Les Arcs is a good choice for families who want plenty of snow and short walks to the slopes. Arc 1800 and Arc 1950 are the easiest villages with children. Arc 2000 is better suited to teenagers and confident skiers. And if you’d rather not drive, the train and funicular get you from Bourg-Saint-Maurice station to the snow in minutes.
Is Les Arcs good for families?
Yes. What works:
- Car-free villages. Arc 1950 is compact and pedestrian, so small children can walk safely between the apartment, the ski school and the slopes.
- Childcare from 3 months to 12 years, depending on the provider, and several club hotels with their own kids’ clubs.
- Under-5s ski free.
- Easy travel by train. The funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice station is free with a train ticket in winter, and free shuttles link the villages.
The downsides: the villages are spread out, so choose a base where the ski school, crèche and beginner area are close together, and the season starts later than some resorts, on 12 December.
Ski schools and kids’ lessons in Les Arcs
- ESF Mini Club Les Skimômes in Arc 1800 takes children aged 3 to 8. It combines ski lessons with childcare before and after class, and supervised lunch can be added from Monday to Friday.
- Evolution 2 lessons can be added to the Yéti Camp kids’ club in Arc 1950.
- Several other ski schools teach children across the villages, so check the minimum ages with the school you choose.
- Book early. The resort strongly recommends booking childcare and lessons before you arrive, especially in school holidays.
Childcare and nurseries in Les Arcs
- Childcare is available across the resort for children from 3 months to 12 years, depending on the provider.
- Yéti Camp, in the heart of Arc 1950, runs a crèche for children from 9 to 35 months and a kids’ club for 3 to 11-year-olds, with indoor activities, sledging, snowshoeing and lunch. It’s closed on Saturdays.
- Club Med Les Arcs Panorama has kids’ clubs from 4 months to 17 years, and Belambra Club Hôtel du Golf runs a club for ages 3 to 5 all season, with older children’s clubs in French school holidays.
Best beginner areas for children in Les Arcs
There are gentle beginner areas close to each village, so young children don’t need to go far to learn. New this season, the Beginner Pass gives access to specific beginner areas with progressive courses on less crowded slopes. It’s sold on site only. Ask your ski school where its beginner groups meet before choosing where to stay.
Les Arcs lift passes for families
- Children under 5 ski free.
- Ages 5 to 12 pay a reduced rate, with proof of age. Teenagers from 13 pay the standard rate.
- The Classic Pass covers Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry. The Essential Pass adds La Plagne and the whole of Paradiski, plus discounts on the Luge 1800 and Luge 2000 and a free swim in Arc 1800.
- 15% off in the first week (12 to 18 December 2026) and the last week (17 to 24 April 2027).
Things to do with kids in Les Arcs off the slopes
- Luge 1800: a 900 m sledge run with banked turns through the forest, starting from the Villards gondola in Arc 1800. Children from 3 can ride on the same sledge as an adult, and children aged 8 and over can ride alone under adult supervision. Sledges and helmets are provided.
- The Luge 2000 in Arc 2000 is only for ages 12 and over.
- The swimming pool in Arc 1800.
- A zip line for older children.
Best family hotels in Les Arcs
Club Med Les Arcs Panorama in Arc 1600 (kids’ clubs from 4 months) and Belambra Club Hôtel du Golf in Arc 1800 (kids’ clubs from 3) are the most complete family options. In Arc 2000, MMV Les Mélèzes and MMV Altitude are all-inclusive family club hotels. See where to stay in Les Arcs for the villages and the full list.
Tips for skiing in Les Arcs with kids
- Take the train. With the funicular and free shuttles, you can travel from the station to Arc 1800 or Arc 1950 without a car, which saves a winding drive with car-sick children.
- Check the funicular’s last departure. It’s 9 pm from Sunday to Thursday and 11 pm on Friday and Saturday, so a late train means a taxi.
- Don’t plan an early-December trip. The season starts on 12 December 2026. See our Les Arcs ski resort guide for dates.
- Busy weeks: French and UK school holidays, especially February half-term, are the busiest and most expensive. Book lessons and childcare well ahead.
