You can now reach Arc 1950 in the French Alps without ever touching an airport. Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris, swap to Gare de Lyon for a train to Bourg Saint Maurice, ride the funicular up to Les Arcs 1600, then hop on a short bus to Arc 1950 village. No car, no transfers, no weather-delayed flights — one of the least stressful ways to get to a mountain resort, full stop.
Once you're up there, the surprise is how much there is to do if you never strap on skis. The headline act is the zipline at Arc 2000, accessed via the Varet gondola — the steepest in France. Riders launch solo, in pairs, headfirst or seated, and hit speeds of up to 127km/h over a genuinely vertiginous drop. One writer describes an instructor who counted down '3,2,1', paused just long enough for maximum panic, then released the gate.
Prefer your adrenaline closer to the ground? The 3km Luge 2000 track at Arc 2000 snakes under the Arcabulle chairlift and is easily reached from Arc 1950. It looks gentle from above. It is not. Steering and braking are handled by levers on either side of the sledge, and first-timers routinely skid into the walls — which is apparently half the fun. Expect a chaotic, laughter-filled 15-minute descent.
For a slower pace, guided snowshoe hikes head into the forest on the edge of the village, with cleats fitted to your boots and poles provided. A two-hour route takes you through snow-dusted trees past animal tracks, with natural viewpoints over Mont Blanc and the mountains of Italy, plus a warming cup of tea beside a frozen lake. It's manageable for most fitness levels, even after fresh snowfall.
The recovery option is the Deep Nature Spa on the edge of the village: a low-lit complex of themed caves, saunas, hammams and treatment rooms, open daily 10am-12pm and 2-8pm. The standout is the outdoor Nordic baths facing Mont Blanc — soaking in warm water while snow settles around you is hard to beat.
Who is this for? Anyone travelling with skiers who doesn't ski themselves, mixed-ability groups, or people who simply want crisp alpine air and mountain views without lift passes and rented boots. Inghams offers seven nights in Arc 1950 including train transfers and a resort Destination Expert from £1,034 per person, so a rail-based, ski-free alpine week is genuinely bookable, not just theoretical. Arc 1950 is proving the Alps in winter belong to everyone.
