Mountaineering in the Vanoise from Méribel
Situated in the heart of the Tarentaise region, just a stone's throw from the Vanoise National Park, Méribel is an ideal starting point for discovering mountaineering in the Vanoise. Whether you want to try your hand at ridge running or glacier trekking, climb the massif's iconic peaks, break the 3,000 m barrier, or aim for the highest peak in Savoie and flirt with the 4,000 m mark, it's all possible.
Of course, Méribel's guides can also take you much further afield, to the Mont Blanc massif to climb to the top of Europe, or on major mountaineering courses such as the traverse of the Meije in the Ecrins!
Introductory races :
Major summits :
For a glacier hike, all you need is a good physical condition and there are no technical prerequisites.
For easy ridge climbs, a first climbing experience is a real plus, as is being comfortable with heights.
For the more classic or major summits, we require previous mountaineering experience so that you can move with confidence in the high mountains.
We accept young people aged 12 and over for glacier treks. For more challenging routes, we determine the minimum age on a case-by-case basis, depending on the level required.
The vast majority of our tours include an overnight stay in a refuge. You sleep in dormitories, share a convivial meal in the common room, and then we get up very early - at around 4 a.m. - to take advantage of the nightly refreezing on the glaciers and make headway before any summer storms.
Some shorter routes, such as the traverse of the Aiguille de la Vanoise or the Aiguille de Mey, can be considered as day trips.
You must be equipped with a straight ice axe, crampons, a harness, a helmet and waterproof, rigid, cramponable and sufficiently warm mountaineering boots.
A 30-litre bag with ice-axe attachment and a one-litre water bottle complete the equipment.
All this equipment can be hired in Méribel.
We travel light because we carry all our own equipment. So the idea is to pack the bare essentials: Gore-Tex jacket, fleece, light down jacket, long-sleeved technical t-shirt, mountaineering trousers, small abrasion-resistant gloves (leather or PU palm), a pair of large gloves at the bottom of the bag, hat or cap depending on the weather, neck warmer, UV4 sunglasses, as well as a change of clothes and a mini toilet bag for the refuge.
You will go over your complete equipment with your guide before setting off.
In the evening, we enjoy a hearty dinner in the refuge, followed by a substantial breakfast very early in the morning. During the day, we eat regularly: seeds, bars, dried fruit, chocolate, cheese, sausage, etc. Depending on the conditions and the pace we need to keep up, we can sometimes take a real snack break. But the mountain omelette in the refuge on the way down remains the best option!
For the day, bring a water bottle of at least 1L, 1.5L for comfort.
Unrivalled 3V expertise
Our guides are experts in vertical climbing and the 3 Valleys, and will help you discover all their secrets!
Made-to-measure top-of-the-range
From family introductions to adrenalin-seeking riders, our Guides will satisfy your thirst for adventure!
