Family Ski Holiday in Les Arcs: A Guide for All Ages

If there’s one ski resort I know like the back of my ski-gloved hand, it’s Les Arcs. After 25 years of carving turns down its slopes, staying in everything from hotels in Bourg St Maurice to Arc 1800 apartments, and raising two confident kid skiers on its blue slopes, I can say this: Les Arcs is one of the best family ski holiday spots in the Alps.

The sheer size of the resort, the range of runs, and the family-friendly touches make it ideal whether you’re bringing tiny snowploughers or fearless tweens. Add in the fact that it’s (relatively) easy to get to, has accommodation options to suit all budgets, and offers everything from lessons to ski hire within easy reach, it’s no wonder we keep going back year after year.

In this Les Arcs resort guide, I’ll walk you through what makes a family ski holiday in Les Arcs work so well – from where to stay, how to get around with kids, and what to do on and off the slopes.

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Why choose Les Arcs for a family ski trip?

Les Arcs has been my family’s go-to ski destination for years; so much so that my parents bought a flat in Bourg-Saint-Maurice 25 years ago, and we’ve been going back ever since. It ticks all the boxes for a winter holiday with kids: snow reliability, varied terrain, family-friendly entertainment and infrastructure, and some exciting skiing and entertainment to keep the grown-ups happy too.

Part of the vast Paradiski area, Les Arcs links with La Plagne to offer over 425km of skiable terrain. That means plenty of gentle greens and wide blues for beginners and intermediates, plus reds and blacks to keep more confident skiers challenged. Even during busy school holiday weeks, it’s still possible to find quieter runs if you know where to look – and yes, after two decades skiing here, I do.

It’s also an incredibly accessible resort for families. Whether you base yourself in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and hop on the funicular each morning or stay slope-side in one of the purpose-built villages, Les Arcs makes it easy to get kids on skis with minimal faff. Ski schools, rental shops, gear hire, and family-friendly restaurants are all within easy reach.

And when the kids are ready for a break from skiing, Les Arcs has loads to offer. There are sledging runs, a mini Alpine wildlife museum, and even a family-friendly igloo bar with an amazing ice sculpture grotto. These low-key but thoughtful extras show that Les Arcs is designed with families in mind; not just squeezing them in around the grown-up fun.

Even better, the resort is set up to help families stick to a budget. You’ll find picnic tables dotted around the slopes, and even indoor spots where you can bring your own lunch – a rarity in many Alpine resorts, and a lifesaver when you’re trying to avoid €25 per person half-uneaten lunches every day.

Add to all that the convenience of package holidays through Ski World, self-catering apartments via Booking.com, and reliable ski hire from Skiset, and it’s genuinely one of the least stressful Alpine resorts for families looking for a mix of independence and support.

🏡 Where to stay for a family ski holiday in Les Arcs: Apartments, chalets & hotels

Les Arcs is made up of purpose-built villages at different altitudes, plus Bourg St Maurice down in the valley – a working French Alpine town with proper character, good restaurants, and excellent shops (including an out of this world bakery for pastries)!

Les Arcs offers a wide range of family-friendly accommodation, from self-catering apartments to cosy chalets and practical ski hotels. You won’t find individual recommendations in this guide, but this section gives you a feel for what each village offers in terms of atmosphere, accessibility, and budget.

🏙️ Arc 1800: Central and Family-Friendly

Best for families who want good value self catering Les Arcs apartments, lots of activities, and a lively atmosphere. It’s a good place to stay if your kids are just starting, as the ski schools are a short walk from the main accommodation hubs, and the beginner pistes are wide and gentle.

🏰 Arc 1950: Pedestrianised charm with luxury touches

Pedestrianised, charming resort village feel with ski-in / ski-out apartments, and genuinely high-end in a kid-friendly way – this is a great spot, if you don’t mind the extra price tag, and getting there from the valley taking longer.

❄️ Arc 2000: High altitude and easy ski access

Ideal for serious skiers and beginners alike, as the learner slopes are really wide and not too steep, but you have easy access to the blacks and reds on the Aiguille Rouge. Ski schools are very close to accommodation, but the resort may feel windswept and stark for some families.

🏞️ Arc 1600: Budget-friendly with quick access

Good for value-seekers who want access to the slopes without the price tag, along with quick access to Bourg for travelling up from the train station or just an afternoon in town. The home run can be steep and a bit busy for younger kids. Don’t rule this one out though.

🌲 Peisey-Vallandry: Quiet and traditional

A solid choice if you’re looking for a traditional ski chalet experience in a more peaceful, village setting. It’s great for beginners, but slightly lower altitude so can get slushy at the bottom in warmer weeks.

