Off-piste Ski Areas in Meribel

The easiest and safest off-piste is the Bel Aire area above Courchevel Moriond, either side of the Pyramide, Signal, and Chapelets.

The tree areas in Courchevel are great for catching some fresh snow and playing off-piste.

With a short hike from the famous Grand Couloir piste, there is excellent off-piste skiing in the Petit couloir or in the Croix de Verdons couloir if you don't mind climbing a little further. Also, the Equinox pitch, a 15-minute hike from the top of the Chanrossa chair, is one not to be missed out on a powder day.

There are also the well-known off-piste areas of Col du Fruit and Vallée des Avals, that will take you far away from any pisted areas. 

Val Thorens offers some of Europe's most stunning off-piste terrain, surrounded by six glaciers and endless powder fields. Popular routes include:

• Pierre Lory: From the Col chair into the Maurienne Valley.
• Lac du Lou: Accessible from the Combe de Rosael black run or La Masse.
• Vallée des Encombres: A thrilling descent from La Masse.
• Jerusalem to Pramint: Renowned off-piste area near St Martin, popular with local guides.

Highlights:

• Explore iconic descents like the Gebroulaz Glacier towards Méribel or Pralognan.
• Always consider weather and snow conditions due to Val Thorens’ high altitude.

Safety first:

• Check avalanche conditions and read our avalanche safety page for tips on staying safe off-piste.
• It's always advisable to hire an off-piste mountain guide who will have extensive knowledge of the area and the mountains.

Before you head off piste, here's a few things you should be thinking about:

• hire a guide!
• take a course in avalanche awareness and practice the techniques learned
• look at the weather and avalanche forecasts for France, reviewing the degree of local avalanche risk also
• don’t ignore advice given by local mountain guides or others if advised to ski a certain path, or to keep a specific distance between fellow members in a group
• plan the route carefully, evaluating all different options and assessing all elements of danger. Look at the timings for each route. Inform others of your route, and when you expect to arrive back
• attach your transceiver properly TO YOU and DON'T FORGET to turn it on, test the signal is working, and make sure you have all the necessary equipment.
• a transceiver is of no use if the user has not been trained in its use, it is turned off, or it is in a rucksack - unless you want just your bag to be recovered

Read more about understanding avalanches and how to try to avoid them.

Take a look at this year's ski pass prices or find your way around with piste maps for Meribel.