Tailor-made ski holidays in Méribel

Skiing and snowboarding in Méribel

Méribel sits in the middle of the three valleys, which makes it one of the most practical bases for exploring Les 3 Vallées and its 600 km of linked pistes. The Méribel valley alone has about 150 km of slopes, with more than 85% of them above 1,800 m, and its highest point is Mont Vallon at 2,952 m. Within a lift or two you can be skiing towards Courchevel on one side or Les Menuires and Val Thorens on the other.

The terrain suits every level. Wide blues and reds run down both sides of the valley, the black Roc de Fer is the course used for the women’s races at the 1992 Olympics and the 2023 World Championships, and Mont Vallon offers long, steep descents for strong skiers. Snowboarders and freestylers have two fun parks, an expert snowpark, a boardercross and several playful ‘fun slopes’.

Méribel for families and beginners

Méribel holds the Famille Plus label, awarded to French resorts that meet set standards for welcoming children. Beginners are well looked after: there are eight free beginner lifts, four around the Altiport and Rond-Point areas and four in Mottaret, plus quiet ‘Zen’ zones reserved for novices. Once you are confident, the long green Blanchot and Forêt runs bring you back down to the resort.

Children have themed areas such as Moon Wild, with animal figures along the piste, and gentle banked runs and jumps for older kids. The ESF and several independent ski schools teach in English and French, and lessons for small children are easy to arrange in both Méribel Centre and Mottaret.

Where to stay in Méribel

Your choice of village shapes your holiday. Méribel Centre (1,450 m) is the lively heart, with shops, restaurants, après-ski and the Parc Olympique leisure centre, and chalets spread up the slopes towards Morel (1,600 m) and the Rond-Point. Méribel-Mottaret (1,750 m), higher up the valley, has more ski-in/ski-out apartments and the quickest access to Val Thorens and the higher slopes.

For a quieter, more traditional stay, Méribel Village (1,400 m) and Les Allues (1,100 m) feel like small Savoyard communities, linked to the main lifts by bus or chairlift. The whole resort follows strict building rules, with wood, stone and slate roofs, so even the larger residences keep a chalet look.

Getting to Méribel

The nearest train station is Moûtiers, served by TGV trains from Paris and, on winter Saturdays, by the Eurostar Snow train from London with a change at Lille. From Moûtiers the final stretch climbs a winding mountain road and takes about 45 minutes to an hour by bus or taxi.

By air, Chambéry is closest at about 1h30, while Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble are all about 2h15 to 2h30 by road. Times depend heavily on traffic and snow, especially on Saturdays in the school holidays, and winter tyres or chains are compulsory on the last section.

Beyond the slopes in Méribel

The Parc Olympique in Méribel Centre is the main indoor option, with a 25 m pool with a slide, a spa with saunas and hammams, a 14 m climbing wall, a fitness room and bowling. Around the Altiport you will find cross-country trails through the forest, and snowshoe walks, dog sledding and paragliding can all be booked locally.

Méribel also has a strong dining scene, from simple mountain restaurants on the pistes to more refined tables in the village. A gondola links the valley spa town of Brides-les-Bains to Méribel, which can be a useful alternative base for groups on a tighter budget.

When to go to Méribel

The lifts usually open in early December and close in mid-April. January is often the quietest and coldest month, with good snow and fewer queues, while February brings French and British school holidays and the busiest slopes. March offers longer, sunnier days, and the high-altitude skiing above Mottaret and towards Val Thorens helps when lower runs soften late in the season.

Your Méribel holiday with AlpAway

We know the differences between Méribel’s villages and can match your group to the right one, then put together accommodation, lift passes, rental, lessons and transfers in a single plan. Tell us your dates, group and budget, and send us a request to start shaping your stay.