NEW for 2009/2010!

Meribel has announced a number of improvements to it’s giant ski area for the coming winter season:

- The slow, fixed Golf chairlift will be a fast, detachable chairlift which will halve journey times. This will allow Meribel Village residents much quicker access to the Altiport area.

- At the summit there is a newly laid out area offering much more space. The departure point for the Altiport draglift will be relocated uphill to the position of the current first pylon and the poles will be replaced with retractable ones for improved safety. The current building will also be relocated to the higher point.

- As usual work has been carried out on the ski slopes: On the Tougnète side, the bottom of the Faon piste has been reshaped, thus completing last summer's work. The last bend at the bottom of the Lièvre will also be reworked so as to widen this piste at a point often found difficult by beginners.

- The left hand side of the Moon Park will be made secure by the installation of netting. On the Burgin side, snow canons will be installed on the Hulotte piste to guarantee Morel residents can ski back home. Technical improvements will also continue to be made to Meribel's Chaudanne snow-making facility.

- Meribel's overhaul of piste signs is continuing with the installation of fixed chicanes at points where pistes converge and the installation of directional banners. These banners were used on a trial basis during the past winter and received a favourable reaction from skiers and boarders.

Meribel

Meribel was founded back in 1938 by a Brit, and remains the most popular resort for British skiers.

Overall it is a tasteful purpose-built resort made up of traditional wood-clad, low rise, chalet style buildings. The draw back is to have to rely on pedestrian transportation.

Meribel Centre boasts a vibrant main street atmosphere but does not offer the same ski-in ski-out facilities than its cousin Meribel Mottaret, built for slope side convince. 

Higher up the mountain Meribel Mottaret is getting increasing number of positive reports. The gondola for pedestrians that serves the resort centre stops at 7.30pm. 

Meribel Village is a hamlet 2 miles away on the road from Meribel to La Tania and Courchevel. It has a quick chair lift to the main lift system.

Meribel Les Allues is the original village easily identified with its ancient church.

The local bus service is called Meribus. It runs from 8.30am to 0.15am

Skiing in the 3 Vallées

Meribel is at the heart of the 3 Vallées

Meribel Village has its own chair lift into the 3 Vallées system

Some of the best off piste can be found in the Belleville Valley

For intermediates and experts there is a great run from Mont-Vallon down to Meribel a vertical drop of 1450m

For the last rays of the day the Saint- Bon valley is the best place

   Click to view 3 Vallées website

Skiing in Meribel

Meribel offers access to Courchevel in one direction and Mont du Vallon, Val Thornes and Les Menuires in the other

The western side of Meribel culminates in a long skiable ridge that you will enjoy preferably in the morning sun, before the place becomes busy with traffic

For experts the run down the side of the double Roc de Tougne drag lift is good so is the steep black run all the way down the Tougnete gondola back to Meribel

For less adventurous intermediates the runs from the second station of Plattieres gondola back to the first station is ideal

Meribel has excellent slopes for beginners

For beginners and second-week skiers the Altiport surroundings are the most appropriate

The lift systems are well planned to cut out walks and climbs

Snowboarding in Meribel

Boarders will love the place, not just for its vast array of on and off-piste skiing, but also for the separate specialist parks.

The Plattieres terrain park accessed by the second stage gondola which is just above Mottaret has two half pipes, two quarter pipes and a spine

There is also a terrain park in Meribel called Moonpark

The Moonpark terrain park has 2 half pipes and a boarder-cross

Cross country skiing

There are 33km/21 miles of trails.

The main area is near Altiport, which is suited to beginners.

There is also 130km of trails to be explore through out the whole of the 3 Vallées

Ski Schools

ESF in Meribel is the largest ski school with over 300 instructors.

They offer a variety of different lessons from alpine skiing, snowboarding, telemark, cross-country skiing and snowshoe walks.

There is a day nursery for children aged 18 months to 3 years.

For children over 3 there is the P’tits Loups club where children discover the snow by playing games, sliding, sledging and skiing in protected play areas under the supervision of qualified instructors.

For more information about pre-booking Ski School in Meribel please select here

Lift Passes

Lift passes give you access to Meribel and the whole of the 3 Vallees

For more information about Meribel lift passes, please click here