Activity Holidays, Meribel

The mountains can offer a truly rewarding experience for hill walkers of all abilities, from easy walks for those who just want to amble and admire the scenery and perhaps stop for a spot of lunch, to challenging walks for the really serious hiker.

In July and August the gondolas are open providing you with easy access to the mountain summits. This allows you to take in the breath taking scenery and give you access to an amazing variety of walks.

In La Vanoise National Park walkers will discover the natural wonders of France. With over 300 miles of footpaths criss-crossing the park (including two long-distance trails), numerous towering peaks, the Vanoise will keep even the most ambitious visitor occupied for weeks.

Meribel also sits at the doorway to the Tueda Natural Reserve, which encompasses 2700 acres of natural preserved beauty. Around Lake Tueda, very rare types of evergreen grow and you will discover a marked botanical trail. This allows visitors to discover over 80 species of alpine flora.

This is one of the most popular activities that we can organize. Although there is the obvious adrenaline buzz when you step off the mountain, this is quickly followed by an incredible feeling of peace as you admire the Alps from a totally different perspective.

This popular sport will take you to dizzying heights and is an experience not to be missed. You will be strapped into a harness and joined to an experienced professional paragliding pilot. To take off you will simply run down a gentle slope at the top of a mountain and, before you realized what has happened, the canopy will catch the wind and lift you up into the sky.

The pilot will do all of the flying so that you can just relax and enjoy the ride. With the help of the thermals you will get some of the best views possible of the area and all with just the sound of the breeze in your ears. The landing is a piece of cake too, as you descend very gently you virtually just step back onto the ground.

Where better to experience the thrills and excitement of mountain biking than in the stunning scenery and perfect terrain of the French Alps. There are mountain bike trails around the 3 Valley's suitable for everyone.

Since 1998, Meribel has been a French Cycle Federation Labeled mountain biking site offering riders over 100kms of marked circuits. Whether it’s riding up tough climbs, down incredible descents or in idyllic mountain pastures Meribel is the perfect location for every kind of biker. You can decide to bring your own bike or hire one when you get here.

If you are up for a challenge, then between the 7th & 8th July amateur riders can compete in the 3 Valleys Mountain Bike Challenge alongside world-class professionals, in a series of events of varying difficulty. These include a 70km tour of all 3 valleys, and a timed descent of the 7,000ft drop from the top of the Saulire to Brides-les-Bains.

White Water Rafting

The 3 Valleys gives you the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of white water rafting. From gentle grade 2 rivers suitable for all the family, to grade 4 rivers for those looking for the all out adrenaline rush.

White water rafting is a great sport for those who love excitement and adventure. As the name suggests, this activity involves navigating a river, which has different degrees of difficulties in a rubber raft. The degrees of the difficulty recommended for the white water rafting trip will depend on the expertise, capability and the mix of the people who will travel in the raft.

During this exclusive journey, you will be in the safe hands of professional and highly experienced French river guides who will share with you their passion for white water and their knowledge of the river.

Hydrospeed

Hydrospeed is a river descent with a special board, and flippers. And its nuts. Flying down a roaring rapid hanging on to a floating torpedo. Hydrospeed is the ultimate whitewater sport. We use a special raft made from polyurethane designed for descending rapids. As the difficulty increases, so does the rush.

Canyoning

With a wetsuit, helmet and usually an abseiling harness - descend a water-filled canyon with a series of jumps, swims, slides and abseils. Most of the jumps are optional, but vary from 1 to 6 or 7 meters into deep pools. This is a truly exciting adventure sport.

If you would love to enjoy that ultimate height experience and the beautiful view stretching over kilometers but you are a bit afraid of heights or you don’t fancy that steep climb.

Then we are very happy to present to you the "Via Ferrata". With via ferratayour way is outlined by an engineered vertical pathway with permanently fixed cables for protection and metal ladder rungs that will ease your movement over the rock. . With a safety line you’re fastened to that steel cable during the entire trip. In this way you get the most out of your climbing performance with a minimum amount of risk!

"Via Ferrata" is Italian for "Iron Way"