We often get asked when’s the best time to go skiing – and the answer really depends on your availability, group make-up and your preferences. Here’s our summary of skiing between December and April, so you can work out when’s best for you!
DECEMBER
Pre-Christmas week
The ski season in Montchavin Les Coches, La Plagne kicks off the week before the Christmas holidays, and it really is a great time to grab an early season bargain.
If you can’t wait to hit the slopes, you could be that person taking the very first lift in resort. As most kids will not yet have broken up from school, it will be quiet on the slopes and you may well get to ski some untouched off-piste.
Additionally, there’s always cheaper lift passes for the first week and it’s one of our most cost-effective weeks, almost half the price of peak weeks!
And you’ll be back home for Christmas, and you never know, you may be able to squeeze in another cheeky ski trip later in the year!
Will there be snow? Yes – the Paradiski has 2 glaciers and most of the skiing you’ll do is over 2000m!
VERDICT – a good option for skiers wanting to grab a bargain
Christmas in the Alps
Why not swap the usual Christmas movie for the real thing?! Skiing with the family; snowball fights; sledging; opening Christmas presents under the beautifully decorated tree in the chalet; visiting Father Christmas in the Montchavin grotto; having an amazing Christmas meal cooked for you (NO WASHING UP!) and then enjoying your favourite tipple in front of a cosy log fire – could it be any more magical?
And contrary to popular belief, it’s not too busy on the slopes at Christmas either, so it’s a great time to get away “en famille”.
VERDICT – perfect for families wanting a special white Christmas together
New Year week
It’s the busiest and most expensive December week but it’s a lot of fun – Les Coches hosts an annual street party and firework display, and from our chalets, you can often see the fireworks in Bourg St Maurice, Peisey and Arcs 1600! The snow will be great, the weather cold, and if you do stay up celebrating on New Year’s Eve, the best hangover cure is to head up the mountain the next day!
Because it’s busy, we start planning and booking everything for our guests early (airport transfers; ski lessons; childcare etc) so that everything is organised for your arrival ahead of time.
VERDICT – great for families that can’t get away over Christmas
JANUARY
We love our kids, but it’s also lovely when they go back to school! January is a great choice for adults, and something fun to look forward to as the days get shorter and the disappointing UK weather comes in. In a nutshell, January skiing is all about super quiet slopes, lots of availability for ski lessons; and adult-only chalets. It’s also typically the best month of the year for snow, so it’s also a great time for the real ski nuts out there (but you already knew that, didn’t you?)
There’s often lift pass offers plus the price in our chalets drops down to as little as £775pp – ideal if you have overspent at Christmas time.
Expect it to be cold, so do dress warmly with layers, (but that’s why the snow’s so good!), and it’s often a great time to hit the off-piste with one of our local ski instructors.
And if the weather is inclement, we have some lovely tree-lined forest-pistes in Montchavin Les Coches to explore and get out of the blizzards.
VERDICT – quiet, adult-only, affordable skiing
FEBRUARY
This is the school holiday season and therefore the best time for families to ski. Yes, it’s busy but it’s also typically warmer than January and you will often get bluebird days with softer, powdery snow – perfect for your socials!
(A good tip for February is to have a late or early lunch and instead ski over lunchtime when it’s much quieter)!
The resort will put on lots of activities for families as well as skiing – there’s ice-skating; husky rides; snowshoe walking, and sledging to name a few.
Plus, to avoid the traffic jams on Saturdays, we operate Sunday changeovers so it’s a stress-free journey to and from the chalets – and you will get to ski the final Saturday when it’s normally just locals on the slopes.
VERDICT – great for families
MARCH
We LOVE spring skiing! Once half term holidays are over, this is a great month for adults to book a ski holiday. It’s much less crowded than February, the days are longer, it’s much warmer and you can enjoy an al-fresco meal or drink at one of the mountain restaurants.
It’s a great time to visit the legendary Folie Douce in Les Arcs, as it’s warm enough to dance outside on the tables! Our prices are lower than February, and the lift pass company put on some great offers, so it’s a good time to pick up a cost-effective week.
VERDICT – ideal for adults that love being in the sun as well as the snow
APRIL
Easter skiing is a great option for families with younger children that could find it too cold earlier on in the year. And if you need to stick to school holidays, it’s the cheapest peak week that we offer. It will be warm, and you should definitely pack your suncream and sunnies! The snow conditions can get slushy towards the end of the day – but remember that, as we’re based in La Plagne, most of your skiing will be up high.
And over the last 3 or 4 seasons, we have experienced fresh snowfall right the way into late April, so there’s a great chance for some late season, fresh stuff too! Anyone that was skiing during the week of 17-Apr-2025 will remember the crazy amount of snow that fell in just 24 hours!
VERDICT – great value, longer, sunny ski days
So check out our prices and availability and contact us to book!