Meribel is in the heart of the 3 Valleys, the biggest ski resort in the world.
Make the most of it by enjoying some lessons or guiding.
We strongly recommend that you take at least some ski/board instruction. Not only is it the best way to improve your technique, but is an excellent way to find your way around the area, and in particular to find the best snow conditions, or even some of the best restaurants and coffee stops. It is also a fun way to meet new people and find friends to ski with for years to come.
If you plan to ski off-piste then your insurance cover will require you to take a guide. We do not recommend going off piste without a properly qualified mountain guide who knows the area well. Professional mountain guides alone are allowed to guide you on glaciers.
Like most French ski resorts Meribel has its own “official mountain guides” office, with its fully qualified IFMGA mountain guides who are the top specialists of off-piste skiing and ski touring. With them you can enjoy off-piste skiing (or “free riding”), ski touring, heli-skiing, ice-climbing, and snowshoeing. Click here for the Meribel Mountain Guide website , or send them an email guides.meribel@gmail.com. Tel: +33 (0) 6 43 89 72 91. They advice that you give them at least 48 hours notice, so as not to be disappointed. Please tell them you are staying at Chalet Caro
LESSONS
We recommend that you pre-book your ski or snowboard lessons well in advance to avoid disappointment and that you do so as early as possible during the busiest times ie Christmas, New Year and other school holidays.
Private Instructors
We have our own contact list of favoured Private Instructors in Meribel, so please do contact us if you wish to be put in touch or require further information.
Ski & Board Schools
There are now many ski schools operating in the Three Vallees. Here are links to a few of them.
Meribel is fortunate to have a very good selection of Ski and Snowboard schools, and guides, including the ESF, the French Ski School that was created in 1947, when its red uniform was introduced and is still in use today. It is a group of about 250 ski schools in France, with 17,000 ski instructors making it the largest ski school in the world.
In Meribel the ESF have about 380 instructors. Click here for the Meribel ESF website where you will find 380 Instructors to welcome you during your stay, and to teach you a wide variety of techniques and disciplines. The esf Méribel team offers unique activities away from the crowdy ski lifts. In addition to ski lessons they also offer, off-piste, ski touring, ice-climbing or nordic skiing, telemark or snow shoeing, as well as Handiski in a chair.
If you prefer smaller class sizes with a more personalised service, then we recommend you contact us to help you to make your booking at one of the following ski schools who we have had some great times with.
OXYGÈNE SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL (FORMERLY MAGIC IN MOTION)
Oxygène now has ski schools in 13 French resorts, including in Meribel, where it was formerly called Magic in Motion. It is highly recommended, and offers a very personal service. It specialises in group ski or snowboard lessons, primarily taught in English, but most of their instructors speak French, Italian, Russian and other languages too.
It is renowned for its superb children’s (ages 4-5 and 6-12, with 12+ during high season) lessons with innovative activities to help kids get the most out of their time on the slopes. Beginners are particularly well catered for in the “Magic Garden”, a fun enclosed area with special equipment, exclusive to Oxygène. Groups are kept small for a more personal approach.
Oxygene instructors are also available for adult groups, private lessons and snowboarding, as well as Off-piste guiding and Adaptive lessons.
Oxygène has 5 different levels of adult group lessons, so whether you’re a complete novice or expertly experienced on the slopes they’ll find the right group for you Adult Group lessons are from about €335 for 3-hours-a-day from 09:00 till 12:00 either for 6 days Sunday to Friday , or for 5 days Monday to Friday, in groups of no more than 8 people.
Check-in on Sunday? No problem. Join your group on Monday at a reduced price. We love these 3 hour lessons as they give you more time to learn and more time to get further afield and explore the 3 Valleys, unlike other ski schools who do shorter times.
Private adult lessons are available morning, lunchtime or in the afternoon. They start at about €199 for a 2 hour lesson for 1 or 2 people: +10€ per additional person. More friends can be included up to a maximum of 8 people, reducing to price per person to a very affordable rate and hopefully making it more fun.
3, 4, 5, 7 and even 8 hour private lessons are also available, starting at €320 for a 3 hour lesson
Please contact us, or email Oxygene directly to make you booking, or with any help you need with booking your lessons – chaletcaro@oxygene.ski
Further details can be found on Oxygenes website.
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New Generations Meribel ski school are local pros with over 20 years of experience, are multilingual. They offfer a wide range of ski lessons and snowboard to cater to all ages and abilities. Including private one-to-one lessons, kids ski lessons, adult lessons, off-piste courses, and more.
The Snow Systems Ski School is made up of 70 ski and snowboard schools located in France and Switzerland! With the Snow Systems School, you have access to a wide choice of innovative courses adapted to everyone: alpine skiing and Nordic skiing, ski touring, handiskiing and taxiskiing, snowshoeing, biathlon and much more
SUPREME SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL
Supreme offers a wide range of ski lessons in some of the most popular ski resorts in France. Founded in 1991 with one aim – to offer professional, friendly ski and snowboard lessons to English speaking skiers in France
AUDACIUS AT PROSNEIGE SKI SCHOOL
Prosneige offers group lessons limited to 7 participants as well as private lessons. They are ideally located at the foot of the slopes close to the main ski lifts and ski school meeting points at Chaudanne.
What makes them stand out is the addition to their teams of certified ski instructors and experts of the 3 Valleys, they also offer an on-site rental and sales shop, and a dedicated Boot fitting store.
Prosneige offer lessons for skiing as well as for snowboarding. Also, for a small additional charge you can take advantage of their on-site ski locker at the ski school in Méribel, no more carrying your skis to the chalet or the bar!
Contact us today with your requirements and we will send you a quote for your lessons and equipment hire.