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In just five minutes, you’ll know exactly which are the five best pistes for beginners in La Plagne.
Whether it’s your first-ever ski trip or you’re returning to the slopes, La Plagne is one of the best resorts in the Alps for beginners.
In La Plagne, there are gentle green runs and great dedicated beginner zones. These are called Cool Ski beginner zones. These make learning here both stress-free and rewarding.
How to use this guide
If this is your first ski holiday, a few key terms will help before you hit the snow. When we say beginner-friendly, we mean wide greens or very mellow blues that are reliably groomed and easy to navigate.
A piste is a marked ski run – in La Plagne, they’re colour-coded: green for very gentle slopes, blue for easy runs with mild gradients, then red and black for steeper terrain.
A lift takes you uphill – from magic carpets (moving conveyor belts in beginner zones) to chairlifts and gondolas. A download means you can ride the lift back down instead of skiing, which is perfectly normal if you’re tired or the weather changes.
Each route card in this guide includes:
- Why it’s great – what makes that piste ideal for learning.
- How to get there – which lifts or meeting points you’ll need.
- First lap tip – an insider hint for your first descent.
- Bail-out – your safe route down or back if you’ve had enough.
- Good times to ski are when conditions or crowds are at their best.
Safety first – getting back down without stress
Every skier, from locals to instructors, sometimes chooses to ride the lift down instead of skiing. It’s called downloading – and it’s a smart habit, not a failure.
If you’re tired, cold, or visibility drops, taking the lift saves your legs and keeps your confidence high for tomorrow. In La Plagne, lift attendants are used to helping beginners and will happily guide you when downloading.
Typical download options:
- Belle Plagne: Roche de Mio gondola
- Plagne Bellecôte: Arpette chair (allows downloading)
- Montalbert: Montalbert gondola
- Montchavin: Montchavin gondola
The five best beginner pistes in La Plagne
1. Le Blanchot – Belle Plagne (Green)
Why it’s great: A sheltered, gentle slope inside the Cool Ski area – ideal for absolute beginners to practise turns without fast skiers rushing past. T
How to get there: Located beside the Roche de Mio gondola base in Belle Plagne. Served by a free magic carpet.
First lap tip: Stay skier’s left for the smoothest gradient. Mornings offer freshly groomed snow and calm conditions.
Bail-out: Download via the Roche de Mio gondola.
Good times to ski it: Early morning for soft corduroy and quiet surroundings.
1. Cowboys beginner zone – Plagne Centre (Green)
Why it’s great – Plagne Centre is beginner-friendly. It has a dedicated “Zone Débutants” with magic carpets and very gentle slopes. The Cowboys’ magic carpet is free. It offers a safe, gentle environment with minimal gradient, low speed, and beginner-friendly amenities.
How to get there – The Cowboys beginner area is in Plagne Centre. Head to the snow front near to the Funiplagne gondola station. From here you should be able to see it.
First lap tip – Before your first lap, do your introductory activities at the bottom of the lift. When you’re ready to take the magic carpet, gently shuffle your skis onto the carpet. Once your skis are on the lift, keep them still until the top. At the top, shuffle them off.
Bail-out options – If you feel tired, you can simply stop using it and walk back to your accommodation. No need to do a full ski descent. Alternatively, after one or two laps, you can opt to ride the carpet back up and take a break in a café — you’re not committed to a long run.
Best time to ski it – Early morning is ideal. You’ll have fresh, groomed snow and fewer people using the beginner carpet zone. Avoid very late afternoon if you’re fatigued: beginner slopes can get slightly softer, slushier, which can be tiring.
2. Montablert – Plagne Montalbert (Green)
Why it’s great: It’s a great beginner’s piste, as it has a mellow, approachable gradient and is sheltered by trees. The pistes around this area are normally some of the quietest in La Plagne too. If there’s bad weather, then the trees and lower altitude can help to break up any wind or fog that you may face.
How to get there: The Montalbert green slope is right next to the village of Plagne Montalbert. If you’re staying further up, then you can download on the Montablert gondola.
First lap tip: If you’re just getting started on skis, then it is worth doing introductory activities at the bottom of the slope. When you’re ready to use the button lift, remember not to sit too heavy on it. The pole isn’t so much a seat. It’s more intended to pull you up the mountain as you straddle it. It’s also important that you keep your skis straight, like you would on a magic carpet, and only let go once you’re over the crest at the top of the lift.
Bail-out: As it’s right next to the centre of Plagne Albert, you can easily get back simply by walking. If you’ve had enough for the day, it’s also straightforward to get back up the mountain on the Montabert gondola.
Good times to ski it: Montablert is great for skiing throughout the day. You may see that at the end of the day, particularly late season, the snow becomes slushy and heavy. This is due to the lower relative altitude. If this is the case, we suggest heading to a beginner area further up the mountain.
