Colonel Peter Lindsay founded the Meribel ski resort in 1938 in the heart of the French Alps. Nestled in the Tarentaise Valley, Lindsay set about constructing the very first ski lifts. He wanted to build a picturesque ski resort that mirrored the sheer beauty of the mountain ranges around it. So, even today, the ski resort echoes the traditional ideals of Scotsman Lindsay. Located close to the town of Moutiers, Meribel is considered to be one of the very best ski resorts in the world. The pretty town itself is an architecture lover’s treat with its classic Savoyard style and ornate wood and stone buildings. The beautiful resort of Meribel offers many wintersports activities and non-skiing experiences, such as:
Skiing Activities
Keen skiiers of all abilities will appreciate the Three Valleys, where the variety of skiing options are heavenly, starting from Christmas and continuing up to May. The snow falls are consistently good and wintersports enthusiasts will have a gala time skiing along the 1,200 snow cannons. Around 150km out of the 600km long pistes of The Three Valley lie in Meribel itself. There is also a great link between the valleys and you are sure to have great fun tackling the bumps, pistes and steeps.
There is an exhilarating ski stretch that runs from the top of Saulire and, with a drop of 1300m, which ends in Meribel, Mont Vallon is another must-visit as its off-pistes are varied: enough to keep even experienced skiers riveted. There are also two sweeping and amazing red runs here and PurpleSki.com has more information.
Catch one of the free ski buses and head over to Courchevel with its astoundingly beautiful pistes. This resort is a delight for experienced skiers looking for some adventure and challenging runs. And for a change of terrain head to The Vallée des Belleville.
Overall, there are around 49 green runs, 105 red runs, 39 black runs and 88 blue runs for you to experience up close in Meribel. And whatever your ability or experience, you can opt for beginners ski lessons or brush-up sessions.
And if you’re into snowboarding, you’ll be in your element in the French ski resort of Meribel, which has many board parks waiting to be explored. You can also opt for a snowshoeing and snow-mobiling experience for a real change of pace.
Non Skiing Activities
Take to the skies on a hot air balloon flight and see Meribel from above. The mountains appear to shrink beneath you as you glide gracefully over the landscape. It is easily the best way to experience the mountain range around Meribel – no exertion needed! Head to the altiport in Courchevel to pick up the hot air balloon trip.
Let qualified on-site masseuses ease away your holiday aches with a therapeutic massage. Your tensions would definitely melt away under their trained hands. And for ski-weary bodies, trained masseuses can deliver the perfect sports massage.
The Olympic Ice Skating Rink of Meribel turns into an ice karting race track every Monday night – which is as much fun as it sounds! Great for a family night our and all those aged over ten years old can participate.
Have you tried paraskiing yet? Also known as parapenting, you can over the Meribel valley and further into the French Alps with the aid of this parachute based activity.
