La Plagne (Alpes du Nord) - A family resort in the Savoie region, La Plagne has built up an international reputation over the last 50 years. It's a lively place in both winter and summer, with around fifty sports and leisure activities on offer all year round, from the Isère to the highest peaks.
READ MORE: Rémy Counil: "The success of La Plagne? Its snow, its activities and its villages".
The most emblematic activities of the summer season include hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, gravel, white water activities, mountain carting, tree climbing, via ferrata, fishing, cani rando, swincar, paragliding, orienteering, heritage visits... In short, a holiday to remember! La Plagne are anything but synonymous with boredom!
What's new: board Aérolive
We promise you a suspended moment with Aérolive, the new exclusive experience at La Plagne, the only one of its kind in the world, to try out this summer. In practical terms, it's an unusual ascent on the Glacier gondola, which takes you up to Live 3000 via two lift cabins open to the four winds.
They replace the traditional cabins to transport volunteers to the summit while allowing them to admire an exceptional panoramic view. Don't forget to book on the website or at a sales point.
- Price : 49 euros for 30 minutes with briefing and ride in the cabin
Outdoor activities
Donkey or pony rides
Enjoy an evening ride on a donkey or pony, in the dark, to discover the Champagny-le-Haut valley as never before. Trusting the animal is the key to this experience, which is often unheard of for most members of the group.
The activity starts at 8pm and finishes at 11.30pm, with a walk at dusk, an aperitif in a clearing with exclusively local products (sausage, Beaufort cheese, tomme and rosé), and a return at night. Open to children aged 12 and over, Tuesdays by prior arrangement.
- Price : 75 euros per person
Treat yourself to a detox course
Treat yourself to a physical and mental detox during your holidays, thanks to a combination of fasting and hiking during the week-long courses organised at Champagny-en-Vanoise. The courses are run by naturopaths from the family-run Chemin de la Santé, which has 4 exceptional locations in France.
The participants who tried the experiment were delighted! Very tangible benefits have been observed for their health, particularly in terms of cholesterol, high blood pressure, pain and allergies. Seven courses are on offer from 7 July to 30 August 2024.
- Price : from €880 per person. This price includes: mountain walks, conferences, workshops, yoga or pilates classes, spa.
Organising a gourmet picnic
Head for the Plan Bois chalet Chez Laurette, located in the hamlet of Plan Bois at the top of the Lac Noir cable car in the heart of nature. In summer, the restaurant serves a gourmet picnic in a pretty wicker basket for a country-style lunch on the grass, in the heart of the wooded surroundings of the Plan Bois plateau.
Baskets for 2 to 4 people should be ordered from the restaurant before 4pm the day before. They consist of a salad of the day, a main course (a quiche, a charcuterie platter or a cold roast) and a dessert.
- Price : a picnic basket costs 12 euros per person
Events not to be missed
The Première Campaign exhibition
This summer, don't miss the Campagne Première exhibition. A reference to the famous Parisian street that was once home to artists' residences, Campagne Première is taking over La Plagne with the challenge of inviting contemporary art to places where you least expect it. These will be just some of the stops on the ephemeral exhibition route, with works presented in situ over the weekend of 29 and 30 June.
The 2024 theme highlights village life. The aim is to reach out to all audiences, not just regular museum-goers, and above all to forge links with the artists around current environmental and societal issues that are central to their work. From 29 June to 22 September, the works are on show at the Prieuré Saint-Martin church in Aime.
- Price : undisclosed
Super8
In a nutshell? Super8 is 3 days during which La Plagne lives, eats and breathes.
and sleeps mountain biking. Scheduled from 12 to 14 July 2024, this multi-discipline cycling event offers a wide range of events at all levels, with or without a time trial, and with or without electric assistance.
The common denominator is the quality of the routes on offer, always chosen to give the best of the region, whether in the bike park or on the exceptional trails unveiled for the occasion. Jérôme Gilloux, three-time winner of the VTTAE World Cup, is the event's ambassador. And that's not all!
- Prices : vary according to the race chosen
The International Chess Festival
After three successful editions, the Club d'Échecs du Bassin Annemassien (CABE) is delighted to be organising the La Plagne Soleil International Chess Festival once again. For this 2024 edition, which will take place from 6 to 12 July, the Festival will be endowed with an exceptional total of 26,000 euros in prizes!
The event will feature a succession of 'Masters', 'Accession', 'Amateur' and 'Blitz' tournaments, with the highlight being a simultaneous match against an international grandmaster. Novices are welcome to join in the fun with a giant chess set and introductory sessions.
- Price : undisclosed
Our favourite: "Circo Bello"!
It's unusual in the mountains... Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Centre des arts du cirque des montagnes neuchâteloises "Circo Bello" offers courses for children aged 2 and over, with a show at the end of the week bringing together students and teachers.
From 6 July to 23 August 2024, the Swiss troupe "Circo Bello" will be offering courses and workshops to help you discover all the different circus disciplines and, why not, inspire a new vocation in some of you.
