The Montchavin-Les Coches ski area

The figures below come from the official La Plagne website (checked on 4 November 2026). They can change from one season to the next, so double-check them on la-plagne.com before your trip.

Montchavin, at 1,250 m, is an old Savoyard hamlet of stone and timber houses that has become a resort without losing its character. It has its own snow front, shops along the main street and direct access to the slopes via the Montchavin chairlift, close to our Les 3 Glaciers shop. Our Montchavin shops are on the ski hire in Montchavin page.

Les Coches, at 1,450 m, is built around its shopping square and is a big favourite with families. Many apartments are right on the slopes, with the Plan Bois sector just above: our Les Coches Centre shop is near the Plan Bois chairlift. You’ll find our shops on ski hire in Les Coches.

The two villages are linked by the Les Coches gondola, handy for getting between them without a car, on foot as well as on skis (source: official La Plagne website).

Montchavin-Les Coches is part of La Plagne: from the villages, the lifts take you towards the rest of the La Plagne area and its high-altitude sectors. The official website mentions a route towards Plagne Bellecôte, on skis or on foot, notably along the Frasses trail.

Just a few bends from Les Coches is the Vanoise Express, the cable car linking the La Plagne and Les Arcs ski areas to form Paradiski (source: official La Plagne website). To ride it you need a lift pass covering Paradiski, so check what your pass includes before heading off to Les Arcs for the day.

Good to knowLifts and links between sectors depend on snow and weather. Check the day’s piste and lift status on La Plagne’s official website or app before venturing far.

Good to knowEach run’s grading and the up-to-date piste map are published by La Plagne. We’re also happy to advise in person: pop into the shop and we’ll tell you which runs suit your level given the day’s snow.

Several lift pass options are available, from a limited area for beginners up to the full Paradiski area. The right one depends on your level and plans: a beginner doesn’t need the whole area for the first few days, while a confident skier will enjoy a day over in Les Arcs. Options, prices and terms are published by the lift company on the official La Plagne website.

For Montchavin-Les Coches, the official La Plagne website mentions tobogganing areas, telemark taster sessions and ski touring. What’s on changes each season, so check the tourist office for the current programme.

On a big ski area, a few simple habits prevent most nasty surprises. Match your speed to your ability and to how busy it is, stop at the side of the piste and never below a blind roll, and respect signs and piste closures. Off-piste terrain is neither marked nor patrolled: it calls for safety kit, experience and, ideally, a professional. Save the ski patrol number shown on the official piste map before you set off.

• Start early on sunny days: the pistes are freshly groomed and the lifts quieter.
• Leave plenty of time to get back: links between sectors close in the late afternoon, and returning to Montchavin-Les Coches from the far side of the area takes a while.
• In bad weather, stick to the tree-lined runs around the villages, where visibility is far better.
• Choose kit that suits your plans: our guide on which skis to hire helps, and our adult skis and kids’ skis pages explain the ranges.
• Book your kit at the shop nearest your accommodation: see our shops and our booking page.