We discovered Meribel in the summer for the first time last year, in July-August 2009. We were looking for a quiet and peaceful fortnight with just hikes and walks that we enjoy, and not much activity in the resort, compared to the winter season. Peaceful, definitely it was. But we truly found amazing how many diverse opportunities we got for sport and leisure. As I said, we like hiking, and we could easily walk to the gorgious Vanoise National Park. Walking on the ridges between the valleys also offer stunning views on the Alpine massifs, in particular on the Mont-Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses. We also got introduced to several sport activities that we never practiced before. The Meribel Golf, build on terraces on the slopes above Meribel-Village, also offers beautiful views on the Mont-Blanc and on other Alpine massifs. On evenings, we discovered each day a different sport, leisure or cultural activity. Here are some examples:

• You can go walking or hiking on three different levels :
  • Walking in the woods and across the villages of the valley. Meribel-Village is the starting point of several walks going down to the other villages or up to the forest, just outside the village. A 45-minute walk across woods and meadows will bring you to Meribel. You can also walk to Courchevel through the forest.
  • Walks and hikes in the moutain pastures and on the ridges. Numerous trips on way-marked trails will offer you stunning views on the surrounding alpine massifs.
  • Middle mountain : hiking in the Vanoise National Park. Direct pedestrian access from Meribel-Mottaret. Nights in mountain refuges. Glacier hikes. Guided hiking.
  
  
• Sport :
  • Tennis
  • Golf : Méribel Golf is the only 18-hole golf in the Three-Valleys. It is a Par 71, 5538 meters long.
  • Mountaineering, climbing, via ferrata
  • Paragliding
  • Rafting, canyoning
  • Fishing in the natural reserve of Lake La Tueda
  • Horse-riding
  • Ball trap
  • Swimming (several swimming pools, in the Olympic Park in Meribel and in Meribel-Village)
  • Ice-skating in the Olympic Park
  • Tree-top climbing
  • Downhill mountain biking (several equipped trails, and the Tougnette lift is open during July and August).
  
  
• Discovery : In 2009, we experienced :
  • Nordic walking.
  • Introduction to Alpine fauna and flora.
  • Evening gatherings in mountain pastures, coming down home in the dark after dinner.
  • Natural reserve of Lake La Tueda.
  
  
• For the kids :
  • Day-care with numerous activities. During our stay, in July 2009, a full week was dedicated to kite construction.
  • Half-day discovery walks. For example: snack with Francine, they go tasting edible alpine plants with an instructress.
  • Local village fairs.
  
  
• Wellness :
  Wellness centres with spa, sauna, hammam, fitness in the Olympic Park, in Meribel-Village and in the Grand Spa des Alpes in Brides-les-Bains.
  
  
• Culture :
  • Concerts in the baroque churches of the valley, in particular in the church of the county town Les Allues.
  • Lectures organised in Meribel convention center.
  • Exhibitions, visits and museums, such as the Cultural Heritage museum in Les Allues.
  
  
• Miscellaneous activities :
  • Bowling in the Olympic Park.
  • Cinema with different films every evening.
  • Ice-hockey games, every week on the ice-skating rink in the Olympic Park.
  • Gala ice-skating exhibitions in Courchevel.
  • Ski jumping (around August 15th in Le Praz Olympic Stadium)
  • Airplane or helicopter tours above the valleys.
  • Miniature golf.
  • Local fairs in the villages.
  • Etc…