"UP, up up!" yelled my instructor Damian in a thick French accent.

Clinging on for dear life I tried to push my foot into a groove to haul myself up the 22metre man-made ice climbing wall.

I was just outside la Plagne, home to every kind of snowy activity ever invented, in the French Alps.

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Clad in boots and crampons and brandishing axes that work like ice picks, I was only halfway up when my arms started complaining and my left leg began to shake.

But I was determined to reach the summit - after all, I was paving the way for a host of competitors who come here next month to participate in the Ice Climbing World Cup.

So with the help of a harness and some encouraging words from Damian, I soon found myself abseiling back down.

Ice climbing is just one of the many "extracurricular" things skiers and snowboarders can get up to during a holiday in la Plagne.

The resort - which recently celebrated its 50th birthday with a torchlit procession involving 300 ski instructors - is renowned for its huge range of activities for those who want to get more from their alpine holiday.

Just 45 minutes from Chambery airport, one hour from Grenoble and two hours from Geneva and Lyon, la Plagne is easily accessible from the UK.

It boasts the huge Paradiski area, which includes la Plagne, Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry. Better still, it remains open until the end of April (although ice climbing stops at the end of March).

Adrenalin junkies, fitness fanatics, families, beginners and scenery lovers are all catered for here.

I slot into the first two categories, so I was keen to try out the famous bobsleigh and luge track, used in the 1992 Winter Olympics held in nearby Albertville.

I chose the cheapest option, the four-person bobraft, which travels automatically down the 1,500m track and includes 19 turns, reaching a maximum speed of 80kph. Our foursome huddled down inside the raft, clinging to some straps.

Then we were off on a 90-second ride which sped us, screaming, down the mountain.

For real speed demons there's the taxibob, manned by a driver, in which you can reach speeds of up to 100kph.

And the truly fearless can hurtle down the track alone in a mono bob.

For big kids and their children there's a new sledging piste in Plagne Centre.

It goes from the top of the Colorado chairlift, is 1,500m long and drops a total of 250m as it winds its way downhill. Or head for Plagne Montalbert or Plagne Soleil for dog-sledding.

And if you want a bit of power, there's la Plagne's giant piste basher, a 430hp machine that keeps the runs groomed for skiers and which you can drive yourself, under the eye of a professional instructor.

Alternatively, for a night-time adventure, a short walk lit by oil lamps takes you to a supper of local produce in a real igloo.

You can even retire to one of the igloos and, tucked up in snug beds, experience the true meaning of a quiet night's sleep.

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With comfortable rooms, a princely breakfast spread and the luxury of being able to walk out from the boot room on to the piste, it provided all we needed - even a sauna at the end of the day.

Up the mountain, the luxurious Chalet des Verdons Sud, inset, in Champagnyen-Vanoise, was perfect for lunch, with a huge fire and free slippers so we could take off our ski boots and start relaxing right away.

And for dinner, Le Refuge offered a great atmosphere and huge portions of delicious food such as tartiflette (a potato, bacon and cheese mix that would satisfy the hungriest skiers), fondue savoyarde (melted cheese with brandy) and meat fondue.

Whether it's skiing, dog-sledding or living life on the edge of an ice climbing wall, la Plagne is the perfect choice for any snowy adventure.

FACTFILE

FLY with BA from London City airport to Chambery from £122. See britishairways.com.

Six nights' half-board at Hotel Terra Nova costs from £495 per person. Book with crystalski.co.uk or thomson.co.uk.

.  Ice climbing costs £29 for two hours. To book email info@champagny.com. Also visit iceworldcup.fr.

. Bobsleigh: Bobraft costs £32 per person, mono bob costs £86 per person. For information or to book see laplagnebobexperience.com or email contact@bobsleigh.net.

. Dog-sledding costs £62 per person for 90 minutes. See horstraceaventure.com.

. Igloo village: An evening in an igloo with dinner costs £33 per person. A night in an igloo with dinner and breakfast (sharing with five people) costs £53.64pp. Open Wednesdays to Saturdays, suitable for those aged seven upwards. See monvillageigloo.com.

. Piste basher costs £50 for 20 minutes. Contact Team Vaudey on teamvaudey@gmail.com.

Lift passes cost £177 per adult for six days in la Plagne or £210 for a six-day Paradiski Unlimited pass. Family ski passes in la Plagne (two adults & two children aged from six to 17) cost from £593 for six days. For more info see la-plagne.com.