Family Activities in Meribel

The main draw for people coming to Meribel in winter is of course the skiing and snowboarding. With the whole of the 3 valleys to ski in, Meribel has something for every level of experience.

For the children, why not try the Inuit village which is composed of whoops, banked turns and slaloms. You will also find a number of fun and enjoyable inuit themed games and a children's entertainer is on hand all season to offer activities to your little ones. The perfect place for your children to enjoy some safe and fun beginner skiing. Access is from the Altiport chairlift or the Rhodos gondola. Located on the Altiport area near the green pistes.

Practice your Robin of Sherwood skills in a tranquil Alpine setting. Beginners can learn 'tir l'arc' from scratch and those with more experience can put their skills to the test with a variety of courses.

Meribel's tennis club offers facilities to play badminton.

Canoe rafts are an unsinkable, stable type of inflatable canoe that allow you, without too much technique to profit fully from the joys and fun of white water river descent. The descents are taken on by groups of 4 to 5 boats, accompanied by a fully qualified guide. You are equipped with neoprene suits and shoes, a safety jacket and a helmet. The course which you take is chosen according to the water levels and experience of the participants.

A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day! You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course.

Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous. Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons. There are a number of adventure companies that offer guided descents down the local waterways.

Depending on the age of your child there are a number of childcare options available in Meribel. There are also numerous babysitting and nursery facilities available in the area.

The main winter establishments are the ski schools which offer a combination of tuition and childcare for children 3 years and older. You can book your child in for full or half day programmes and lunch can also be provided for an extra charge.

You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kidsclub during the summer holidays, normally from 1st July to 30th August, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes & picnics.

SnowBugs Private Nanny Service run a Kids Zone for the Three Valleys Charity Day each year which is supervised by their nannies and offers a bouncy castle, toys and plenty of games so your family can play together. If you are looking for childcare whilst staying in Meribel, SnowBugs offer a quality, friendly and trustworthy Private Nanny service throughout the winter season that is extremely flexible and tailor-made to every family. For more childcare services click on the link below.

Catch the latest films and releases in Meribel on your winter or summer holiday. Some cinemas open their doors early on a bad weather day, otherwise you'll find most screenings in the evenings. Look out for VOST for English speaking films.

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Meribel and what better way to explore Meribel than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Meribel without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Meribel! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

The Three Valleys offers a wide expanse of spectacular terrain on which you can saddle up and go exploring. There are a wide range of trails and routes waiting to be explored in Meribel and what better way to explore them than on horse back.

There is a horse-riding centre at the Bois d'Arbin open every day, all year round. They also offer private and group riding lessons, as well as pony rides for small children.

One of the best ways to take the spectacular mountain scenery from a different point of view is on a hot-air balloon. There are activity companies in Meribel offering balloon rides, which usually take up half a day including preparation and inflation.

Be in charge of your own sled and team of excitable husky dogs, driving them along forest paths in winter. After a brief explanation of how to make your team stop and start, you set off following the guide’s team. If this all sounds a bit much you can opt for a less physical outing where you sit in the sled and the guide does all the hard work! It's a very popular winter activity, so booking at least 48 hours in advance is a must. They run from early December to the end of April (snow-permitting).

In Meribel you can enjoy ice skating! It's a fun thing to do with the family, or in a group if you want to do something a little bit different for après ski. Perfect for children and families and those who just want to enjoy the beautiful mountain views whilst playing around on some skates. There may be one or more ice skating rinks in Meribel, find out where the ice skating rinks are and enjoy some icy outings!

Bowling is a great group activity in both summer and winter, or when the weather's too bad to go outside.

A great activity for the whole family, if you want to give climbing a go in an indoor centre, then Meribel has somewhere for you to go. Climbing equipment is normally provided, or you can bring your own and insurance is normally needed before you hit the climbing wall.

There is a 12-holes crazy golf course in the centre of Méribel-Mottaret. One round, with all equipment included, costs 4€.

Meribel is a mecca for mountain biking, with varying terrain and fantastic views it is perfect for mountain biking enthusiasts. With the whole of the mountain area to explore, the different and varied terrains suit bikers of all levels. So you can enjoy a leisurely cycle around some of the lower level trails with the whole family. The bikepark in Meribel offers trails of all levels, from greens to blacks, including downhill pistes, enduro itineraries and cross-country courses

The Nature Reserve of Plan de Tueda was created in 1990 and goes from Tueda Lake to the Gebroulaz glacier via the refuge Le Saut and along the Doron stream. It features a marked botanical trail showcasing more than 100 varieties of local flora. It is also the home of the black grouse, a threatened species of bird.

Challenge your family to a game of paintball! This exciting activity offers fun for groups of all ages. In most cases you're split into teams and a variety of scenarios and courses are offered at the beginning of all games, with each game lasting approximately 2 hours; the ultimate aim is to shoot your opponents with paint pellets and capture their flag before they get hold of yours. There are a number of adventure companies and courses that offer you paintballing fun in Meribel.

This is one winter activity that doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment, just grab your sledge and head for the nearest snow-covered hill! You can pick up a sledge at one of the many ski hire shops or sports shops in Meribel or take a look through the adventure companies who might offer something a little different.

In winter S3V offer inner tubing as a winter activity. Everyday during the afternoon and for après ski you can whizz and slide down the slopes in an inflatable ring. Definitely an adrenaline filled and fun activity for families. Head to one of the S3V lift pass offices to book your inner tubing fun!

Raquette à Neige or Snow-shoeing in and around Meribel is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions or for non-skiers. Don't forget to wear comfortable and waterproof boots. Either set out on your own, or join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the ski area. Snowshoes and ski poles are provided by most companies offering this as an experience, or you can hire snowshoes from most Sports Shops or Ski Hire Shops, grab a trail map from the Tourist Office and head off on your own adventure. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you go.

Whether you like to take a dip indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Meribel. Most hotels, lots of chalets and apartments have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit, which often come free with your lift pass purchase. In summer and winter you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

Tennis is a great way to get the legs moving and to enjoy the sunny summertime weather. You can play a friendly game or have a lesson, whatever you choose to do it is a great way to have fun with friends and family. Open during the summer season there are tennis courts and training walls in Meribel. Lessons are usually available in groups or privately. Perfect as a family outing you can hire a court and when tiredness hits you can enjoy some refreshments and snacks at the tennis club or cafe.

Head to the adventure park for a day, and everyone is guaranteed to leave with a big smile on their face. Adventure parks are designed for children and adults to play, explore, exercise and have fun in the natural mountain surroundings. Enjoy the thrills of adventure courses created in the forest in the mountains. The ropes, swings, tunnels, trees and activities will be a great day for children and adults alike. With all the protective gear provided and safety information given you can head out and enjoy the trees and wilderness. Qualified guides will be around the course throughout to make sure you are safe and having as much fun as possible. Different courses and tracks can be tried and tested, each one with a varying level of difficulty. There are courses designed for children only and tracks for juniors and adults to enjoy.

Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.

Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8. Guides can be arranged on request and there are a number of adventure companies who can organise your Via Ferrata experience.

In the summer months Meribel is a mecca for walking and hiking in the beautiful alpine mountains. As the snow melts and the sun begins to shine, the mountains make an excellent place to head out on a hike or walk. Walking is the perfect activity for groups, families and friends, and you can pick from a number of routes ranging in difficulty including easy child friendly walks. Along the way, enjoy the fantastic mountain views, beautiful scenery and wildlife that is normally hidden in the winter months.

If you haven't experienced white water rafting before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! There are a number of trained guides in resort who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.