Skiing

Méribel sits at the very centre of the Three Valleys, the largest linked ski area in the world, stretching across more than 600 kilometres of piste served by 160 lifts. Ranged in altitude from 1,450 metres to 3,200 metres, the terrain encompasses the neighbouring resorts of Courchevel and Val Thorens, as well as the villages of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and Les Menuires, placing an extraordinary breadth of skiing within effortless reach. On an ambitious day, seasoned skiers can traverse all three valleys before the final lift, rising at dawn to reach the glacier summit at 3,200 metres in Val Thorens before sweeping back through Méribel and across to Courchevel for a long, sun-drenched lunch.

The resort caters with equal generosity to every level of skier. Gentle nursery slopes and beautifully groomed blue runs welcome those finding their snow legs, while the wide, open red pistes dropping from Mont Vallon at 2,900 metres offer exhilarating descents with panoramic mountain views. For those who thrive on genuine challenge, the resort delivers formidable off-piste terrain, including the technical couloirs of the Vertical Experience shared with Courchevel, and the celebrated L'Eclipse black run, which served as the course for the 2023 Men's Alpine World Ski Championships.

Beyond the marked pistes, Méribel rewards those who venture further. Expert mountain guides lead the way to hidden powder fields and quieter corners of the massif well away from the busier runs. The resort's Altiport also serves as the departure point for heli-skiing excursions, with short helicopter flights opening up pristine terrain stretching towards the Italian border. Whether carving unhurried turns on a blue or hunting untouched snow in the high backcountry, Méribel offers a skiing experience of rare depth and variety.