopes in La Plagne.
Is La Plagne good for beginners?
It's a question I hear a lot: Is La Plagne good for beginners? Simply put, yes, it is!
La Plagne is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a family ski holiday. It’s great for first-time and beginner ski holidays and more advanced skiers or ski groups with mixed-ability skiers and snowboarders. With a wide range of slopes suitable for all ages and abilities and plenty of off-slope activities, there's something for everyone. Plus, La Plagne’s focus on family-friendly amenities and services means you can relax and enjoy your ski holiday without worrying about the little ones. You can read more here about the pros and cons of La Plagne for beginners, and in this guide, I'll highlight some of the best slopes for kids in La Plagne so that you can make the most of your family ski trip.
The best La Plagne villages for beginner skiers
La Plagne is a ski resort made up of 10 connected villages:
- Champagny en Vanoise (1,250m)
- Montchavin (1,250m)
- Montalbert (1,350m) and Les Coches (1,450m)
- Plagne 1800 (1,800m)
- Plagne Bellecote (1,930m)
- Plagne Centre (1,970m)
- Belle Plagne (2,050m)
- Plagne Villages/Soleil (2,050m)
- Aime la Plagne (2,100m)
You can find out more about all the different La Plagne towns and villages, including maps and bus timetables, in my article all about La Plagne. I mention them all here because the village you are staying in will become the guide for the beginner areas you want to explore.
Things to remember:
- The valley villages (Champagny, MontChavin, Les Coches and Montalbert) offer better value for money in terms of the size of accommodation. But they are in smaller, quieter villages and are further away from the heart of the ski resort.
- Plagne 1800 has some great accommodation, but the slopes back into the village are quite steep (blue) pistes. So you might find these challenging, and kids in ski school will often take the bus back to the village at the end of their lesson.
Jen's Top Tip: Always ask the locals in your area when you arrive, as they will be up to date on the current snow conditions and where to head.
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Are there any free ski lifts in La Plagne?
Yes! There are 11 free ski lifts in La Plagne.
One of my top beginner ski tips is to find free ski lifts in your ski resort. Good beginner ski resorts – like La Plagne – have free ski lifts where you can practice your beginner ski drills. In La Plagne, there is at least one free ski lift in each of the villages in La Plagne for beginners to find their ski feet. This is great because you can practice your beginner ski turns before buying a beginner lift pass to use the main ski lifts.
There are also several drag lifts and magic carpets by nursery slopes that are free of charge.
Free lifts in La Plagne, perfect for a beginner ski day include:
- Plagne Centre – Telebaby draglift and magic carpet Les Indiennes
- Plagne Villages – Le Biquet and magic carpet
- Plagne Soleil – Le Solü
- Aime la Plagne – Aime la Plagne
- Plagne 1800 – Praconduit
- Bellecôte – Magic carpet
- Belle Plagne – Croets
- Montchavin – Sucette, Plan Bois
- Les Coches – Patinoire, Le Petit Sauget
- Champagny – La Bergerie
- Montalbert – Montalbert
Jen's Top Tip: Children aged under 5 years can claim a free lift pass; just enquire at the lift pass office with the child's ID. There are also discounts for family lift passes in La Plagne, giving you 25€ per person off. It can be confusing to figure out your best La Plagne lift pass options, so check out my article: everything you need to know about La Plagne lift passes to ensure you get the best discount for your family.
5 Kid-friendly ski slopes for young children
If you're skiing with young children, it's important to find gentle and easy-to-navigate beginner ski slopes. La Plagne has several excellent options for beginners, including the La Plagne green runs in each village.
As your kids gain confidence, they will begin to explore blue pistes with their instructors and you. Which blue pistes you will start on depends on which La Plagne village you are staying in or taking ski lessons. Here are my top 5 family-friendly La Plagne easy blue runs and beginner ski slopes. Plus, the chair lifts to get to them.
1. Bergerie Chairlift
This is the chairlift that most instructors will head to to warm up their ski groups and to advance from the beginner green pistes. It does mean it can get busy, especially in peak weeks around 10 am when the ski lessons start.
From the Bergerie chair, take the Trieuse blue piste down to Bellecôte for a cruisey blue piste. Also, look out for the easier paths or “passage facile” that crisscross the steeper lower section. My kids and I always take these paths because, as well as being easier, they are also a lot quieter and prettier, and they weave between the trees.
If you want to return to Plagne Centre, take the Chevrette piste rather than the Ecartee piste. Both are easy blue runs, but the Ecartee has a steeper lower section, making it more difficult for kids and beginner skiers.
2. Arpette Chairlift
With the three pistes Laines, Dunes, and Arpette. All 3 pistes are some of the widest La Plagne easy blue runs. These pistes all feed back into Bellecôte. However, the lower section of the Dunes and Arpette pistes are steeper and can be very busy. So take the Laines blue piste, which goes via Belle Plagne and takes a more gentle slope back into Plagne Bellecôte.
3. Mont Blanc – blue piste
If you are in the Montchavin-Les Coches area, there are dedicated beginner's zones with gentle slopes and magic carpets. When you’re ready to explore La Plagne's easy blue runs, head up to the top of the Mont Blanc slope, which offers a wide-open, blue piste perfect for finding your ski feet. There are also some rollers on there, easy just to ski over, but fun for the ski kids to try little pops and jumps.
