The majority of things to do in Meribel relate to being outdoors, and whilst there are many organised activities, getting out there is mainly what it is about - at a leisurely pace or at warp speed, it's up to you. Some of the main activities we could think of are: golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, walking, nature parks, themed trails, canyoning, mountain-hiking, adventure parks, horse-riding, paragliding, mountain-biking, climbing,taking the lifts to the summits...
In the Bois d'Arbin woods near the Truite piste you will find a woodland acrobatic adventure park. There are 4 forest circuits of varying difficulty strung high in the trees, with rope bridges, death slides, and other ingenious tests of your balance and nerve. There is even a mini-course for children over 2 years old.
For adults and accompanied children (110cm height minimum). Please see our Action Fun & Sports listings under Parc Aventure Méribel for further information and contact details.
Archery
Practice your Robin of Sherwood skills in a tranquil alpine setting. Beginners can learn 'tir l'arc' from scratch and those with more experience can put their skills to the test with a variety of courses.
Méribel has an archery course in La Chaudanne, which is open every day throughout the summer except for Saturdays. Qualified instructors are available to offer expert advice.
Canyoning
A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day!
You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.
Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!
Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of local companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.
Méribel offers a number of organised entertainments for children throughout the summer. Highlights include:
Junior Beavers Club: 6-12 year olds can discover the mountains and learn how to identify plants and animals, go fishing, orienteering and more under the supervision of mountain professionals and a little goat called ‘Neige’
Le Mericlub: a weekly course of educational, sporting and cultural activities that include a night in a mountain hut
Sport Kids: Alain Falcoz takes children aged between 8 and 17 years for a week of archery, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, paintball and more.
There is also an enclosed play area at La Chaudanne. For festivals and other entertainments enquire at the Tourist Office for details or check our What’s On Calendar to see what is happening when.
Glacier Walking
For a truly unique experience, clamp on your crampons and go hiking on one of the many glaciers in the Three Valleys area. The breathtaking views and spectacular crevasses make this an incredible adventure. There are a number of glacial hikes, of varying difficulty, in this region of the Alps. Most mountain guiding companies will run organised excursions to the most accessible. To read more about glaciers and the environment please go to our Glacier Meltdown article.
Golf
One of the main draws to Méribel in summer is its excellent 18 hole golf course. Situated at the Altiport area the 71 par course stretches from 1565m up to 1850m. The course is technically challenging due to its narrow fairways and features water, rolling fairways and and some fairly steep walks. The mountain setting means the views are superb, and the ball obligingly flies further because of the altitude. Private lessons and week-long courses in English are available for all levels of player. During 2005 the back nine, lying under the Blanchot piste, were remodelled, and are now more challenging as well as more elegant.
Top Tip: unless you are fit take a buggy or just play 9 holes. Merinet verdict: a beautiful course, not to be missed. ... see "Meribel Golf Course" for more
Whether your idea of walking in the mountains is a gentle ramble or a three day hike, Méribel has something for you. The valley has hundreds of kilometres of beautiful, marked walking trails, some of which link up with the lifts, and a booklet of recommended circuits is available from the Tourist Office. For the more adventurous, try longer hikes into the Vanoise National Park, perhaps staying overnight in a refuge. The local Mountain Guides Office offer guided group walks, walks on a glacier, and private, longer trips.
The Méribel valley also offers 20km of specially prepared walking trails linking the various villages. Pick up a free map from the Tourist Office and head into the mountains on foot. Some of the walks are circular, for others you will need to return via bus or ski lift. Only one is flat (around the Lac Tueda above Mottaret) so be prepared for hills. Read more about Hiking & Walking in Méribel. ... see "Meribel Hiking & Walking Trails" for more
Improve your skills with lessons in the outdoor arena (adults or children, minimum age 5 years) at the Club Hippique du Bois d'Arbin, or join guided treks into the mountains.
Although the views are splendid, there are only a few places where one can gallop. Be honest about your ability and the instructors will take you somewhere best suited to give you a good ride; the treks are wonderful for intermediate riders, but can be less exciting for experienced riders so let them know if you are capable of something a bit more lively!
