By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Hotel Taj-I Mah is the most luxurious hotel in Les Arcs, a five-star ski-in, ski-out address high in Arc 2000, at the top of the Cabriolet gondola. With a 400-square-metre spa and pool, a sunny panoramic terrace, two restaurants and direct access to the vast Paradiski ski area, it offers high-altitude, snow-sure skiing in comfort.
Hotel Taj-I Mah is the most luxurious hotel in Les Arcs, a five-star ski-in, ski-out address high in Arc 2000, at the top of the Cabriolet gondola. With a 400-square-metre spa and pool, a sunny panoramic terrace, two restaurants and direct access to the vast Paradiski ski area, it offers high-altitude, snow-sure skiing in comfort.
Location: Arc 2000, Les Arcs
The hotel stands in Arc 2000, the highest of the Les Arcs villages, with ski-in, ski-out access. Les Arcs is part of Paradiski, linked to La Plagne by the Vanoise Express cable car, with more than 400 kilometres of pistes, and the Aiguille Rouge, at over 3,200 metres, has one of the longest runs in the Alps. Bourg-Saint-Maurice station, with Eurostar and TGV services in winter, is linked by funicular to Arc 1600, and Geneva Airport is about two and a half to three hours by road.
Les Arcs is famous for its architecture: Arc 1600 and Arc 1800 were designed in the 1960s and 1970s with the help of the modernist designer Charlotte Perriand, and their buildings are now recognised as an important part of twentieth-century French heritage. Arc 2000 is the highest and most snow-sure village, while Arc 1950 has a car-free, village-style centre. From the summit of the Aiguille Rouge, at 3,226 metres, a single descent of around seven kilometres drops more than 2,000 metres to Villaroger, one of the longest runs in the Alps, and the Vanoise Express cable car links Les Arcs to La Plagne.
Rooms and suites at Taj-I Mah
Rooms range from Classic and Club to Privilege and Superior categories, with suites and family rooms on request, all with modern Alpine décor and many with balconies facing the mountains.
Rooms are comfortable and well designed, with a warm, contemporary Alpine style, and the higher categories offer more space and better views. Family rooms and suites are available on request, and the ski-in, ski-out position means children can be on the slopes or back at the hotel in minutes.
Facilities at Taj-I Mah
The 400-square-metre spa has a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, with treatments and massages. Le Taj-I Mah is the gourmet restaurant, and L'Atelier serves cheese specialities and grilled meats. There is a lounge bar with a fireplace, a south-facing panoramic terrace and an on-site ski shop.
The south-facing terrace is one of the best places in Arc 2000 for lunch or an afternoon drink in the sun, with views across the slopes. The hotel's on-site ski shop and ski room make mornings easy, and staff can arrange ski passes, lessons and guides for the Aiguille Rouge and the wider Paradiski area.
The mountain moment
The Taj-I Mah moment is a sunny lunch on the terrace at Arc 2000 after a morning on the Aiguille Rouge, looking across to Mont Blanc, before skiing all afternoon and swimming as the sun sets over the high peaks.
For strong skiers, the run from the Aiguille Rouge down to Villaroger, more than 2,000 metres of descent through high bowls and forest, is one of the great ski experiences of the Alps. Afterwards, a long, warm soak in the hotel's spa, followed by dinner in the gourmet restaurant, is the perfect end to the day.
Why Taj-I Mah is one of the best mountain hotels
Taj-I Mah earns its place as the leading luxury hotel in Les Arcs, with ski-in, ski-out access to one of the biggest ski areas in the Alps, a good spa and excellent food. Arc 2000 is a purpose-built resort, without the charm of an old village. But for snow-sure skiing in comfort, it is the best choice in Les Arcs.
For a five-star in the neighbouring Espace Killy, see Les Barmes de l'Ours in Val d'Isère.
Les Arcs is also one of the most accessible big ski areas in the Alps from the UK, with trains to Bourg-Saint-Maurice and the funicular up to Arc 1600, which makes Taj-I Mah an excellent choice for families and groups wanting to avoid long transfers.
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When to go to Taj-I Mah
The ski season in Les Arcs usually runs from mid-December to late April. January and March are often the best months, with good snow and fewer crowds than Christmas and the February school holidays.
Les Arcs' season usually runs from mid-December to late April. January is often quiet, with cold, crisp snow, while February brings French and British school holidays. March and April offer long, sunny days and good spring snow at altitude, especially in Arc 2000, the highest of the villages.
Questions, answered
- Is Taj-I Mah ski-in, ski-out?
- Yes. It is in Arc 2000, at the top of the Cabriolet gondola, with direct access to the slopes.
- Does Taj-I Mah have a pool?
- Yes. Its 400 m² spa has a swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
- How big is the Paradiski ski area?
- More than 400 kilometres of pistes, linking Les Arcs and La Plagne.
- Can you get to Les Arcs by train?
- Yes. Trains run to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, with a funicular up to Arc 1600.
