Few ski resorts rival Les Arcs for variety of skiing and its reputation as an avant-garde, innovative and pioneering destination for snow sports. With the recent lift link to La Plagne (forming the massive Paradiski ski area), it offers some of the best and most extensive resort skiing in the world.

The resort is also one of the easiest to reach from central London, with a direct Eurostar train service from St Pancras taking just eight hours to reach the ski area.

Les Arcs is made up of a series of high ‘villages', Arc 1600, 1800, 1950 and 2000 (figures refer to altitude). All but 1950 were built in the 1960s and as a result have some dated architecture, but equally benefit from exceptional convenience of ski-in. ski-out access to virtually all accommodation. Many have also been subsequently modernised. Arc 1950 is a very new development, the first in Europe for Intrawest, the company behind highly successful North American resort developments like Whistler. Arc 1800 has the majority of the resort's nightlife, the other three bases are quieter, but if you want to ski fast and hard all day you won't find much better.

Resort elevation: 1,600m (5,250ft) to 2,000m (6,500ft).

Top elevation: 3,225m (10,580ft).

Base elevation: 1,200m (3,937ft).

Number of lifts: 54.

Number of runs: 106.

Average annual snowfall: 3m (10 ft).

Les Arcs is situated in the Tarentaise region of France in the French Alps, above Bourg St Maurice. It is located just to the south of the Aiguilles de Chamonix mountain chain, which peaks at the top of Mt Blanc (4,807m/15,771ft).

The season runs from early December until late April.

Les Arcs has fantastic on- and off-piste skiing to suit all abilities - beginner and intermediate runs can get busy, although the Peisey-Vallandry area often avoids the worst of this. For advanced/expert skiers and boarders, the black runs from the top of the Aiguille Rouge are varied and exciting, with over 2,000m/6,500ft of vertical plus plenty of off-piste options either side.

One of the great features of Les Arcs is that a mixed ability group can enjoy great skiing and meet up for lunch - the skiing above Arc 2000, for instance, is ideal for this.

The Apolcalypse terrain park above Arc 1600 is one of the best in the Alps and there's a big halfpipe at Arc 2000.

Les Arcs is also famous for hosting international winter sports events, such as the Quik Cup and the World Speed Skiing Championships on the ‘Flying Kilometre', which is also open to the public.

Lifts are generally fast and efficient and on-going investment in ever more new lifts has reduced queuing to a maxinmum of 10 minutes even at peak times. For winter 2009-10 a new six-seat chairlift replaced the old Arpette and Col des Frêtes chairlifts further improving the situation.

Snow conditions are generally reliable, since the resort is so high and Les Arcs had done a lot of work on artificial snow equipment, especially the creation of a huge artificial lake created to supply the whole network of cultivated snow.

The Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) (Immeuble la Cîme des Arcs, Arc 2000; also based in Arc 1600 and Arc 1800) introduced the pioneering‘ski évolutif' method of learning to ski in the parallel position from day one by starting on short skis and gradually extended ski length. This has now been replaced by more standard tuition as ski design has changed to the easier to use modern design, but the Ski Evolutif technique was copied by resorts worldwide at the time and symbolises Les Arcs' pioneering approach to snow sports.

Outdoor options include ice skating (Arc 1800 and 2000), snowshoeing, tobogganing, dog sledding and snow tubing (Arc 2000), speed riding training (skiing wearing a small paragliding sail), ski joering (skiing pulled behind a horse).

Indoor activities include cinemas (Arc 2000, 1800 and 1600) and a multigym and bowling at Arc 1800, but options are limited for non-skiers.

There are also spas and fitness rooms in every residence of Arc 1950 village, also in Hotel du Golf (Arc 1800).

Arc 1800 has a children's area featuring moving carpets, climbing wall and toboggan track. There's a ‘discovery' piste at 1600 where kids can learn about alpine wildlife. Children's ski schools and care facilities at all villages are generally well regarded, especially Les Pommes de Pin (La Nova, Arc 1800).

Options are limited for shopaholics with little more than skiwear shops and rather predictable souvenir stores. You'll find a little more down in Bourg St Maurice but if you want to shop, Les Arcs is not really the place to be.

Arc 1800 is the most lively spot - check out the Red Hot Saloon, Galerie des Villards, for live music, or Ambiente Café, place Basse de Villards. At Arc 1600 L'Arcelle, just below the ski school, is a good bet, whilst at 1950 Les Belles Pintes, Le hameau du glacier, is a lively Irish bar, and at Arc 2000 Le Red Rock Café, place Basse, is popular.

Arc 1800 has the best range of restaurants. Casa Mia, terrasse du Miravidi - Le Charvet, is always popular, or try the relaxed Gargantus, place Haute des Villards. At Arc 2000 check out Chez Eux, place Basse - Résidence Les Lanchettes, for great Savoyard dishes, whilst at Arc 1950, Hemingway's, Le hameau du glacier, is a good choice. Chez Clarisse in Arc 1800 les Villard or L'Escale Gourmande in Arc 1800 le Charvet also offer great Savoyard dishes, Le Choucas in Arc 1800 le Charvet is good for for meat dishes.

L'Arcelle in Arc 1600 offers traditional French meals with great décor in an old chalet and really nice food.

Les Arcs is accessed by road from Bourg St Maurice (but note that most villages are traffic free - cars must be parked outside) or by funicular railway from the town's station. Roads link the villages, as do ski lifts.

Although heli-skiing is forbidden in the French Alps, you can still do it locally with a pick-up from nearby La Rosière, then a drop-off over in nearby Italy to ski back down into France! The trips are offered by Helimountains (www.helimountains.com) with flights piloted by Englishman Mike Benett.

Luxury

Radisson SAS
Great ski apartments in the most attractive village.

Arc 1950
Tel: (04) 7923 1000.
Website: www.arc1950.radissonsas.com

Moderate

Chalet Tarentaise
Friendly chalet in the charming village of Le Pré at the far end of the ski area.

Le Pré de Villaroger
Tel: (04) 7906 9126.
Website: www.optimumski.com

Budget

Aiguille Rouge
Good value ski-in/ski-out accommodation with free ski guiding.

Arc 2000
Tel: (04) 7907 5707.

Nearest airports: Chambéry (CMF); Geneva (GVA).

Distances to resort: 127km (79 miles); 156km (97 miles).

Driving times: 2 hours 30 minutes; 3 hours 30 minutes.

Nearest railway station: Bourg St Maurice (with funicular link to Les Arcs).

Experts, Snowboarders, Beginners, Families, Intermediates, Snow reliability