Summer in the Alps: Les Arcs 1800, France

Continuing my summer in the mountains reports, I visited Les Arcs 1800. I have previously skied at Les Arcs (there are four resorts in the one area, 1600, 1800, 1950 and 2000) and I greatly enjoyed the high landscape and numerous ski runs. This was my first visit in the summer.

I was stunned by how green and vibrant it looked. The greenness seems so vivid in contrast to the snow.

I was also amazed by the huge number and range of activities to do in the summer Alps.

You can stay at any of the Les Arcs towns and resorts but Arc 1800 is the grand-daddy of then all when it comes to active summer holidays. It claims the title of the first ski resort in Europe to offer a dedicated winter and  summer holiday activity programmes.

To illustrate this, Les Arcs builders created a golf course when the village was built, which is covered in snow for skiers in winter and revealed as an attractive course when the snow melts. There days there is also a wide network of walking, running and mountain biking trails on the mountain slopes.

Where is Les Arcs?

Les Arcs 1800 is a mountain resort that sits 1800m above sea level in the French Alps in south-eastern France. It looks over to Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe, and across the stunning Upper Tarentaise valley. It is a wide open valley with plenty of sunshine.

Arc 1800 is the biggest of the resort areas in this part of the Alps and comprises four small villages known as Charvet, Villards, Charmettoger and Chantel.

There are numerous lifts that can be used in winter and summer and one will take you to a fabulous height of 3220m.

How to get there

I travelled to Les Arcs via Geneva airport. I hired a car to reach the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice and then climbed the zigzagging road to Arc 1800 resort.

It’s possible to fly to Lyon or Chambery, too.

See how to get to Les Arcs.

Arc 1800 in summer

When the snow goes, the mountain resort becomes a huge summer playground for children and adults. The 11 ski lifts carry walkers, mountain bikers and those who simply want an on-high view up to a height of well over 3000m.

It is a sports heaven with a very long list of activities. I hardly scratched the surface during my three-night stay.

I would highly recommend this resort for a summer trip to the Alps, especially if you are a family group.

Early July seems to be a good time to visit. The schools in Scotland and some parts of the rest of the UK have finished for the summer and it’s apparently a less crowded time because many schools in Europe will holiday later in the summer.

Arc 1600 and 1800 Hero pass

A great part of the Les Arcs experience is a Hero pass. It gives access to a multitude of things to do. This is a great option for families, couples or groups of friends who might all have different fitness levels, aspirations and abilities.

There is a choice of Hero passes from a day to a week or more. Kids can sign up to a hero pass camp with lots of different child-friendly sessions to join.

With a Hero pass (and you do need to make sure you have it with you when you attend sessions) the activities are free.

Hero Pass 1800

 7 days, €37

• Pedestrian use of lifts (Funicular, Transarc, Dahu, Villards telecabins)
• La piscine aquatic centre
• Activities include beach volley ball, tennis, ping-pong, pétanque, slackline, multisport court (including equipment).

Hero Pass Premium

1 day, €25

7 days, €90 (€81 on line)

• Pedestrian use of lifts (Funicular, Transarc, Dahu, Villards telecabins)
• La piscine aquatic centre
• Activities include hiking, archery, rock climbing, trampoline, fitness, zumba, stretching, step, cardio-training, aquagym, trail running, circus, adventure garden (aerial adventure course in the tees), beach volley ball, tennis, ping-pong, pétanque, slackline, multisports court (including equipment loan)
• 15% discount on all Hero Partners with a Hero Weekly Pass.

Hero Pass Arc 1600

7 days, €41

• Pedestrian use of the lifts (Funicular, Cachette chairlift in Arc 1600, Dahu, Villards in Arc 1800).
• Arc 1600 swimming pool
• Activities in Arc 1600 include hiking, archery, fitness, zumba, stretching, step, cardio training, aquagym, trail running, circus, leisure area (trampoline, bouncy castles), beach volley ball, tennis, mini-golf, pétanque (including equipment loan).

