Skiing in Méribel
Located in the heart of Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys), the world’s largest ski area, Méribel Village sits 2km from Méribel Centre on the road to La Tania, while Méribel Mottaret lies above Méribel Centre and offers easy access to the sublime slopes.
From your base in Méribel you can easily explore over 600km of pistes shared with iconic neighbouring resorts Val Thorens and Courchevel, this family-friendly resort is ideal for groups of families and friends with varied skiing abilities, and it’s one of the most picturesque spots in the Alps. The various Méribel villages sit at altitudes between 1600m and 1700m and all are conveniently connected by efficient shuttle bus and gondola provisions.
Meribel is a firm favourite due to its location in the middle of the epic 3 Vallées ski area and legendary aprės.
Jane Bolton, Product Director
Meribel mountain facts
Méribel and Méribel Mottaret are perfectly located in the heart of the Three Valleys and offer wide, gentle slopes for novices as well as numerous intermediate, advanced and off-piste skiing areas.
You’ll find accessible nursery slopes in most areas, there are dedicated children’s skiing areas, and several snow cannons below 1800m.
Snow Conditions in Méribel
As discussed, Méribel has an enviable snowfall average of 8m per annum, and although sun exposure occasionally compromises the snow quality on a few slopes, overall it’s reasonably snow-sure. Here’s some more info on snow conditions in Méribel:
The shady runs above the Altiport retain their snow well, but the Saulire to Mottaret slopes are often blasted by the afternoon sun and can be icy in the mornings.
In inclement weather you can head for the woods around the Altiport, but there are also some trees further down the mountain which can provide shelter if needed.
You’ll find the most consistent snow quality on the runs coming down from Mont Vallon but snow quality lower down the mountain is usually good too, and snowmaking facilities ensure you’ll never be disappointed.
In the most recent season, Méribel had a total snowfall of 258cm, a total of 27 snowfall days, largest snowfall of 30cm, maximum base depth of 120cm, average base depth of 72cm, maximum summit depth of 270cm and average depth of 167cm.
Skiing in Méribel
Here are some insider tips on skiing in Méribel:
The Saulire Express gondola takes you from the centre of the resort to the 2700m Saulire peak in just 12 minutes, the Plattières gondola from Mottaret reaches 3 Marches in nine minutes and the Combes chairlift from Mottaret helps ease congestion during peak usage times.
If you’re a novice, you’ll love building up your proficiency on the flat green runs at Altiport, which are accessed through ski bubble Rhodos 1 and 2 from Chaudanne. There are also moderate blue runs here which you can progress to once you’re feeling more confident.
Le Face is a thrilling black run that leads all the way down into La Chaudanne. It was the women’s 1992 Olympic Downhill course; a thoroughly exciting challenge.
The Combe de Saulire is a superb wide piste located under the Saulire Express 2 gondola – it offers perhaps the most panoramic views of any local piste, especially when fresh snow has cloaked the trees.
Snowboarding in Méribel
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Here’s the essential info on snowboarding in Méribel:
The Saulire side of the Méribel valley offers some great red runs for boarders, including the Renard, Maudit and Chamois.
The Choucas and Lagopede pistes on the Tougnète side of the valley are also worth exploring – reach the former via the Cherferie drag lift and the latter via the Roc de Tougne drag lift.
You’ll reach The Moon Park from the Plan De l’Homme chairlift – it has boxes, rails and kickers for boarders of all aptitudes.
The Plattiers ski lift takes you to the DC Park, which is the most renowned in Méribel. It’s popular with professional as well as leisure riders and has an expertly shaped superpipe at the top and plenty of suspended bells and hips to jib. The left line has a plethora of box and rail combos, several obstacles and attractions.
What accommodation is available when I ski in Meribel?
Erna Low offers a range of accommodation options to suit every budget and preference. If you love the flexibility of a home away from home, our self-catering apartment packages offer a blend of comfort and convenience, leaving you to discover the magic of this fantastic resort at your own pace. If you’re looking for those “wow” on-site amenities you’ll talk about over every reunion dinner, our catered accommodation deals come with all the holiday-making facilities you could wish for, leaving you with more time to play on the hill and less time worrying about what’s in the fridge! Meribel also has a fantastic selection of traditional chalets and luxury hotels – many of which come with ski-in/ski-out access, wellness facilities and everything else you need for an unforgettable stay. Whatever you’re in the mood for, our Meribel packages are fully customisable and include great prices on accommodation.
All Accommodation in Méribel
Ski Holidays in Meribel
Apres-Ski in Méribel
Legend has it that Alpine staple toffee vodka was invented in Méribel and over the years its reputation for awesome après-ski has continued to grow. This is a bustling resort full of lively bars and clubs where you can party all night long – here are some hotspots you shouldn’t miss:
La Folie Douce has outlets across several Alpine resorts and its winning formula of DJs, live bands and cabaret performances always whips revellers up into a frenzy. At Méribel it’s located at the middle station of the Saulire Express cable car.
Jack’s Bar showcases live music and stand-up comedy and it’s always buzzing – opening time of 4pm is accompanied by a happy hour and regular drinks promotions follow as the evening proceeds.
Rond-Point is affectionately known as ‘the Ronnie’ and it’s a Méribel legend which party people flock to for live music every day on its huge terrace between 4:30pm and 7pm.
The Doron Pub has a chilled-out atmosphere in the early evening when people gather for a few beers over a game of pool, but it gets very busy from 10pm onwards – either a DJ or live band provide the soundtrack each night and there are occasional fancy dress theme nights like beach parties.
O’Sullivans is also known as ‘Sullys’ and it’s Méribel’s only late-night club. Open to 5am and just a 10-minute walk from the town centre, there’s live music every night and raucous revellers dance like no one’s watching into the wee small hours.
Facilities in Meribel
Meribel has all the facilities you need for a stress-free ski holiday. The village offers plenty of reputable ski hire shops and experienced ski instructors that make it easy for beginners to start learning the basics or less confident intermediates to fine-tune their skills. Once you’ve had your fill of snow-time for the day, Meribel also has a variety of fun and slightly “niche” activities, like ice skating, tandem flights and spa sessions, to keep you entertained. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants serving up food and refreshments that are sure to hit the spot after an exhausting day.
Facilities for Children in Méribel
Méribel is a totally child-friendly ski resort, with plenty of activities for kids on and off the slopes, professional ski and snowboard instruction for all ages and trusted childcare on hand for peace of mind.
Why choose a ski holiday to Meribel with Erna Low?
Incredible value holidays: We’ll beat any competitor’s price, giving you the best value for money.
Huge choice of accommodation: Choose from bargain breaks, 5-star premium deals and so much more.
Customisable travel: We specialise in fully customisable ski holidays; offering a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets.
Fully protected bookings: We’re ABTOT and ATOL members and abide by their Code of Conduct.
5-star Trustpilot reviews: We pride ourselves on the service we provide, which is why out of 10 of our clients would recommend us.
Apres ski seekers will love Meribel and its famous, lively spots for post-ski- day partying.
Rebecca Dodson, Head of sales
