Aiguille Rouge, adventure at 3,227m altitude

Following previous forays through the enchanting resort of Les Arcs 1950 and Les Arcs 2000, I want to take you to the high peaks of the Aiguille Rouge, at the impressive altitude of 3227 metres.

Aiguille Rouge: A Destination for Adventurers

If you’re heading to Les Arcs in France and are looking for an adventure that offers both excitement and breathtaking views, the Aiguille Rouge is the place to be. Located in the heart of the Vanoise massif, this peak spectacularly dominates the Les Arcs ski area and is accessible by cable car in both winter and summer.

Ascent to the Aiguille Rouge

One thing is certain: it’s not every day you get the chance to be above 3227 metres, especially without being an experienced climber. The Varet cable car and the Aiguille Rouge cable car make this magical ascent possible, allowing visitors to reach the summit without considerable physical effort.

This route allows you to enjoy views of the snow-capped peaks of Mont Blanc and the vast landscape of the Arcs 2000.

Varet Gondola: First Stage Towards Heights

The starting point of this adventure is at Arcs 2000, from where a short walk takes us to the Varet cable car station. And less than 6 minutes later, the cable car reaches the Aiguille Rouge cable car station at 2679m.

Here, the view opens up to the Arcs 2000 valley and the Aiguille Grive mountain.

What you can do at Varet

At La Varet you will find a building with a superb architecture, which includes a full size terrace with a spectacular view over the Les Arcs valley.

Inside the building there is a restaurant, where you can dine both inside and outside and enjoy local food and drinks while enjoying the mountain scenery.

There is also a common room, for resting or waiting, ideal for groups of tourists who want to stop over.

For adrenaline-seeking adventurers, this terrace is also the starting point for the zip line, which takes you down to Les Arcs 2000 in just a few seconds.

Last but not least, the terrace includes a large solarium area, a dedicated area where you can lie in the sun to get a tan.

The Aiguille Rouge: Highlight of the Adventure

For those who want to go all the way to the top of the Aiguille Rouge, there’s a cable car at Varet to take you up another 1000 metres.

Unlike cable cars, the cable car has no intermediate pylons, which is why, of all the cable car installations in the mountains, it looks the scariest and can be the most vertiginous. The Aiguille Rouge cable car is 1,068m long and has a vertical drop of 533m. Its capacity allows the transport of 1100 people per hour.

The Impressive View from 3227 Meters

The Aiguille Rouge peak offers an unparalleled view of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, with a privileged view of the Mont Blanc massif.

Even on days when the weather isn’t perfect, the spectacle is guaranteed and Europe’s biggest mountain, with its eternal snows, seems very close.

Here is a list of other mountain peaks that can be seen from the Aiguille Rouge:

Mont Blanc Peak (4810 m)
Grandes Jorasses (4208 m)
The Bernese Alps
The Grées Alps and the Grand Paradis massif
Grivola (3969 m) in the Grand Paradis massif (Italy)
Grande Sassière (3747 m)
Mont Pourri (3779 m) and the Mont Pourri glacier
The snow-capped peaks of Grandes Rousses (3465 m)
Belledonne range (max height 2977 m)
Lauzière Massif (2829 m)

Here are some practical tips for a hike at 3227m:

Don’t try to walk down the Aiguille Rouge; use the cable car.
If you’re afraid of heights, avoid sitting near windows and choose the centre of the cabin for more comfort.
Make sure you have warm clothes (sweater, scarf) in your rucksack, even in summer when temperatures can be low and the wind strong, especially in the morning.
Don’t forget to equip yourself with a good pair of sunglasses!
Check the weather forecast for Les Arcs before you start your ascent to Aiguille Rouge to avoid unpleasant surprises.
The frequency of the cable car is about 20 minutes.
You can spend as long as you like admiring the view from the top of the Aiguille Rouge; we recommend at least 40 minutes.
Take binoculars with you to admire the mountain scenery; the free binoculars at the summit are often busy.
Don’t forget your camera or smartphone for selfies!
The toilets closest to the summit are at the bottom station of the cable car.
If you want to explore more of Les Arcs, buy a day pass at the Bourg-Saint-Maurice funicular station, which includes access to the Varet cable car and the Aiguille Rouge cable car (€20), allowing you to use the cable car available for pedestrians in summer.

Please note: Access to the Aiguille Rouge is not possible on Mondays as the cableway facilities are closed. Consult the Les Arcs Tourist Office for more information and assistance in planning your visit (available at Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000).