Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In the shadow of the peaks, between 1600 and 3200 metres above sea level, summer is invented differently. Far from the hustle and bustle of the coastline, the three resorts of Les Arcs offer a veritable city of leisure in the heart of the mountains, where the fresh air mingles with the joyful cries of children, and where the paths, pools, suspended walkways and inflatable structures become the terrain for an XXL family adventure.
At the heart of this resort, which was designed from the outset to offer an intense summer experience, more than 30 different activities will be on offer in 2025, supported by " HERO Les Arcs "and its 150 instructors deployed throughout the country.
It's a rare model, perfected over almost ten years, and embodied by people on the ground like Fabien Mahiot, sports and leisure manager at the Tourist Office of Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs.
One package, a world of activities
The principle is simple: here, summer works like winter. For a nominal pass (from €43 per week), holidaymakers have free access to the pedestrian lifts, swimming pools, wellness centres and a wide range of supervised sporting activities. A unique gateway in the Alps, born of a safe pedestrian resort designed to welcome families.
From climbing to archery, trail running to guided hikes, yoga to zumba, not forgetting tree climbing courses, trampolines, inflatables, mini-golf, mountain karts and laser rifles: everything has been designed to give children and teenagers an unlimited playground, while parents can take a breather.
Fabien Mahiot sums it up: "Our core target is children. They represent 70 % of our customer base. Parents buy first for them, then for themselves. And it works: today, there's an audience for every activity, and none are left out.
The "HERO Les ARCS" success story
In 2016, the "HERO Les Arcs" brand was born to give new impetus to the summer offer. Simplified rates, revamped communications and a strong identity: since then, visitor numbers have been climbing every year, with double-digit growth in online sales forecast for this summer of 2025. The machine is well-oiled, and the team is united around a regional project.
At Arc 1800, the beating heart of the resort, a whole range of activities are organised around the aquatic centre, the new 3km mountain kart (a fun descent on a non-motorised machine with directional brakes), and archery, which is a big hit with its sixty targets.
Arc 1600 has a more family-friendly, relaxed atmosphere, while Arc 2000, which is still in its development phase, is gradually attracting a public looking for coolness and altitude, despite chilly mornings sometimes close to 0°C.
Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs designed for the summer
In Les Arcs, the gamble on summer was taken back in the 90s, going against the grain of an Alpine model that focused too much on winter. This vision continues today with the "HERO Multi-Pass", which gives unlimited access to activities in all the villages, and the 350 children who spend half a day in youth and sports-approved clubs, supervised by more than 40 activity leaders.
"What we hear in the surveys is the need for nature, space and freedom. Summer here means safety, freshness and escape. And it's also, it has to be said, a lot cheaper than a week on the Côte d'Azur in the middle of August. says Fabien Mahiot with a smile.
For the tenth anniversary of "HERO Les Arcs", scheduled for next summer, we're preparing an ambitious overhaul of our offer, refocusing on well-being, nature and freedom, in response to customer feedback. We'll be unveiling these new projects soon!