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Spring snow
The naughty Foehn wind has been up to its tricks again. The capricious south-easterly wind waited until the busiest half term week and then decided to blow a gale, closing the top lifts and causing temporary chaos. The morning queues for the few open lifts at the Chaudanne on Tuesday were huge and there were a lot of disgruntled Parisians hanging around, waiting for the 3 Valley links to open.
Fortunately, the warm, dry wind dropped after a day or so, but by then it has melted an incredible amount of snow from the resort. I set out in the morning down an icy back lane and returned in the afternoon to see it completely cleared of snow and the snow banks on either side had shrunk and receded visibly. Foehn winds are not known as “snow eaters” for nothing…
What has this warmth and the dry wind done to the pistes? Well, surprisingly, not too much harm. The slopes today were lovely and soft – not slushy, just soft and very easy to ski. Off-piste, there is now spring snow everywhere, which is delicious providing you time it right. Too early, and the snow is judderingly hard; too late and you sink. Go at just the right time, and you enjoy the easiest and most relaxing off-piste conditions of all.
These photos of powder skiing were taken just before the Foehn wind began, and show high and north-facing areas where the last of the dry, light snow still lingered. To find snow like this at the moment, you must be prepared to walk, preferably with a mountain guide who knows where the secret powder stashes are still to be found.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will spot in these photos the familiar peaks of Saulire and Grand Casse are rather more distant than usual. These pictures were taken from Valmorel, a small ski resort beyond St Martin de Belleville not linked to the 3 Valleys network. Why should you be interested in another resort? Well, Méribel is very close to other several other ski areas, offering regular visitors a chance to try a different resort for a day. Best of all, the Paradiski and Espace Killy ski areas, inclucing Tignes, Val d’Isere, La Plagne and les Arcs, offer a free one-day pass to holders of a six-day 3 Valley pass, effectively giving you a free day elsewhere. Valmorel, sadly, doesn’t offer us free skiing, but is worth a trip anyway and is only a 40 minute drive away. Tiny, French and family-oriented, it offers a very different ski experience from the mega 3 Valleys ski area. And when you return to Méribel, you certainly appreciate our state-of-the-art lift system and superlative piste grooming.
If you are coming to Méribel next week, don’t miss the two big events at Méribel Auditorium: The Feeling in concert and a comedy gala starring Marcus Brigstock and Andrew Maxwell. March holidays are all about skiing, sun and fun, and there are lots of parties and outdoor events on offer over the next month.
Make ski rental simple with this delivery service. Their mobile delivery team brings high-quality ski rental equipment straight to your accommodation, and is fitted by a skilled technician. With expert support throughout your stay and competitive pricing, it’s the easiest way to organise your ski hire in Meribel.
SPORTS 1600 is located at Altitude 1600, between the Route des chalets and the route de la renarde. Kerry and Romuald and team are on hand to welcome and assist you.
Want to rent skis or snowboards in Meribel? Just visit the Skiset Sports Meribel Village store!
Ski and snowboard rental shop visible from the Chatelet car park and just above the Minimarket 8 to 8. Save time and money by booking online have your equipment ready to pick up as soon as you arrive enabling you to hit the slopes straight away!
Specialising in ski and snowboard hire in Méribel, they offer high-quality rental equipment.
No need to carry your ski equipment around with you! Simply pick it up from the ski shop in resort. You can collect your equipment from at least 5pm the day before your first skiing day.
Operating across the valley, this world-class team of ski instructors is available at three convenient points in Méribel.
Established in 1991, this ski and snowboard school was one of the first British-run ski schools in France. Their team is known for going the extra mile, offering excellent customer service and delivering outstanding lessons and guiding.
Parallel Lines is Méribel’s biggest British Ski and Snowboard School. With 28 instructors in peak weeks, whether you’re taking your first turns or exploring the off-piste that The Three Valleys has to offer, Parallel Lines can provide fantastic lessons designed around you.
Run by an Anglo-French team since 2001, this ski school knows the Three Valleys inside out. Their highly qualified, multilingual instructors specialise in tailor-made lessons designed to suit every skier or snowboarder.
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
This ski school is the largest in France and one of the oldest, having been established in 1945. Offering a wide range of lessons and childcare from 18 months upwards they can ensure the needs of your entire family/group are met. They even offer English only children's lessons.
Booking with them means your holiday won’t involve the stress of public transport, the cost of private transfers, or the hassle of fitting snow chains on a hire car.
A key booking portal for local coach and bus transfers in the French ski resorts. Using this service to coordinate your travel means getting to resort could not be easier.
Enjoy safe, reliable airport transfers to Méribel, Courchevel, and the wider Three Valleys, taking the stress out of your journey to the mountains. This service isn’t a call centre or a fleet - it’s a network of independent, owner-operated drivers who live and work in the Alps year-round, bringing decades of local knowledge and experience to every trip.
This company offers private transfers from Geneva Airport to Méribel. Established and efficient - you can rely on them.
The Loyal Transfers team has been organising airport transfers to ski resorts around France since 2012. Their aim has always been to make independent travel to ski resorts cheaper and easier for everyone.
This company offers private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport to Meribel, nearby areas, and resorts across the Alps. With great value fares on all journeys, it’s an easy way to save money.
Strap on your snowshoes and discover the Meribel trails with a qualified instructor.
A fantastic way to see the resort with your friends and family and a great way to entertain any non-skiers in your group.
For backcountry adventures, this independent company operates in and around the following three heliski destinations: Valgrisenche, The Courmayeur Valley and the Col de Petit St Bernard Pass. They have pioneered 32 drop zones within these three broad valley regions giving you a huge choice of terrain, snow conditions and mountain orientation to ensure you have a day best suited to your ability and preferences.
Laurence is a certified mountain leader, who enjoys taking clients away from the busy pistes and spicing up your ski holiday with a guided snowshoeing trip.
Head out into the mountains with experienced guides in either summer or winter for some amazing experiences.
Find out all about what is happening in the Méribel Valley and how to make the most of your time here. The latest news, reviews of fun activities, current events and the trendiest restaurants, as well as interviews with leading locals, insider's guides and our top choices for things to do, see and experience in the region. Plus, during the winter season, our famous snow reports and dump alerts all in the same place.
See allLatest News & ReviewsMéribel hosts a number of events throughout the summer and winter months, some of which span the entire Three Valleys. Two such events are Les 3 Vallees Enduro in April with every type of snowboard, ski and telemark racing imaginable, and the 3 Vallées Addict Tour mountain bike festival every July. The Tourist Office also organises children's events and activities during the school holidays.
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