Meribel or Courchevel

Jonathan T

After a week in Chatel this summer we are going to head to the 3 Valleys. We want to be able to pootle to the lifts in the morning instead of driving or riding up hill (knackered knee limits climbing) and this seems to have knocked Courchevel on the head as we can't find cheap accommodation in the right place. Has anyone stayed in Meribel and used the lifts there to access the rides in Meribel and Courchevel? Is it a good option?

andrewyzfr6

I was in Val thorens for a weeks boarding last winter. We linked to Meribel and corchuval(?) on several days and it was excellent with a load of diffrent route options across the 3 valleys.

Jonathan T

Cheers. Unfortunately not all the lifts are open in summer.

DavidCr

Meribel have been slowly working on improving the trails, MBR gave them a good write up 2 years ago as a great place to ride with the highlight being a 30km descent from the top of Tougnette down to Moutiers. The last few Summers they have hosted the French Cup VTT(MTB) and it will be held here again this Summer, here is a short video by the Tourist Office of the event in 2011 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmywhtxMPRQ

The main gondola out of Meribel over to Courchevel was closed last Summer as they were upgrading the top section and I think it may be the same this year to replace the lower section. That means taking the Tougnette lift, dropping down to Mottaret and getting on the Pas du Lac, you arrive at the same place. Here is a map of the MTB trails in Meribel - http://mountain-summer.meribel.net/file ... _ETE11.pdf
and Courchevel details - http://www.courchevel.com/editorial.php?Rub=142&L=2

Note also that the lifts are closed on a Saturday.