Meribel Mountain Sports

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. ... see "Meribel Hiking & Walking Trails" for more

Read more about the Vanoise National Park

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

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