Hero Camp in Arc 1600 & Arc 1800

Half day, €28

1 day, €38

7 days, €157.50

Mini, junior or extreme sessions as part of a supervised training week.

See Hero pass.

Dynamic yoga

The first activity that I tried as part of the Hero Pass at Les Arcs was a 1.5 hour yoga session. It was a led yoga class outdoors and what a joy that was. It was still warm at 6.30pm but it is so much better than practising yoga in a stuffy studio.

There was a wide range of participants from those that clearly do a lot of yoga to those that do not (including me). The yoga teacher spoke a little English and I understand a little French so I managed to follow most of what was going on.

Yoga is instruction led most of the time so I could look up and see what the teacher was doing next. I am familiar with dynamic yoga moves so I rarely felt lost.

It was a super way to unwind after a busy day of work and travel. It made me resolve to do more yoga (if only there was an outdoors centre near my home!).

During my short break, I also joined a guided trail run, a beginners’ archery session and took a bike (and guide) out for a few hours of VTT (Velo Tout Terrain). See 3 days, 3 great activities.

Mountain biking at Les Arcs

I had no idea that Arc 1800 was so popular with mountain bikers until I overheard people chatting. Then, I mentioned on Facebook where I was staying and several people asked me if I would be mountain biking. It appears that mountain biking is the thing to do here.

So, I did – and I loved it. See my VTT session at Les Arcs.

Thanks to a wealth of ski lifts, mountain bikers have access to a vast area of mountain slopes. They are allowed to transport bikes on the funicular, Transarc TC, Varet TC , La Cachette TS, Cabriolet T and Les Plagnettes TS. The only restriction is the Aiguille Rouge TPH.

Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry bike park

There is so much to ride:

• 180km of marked trails
• DH (downhill), Endurance and Cross-Country.
• Marked routes from 2600m to 800m
• 5 Practice Parks from beginner level
• 8 DH (1 greens, 3 blues, 2 reds, 2 blacks)
• 5 Endurance routes (3 blue, 2 blacks)
• 2 Cross-Country circuits (red)
• 1 fun trail (level blue) on Mille8
• 7 links (4 greens, 2 blues, 1 red)

Ideas for starters:

A fun new trail for an introduction to mountain biking in the Mille8 centre at the bottom of the les Villards telecabin in Arc 1800. It heads through forest and meadow and is a great way to warm up before heading to the Bike Park proper.

See the Yuga app for route options, weather etc.

Also see 10 reasons to go to Les Arc in summer.

Where to stay?

There are numerous accommodation options – both hotels and apartments across Les Arcs. I enjoyed a stay at Belambra Club Hôtel du Golf – Arc 1800. Situated in the centre of Arc 1800 resort with plenty of lovely mountain views the hotel offers a great base, especially for families. Typical cost is €210 euros for a two-night half board stay (based on one room, two adults) in the summer.

There are all-inclusive meal options in a large restaurant, a huge bar and lounge, sauna, whirlpool, wellness area, treatments/massages, Deep Nature Spa (extra charge) and outdoor swimming pool.

Where to eat?

The hotel operates an all-inclusive set up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can choose to pay for a set number of meals as part of the all-inclusive deal. If you’re holidaying as a family it’s a great idea because there was a huge variety of choice.

Le Chic Mama in Arc 1800 is one of many places for lunch or an evening meal. I happened to dine here on the night of an important European Champs football match… So, I was almost the only diner.

That meant I enjoyed excellent service and I could quietly get on with a few bits of work on my laptop as I ate.

I chose the steak and it was superb. It came with delicious new potatoes and salad. I did feel a bit greedy eating my way through a big plate but I’d opted to forego a starter and when it came to dessert I was too full. It’s a lovely place with good freshly cooked meals.

I also loved the lunches at Miam Corner. I had a fantastic quiche and salad one day and then fresh sandwiches the next day. They also have great wi-fi and one of the best views of any café I have ever sat (and worked) at.

Check out Arc 1800.