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Meribel Skiing Areas
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Méribel lies at the heart of the 3 Valleys, and as such, is perfectly positioned for you to explore the whole area with ease. With Courchevel on one side, and Val Thorens on the other, there really are plenty of pistes to keep you busy all season, let alone one week! The ski areas offer something for everyone, from beginners through to experts. In this section you can find detailed descriptions of each area within the 3 Valleys, lift and piste maps, and information on cross country skiing in Méribel. We have also included an insiders guide to skiing the 3 Valleys, where we tell you about our favourite runs, and where to find the nicest mountain restaurants. |
| Meribel Ski Area Description |
The Méribel Valley is in the middle of the three roughly parallel, North/South valleys, making it the idea base for exploring the whole ski area. Around the Altiport you’ll find gentle, tree-lined runs ideal for beginners. Higher up on the Saulire are steeper blues and reds which allow mixed-ability groups to ski in the same area. Over on the western (Tougnète) side of the valley is another good mixture of blues, reds and blacks, and also the two snowparks (open to boarders and skiers). The head of the valley is dominated by the Mont du Vallon, and in the Vallon / Mont de la Chambre / 3 Marches area you’ll find long, steep reds served by high speed chairs and gondola lifts, and the most dramatic scenery.
TOP TIP: ski in the sun on the Tougnète side in the morning, and cross over to the Saulire in the afternoon.
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last updated 18-Feb-2008 |
| Three Valleys Ski Area |
The Three Valleys is the home of eight ski resorts that are linked together by a unique network of ski lifts and ski runs. As implied by its name, the area originally consisted of three valleys: Saint-Bon (Courchevel & La Tania), Allues (Meribel & Brides-les- Bains), and Belleville (Val Thoren, Les Menuires & St Martin de Belleville). The skiing area has since been extended into a 'fourth' valley, the Maurienne valley that is adjacent to Val Thorens. The Maurienne valley can also be accessed using a long gondola lift from Orelle. The Three Valleys is the largest ski area in the world with 600km ski slopes which equates to 2,500 hectares of groomed runs. The snow cannon count currently lies at 1500! The area boasts 200 ski lifts that can transport 260,000 skiers hourly. Phew!
Everyone but a beginner should buy a Three Valley pass. It’s easy to get carried away and ski into the next valley without realizing it. Take note though, and make sure you don’t miss the last lifts back to your own valley at the end of the afternoon as a taxi home is expensive (lift closing times are printed on the lift map).
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last updated 18-Feb-2008 |
| Courchevel Ski Area Description |
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The Courchevel Valley offers a vast choice of skiing in a relatively compact area. Expert skiers will find a wealth of challenging blacks running from the Saulire and Vizelle peaks, including the infamous couloirs. The skiing above Courchevel 1650 is gentler and less busy, with appealing wide blues and reds. Around smart Courchevel 1850 you’ll find lots of gourmet restaurants and easy, well-groomed runs (1850 knows how to flatter its wealthy clients). The tree-lined runs to La Tania and Courchevel 1300 are quiet and lovely, but fairly low, and thus best skied when there’s good snow.
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last updated 18-Feb-2008 |
| Val Thorens & Belleville Valley Ski Area Description |
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The Val Thorens & Belleville Valley is vast and wide open, with almost all the skiing above the tree line. Starting from the bottom of the valley we come first to the village of St Martin de Belleville (a great lunch stop). The runs are wonderful; easy, rolling blues and reds. Les Menuires’ best-known ski area is La Masse with its long, challenging reds and blacks. On the opposite, eastern side of the valley is a massive network of blues, reds and blacks, which alone would keep most intermediates happy for a week. Val Thorens offers the highest skiing, often with the best snow, but is the most affected by high winds. The 3200m high Cime de Caron is a magnet for good skiers because of its long, difficult runs, but queues for the lift can be long. The nearby Funitel Grand Fond is less crowded. At the head of the valley you can ski on glaciers from the top of Glacier or Col chairlifts. Finally the Orelle (‘fourth’) valley is a must – a beautiful, sunny, unspoiled gem.
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last updated 18-Feb-2008 |
| Insider's Guide to... |
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With such a big ski area to explore, it's sometimes good to have a little bit of inside information… For your pleasure, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite runs throughout the Three Valleys and suggested some itineries for you to try. There's also sections on how to get around the whole three valleys area using only blue runs, where you're most likely to find the quietest pistes, and where to find the nicest mountain restaurants for lunch. Happy exploring! ... more |
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last updated 31-Jan-2008 |
| Cross-Country Skiing (Ski de Fond) |
 | Cross-country skiing
(ski de fond) |
Cross country is known as ski de fond in French. There are 33km of prepared cross country trails in the valley, situated at the Lac de Tueda in Mottaret and around the Altiport area of Méribel. A total of 90km of trails are available in Meribel, Courchevel and La Tania.
Both traditional (two straight grooves formed side-by-side) and skating (more energetic) forms of the sport are accommodated, usually side by side. The trails are free to use, and you can pick up a guide booklet and map from the Tourist Offices.
Hire the comfortable boots and lightweight skis and poles from any hire shop, and book a group or private lesson to learn the basics. For those used to downhill skis, at first you feel precariously balanced and downhill sections are definitely more exciting on narrow skis with no edges. Once you have grasped the essentials, head off into the beautiful and tranquil cross-country trails situated at the Alitport in Méribel, or around the Lac Tueda in Mottaret. No lift pass is needed, and one can be as energetic or slow as one likes.
Pistes are maintained each night and walkers are requested not to use the marked trails. The ESF (French Ski School) offers private or group lessons in cross country skiing in both Meribel and Mottaret.
Adrenaline factor: 2/10
Top tip: wear layers of clothing that can be removed as you warm up.
Merinet verdict: perfect for anyone who enjoys peace and quiet, or who finds the downhill pistes too crowded or too steep. Meribel Ski Schools contact details |
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last updated 31-Jan-2008 |
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