Hot air ballooning looks serene, but there are moments of excitement. Once the creaking wicker basket rises off the ground you are uncomfortably reminded that you are suspended hundreds of metres above the ground in a small twig structure! The views are stunning, and as you glide over the forests you may see deer and other animals that are normally hidden from view. The pilot controls the height but the wind determines which direction you take, so the flight can take anything from one to two hours, depending on when a suitable landing site comes into view.
Remember to wear warm clothing and bring your binoculars, see Flying & Parapenting for details of hot air ballooning companies.
Mountain Biking (MTB / VTT)
Terrain that is good for skiing is, in summer, great for mountain biking! Mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular in Alpine resorts; Méribel and the Three Valleys have fitted special bike racks to the gondolas and some chairlifts, so you can be transported to the top of the trails and freewheel down. A trail map covering the Three Valleys is available from the Tourist Office, and group outings are organised during the summer season. Mountain bikes are available to hire from several sports shops in the resort. (NB: In French, mountain biking is called VTT. (Vélo tout-terrain!)) ... see "Meribel Mountain Biking" for more
Panoramic Helicopter Tours
Sit back and admire the mountains from even higher up! Daily panoramic helicopter flights are available (weather permitting) with a number of local flight companies or some mountain guide companies. Relax and enjoy the stunning views as you fly over the snowcapped mountain tops, glaciers and alpine forests of the Three Valleys.
Paragliding (Parapente)
From near the top of la Saulire or Col de la Loze one can glide down to the bottom of the valley on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor. He manoeuvres the parachute while the passenger enjoys the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment: once you have been equipped with a helmet and strapped to the instructor behind you in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the parachute lifts you into the air. One then peacefully glides above the pistes for ten to twenty minutes, aiming to catch thermals to keep you up for longer. Landing is very gentle and no more of an impact than jumping off a step. ... see "Meribel for Paragliding" for more
Segway Human Transporter
A what?? The Segway Human Transporter is an electrically powered stand on scooter which is equipped with an advanced gyroscope meaning that they don’t fall over! Once standing on the Segway, you steer them with the handlebars and regulate your speed with the forward and backward shift of your bodyweight. They are excellent fun to ride and Meribel is the first ski resort in the Alps to have bought a fleet of them. You can rent them from the Chaudanne (summer & winter) and they cost €5 for 10 minutes or you can go on a guided excursion around the local area for €20 / hour or €40 for 2 hours.
Swimming Pool
Meribel has a fantastic 25m indoor pool featuring a flume and children’s paddling pool in the Olympic Centre in La Chaudanne. During the winter season it is open daily from 3pm - 7pm with late night opening until 10pm on Wednesdays. In summer it opens from 11am to 7.15pm and gives access to an outdoor sunbathing area. You can pay per visit, buy a weekly pass or pay for 10 entrances up-front (which works out slightly cheaper). Entrance is free for children under five.
Swimming lessons and aqua-gym classes are also available - you'll find that you get fitter faster by exercising at altitude!
The swimming centre has disabled access and facilities. See here for contact details.
Tennis
Méribel offers ten courts (plus four children’s courts) at Le Bois d’Arbin, on the Truite piste just above the resort. You can take private coaching, join in a group lesson, or simply hire a court and some rackets for an hour. There are also 2 mini-tennis courts for children and 2 badminton courts. They hold a weekly tournament every Saturday throughout the summer.
Mottaret has four courts by the Tourist Office and one court is available in Les Allues near the lift station.
Top tip: If you have your own kit, be aware that at this altitude you will need non-pressurized balls!
Please see our Action, Fun & Sport listings for contact details and further information.
Tourist Flights (Vols Touristiques en Avion)
Take off from Méribel’s Altiport in a light aircraft equipped with skis. Flights vary from a ten minute flight around the valley to a one hour tour of Mont Blanc. The small plane takes up to three passengers, and for those used to jet planes, it sounds worryingly like a diesel engine Morris Minor. Once airborne you forget the rattling and shaking and enjoy spectacular views.
If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb. Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8; guides can be arranged on request. Méribel offers one relatively advanced circuit at the summit of the Dent de Burgin, and an easier circuit suitable for children and beginners at nearby Lac Rosière. The local Mountain Guides’ Office arranges group and private outings to both Via Ferrata, and provides all the necessary equipment.
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