Scenic mountain valley of Meribel in the French Alps is an excellent destination for skiing and winter sports. This French winter wonderland offers a great variety of ski slopes and snowboarding ramps, as well as cross-country skiing tracks, hiking trails, and amazing mountain scenery. If not skiing, you can either choose from a great number of other activities in Meribel, such as trekking, biking, golf, skydiving, paragliding, rock climbing or snow mobile safaris, or enjoy après-ski in one of the many restaurants and bars in Méribel.
Meribel Valley is located in the Alps of Savoie region in Southeastern France, in the middle of the famous Les Trois Vallées (Three Valleys) skiing region of the French Alps. Méribel ski resort consists of three villages and a great variety of ski slopes. The nearest town is called Moutiers. Once a peaceful mountain valley with pastures and small villages, Meribel has since the 1930s developed into a popular ski resort that hosted some of the events in the 1992 Winter Olympics. Today, Méribel region is home to almost 300 downhill ski slopes, and receives a great number of active visitors from France and all over Europe especially during the winter months.
Other activities. The villages of Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret, and Méribel all host a number of hotels, restaurants, shops and bars to enjoy. Outside the skiing season, you can enjoy trekking in Meribel’s hiking trails, visit local farms and beautiful mountain lakes, try mountain biking or rock climbing, or play golf in Meribel’s golf course. The gondola lifts in Méribel operate also in the summer, offering nice possibilities for hikers. Méribel is part of the Vanoise National Park, famous for its beautiful alpine scenery, and the nearby Lake Tuéda and Altiport forest are popular destinations for hiking. Another valley and ski resort, Courchevel is located just a short distance from Meribel and linked to it by walking tracks and ski lifts.
Meribel Valley is located in the Alps of Savoie region in Southeastern France, in the middle of the famous Les Trois Vallées (Three Valleys) skiing region of the French Alps. Méribel ski resort consists of three villages and a great variety of ski slopes. The nearest town is called Moutiers. Once a peaceful mountain valley with pastures and small villages, Meribel has since the 1930s developed into a popular ski resort that hosted some of the events in the 1992 Winter Olympics. Today, Méribel region is home to almost 300 downhill ski slopes, and receives a great number of active visitors from France and all over Europe especially during the winter months.
Meribel attractions and activities: skiing, adventure & winter sports, trekking & golf
As Meribel Valley is part of the Trois Vallées (Three Valleys) region that is the world's largest ski area, it is hardly surprising that winter sports are the biggest attraction here. The beautiful glacial valley of Méribel is surrounded by spectacular scenery and a great number of excellent ski slopes linked with each other with a network of ski lifts. Snowboarding and skiing in Meribel is great on a nice variety of slopes up to 2,300 meters above sea level. There are also 90km (55 miles) of cross-country skiing tracks around Meribel to enjoy, and adventurous activities such as heliskiing, skydiving, slalom, snow mobile safaris, and paragliding are also available. The skiing season in Meribel runs from December to late April.Other activities. The villages of Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret, and Méribel all host a number of hotels, restaurants, shops and bars to enjoy. Outside the skiing season, you can enjoy trekking in Meribel’s hiking trails, visit local farms and beautiful mountain lakes, try mountain biking or rock climbing, or play golf in Meribel’s golf course. The gondola lifts in Méribel operate also in the summer, offering nice possibilities for hikers. Méribel is part of the Vanoise National Park, famous for its beautiful alpine scenery, and the nearby Lake Tuéda and Altiport forest are popular destinations for hiking. Another valley and ski resort, Courchevel is located just a short distance from Meribel and linked to it by walking tracks and ski lifts.
Meribel travel information and practical tips
As a mountain valley located high in the Alps, Meribel has a typical mountain climate with cool, snowy winters and warm summers.
Photo: Matt Seppings, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
The winter on the high mountain slopes lasts from December to April, and the skiing season in Meribel continues until the end of April. There is a relatively steady amount of rain or snow throughout the year, with spring and late summer months having the sunniest weather in Meribel.
How to get there. Travelling to Meribel is easy by air, rail or road. There are five international airports nearby with bus connections to Méribel, as well as direct buses to Meribel from many parts of France and the UK. High-speed trains from all over France and Europe carry visitors to Moutiers-Salins train station near Meribel. You can also drive to the area, but keep in mind that driving in the Alps is not that easy and there is a lot of traffic. A regular free bus service and taxis are available for public transport in Meribel, and the central resort area is small enough to be explored by foot. Car rental in Meribel is also available for excursions into nearby regions.
Versatile services. There is a large amount of hotels in Meribel, ranging from small unclassified hotels to four-star properties and luxury villas. You can also find a great selection of ski chalets and rental apartments in Meribel, as well as mountain refuges, holiday centers, and an RTV park. Restaurants in Meribel offer a nice variety of French and international cuisine as well as lovely mountain views, and many of them can be accessed directly from the slopes. Nightlife in Meribel is lively with frequent after-ski parties during the winter season.
Safety. Méribel is a small and safe place but also a popular holiday destination, so it is best to take good care of your belongings. While skiing, follow local advice to avoid possible avalanches.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Val d'Isere, Chamonix, Aosta Valley, Grenoble, Geneva, Turin, Zermatt, Lausanne, Lyon
