Where is Peisey-Vallandry?
Peisey-Vallandry is a ski resort in Paradiski - which is also a fantastic area for hiking, mountain biking and road cycling in the summer months.
The resorts of Peisey-Vallandry and Les Arcs are on the south-west side of the valley, linked to La Plagne on the other side, via the world’s biggest cable car called The Vanoise Express.
Peisey-Vallandry may be lesser known than its big brother, Les Arcs, but it has so much to offer. Some of the villages are traditional farming villages and are that bit quieter than the villages of Les Arcs. There is a true French feeling in the area, it’s not just a holiday destination.
A ski holiday here is magical for groups and families. Peisey-Vallandry itself has plenty of stunning tree runs, pleasant beginner areas and delightful stop-offs for hot drinks, food and wine. Between Les Arcs, Peisey Vallandry and La Plagne, the resort boasts 2 glaciers over 3000m, 2 snow parks, and 425km of slopes serviced by over 270 lifts. Over 70% of the skiing is at an altitude of over 2000m.
The Peisey-Vallandry ski resort comprises two main areas from where the ski lifts leave from:
- Plan-Peisey at 1650 metres, created in 1963, and
- the integrated resort of Vallandry at 1600 metres, inaugurated in 1986.
You’ll also find the village of Peisey, below at 1300 metres, linked to Plan-Peisey by a distinguished open, stand-up lift La Lonzagne. And there’s Nancroix too.
We go into more detail about each village below.
Peisey-Vallandry villages explained
The Peisey-Vallandry commune encompasses 4 villages Vallandry, Plan-Peisey, Peisey and Nancroix.
Vallandry
Vallandry is where the ‘Vallandry 74’ ski lift is situated. Many of our chalets provide access to the Forét 1 piste, which enables guests to ski straight to the lift area. Here you’d buy ski passes, meet a guide, find your instructor or go for a pre-ski coffee. What bliss!
At the top of the Vallandry lift is fast access to the rest of the resort.
Beginners can return to Vallandry via the blue runs Forét 2 and Maitaz. These meander down through the woods passing ‘la piste mauve’ where you’ll find games to play on the way.
More advanced skiers can have fun on the red runs of Vallandry, Morey and Aigle, or take the red run, Myrtilles to the bottom of the Derby lift and be over in Les Arcs in no time.
In the summer the Vallandry lift is used by mountain bikers to access the Peisey-Vallandry/Les Arcs bike park. Hikers can also travel the lift system in summer to discover the high mountain paths.
In front of the ski station, there is a row of lovely bars and restaurants where you can sit, with your favourite tipple or a hot chocolate, watching the mountain activities or enjoying a long lunch on one of the sunny terraces.
We’re lucky to have everything here from crepes and waffles, tapas, traditional french foods such as fondue and snails, pizza, burgers, or steak and chips.
The main hub of Vallandry is a precinct behind the row of bars that houses the lift pass office, ski shops, a supermarket, more restaurants and a couple of late-night bars.
Find out more about Peisey-Vallandry bars and restaurants.
Plan-Peisey
The well known Plan-Peisey is situated at the bottom of the Peisey lift.
This little area is often buzzing with people, arriving on a cable car, the Vanoise Express, which transports passengers between Peisey-Vallandry and our neighbouring resort, La Plagne.
Meet your ski instructor here, ready for your ski lessons or your guide, taking you out for a day of backcountry.
Here, you’ll find an on-piste snack bar or relax on the beautiful terrace at La Vanoise Restaurant.
The walk between Plan-Peisey and Vallandry is pleasant on a nice day and fairly easy, there’s just a slight incline from Vallandry to Plan-Peisey.
You’ll find plenty of Savoie souvenir shops, lifestyle shops, restaurants, a pizza place, and bars along the way.
Childcare in Vallandry and Plan-Peisey
Both Vallandry and Plan-Peisey have a wonderful local ski school, the ESF, (Ecole de ski Francais). Young children (under 3) will be taken to the snow gardens in each area, where they can get their snow legs and play lots of fun games.
Older children can learn to ski in groups of similar levels. They will go to the top of the respective lifts to the green and blue runs there. At the end of the lesson, they are brought safely down via the lift or on the slopes, too, with tired legs after their morning on the slopes.
If your children aren’t skiing, you’ll find fantastic day nurseries, who take children for full days, or half days every day of the week except Mondays. This might give you a chance to get some proper ski time.
Peisey
At a lower altitude of 1300 metres, sits Peisey village, connected to Plan-Peisey via an endearing open, stand up lift called La Lonzagne (the English call it the Lobster Pots). It takes about 8 minutes to travel from Peisey village to the Peisey chair lift.
Peisey village is a traditional farming village, and most of the buildings were here long before the ski industry came to the area.
There is a real charm here during the snowy winters. In Peisey village you will find two bar-restaurants and a shop that is well stocked for food and souvenirs. There is also a bakery serving fresh pastries and bread every day, a small ski hire shop, a tourist office and new for 2023/24 a new bar and restaurant replacing the beautiful old post office.
Nancroix, Peisey-Nancroix
The smallest village is Nancroix, which is a little further away from the ski resort on the edge of the Vanoise National Park.
Nancroix is quieter than the rest of the villages and hosts some beautiful chalets. It is again, a working farm village where cheese is produced.
Nestled in the middle of the village is a restaurant, and an absolute gem, L’ancolie, where both lunch or evening meals are served. You will need to book in advance.
Nancroix is right next to the cross country ski area, and the attractive cross country zone called Pont Baudin, where there are two other fine restaurants - one of which serves world food and is a bit of a special find within the mountains.
Pont Baudin is the place from which sleigh rides, with horses or dogs, begin and end.
In the summer, walk or drive a little further on to La Rosuel (not accessible in the winter) and it is from here that you can start your hikes in the Vanoise National Park.
All the villages are well connected by free shuttle buses, and it is easy to drive between them in both summer and winter. The roads are very well maintained.
We hope you enjoy Peisey-Vallandry as much as we think you will.