Meribel
Also known as: Les Trois Vallees
Three Valleys / Tarentaise panoramas from Tougnete (approx 2400 m); Vanoise backdrop.
Who in your group rides what
Whether everyone in your group gets a day at Meribel - the grades on offer, the named zones, and how mixed abilities split up.
Colour grades green/blue/red/black; DH runs (e.g. DH4 Tougnete Rocket) and extensive enduro itineraries.
GROUP SPLIT: beginners/intermediates on green/blue and easier enduro; advanced on red/black DH from Tougnete. Descent-only via Tougnete (Meribel Centre) and Pas du Lac (Mottaret) gondolas; Three Valleys links for enduro.
Broad fit - green/blue flow and enduro for progressing riders, black DH for experts; lift access suits mixed groups.
The riding
Natural alpine loam, roots and rock plus built flow; forest and open pasture across the valley.
Alpine DH and long enduro - roots, rock and steep pitches on black lines; big vertical. Exposure moderate; flowier options on lower grades.
Signed and colour-graded bikepark; Trailforks GPS. Two patrollers monitor marked routes in summer.
Moderate - large resort network spreads riders; busier in peak summer, quieter on higher enduro links.
Season & conditions
Bike lifts/patrols run approx late June to late August, 9:30-16:45; confirm via meribel.net.
Summer (late June to late August/early September) with lift operation.
UCI World Cup host: 2014 UCI MTB World Cup Finals (round 9) with a triple bill - XCO, DHI and XCE (cross-country eliminator). Durable former World Cup finals venue.
Alpine thunderstorms and rapid weather change at altitude; trails slick when wet; lifts pause in lightning/high wind.
Getting there & gear
Lift/bike pass required (day/multi-day/season); no lottery. Purchase at resort or online.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Meribel Centre, Tarentaise, Savoie; road via Moutiers. Tougnete gondola base in resort centre.
Lift-served: Tougnete and Pas du Lac gondolas carry bikes; Three Valleys lift network. Nearest airports Chambery/Geneva/Lyon; rail to Moutiers.
Full-face helmet and gravity bike for DH; water for long enduro; mobile coverage good in resort, variable high up.
Bike shops, rentals, wash stations, bike schools, mountain restaurants, first aid; extensive Three Valleys amenities.
Meribel and Three Valleys MTB hubs; bike schools and rental/guiding outfits across the valleys.
Hazards & rescue
Steep black DH, big vertical and other riders; slick roots/rock when wet. Ride within ability, heed patrol/closures.
Not required on marked trails; bike schools and guides available.
Two summer bike patrollers on marked routes; resort medical; European emergency 112. Lift access aids evacuation.
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand mountain-bike network report. Coordinates are approximate.