You can also enjoy the Mont Blanc blue piste from the top of the Arpette chairlift, but if you are with kids and beginner skiers, don’t head all the way to the bottom of the Mont Blanc slope as it is a long blue run. If you head to the bottom of the La Plagne Mont Blanc blue run, you will need to take a combination of lifts back to the top of the peak to get back to this side of the piste map. Instead, stop at the Plan Bois chairlift and take this back up, keeping the run shorter and better suited for a family ski day or a beginner ski lesson.
4. Montalbert Gondola
For even more beginner-friendly, easy blue runs, check out La Plagne MontAlbert. From the other La Plagne villages, take the Adrets ski lift up to the top of the Fornelet peak, or from MontAlbert, take the gondola up. At the top here, there is one of the La Plagne green runs for beginners.
But if you are looking for something more, ski down towards MontAlbert on any of the easy blue runs. If you are with younger children, aim for the Piste des Lutins. This is one of La Plagne's easy blue runs, designed especially for the kids. Piste des Lutins has lots of magical wooden carvings dotted around the gentle blue path. So make sure your camera phone is charged up!
5. Roche de Mio
Further afield from the La Plagne towns, this one is more challenging than the others. So perhaps one to aim for towards the end of your family ski holiday week. You can head up to the Roche de Mio peak and explore the Levasset blue piste or the La Plagne Tunnel run. Both these La Plagne easy blue runs are long and a little more challenging. They have steeper sections mixed with more gentle slopes.
La Plagne Levasette piste
The Levasset blue run is split into two sections, and you can stop halfway and head back to Belle Plagne via the Quillis chairlift. If you take the whole piste, Levasset finishes Champagny, and you take the Verdons chairlift back to Plagne Centre.
Levasset is a long piste that offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Moreover, it's often less crowded than other popular areas like Plagne Centre and Bellecote, making it an excellent option for those looking to avoid crowds.
La Plagne Tunnel Run
The La Plagne Tunnel Run has a tunnel on it – surprisingly! The tunnel is about 50m long and has music and lights pumped into it, making it a really different experience for your family.
The kids enjoy the Tunnel Run, but there are a couple of things to consider.
- First, it has steeper sections, making it more challenging than Levasset.
- Then the tunnel section is very flat, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you are snowboarding!
Jen's Top Tip: Always remember that if you're feeling unconfident or find that the kids are tired and need a break – just stop!
- Stopping for a drink, hot chocolate, or just a toilet stop will snap you all out of the nervous funk.
- There are free shuttle buses between most of the villages. So you can always call it a day and take the bus home!
La Plagne snow parks and other exciting features for intermediate ski kids
If your kids are looking for more excitement on the slopes, La Plagne has plenty of options to keep them entertained.
Riders Nation Snow Park
New in winter 22/23, the snow park has moved to the MontChavin side of the piste map and is called the Riders Nation. It’s been a huge success and is a must-visit, with various jumps, rails, and other features for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The Riders Nations snow park is split into 2 sections: a beginner snow park and an advanced snowpark. So your kids can explore comfortably at whatever ski level they are.
There is also a ski cross here for you to enjoy racing your kids down the slope.
La Plagne Fun Slope
One of the most popular slopes is the Funslope, the longest in Europe at 1.6 km. This slope is perfect for ski families with children as it features interactive sounds and surprises along the way. Skiers can improve their skills and challenge their friends as they navigate through raised turns, bridges, tunnels, and boxes. The Funslope is conveniently located next to the top of the Arpette chairlift in Plagne Bellecôte, making it easily accessible.
I'm not exaggerating when I say I must visit the La Plagne fun slope almost every time I head out skiing with my kids!
Buffalo Park, La Plagne
Another popular slope for ski families and kids is the Buffalo Kids area, located off the Colorado chairlift in Plagne Centre. This is a favourite with kids of all ages, featuring bridges, tunnels, bells, and swinging foam characters to high-5. It can get hectic, so taking your kids and waiting for a gap before taking off is worth it.
Freestyle Zone, Champagny La Plagne
On the Champagny side of the La Plagne piste map, this area features a ski and snowboard cross to race and have fun with your ski kids. Although it’s a little harder to get to, take the Rossa chairlift to access it. One of the great things about this area is that it is always quieter than the other fun areas.
Tips for making the most of your La Plagne family ski holiday
La Plagne is a fantastic destination for a family ski trip, with plenty of slopes and activities to keep everyone entertained. To make the most of your trip, plan ahead and book accommodations and activities in advance. Consider taking ski lessons to improve your skills and explore the mountain together. And remember to take breaks throughout the day to warm up and refuel with hot chocolate or a snack. With a bit of planning, your family ski trip to La Plagne is sure to be unforgettable, and I’ve got all the top tips about how to book the best family ski holiday.
That's La Plagne & the best beginner slopes for kids in La Plagne
I hope this helps you and your family head out and explore the beginner slopes around La Plagne with confidence. If I've missed anything or you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.
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Love all your advice, it’s a great help for planning a holiday.
Ah! Thanks so much, always great to hear any feedback – but the good stuff is the best!
Let me know if you are looking for anyhting in particular.
Jen