Les Arcs Information

Apres-ski

It's generally a mixed picture for après ski activities in Les Arcs depending on where you're staying. Each base has its lively bars, but there's more of a family feel in 1600 while 1950 goes more towards sophisticated lounge bars. Arc 2000 and 1800 are the liveliest options, especially 1800.

Here, Bar King Mad (tel: +33 479 065 714) is one of the most popular venues with music and happy hours and a tasty fast food menu to complement the beer.

Other options include the Red Hot Saloon (www.redhotsaloon.com), Le J.O. (tel: +33 4 7907 4042), and Ambiente Café (tel: +33 479 074 951; www.ambientecafe.fr), which all play host to live music.

Higher up, at Arc 1950, Les Belles Pintes (tel: +33 479 073 542) is a lively Irish bar with a wide ranging drinks menu, live music and several big screen TVs for sports; while even higher up, at Arc 2000, Whistler's Dream (ltel: +33 479 041 757) is a popular spot amongst younger skiers and boarders.

Eating out

There is a good range of restaurants in Les Arcs, with the widest choice available in Arc 1800.

In Arc 1600, Le Chalet de l'Arcelle (tel: +33 479 042 135; www.larcelle.fr/chalet) offers meals amid homely décor in an old chalet, while L'Arquebuse (tel: +33 479 002 259; www.restaurant-arquebuse.com) provides a good value option in the village with its lunchtime menu of the day.

Family run Chez Clarisse (tel: +33 479 064 834) in Arc 1800 is a cosy restaurant, which offers delicious mountain cheese dishes. Le Chalet de Candice (tel: +33 479 076 278) also has a good reputation, with duck dishes a house speciality.

Hemingway's (tel: +33 479 042 551) is among the best offerings in Arc 1950 with its choice of French cuisine, while Le Chalet de Luigi (tel: +33 479 001 536; www.restaurantchaletdeluigi.com) is good for pasta, using ingredients from its well-stocked Italian delicatessen.

In Arc 2000 Le Savoy (tel: +33 479 07 7 300; www.lesavoy-restaurant.com) is a nice spot to grab dinner with a large wood clad dining room. Les Chalets de l'Arc (tel: +33 479 041 540; www.leschaletsdelarc.com) on the slopes (but within easy reach of the village) is a beautiful chalet with traditional décor and a fireplace, serving traditional French food and specialties such as le chaussondu Boulanger (a filled pastry dish) cooked in a wood-fired oven.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

There are plenty of activities in Les Arcs to keep all ages entertained. Outdoor options include ice skating in Arc 2000, snowshoeing, tobogganing, dog sledding, paragliding and speed riding (skiing wearing a small paragliding sail). Another fun activity is sledging on the Rodeo Park slope, which is aimed primarily at adults and teenagers.

Indoor activities include cinemas in Arc 2000, a gym in Arc 1800 and bowling alleys in Arc 2000 and Arc 1800. The Deep Nature Spa (tel: +33 4 7941 4290; www.arc1950.com) is a relatively new addition in Arc 1950 and is the biggest wellness centre in the Alps. There's also a spa and fitness in the Hôtel du Golf (tel: +33 479 414 343; www.golf-hotel-lesarcs.com) in Arc 1800.

The resort spent around €50m on its Mille8 leisure area which opened in 2015. This is a concentrated ski area above Arc 1800 with its snow slopes open day and evening, with lots of extra fun and après-ski activities available indoors and out. Facilities include bars, restaurants and a major swimming pool complex.

Family fun

Arc 1800 has a children's area featuring moving carpets, a climbing wall and toboggan track. There's also a 'discovery' piste at Arc 1600, where kids can learn about Alpine wildlife. Other activities include snowshoeing tours, ice skating, dog sled rides, ski joring (skiing while being gently pulled by a horse) and a visit to the ice cave.

Children's ski schools and day care facilities at all villages are generally well regarded, especially The Garderie (tel: +33 4 7904 2431) in Arc 1800 and Cariboo's Club (tel: +33 479 070 557; www.cariboo1950.com) in Arc 1950.

Retail therapy

Options are limited for shopaholics in Les Arcs, with mostly the usual souvenir retailers, minimarkets and ski shops. There is more of a choice down in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, but the area is not really the place to be for those who list shopping as one of the key factors in choosing a destination.

Foodies have a few interesting options, however, including Le Refuge du Jambon (tel: +33 479 074 582; www.lerefugedujambon.com) in Arc 1800, which is practically overflowing with local cured meats.

Splashing out

Although heli-skiing is forbidden in the French Alps, it's still available with a pick-up from Helimountains (tel: +33 611 743 883;www.helimountains.com) in Les Arcs. The company then drops skiers over in Italy at Col du Petit St Bernar, where a pilot picks customers up and transfers them to a summit (Le Ruitor, Le Mont Ouille, Miravidi or Les Cascades du Ruitor) for some exhilarating experiences.

Hotels

The various villages that make up Les Arcs boast ski-in/ski-out facilities at virtually all accommodation; some of which is housed in stylish buildings created by famous architect Charlotte Perriand. Most of the accommodation is based in apartments and catered chalets, but there is a widening choice of hotels in Les Arcs.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap