La Plagne Mountain Sports

Les Arcs and La Plagne are two of the best downhill mountain biking sites in Europe. The riding is challenging, the views are spectacular and the long tracks just keep flowing! Probably a resort best suited to intermediate/advanced riders, you’ll find plenty of demanding technical trails and steep downhill plummets. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT. (Vélo tout-terrain!)) ... see "La Plagne Mountain Biking" for more

La Plagne offers a number of great flying sites, due to its sheltered position; take off sites include La Grande Rochette, La Roche de Mio, Les Verdons and Les Blanchets. From the heights of La Plagne one can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment; once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air. An early intermediate skier can manage the take-off, but for boarders a good technical level is needed. In summer one simply runs down a slope until you take off; no particular level of fitness is required, just the ability to sit back and enjoy the view! One then peacefully glides above the pistes for ten to twenty minutes, aiming to catch thermals to keep you up for longer. Landing is very gentle and no more of an impact than jumping off a step. ... see "La Plagne for Paragliding" for more