Les Arcs is easy to reach, as long as you choose the right way to travel for your starting point. Here are the main options and what to know before you leave.
Timetables, journey times and travel conditions change: always check them with the rail company, your transfer provider or the resort's official website before booking.
By train: the simplest, with the funicular
This is the option we recommend when possible. The train arrives directly at Bourg-Saint-Maurice station, at the foot of the mountain. From there, the funicular goes up to Arc 1600 in a few minutes (about 7 minutes according to the resort's official website). No car needed to get up, and no mountain road to deal with.
Once in Arc 1600, free shuttle buses link the other villages: Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000. The timetables, and whether the funicular is free with a train ticket in winter, are best confirmed with the resort.
Winter train connections exist from Paris and other big cities, sometimes with a change, and, on some weekends of the season, from London. They vary from year to year: check the timetables for the current season.
By plane: Geneva, Lyon or Chambéry
There is no airport in Les Arcs: you land at an airport in the region, then reach the resort by road or rail.
- Geneva: the most common choice for international travellers. Allow generally 2h30 to 3h30 for the transfer, depending on stops and traffic.
- Lyon: about 2h30 to 3h by road.
- Chambéry: the closest airport, about 1h30 to 1h45 by road, but with fewer flights.
The most practical thing is to book a transfer in advance (shared shuttle, taxi or private car): in high season, slots fill up quickly.
By car
The road follows the Tarentaise valley to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, then climbs to the villages. Advantages: freedom and a boot for luggage. Drawbacks: traffic on changeover days (Saturdays in particular), and the climb in winter conditions.
Good to know: snow chains. Just before driving up from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to the resort, if there is snow, the gendarmes may require you to fit chains for safety reasons. With no snow on the road it is not necessarily compulsory: it all depends on the snow conditions that day. The safest thing is to set off with chains (or winter tyres) in the boot, and to check the regulations in force before you leave.
Getting around once there
Between the villages, the free shuttles are handy. And for your ski lessons, our instructors come and pick you up at your hotel or apartment, or meet you straight on the slopes: you do not have to worry about the journey. The details are on our private lessons page.
Our advice
- Families travelling from France: train + funicular avoids the stress of the road.
- International travellers: Geneva + a transfer booked in advance is the simplest.
- Groups and heavy luggage: book a private transfer.
Still unsure which sector to stay in? Our article Arc 1600, 1800, 1950 or 2000: which sector should you choose? can help. And to book your lessons, it is here.