Les Arcs is situated in the Tarentaise valley of the Northern French Alps. With the Espace Killy and 3 Valleys as its neighbours it is close to a number of other world-class resorts. The main access point from the valley to the villages of Les Arcs is via Bourg St. Maurice.
Flying
The main airports that serve this area are Geneva, Lyon, Chambery and Grenoble. Geneva and Lyon have a transfer time of around 3-3.5 hours. Chambery and Grenoble are slightly closer but tend to be used more by charter that scheduled flight carriers. It’s worth bearing in mind that the transfer to resort can be more expensive than the flights and direct bus services are few and far between apart from on Saturdays.
- Chambery to Les Arcs 130km, transfer time around 2 hrs
- Geneva to Les Arcs 160km, transfer time around 3 hrs
- Lyon to Les Arcs 215km, transfer time around 3 hrs
Train
The funicular from Bourg St. Maurice to Arc 1600 makes arrival by train a convenient option for Les Arcs. The funicular is just a short walk from the station and then from 1600 there are free shuttle buses to Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000. There is an overnight ski train from London on Friday night and a day train on Saturday. On other days of the week it is still possible but you have to change train stations in Paris.
Driving
Les Arcs is approximately a 10-hour drive from Calais. Many websites will suggest routes via Paris but most drivers to the Alps prefer the motorways via Reims. Be careful trusting your Sat Nav though! We’ve heard rumours of people travelling through Belgium to avoid tolls and the Alpine post codes can send you up some odd back routes. If you are using your Sat Nav watch out for another Les Arcs in the South – make sure your destination is in Savoie and the postcode begins with a 73. It’s best just to follow the signs once you get near to resort. Self-drive specialists Erna Low include a flexi-plus Eurotunnel crossing with each booking and have a price promise guarantee for self-drive holidays or accommodation only.
Getting around resort
There are free shuttle buses circulating every 20 mins in the daytime and then every half hour or so until about 9pm (slightly later on Saturdays). There are two main circuits: the first is between 1600 and 2000 via 1950 and the second between 1600 and various sections of 1800. This means that to get from 2000 to 1800 you have to change buses and it will take at least 30 minutes.
Peisey-Vallandry is accessible from the valley via a completely separate road system so don’t miss the last ski lifts back or you could be in for an expensive taxi ride.
