Beginner Skier Areas in Meribel
also see Meribel Ski Areas: All About the Ski Area

Beginner Ski Areas in Courchevel

Courchevel is, for beginners, quite simply the best. The pistes in Courchevel are wide and shallow as they approach the resort so there’s no need to lose your confidence by having to suffer runs that are above your ability just to get home. Hundreds of man-hours of preparation go on every night to ensure the pistes are absolutely perfect at 9am every morning.

The whole area above 1650 and 1850 from the Verdon bubble towards the resort are paradise for beginners. In 1650 there is a fenced off area exclusively for beginners serviced by a free drag lift (called Mickey) where you can get your confidence without having to deal with a lot of other skiers. There’s a similar area just below the Altiport in 1850.

Route 1 – Méribel Valley Blues Cruise

It’s your first day back on snow, you don’t want to ski anything too steep, and you want to ski in the sun all day.

Starting in Méribel 1450 take the PLAN DE L’HOMME chairlift and then warm up down the Caves piste, heading for the base of the OLYMPIC chairlift. From the top of the Olympic take the Grand Duc to the CHERFERIE up to the ridge between the Méribel and the Belleville Valleys. Turn back towards Méribel and come down Choucas to the CAVES draglift. From here you can ski down Grive to the TOUGNETE 2. If you want to include a red run you can drop down into the Belleville Valley at this point and take the Pramint piste down to ST MARTIN 2, which will bring you back up to the ridge at Tougnete. If not, stay on the blue Crêtes pistes at the top of the TOUGNETE 2 - at which point it is probably time for lunch!

Lunch: Restaurant Les Crêtes. Small, owner-run restaurant at the top of the TOUGNETE drag lift. Cosy atmosphere and excellent local food. Booking advised, as it is very popular. No credit cards accepted. Lunch served 12h00-15h30. Tel +33 (0)4 79 08 56 50.

From Restaurant Les Crêtes you can access Faon, Perdrix and then Furet before taking the long PAS DU LAC 1 & 2 lifts up to the Saulire. There is then a tiny bit of red run before getting back onto the blue pistes of Biche and then Marmotte. The ADRET will take you up the meet the Geai, Blanchot (green) and Lapin pistes where you will find yourself down in Méribel Village. From here you can hop on the GOLF then ALTIPORT lifts before taking the Rhodos (green) and Doron runs back to Méribel 1450.