- Prices: from 14.50 euros depending on age for a session, and 58 euros depending on age for a course.
Where to stay in La Plagne?
HO36 La Plagne
The undeniable advantage of this accommodation? Its breathtaking 360° views over the valley. Situated at an altitude of almost 2000 metres, ideally located in La Plagne-Centre, chalet HO36 gives you direct access to Paradiski, one of the world's largest ski areas.
Whether you're on your own, a couple or a group, you'll have a choice of rooms and flats. The hotel has also been designed to encourage people to meet and share, with a cosy bar and a quality restaurant.
- Rates Around 130 euros per night at the end of July, including breakfast
- Address : 1415, route de Plagne Centre, 73210 La Plagne
- Contact : 04 79 09 09 23
Gîte Panoramik
An authentic mountain cocoon, the Gîte Panoramik offers, as its name suggests, a spectacular view of the mountains. From its large terrace, you can admire the breathtaking panorama of the Vanoise peaks and, in particular, the village of Champagny-en-Vanoise, which appears very small below.
Another highlight of this accommodation is its "natural garden" on the ground floor, where you can relax and enjoy a breath of fresh air. The presence of the owners just upstairs is a real bonus for getting local advice, and the wood-burning stove is perfect for cooler evenings!
- Rates 450 euros per week for a 68 m², 2-bedroom gîte for 6 people.
- Address : 73350 Champagny-en-Vanoise
- Contact : 06 84 35 38 86
Le Chalet de Foran
Situated on the edge of the Tour du Beaufortain, the famous GR5 and the famous Pierra Menta, this traditional 18th-century shepherd's cottage is sure to provide you with a relaxing and peaceful holiday.
With 87 m2 of completely renovated accommodation, it has everything you need to sleep up to eight people. A special feature is the terrace, where you can enjoy a unique panoramic view. The chalet is accessible by car and open from April to October.
- Rates Not communicated
- Address : Foran La Cote d'Aime, 73210 La Plagne Tarentaise
- Contact : 04 79 09 71 52
Where to eat in La Plagne?
The Laisonnay refuge
A specialist in 'low and slow' cooking, the restaurant promises gourmets an exceptional experience.
To give you an idea, the roast loin takes 15 hours to cook and the pork shoulder used to make the famous Texas-inspired burger with shredded meat takes 24 hours! To top it all off, these delicious meats from local farms can be enjoyed in an idyllic setting, in the evening by candlelight.
- Rates The roast is priced at 29 euros
- Address : Le Laisonnay d'en haut, 73350 Champagny-en-Vanoise
- Contact : 06 08 54 34 61
Chalet du Bresson
Would you like to recharge your batteries while enjoying traditional 100% home-cooked French cuisine? Then you've come to the right place.
With its renovation, the Chalet du Bresson, located at the crossroads of the trails on the Versant du Soleil, has set itself the goal of becoming the sector's HQ for all types of refreshments. A word of advice: don't hesitate to get in touch with the proprietors to find out about the best deals in the area. They know the area like the back of their hand!
- Rates Not communicated
- Address : Le Pars Route de la montagne La Bergerie, 73210
- Contact : 06 59 75 75 73
The Smoking Marmot
When you step through the door of this cosy restaurant, you'll be greeted by Sabine and Pascale, the owners. They will put you at ease and advise you on the menu, which features traditional Savoyard dishes.
Don't leave without sampling the cheeses from the marvellous Fromagerie de la Cochette, and the artisanal ice creams made from whole milk cows from the Abbaye de Tamié Glaces & Cows .
- Rates meat: expect to pay around 25 euros for meat
- Address : Aime 2000 shopping centre, La Plagne, 73210
- Contact : 07 69 07 96 68
How do I get to La Plagne?
- By car
La Plagne is 645 km from Paris, 196 km from Lyon and 149 km from Geneva and Grenoble. From Chambéry, take the A43 and A430 motorways to Albertville, then the N90 towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice, as far as Moûtiers or Aime. For Champagny-en-Vanoise: follow the D915 then the D91B. For Montalbert, Montchavin-les-Coches and other high altitude sites: take the D220 from Aime, following signs for La Plagne.
- By plane
The four nearest airports to La Plagne are: Geneva-Cointrin airport, Lyon-Saint-Exupéry airport, Grenoble airport and Chambéry airport.
- By train
With three SNCF stations serving the area: Aime-la-Plagne, Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains and Landry, La Plagne is a destination where there's every reason to boast about coming by train! And there's a name for it: "train-bragging" is pride in taking the train to reduce your carbon footprint.
- By bus
Depending on your journey, find out about altibus.com.
La Plagne, in brief
Behind the red bonnet of La Plagne, you'll find typical villages, champion skiers, kilometres of pistes, craftsmen who create souvenirs, a bobsleigh run... In short, winter and summer alike, the resort, which is actually a grouping of eleven villages, is a dream come true. And don't forget: the summer season opens on 29 June and runs until 31 August 2024. Don't wait any longer to book!