🏘️ Bourg St Maurice: Great value and local charm

Perfect for families wanting more space, budget-friendly hotels, and a proper Alpine town with great food and local charm – plus you can walk from the train station to your accommodation. This is great for bigger kids who can manage a little extra faff each ski day for the budget trade off. Not ideal for 9 am lessons though; this would mean a very early start. More on this in Bourg Saint Maurice Skiing: Our Favourite Base for a Family Ski Holiday.

I dive into each village properly in my post: Where to stay in Les Arcs? Which is the best Resort: Arc 1600, 1800, 1950, 2000, Peisey-Vallandry or Bourg-Saint-Maurice

In short: If you want instant access to the slopes, base yourself in one of the Arc villages or Peisey-Vallandry. If you’re happy to trade a bit of convenience for cost and character, Bourg is well worth considering.

You’ll find plenty of Les Arcs apartments on Booking.com, along with chalets and ski hotels as part of a package via Ski World. Each village has its own feel, so think about what fits your family’s style and needs.

Skiing Les Arcs with kids

If you’re skiing with children – whether it’s their first time on snow or they’re racing you down the reds – Les Arcs is an excellent choice for a family ski holiday. There’s a huge range of terrain to suit all abilities, and the layout of the resort makes it easy to build confidence without repeating the same few runs on a loop.

For younger skiers, you’ll find lots of wide, forgiving blues near most of the villages, especially Arc 1800 and Arc 2000. Once they’ve found their ski legs, there’s a whole mountain of cruisy intermediate terrain to explore. And when they’re ready for something steeper, there are plenty of reds and a few proper blacks to keep things interesting.

The sheer size of the Paradiski area means that even in busy weeks, you can still find quiet corners. Some of our favourite family ski days have been spent stringing together long, sweeping blues with barely anyone else in sight.

And for adventurous types, you can even ski over to La Plagne via the Vanoise Express – just make sure you’ve got the Paradiski pass (or buy an extension once you’ve warmed up on the Les Arcs side).

In terms of logistics, most of the accommodation in the Arc villages is either a 5 minute walk to the slopes, or even better, ski-in/ski-out. This means means minimal faff getting on the slopes.

If you’re staying in Bourg, it’s a bit more effort – a short walk to the funicular, a ride up to Arc 1600, and then a couple of hundred metres to the lifts.

There are ski lockers at the top of the funicular, so you can leave your skis and boots, poles and helmets there overnight (they have boot dryers in them too!) and travel up and down in normal shoes and get kitted up at the top – much easier than lugging gear each day.

Eating with kids in Les Arcs (without blowing the budget)

Feeding a family in a ski resort is rarely cheap, but Les Arcs makes it a bit easier to keep the food bill in check. Most apartments are self-catering, and the supermarkets in the Arcs villages and Bourg St Maurice (much cheaper!) are well stocked for easy family meals (plus emergency snacks for hangry moments).

There are bakeries for early morning croissants, quick kiosks serving chips and paninis for lunch-on-the-go, and a decent selection of family-friendly restaurants if you want a night off cooking. You’ll find a mix of traditional Savoyard dishes (fondue, raclette, tartiflette) and crowd-pleasers like pasta, burgers and crepes.

One of the unsung strengths of a family ski holiday in Les Arcs is that it actually caters for people who bring a packed lunch up to the slopes. Although I love lunch in a mountain restaurant, some of the shine comes off when it costs over a hundred euros for the family on a daily basis, and the kids’ food barely gets eaten!

You’ll find picnic tables dotted around the slopes, and even a few indoor areas specifically created for people bringing their own lunches – ideal for families trying to stay on budget or avoid the midday crush. Bring a baguette, some cheese, a few chocolate bars and you’re all set.

🍽️ Looking for the best family-friendly mountain restaurants? We’ve got a full round-up coming soon: Our Favourite Family-Friendly Mountain Restaurants in Les Arcs

Off the slopes: family fun beyond skiing

Even the most enthusiastic little skiers need a break sometimes – and Les Arcs has plenty to offer when legs are tired or the weather’s not playing ball.

There’s the Luge 1800, a purpose-built sledging run with proper banked corners (and a lift, so no dragging your sledge uphill), and another luge track up at Arc 2000. There’s also self service sledging on the baby slopes in the afternoons once lessons are over. You’ll often find a bum slide or two in your apartment!

Over in Peisey, you’ll often find reindeer, dog sledding, and a few other festive-style extras that feel a bit like stepping into a snow globe.

For something calmer, head to the Mountain Animal Museum at the top of the Vallandry lift, a small but charming spot packed with Alpine wildlife exhibits. Or the ice grotto attached to the igloo bar, where you can admire intricate ice sculptures and warm up with a hot chocolate or vin chaud.

If you’re travelling with older kids or teens, there’s also the high-speed Aiguille Rouge zipline that flies over the Arc 2000 bowl. Brave it and you’ll get serious bragging rights!

