In 1961, the French Alps were in crisis: the traditional industries of agriculture and mining were shrinking and villages were depopulating as the young moved to find work in the cities. Dr Pierre Borrione, a former French Resistance fighter and the mayor of Aime, took a gamble, building two drag lifts in his town. Not only did he manage to reverse the Tarentaise Valley’s decline, but he set in motion the creation of what has become one of the largest and most popular ski areas in the world: Paradiski.
VIP Ski is marking this 65th anniversary season in style, opening Graciosa, a brand new ski-in, ski-out chalet development in La Plagne, Paradiski’s biggest resort. Set at a snow-sure 2,003m on the Mont St Sauveur piste, Stephanie Adams was among the first guests to check-in.
What to do in La Plagne
There are 225 km of runs at La Plagne, with another 200 km in connected resorts within the Paradiski area. 70% of these are at altitudes above 2,000 m so the powder is pretty much guaranteed.
To feel the wind on your face and get an adrenaline kick before you even click into your skis, take the Aérolive from Roche de Mio to Live 3,000. This is a gondola with two open-air cabins, L’Acrobate and La Funambule (meaning “tightrope walker”). Brace yourself if you are afraid of heights, as it’s more than a little daunting, but with no windows or walls to the cabins, you can lean out and experience a sensation that’s probably the closest you will ever get to flying. Aérolive departs every 15 minutes, as long as the weather is fair, and, reassuringly, passengers are clipped into a safety harness so you definitely won’t fall out!
One of the most scenic blue runs in La Plagne is accessible from the Plagne Bellecôte sector. It runs alongside the new Riders Nation snow park, where you can detour to try the four freestyle courses, and then down through forest to the villages of Montchavin and Les Coches. There are impressive views of Mont Blanc on the way.
Apres ski: La Folie Douce
Did you even visit Paradiski if you didn’t party at La Folie Douce? The Alps’ most famous apres ski venue is a Les Arcs institution, offering a festival-like atmosphere all winter long. New for this season is L’Atelier, a huge events space which changes purpose as the day goes on. Mornings are dedicated to sports, including indoor cycling; there are creative programmes for children in the afternoons; and in the evenings, the decks are open for amateur DJs to show the crowds what they’re made of.
L’Atelier’s offering complements La Folie Douce’s core events calendar, Unlimited Folie, which platforms the biggest DJs from Paris and Berlin, from international clubs to underground scenes. Dance until dawn – the shots will keep you warm – then grab an hour or two of sleep before catching the first lift of the day.
The world’s highest comedy festival
The Paradiski ski season runs until the end of April, so there’s still plenty of time to make an Easter booking. If you’re looking for a last-minute escape, plan your trip to coincide with Paradiski Comedy Club – the world’s highest stand-up comedy festival – from 16-27 February. Held in collaboration with Paris’ Metro Comedy Club, performers use the Vanoise Express cable car as their stage, delivering stand-up routines in English and French as you dangle 380m above the ground.
Where to stay in La Plagne: Graciosa
Get your gang together and book VIP Ski’s CLUB Sagarmatha Penthouse, which crowns the Graciosa and sleeps up to 15 guests. The chalet’s panoramic views stretch as far as Mont Blanc, and you can admire the snow-capped mountains and, later, the star-studded night sky from the private hot tub and sauna on the 6th floor terrace. The chef and chalet hosts will ensure your every need is taken care of, all you have to do is relax. Families can make use of Graciosa’s “Bear Cub” and nanny service, so you can be confident the kids are safe and well entertained as you take to the slopes and enjoy the subsequent apres ski.
Need to know
In February 2027, fully-catered accommodation at VIP Ski’s CLUB Sagarmatha Penthouse starts from £1,405 per person per week based on two sharing, including scheduled coach transfers from Geneva Airport. Book directly with VIP Ski (vip-chalets.com). A six-day adult ski pass for Paradiski costs £349 (en.la-plagne.com). For ski hire and ski school, visit Oxygene (oxygene.ski).