3. Arpette – Plagne Bellecôte (Blue)
Why it’s great – Arpette is widely recommended blue piste for early intermediates. The terrain is mostly mellow and suitable for building confidence. The surrounding area also has a large number of gentle blues.
How to get there – Just above Plagne Bellecote, you’ll find the Arpette chairlift. This’ll give you access to the Arpette blue and other nearby blue rus. At the top of the Arpette lift, you’ll find signposts for the Arpette piste and options for Dunes and Laines.
First lap tip – On your first run, pick the Arpette piste (or Laines if that’s signposted) right from the chair, staying in the wide-open section – avoid the lower steeper turn-downs until you’re comfortable. Practice carving or turning gently. This run is good for linking turns and getting used to a longer descent. Aware that lift queues may form later at Arpette, your first lap should aim to catch it early.
Bail-out options – If you get tired or feel uncertain, switch to one of the adjacent, easier blue routes from the same summit, such as Laines. At the bottom, there are lifts back to the base. This’ll let you get back to the resort without needing to navigate long or challenging runs.
Best times to ski it – Late afternoon may have more difficult snow on the lower section, so consider skiing it earlier. The first thing in the morning is ideal — you’ll have fresh snow and less traffic at the chairlift. Late morning is also a good time.
4. Golf – Plagne Montalbert (Blue)
Why it’s great – Golf is very wide, mellow and open. This makes it excellent at giving beginners confidence. Skiing down Golf, you’ll have lovely views across the Isère valley.
How to get there – Located in the Aime 2000 area, which tends to be quieter, making it less intimidating for early intermediates. From the hub at Aime 2000, take the chairlift up to the Golf chair, and then you’ll be right at the top of the Golf blue.
First lap tip – On your first run down Golf, stay slightly to the right side of the piste. The gradient is gentler and the terrain more forgiving on this side. Go slowly, enjoy the view, and use it to check your balance and control before moving to more complex blues. Take it easy, practise turns and control your speed.
Bail-out options – If you find the section too long or tiring, you can stop partway and take one of the chairlifts back up once you see signposts for “return to base” or a lift station. From the base of Golf, you can drop into easier/higher lifts back to Aime 2000 and be done for the day if you feel your legs are tired.
Best times to ski it – Early morning (first hour after lifts open) when the snow is fresh and the run is quiet. Avoid the last hour of the afternoon when sunshine may soften the snow, or icy patches may appear on flatter sections. Mid-morning, before lunchtime, offers the best balance of fresh surface and fewer crowds.
5. Le Levasset – Plagne Montalbert (Blue)
Why it’s great – It’s a long, wide and scenic blue run that traverses 5.2 km into the Champagny-en-Vanoise area on wide-open, confidence-building terrain. This can create a great sense of adventure for progressing skiers. You’ll feel like you’ve done a proper descent without steep or technical terrain. It’s also slightly quieter than the more central beginner blues, offering a more peaceful experience.
How to get there – Head up to the summit of the Roche de Mio lift gondola. You can get here from either the Belle Plagne or Bellecôte side. From the top, start down the Levasset blue signposted Levasset. Ensure you keep to the blue route rather than switching into red/black variants.
First lap tip – On your first run choose the top section where it’s very wide and open and you can go at your own pace. Try to build a rhythm with your turns and enjoy the descent. Take care when approaching the Carella chair area. Here, it’s essential to check the signage and avoid accidentally taking a steeper run.
Bail-out options – If the full run to Champagny feels too long or tiring, stop at the mid-station of the lift and take a lift back up or traverse over to a simpler area. At the base, you’ll find lifts or a lift-link back up to Bellecôte/Belle Plagne to get you back to the resort base. Option to ride the gondola back instead of skiing back if your legs are done.
Best times to ski it – Early morning is excellent fresh snow, wide space, and minimal traffic. Late morning, before lunch, is also a good time. Avoid running mid-afternoon if you’re tired, as it’s a long distance and you’ll need good leg strength.
Suggested progression loop
- Start on the Cowboys Magic Carpet in Plagne Centre to warm up.
- If there’s bad weather or you’re close, head to Montablert and ski the Montablert Green for a gentle next step.
- Leave the beginner area and take on Arpette.
- If you’d like more variety, try the Golf blue run.
- Finish with Le Levasset above Montalbert for your longest, most rewarding run yet.
This loop gives you a perfect balance of terrain and progression for your first few days on snow.
Common beginner pitfalls (and fixes)
- Pushing too far when tired – Always download if your legs are shaky. It’s smart, not shameful.
- Ignoring the weather – Stick to lower, tree-lined runs like Montablert on cloudy or windy days for better visibility.
- Skipping piste maps – Keep one in your pocket or download a copy.
- Heading straight for long home runs – Build up distance gradually. Short, positive runs are more beneficial for building confidence.
- Not getting started with beginner ski lessons – Beginner ski lessons in La Plagne help you to explore more of the slope more quickly and safely.
