September 13, 2026, 5:30 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Since January 2004, the Vanoise Express has been connecting the two French ski resorts La Plagne and Les Arcs with a cable car of absolute superlatives, creating a winter sports area called Paradiski. The double-decker gondola can transport up to 200 people at once–a world record. But that’s not the only global benchmark this means of transport offers its guests.
Imagine floating 380 meters above the ground, gazing at snow-covered peaks, with an abyss opening up below you. Yet, you are completely safe, standing in a gondola with a glass floor, marveling at the panorama. Well, it might be a bit cramped, as the vehicle can accommodate a total of 200 passengers. And it travels at a breathtaking speed of 45 kilometers per hour for this type of transport, which, like the capacity of the double-decker cabin, is a world record. Welcome to the Vanoise Express, the French cable car of superlatives.
Since January 2004, it has connected the ski areas of La Plagne and Les Arcs to form the mega winter sports area Paradiski. A coined term that translates roughly to “Paradise Ski.” And for this area, made possible only by the gondola, they apparently wanted the most spectacular means of transport. According to the tourism office in La Plagne, the ride on the Vanoise Express is relatively short. “The journey takes about four minutes and covers a distance of 1,840 meters,” they said in response to a TRAVELBOOK inquiry. Nevertheless, it is the longest cable car connection worldwide within a ski area.
380 Meters Above the Ground
Another unusual detail is that there are no support pillars for the cable structure on the route between the two stations Peisey (elevation 1,612 m) and Montchavin-Les Coches (1,548 m). The Vanoise Express literally floats through the landscape. The absolute high or low point is the crossing of the Ponturin Valley, where the train is a dizzying 380 meters above the ground. The two-story cabin has a glass floor, which can make the ride much more exciting or terrifying for guests, depending on their nerves. “We currently record about 600,000 passengers per year.”
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The world-record speed of the Vanoise Express at 45 kilometers per hour also contributes to the unique riding experience. Thanks to the connection with the cable car, France’s now third-largest ski area, according to the newspaper “Le Figaro,” was able to double its area almost overnight. Construction began in 2003 and was completed by January 2004. The idea for the super gondola was born in the 1990s. It was engineer Pierre Gonthier, now president of the tourism office of La Plagne, who took it on. The company “Poma” was awarded the contract for construction.
Manageable Costs
The construction costs were relatively manageable at “only” 16.5 million euros for such a technical masterpiece. Today, thanks to the Vanoise Express, Paradiski is not only the third-largest ski area in France but even in the world. Guests can choose from 260 slopes with a total length of 425 kilometers, including one of the longest runs in Europe at seven kilometers. On some routes, you overcome an elevation difference of 2,000 meters. To ensure the safety of guests on board the gondola to the slopes, a kind of steward accompanies each ride of the cable car. “Live 3000,” an observation station at 3,080 meters above La Plagne, is also likely to be spectacular for visitors.
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During peak times, the Vanoise Express can theoretically transport up to 2,000 people per hour. They marvel at the Alpine panorama on the short ride–and if they dare, also the view through the gondola’s glass floor to the world at their feet. And the pleasure is even relatively affordable. A one-way ticket currently costs 11 euros for adults, while a round-trip ticket is 17 euros. You can find all prices and operating times of the world-record gondola on the official website.