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Montchavin Ski Resort
Visit today and you’ll feel like Montchavin-Les Coches is an old hand at ski holidays: it looks the part of a classic resort, and has winter tourism down to a tee. Actually, skip back to the sixties and you’ll find Montchavin as a simple old farming hamlet facing the mighty Mont Blanc, while Les Coches is nowhere to be seen - just a stretch of pasture.
Montchavin had only 20-something residents back then, and the mayor of the time decided something had to be done. He began to develop Montchavin for tourism and we’re very glad he did. New buildings were added to increase capacity, but never higher or too different looking from the original wood and stone ones to keep the whole place looking authentic.
A decade later, Les Coches was built 3km up the zig zag road from Montchavin at 1450m. The same traditional chocolate-box-cladding was used, making the Montchavin-Les Coches area the prettiest part of La Plagne. A shuttle bus still runs between the two bases, both of which have lift access to the ski area.
Fast forward to 2003, when the Vanoise Express lift was built nearby. It linked La Plagne and Les Arcs to form the Paradiski and instantly made Montchavin-Les Coches one of the best located bases with speedy access to both sides of the linked ski area.
On top of the excellent ski lift connections, Montchavin-Les Coches (AKA Montchavin-La Plagne) is one of the easiest bases to reach, especially if you’re travelling by rail as Landry station is a ten-minute taxi ride from resort. Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon airports are a 2-hour drive (or less) away.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Tarentaise, France
Established:
Open: December - April
Downhill: 225km (La Plagne) 425km (Paradiski)
View our detailed Montchavin snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Montchavin snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Chambéry Airport (CMF) | 113km, 1.5 hours |
| Geneva Airport (GVA) | 192km, 2 hours |
| Grenoble Airport (GNB) | 195km, 2 hours |
| Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) | 189km, 2 hours |
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| Top Altitude: | 3417m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1250m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1250m & 1450m |
| Longest run: | 7km |
| Slope Orientation: | N S E W |
| Vertical Drop: | |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | Yes |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 225km (La Plagne) 425km (Paradiski) |
| Beginner slopes: | |
| Intermediate: | |
| Advanced slopes: | |
| Lift Pass Price: | Montchavin La Plagne €38 (adult 1 day) La Plagne €259 (adult 6 day) Paradiski €298 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: La Plagne | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Montchavin
There are learner slopes and ski schools near the Montchavin and Les Coches bases, and a few of the beginner lifts were free last time we checked.
Newbies can usually quickly progress onto the long blues in the area, like Route des Bauches which has views of Mont Blanc peeping between the trees. Slowly work your way up to skiing the full Mont Blanc piste, starting off on the short stretch from Les Coches, then making it longer and longer from the Montchavin and Pierres Blanc chairs. This is the longest run in the La Plagne area, and the full descent from Dos Rond is wonderfully exhilarating.
Thanks to the nearness of the Vanoise Express, intermediates have oodles of choice all over the Paradiski. In the local area, don’t miss the Esselet or Lac Noir above Les Coches - two lovely forested reds. Crossing over to Les Arcs, a handful of pistes stream down to Plan Peisey and Vallandry. On the other side, there’s the snow sure Combe run up on the Bellecote glacier and cruisey Inversens from Roche de Mio.
The Pelees piste is a tree-lined black and a couple of the black runs are designated ungroomed “Natur” trails, including the Les Murs and Malatray where some hefty moguls can build up. Off piste, there are some good tree routes and powder bowls on the La Plagne side of Dos Rond. A guide will be able to show you some excellent terrain both locally and further out in the Paradiski.
Montchavin Apres Ski
You’ll find bars and restaurants in both Montchavin and Les Coches – in Montchavin, Café camp de Base is a cosy hut serving snacks and drinks, and we can’t get enough of the steak dinners at Le Moulin a Blanc. Up in Les Coches, La Table du Tarlin serves local beers (look out for the Mont Blanc Brasserie brews) as well as awesome pizzas and tartiflettes. White Lines bar has a lively atmosphere with music and big screens for the Six Nations and other sporting events. La Taverne du Monchu is another favourite for fondue and raclette.
Some of the best local activities include airboarding, snowbiking, SMX and ski riding. If you want to push your limits outdoors, the Bureau des Guides or the ski schools can organise off-piste, heli-skiing, ski touring and ice climbing adventures. The Olympic bobsleigh run over in La Plagne is also open to non-professional thrill seekers who can either take a 'taxi ride' behind a professional driver or ride a slower (but at 80kph fast enough for most), "self-guiding" 'bob raft'.
However the slower pace of life is popular in Montchavin - Les Coches more than at most of the other Paradiski bases. You can find out about local history, tradition and produce with excursions and presentations organised through the tourist office. If you happen to be around on the first Wednesday in February, you can witness the annual Saint Agatha's day fate in celebration of the patron saint of Montchavin. At other times you can visit the library or join an arts or crafts class. There's also an ice rink, a cinema in Montchavin and board games rental from the tourist office. Snowshoeing and winter rambling are both popular and there are special lift tickets available for non-skiers and boarders as well as organised excursions to join.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Montchavin
Best time to visit & ski Montchavin
Thanks to the local slopes being north facing and tree lined, this part of La Plagne tends to hold the snow better than others nearing the end of the season. Throughout the Paradiski, 70% of the slopes are over 2000m, which puts the area in good stead for some conditions all winter long.
Peak Dates
Sledding with Santa and donkeys in the village have been parts of Christmas in Montchavin Les Coches in years gone by, adding a festive feel to an already very winter-wonderlandy setting.
They know how to celebrate the New Year in Montchavin Les Coches – with parties on the piste and big firework displays.
Spend Half Term in Montchavin Les Coches in a traditional setting, with a socking great ski area on your doorstep – worlds away from the workplace.
With north facing pistes locally and higher terrain in the Paradiski, Easter in Montchavin Les Coches tends to see some of the best snow conditions in the Alps.
Families in Montchavin
Holder of the French tourist board’s Famille Plus label, Montchavin-La Plagne provides entertainment, activities and childcare options for families, in a resort that’s easy to navigate. There are Snow Gardens, Piou Piou clubs and toboggan runs in both Montchavin and Les Coches, where youngsters can learn to enjoy the snow in a fun, safe environment. Off skis, teens can get involved with snow mountain biking and fat biking, or the whole clan can set off on a husky ride through the forest.
GroupsGroup Holidays Montchavin
With one of France’s biggest ski areas at your fingertips, this is a super base for groups of intermediate or advanced skiers and snowboarders who can set off to explore the La Plagne and Les Arcs ski areas together. Beginners aren’t forgotten, with private instructors available to teach friends together. While parties looking for a bigger après ski scene might be better off in Les Arcs or La Plagne, there are some good bars to gather together in at the end of the day, like Camp de Base and Table du Tarlin.
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