Buy a pedestrian pass
Enjoy the mountains as a non-skier by buying a pedestrian lift pass. It provides access to gondolas and lifts all over the Three Valleys, accessing winter walking trails and many mountain restaurants. Often the mountain restaurants can be reached on foot by ski lift, so it's entirely possible to meet up with your family and friends for some fine dining. Le Panoramic Restaurant at the top of Saulire, le Bouche à Oreille at 3 Marches and Le Plan des Mains restaurant at the foot of Mont Vallon are our pick of the best viewpoints and nicest restaurants. Lift employees will help you on and off the lifts and slow them down for you.
There are over 25km of brilliant hiking trails around the valley. Wonderful winter walking routes ranging from easy to difficult linking the various villages. They are regularly groomed and well signposted and all you need is a pair of stout walking boots to enjoy them. Our favourite walk is the very easy circular path around the Lac Tuéda above Mottaret. The frozen lake and jagged peaks make for a wonderfully picturesque setting, and there’s a restaurant and slightly more distant refuge, where you can enjoy lunch in the sun. Top tip: plan to visit around the middle of the day as this valley loses the sun relatively early in the afternoon.
Après-ski with everyone else
You don't have to ski to enjoy "après-ski". Meet up with the rest of your group in a local bar and share stories from your day over a beer. Or go party at Folie Douce Meribel-Courchevel. Take the Saulire Express 1 gondola lift and spend the afternoon watching the amazing cabaret, then dance to the live, dynamic house band. Professional dancers, flying champagne bottles, singers strutting their stuff in exotic costumes and music so loud you can hear it on the opposite side of the valley – there’s nothing in Méribel quite like La Folie Douce. Or head to the local ice skating rink for a fun evening set beneath the snow-clad Alps. Located next to the slopes this is another fun activity you don’t need skis for.
Alternatively, grab a sled and head to the designated sledging zone or give 'tubing' a go. Open in the afternoons and early evenings, you can whizz and slide down the slopes on an inflatable ring. An ideal après activity with friends and family.
Drive a dog sled or a skidoo
Whether pulled by huskies, on a sedate sled drawn by horses, or riding your own skidoo, there is an excursion choice to suit all levels of adrenaline. You can opt to be the 'musher' of your own huskies, or take the less physical option and sit in the sled whilst the guide and dogs do all the work. It's very popular so we recommend you book in advance.
Relaxing in a horse drawn sled is a gentle and relaxing way to discover the magical Tuéda lake. The sleigh takes up to four passengers for a half or one hour tour of the lake and its surroundings.
To try your skills at the controls of a skidoo, there are specific circuits for snowmobiles as well as organised tours you can join, even heading out onto the trails after dark to have dinner at one of the mountain restaurants. The one hour evening outings start from Le Hameau in Mottaret, and you can choose between a standard “discovery” tour or a sportier, high adrenaline one. Remember to bring or borrow some goggles for this one.
Book a tandem flight
Take to the skies for a bird's eye view of the mountains with a tandem paragliding flight, or get even higher above the Alps with a tourist flight from Méribel’s own airfield. You’ll take off from the snow-covered Altiport and enjoy a spectacular flight either over the Three Valleys or you can go further afield towards les Arcs and experience amazing views of Mont Blanc from the air. It’s an unforgettable experience and surprisingly affordable.
Snowshoeing and ski-touring
You can really get away from it all and disappear into nature on some snowshoes (raquettes). Either grab a snowshoe map from the tourist office and head out alone, or if you prefer a guided snowshoe walk, you can easily book a snowshoe excursion with an activity company to see a side of the mountains that most skiers will never see. Full day, half day and night time options are available to take you into the heart of the mountains – from the highest peaks to the wildest valleys. Equipment and transport are usually included, check when you book.
If you've decided the days of skiing up the mountain all day, every day, are well behind you, those with previous skiing/snowboarding experience could try ski touring. Hire a guide and pull on some skins for an adventure away from the madding crowd.
