Walking Routes in Meribel — 3 of Our Favourites

There are various mountain guides who will lead you on your hike or you can choose to tackle the trail or route on your own but just make sure you are fully equipped, prepared and have all the full details before setting off.

Below are a selection of some of the suggested hiking routes in Meribel. There are many more to choose from, so pick up a guide or map from a magasin or information point to explore some of the other routes.

Hike 1:

Starting Point: Meribel Mottaret - top of the Pas Du Lac 2

This high altitude hike is rated as a difficult route, covering varying terrain. It can be found on the map marked as route 27. Starting from the top of Pas du Lac 2 bubble lift you can follow the trail, from this altitude you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the valley below and the mountains in the surrounding area and distance. Keeping on the trail towards Col de Fruit where you can then start the descent downwards towards Lac du Tueda. Here you can explore the lake and Vanoise Nature Reserve, with unspoilt wildlife and mountains. You can either walk back to Meribel Mottaret or hop on a bus back to Meribel. Alternatively you can do the route the other way, taking the lift down into Meribel Mottaret at the end, challenging yourself with the uphill route.

Hike 2:

Starting point: Lac Tueda

This challenging hike is rated as 'very difficult', so make sure you are fully prepared before heading off. Labelled on the map as Route 26. Starting from Lac Tueda which you can get to via bus and a short 10 minute walk or, there is a large free car park close by. Once here you want to walk to the far end of the lake along the flat trail, once you reach the far side you want to take the trail that heads up the mountain towards Les Mures des Rouges and Plan des Mains. Walking through the tree lined and meadow lined trail you can take in the beautiful alpine summer scenery. At Plan des Mains you want to keep following the trail to Côte Brune. Here there will be a fork in the trail where you will want to take a left, after a short walk upwards there will be another fork in the trail where you will turn left. Follow the trail as it heads onwards and winds around the mountains. Heading towards Lacs du Borgne, the challenging trail will take you high up to Mont Vallon. There is a viewing map and point from here where you can see the surrounding mountains and valley. To get back down the mountain you can follow the route you took up or take the easier route marked 28 on the map.

Either catch the free bus to Mottaret, or park at the southern most car park. As you enter into the Tueda Nature Reserve, there is a short gentle climb before Lac de Tueda comes into sight. This beautiful area is popular for those wanting a flat short stroll, a visit to the small mountain restaurant at the head of the lake, and for those wanting to purchase some cheese on the farm on the right hand side. It doesn't matter which side of the lake you walk, all of the paths converge the other side.

Continue beyond the lake until the well-used track starts to go uphill, keeping the raging gorge on your left after crossing the wooden bridge. This next section has the steepest hiking, and is affectionately known by locals as the 'lung buster'. After approximately 300m vertical ascent, the trail starts to flatten out when a cairn is reached on your right hand side. This new vista can take your breath away, and is called the Vallon du Fruit. As you continue along the valley floor, keep your eyes peeled for marmottes, there are many families along this area. Soon after walking past two small chalets, take a diversion diagonally to your right towards Lac des Fees (Lake of Fairies). This small crystal clear water lake isn't visible from the main route, but is well worth taking a look. There will be a couple of narrow tracks to follow that lead you to this spectacular sight.

After rejoining the route, continue as the track climbs again, which soon flattens out into a narrow gully. Follow the route of the glacial melt stream, then Refuge du Saut will soon come into sight. This friendly refuge provides shelter, rustic food and refreshments, and also a toilet. I'd recommend a tea and tart myrtille. There are various extensions to this route if you are feeling the need. It can take up to two hours of walking to get to the refuge, and slightly less for the return trip on the same track. The hike has just over 400m of vertical climbing, up to an altitude of 2,100m.

Watch Out For: Keep an eye on the weather forecast, it can change quickly in the mountains.

Who Should Go: Anyone with average fitness. It's an enjoyable hike for the family, or with friends who have never been to this area before.

What To Bring: This hike requires no special equipment. Walking boots would be recommended, however trainers will suffice, but be careful on the 'lung buster' section especially when descending. The route is well sign posted, carrying an IGN map (the French equivalent of OS maps) will help the curious. IGN map 3534 OT will be sold in resort. Suncream and water is a must at this altitude.

Where To Lunch: There are three options. The destination of Refuge du Saut is a good option before returning back. On the way back there is a slight detour just before the bottom of the lung buster to another good choice called Refuge du Plan. This is one of my favourites and I can recommend the salads, especially the goats cheese. Finally there is the Lac de Tueda restaurant, this can sometimes be busier than the other two restaurants.

It's always important to consider the distance and terrain before setting off with young children. In addition to this it is always worth noting that back packs with water and snacks are a great idea as some of the routes may have no refreshment stops along the way.

Below are some of the routes that are family friendly and easier to tackle with younger children. The walks and hikes mentioned in the gentle walks section are also great for families with young children.

Walk 1:
Starting point: Meribel.
This gentle and easy family walk is perfect for children, with a 'very easy' rating it is labelled route number 20 on the walking map. Starting in Meribel the route will take you in a loop keeping everyone entertained along the way with forest scenery, meadows and mountain views. From Meribel you want to take the route that heads towards Tougnete 1 bubble lift, before you reach the lift the path will fork and here you want to take the left path towards the tennis and horse-riding areas. Walking past these carry on along the path towards La Petite Rosiere, you will reach another fork where you want to take the left again to complete the loop. Continue along this path until you reach another fork, take the left again and you will end up back in Meribel. An easy and family friendly route with easy terrain and where you can stop along the way if needed.

Walk 2:
Starting point: Lac Tueda.
You can hop on a bus to Meribel Mottaret and Lac Tueda or alternatively take your car and park about 10 minutes away from the lake. There are a few walking routes that you can take with children here, the easiest would be walking around the lake in a loop on the flat terrain. But with the wide expanse of the Nature Reserve there are some other easy routes that will take you up into the trees near the lake and back down again, you can choose from any of these and explore the beautiful wildlife and scenery. With a small lake side restaurant you can stop for refreshments with children and enjoy the lake views.