New and improved lifts and gondolas in Méribel

I am one of those skiers who, once I put my skis on, I want to keep them on while out skiing to avoid all the faff of having to take them off and carry them somewhere.

It’s so satisfying for me when you can ski right up to the entrance of a chairlift – when there are no queues – then slide forward to wait for a chair to come around and gently scoop you into a sitting position for your journey up the mountain.

Of course, this is OK when the weather is pleasant, and it’s not below freezing, or there’s a biting ice cold wind that cuts through you like a knife.

This is when a gondola offers a more comfortable – and some would argue a more social – way of getting up the mountain. Plus, they are usually faster and can carry more passengers than a chairlift.

Skiers and snowboarders visiting Meribel, and its neighbouring linked resorts in The Three Valleys, who prefer a gondola as their mode of transport up the mountain, will be pleased to learn that this season there is a new addition to the lift system.

After decades as a chairlift, the Côte Brune 6-seater chairlift has been replaced by a gondola lift. It has 50 spacious cabins that can each carry up to 10 people, enabling it to transport 2,600 skiers per hour thanks to separate boarding platforms.

The new Côte Brune gondola starts at the end of the Méribel valley, close to the top of the Plattières gondola, and finishes at Col de la Chambre. This provides a link to Val Thorens and Les Menuires in the Three Valleys ski area.

From the summit of the Col de la Chambre, there is access to pistes which are suitable for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. You will also find a range of restaurants to choose from.

This is not the only improvement to the Méribel lift system this season. The existing Rhodos gondola, which serves the Rond Point and Altiport areas, has been updated and improved with new cabins and upgrades for the mid and base stations. There will be future improvements to the top station next year.

There is a new green piste from the Rhodos mid-station down to Rond-Point, providing an easier route for beginners or those who just want to enjoy a gentle run back down.

Also for novices, the Doron magic carpet in the Méribel-Mottaret beginner’s area has been upgraded.

A new cable lift now links Rond-Point to the new Rhodos gondola mid-station, making it easier for beginners to reach. In the Rond-Point area, the Doron piste has been widened where the former Adret lift used to be.

The winter ski season for Les 3 Vallées opens on 6 December 2025 and runs through to 17 April 2026. Look out for news of other improvements in Méribel in future blogs.

For more information on Méribel and the accommodation available this season through Ski Line, CLICK HERE