Most weeks in peak season there’s an evening torchlit descent by the ski instructors, and there’s usually some sort of event happening, especially in the bigger resorts, like pop-up stalls, music and ski shows.

❄️ Want more ideas for non-ski days? Read Non-ski activities in Les Arcs: The best family things to do for non-skiers in winter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Ski Holidays in Les Arcs

❓ Is Les Arcs good for beginner skiers and young children?

Yes – especially in Arc 1800 and Arc 1950 / 2000, where you’ll find gentle greens and wide blues that are perfect for beginners. Plus, the ski schools are well set up for kids.

❓ Are there budget accommodation options in Les Arcs?

Definitely. While some areas like Arc 1950 are higher-end, you’ll find more affordable options in Arc 1600, 1800, 2000 and Bourg St Maurice, including self-catering apartments and budget ski hotels.

❓ What’s the best village in Les Arcs for families?

It depends on your priorities. Arc 1800 is great for all round convenience and activities, Arc 1950 for charm and higher end amenities, and Bourg St Maurice for value and local flavour. I have a full breakdown in this post: Where to stay in Les Arcs? Which is the best Resort: Arc 1600, 1800, 1950, 2000, Peisey-Vallandry or Bourg-Saint-Maurice

❓ Can I book Les Arcs chalets or apartments without a package?

Absolutely. There are plenty of Les Arcs chalets and apartments available through platforms like Booking.com or direct from owners. If you prefer packages, Ski World offers family-focused options.

Tips for planning your trip

Planning a ski holiday with kids involves a fair bit of admin, but a bit of forward-thinking goes a long way in Les Arcs.

When to go: If you’ve got school-aged kids, you’re probably tied to the usual holiday windows.

• Yes, February half term is busy, but totally manageable if you plan ahead, and the snow is reliably good.
• Christmas and New Year are also popular, with a fun festive atmosphere.
• Easter is the best value time of year, and is often quieter too. The snow can be slushy down near the resort villages, but you’ll still get great skiing thanks to Les Arcs’ altitude and solid snowmaking.
• If your kids are tiny (or not in school), the week before Christmas or early March can be much quieter and cheaper!
• I’ve got more information on finding the quietest ski weeks in France in my upcoming post: How to Predict the Quietest Ski Weeks in France (Even During UK School Holidays)

Accommodation:

Book early, especially if you’re aiming for school holidays or need ski-in/ski-out. Bourg tends to have better availability (and value), but if you want to be slope-side, focus on any of the Arc villages or Peisey-Vallandry.

Lift passes:

• If you’re beginners or even confident intermediates, you’ll be fine with a Les Arcs-only (classic) pass to start with.
• But the Paradiski upgrade (known as the Essential Pass) doesn’t just unlock La Plagne; it also gives you priority access to express lift lines on some lifts, which can make a real difference during busy weeks.
• If you’re planning to ski most of the resort, it’s worth considering. We’ll have a full post soon on whether the Les Arcs Essential Pass is Worth It for Families.

Ski hire:

• If you’re staying in the Arc villages, pre-booking online with Skiset usually gets you the best deals, and their shops are dotted all over the resort.
• If you’re staying in Bourg St Maurice, though, you’ll probably want to rent from Intersport Lagrange right at the top of the funicular. It’s the shop that also rents out the ski lockers, which makes the daily routine much easier.

Is Les Arcs the right ski resort for your family?

If you spent your twenties chasing fresh powder and long lunches on sun terraces, Les Arcs is the kind of resort that still delivers – even when you’re swapping après-ski for hot chocolate and early nights. It’s big enough that you won’t get bored, but still easy to navigate once you’re juggling multiple pairs of ski boots, too many snack breaks and slope-side negotiations.

The combination of purpose-built convenience, family-friendly extras, and good-value accommodation means it suits a wide range of setups, whether you’re teaching a four-year-old to snowplough or trying to keep pace with your teenagers on a red.

It’s not the cheapest resort out there – lift passes and meals can add up – but the value for money is excellent when you consider the sheer size of the ski area, the quality of the infrastructure, and how much terrain you can cover in a week. You could spend less elsewhere, but you’d likely get a lot less in return. Staying down in Bourg-Saint-Maurice does keep costs down as well.

We’ve skied here through just about every stage of family life, and it’s still the resort we come back to again and again.

Ready to plan your family ski holiday in Les Arcs?

Les Arcs is one of those rare resorts that balances practicality with personality. Each village has its own feel; some are more charming, some more practical, but all are geared towards getting families on the slopes without too much faff. It’s a place that works just as well for first-timers as it does for seasoned skiers returning with kids in tow.

Whether you’re skiing with toddlers, tweens or teens, or just finally getting back on the slopes after years away, it’s a solid choice.