AMAZING SKI CHALETSLa Plagne: Belle Plagne

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Set high in the magnificent Savoie French Alps, dominated by the mighty Mont Blanc, La Plagne is one of the most famous and exciting high altitude ski areas in the world. One of the first purpose-built resorts in France, La Plagne comprises ten ski centres, each with shops, restaurants, ski schools and children's village, with direct access onto the ski area. The villages are well-connected and gondolas and a bus service run between them. Skiing has taken on a new dimension with the introduction of the Vanoise Express cable car combining the two areas of Les Arcs and La Plagne on the Paradiski lift pass.

In terms of skiing La Plagne boasts possibly the biggest single resort lift system in the world and has superb and extensive runs for all grades of skiers and boarder.  Beginners can slowly find their feet on the 11 green slopes, before progressing to the more gentle blues and try their hand at a bit of off-piste before the week is up.  Intermediates can clock up the miles, whilst experts can take on some truly terrifying off-piste.  Paradiski is vast but its intricate network of variously graded runs mean almost all levels of skier can take themselves from one end of the resort to the other and return back to their chalet with a real sense of achievement.

At 2050 metres Belle Plagne is one of the highest of the Villages making up La Plagne. It is designed in traditional alpine style with wood effect and sloping chalet roofs.  Main access is via the Roche de Mio gondola which starts in Bellecote and finishes at the Roche de Mio at 2,700m.  From here you can go further up still to the Glacier de Bellcote for guaranteed snow coverage at over 3,000m, or take one of the reds or blues down to Belle Plagne.  From here you can also ski all the way down to Montchavin and Les Coches.  For the boarders there is a terrain park with a boardercross course, pryramids, tables and hips.

There are numerous restaurants and bars in the village. A further selection of bars and a couple of nightclubs are on offer in nearby Bellecote. Other activities across the villages include paragliding, skidoos, squash Turkish and seaweed baths, massage and a health and fitness centre in Belle Plagne & Plagne Centre.