Recent Improvements to the ski resort of Meribel

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.

Safe Skiing with Children in Meribel

Magnestick is a new safety device for children, which can now be found on 4 chairlifts withinMéribel-Mottaret : Combes (4seater, 2 seats Magnesticked), Arolles (4 seater, 1 seat Magnesticked), Chatelet (6 seater, 1 seat Magnesticked) and Plan des mains (6 seater, 1 seat Magnesticked).

This is a simple yet very effective device: A permanent magnet is fixed to the seat of the chairlift and is activated for the whole ride up including when the child gets on.

A light (200g) back protector worn by the child includes a metallic plate. Children wear this protection throughout the day's skiing (not only when taking the chairlift). This vest comes in a bright colour so that children can be seen on the slopes and to avoid collisions with other slope users. On their way down, this CE-approved back protector protects their backs if they fall or collide with someone else.

On arrival at the top, the magnet is automatically deactivated when the child gets off. The child can then get up from the seat normally.

The risk of a child falling off before getting to the top is prevented as the magnet is only deactivated when the child puts their skis on the snow (even if someone lifts the restraining bar well before arrival).

As soon as the metallic plate in the back protector comes into contact with the magnet on the chairlift, the child is ‘attached’ to the seat. The aim is to protect children at each stage of the chairlift transport process!

STAGE 1 - Getting on: As soon as the child is sat with their back against the back of the seat, the system prevents any risk of sliding off even if the person accompanying does not immediately lower the restraining bar.

STAGE 2 - The ride up: The child can still move about freely but is ‘attached’ to the seat during the whole ride up. The system avoids any risk of sliding under the restraining bar.

STAGE 3 - Getting off: Even if the restraining bar is lifted before arrival, the child remains safely ‘attached to the seat' until their skis touch the snow.

Magnestick Vests can be purchased or hired in Meribel from:

Muller Sports, Sport 2000, Centre Commercial Le Ruitor, 73550

Méribel Mottaret.

Sport Boutique, Place de L’Office de Tourisme, 73550 Méribel.

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 in Meribel

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 select here