Meribel Mottaret

Renting in Méribel-Mottaret, at the heart of the 3 Valleys

Perched at 1,750 metres, Méribel-Mottaret is the highest part of the Méribel resort — and one of the most efficient bases in the 3 Valleys, the world’s largest ski area with over 600 km of linked pistes. The village is quite literally surrounded by slopes: you clip in outside the residence, ski home to the door, and the car sleeps in the car park all week.

This page helps you choose your rental in Méribel-Mottaret: the village’s different areas, from Le Laitelet to Le Hameau and Le Châtelet, the accommodation we actually offer here — studios, family apartments, large duplexes —, summer by Lake Tuéda, and the practical essentials, from lift passes to webcams.

Our concierge company is based in Méribel and lives in the valley year-round. Mottaret is our largest base: seventeen apartments and studios in Le Laitelet, all ski-in ski-out, plus one address in Le Châtelet. Every property is visited several times a season, equipped with hotel-quality bedding, linen, wifi and a ski locker, and handed over in person when you arrive.

Skiing from Mottaret

Thanks to the altitude — the local area tops out at 2,950 metres — snow is reliable from December to the end of April. That is what brings skiers back: even late in the season you ski in good conditions, often right to the door of your residence.

Position is the other trump card. At the geographical centre of the 3 Valleys, Mottaret puts Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and Méribel Centre within a day’s skiing, without ever touching the car again.

Slopes for every level

Beginners have wide green and blue runs right out of the village and learning zones at the snow front. The ESF ski school operates on the spot, with group classes, private lessons, snowboard sessions and a secure snow garden for the youngest, right next to the residences.

Confident skiers board the Plattières gondola or the Pas du Lac lift and tip over towards Val Thorens or Courchevel in minutes. Off-piste enthusiasts will find varied itineraries, best explored with an instructor.

Mont Vallon and the legendary runs

The emblem of the area, Mont Vallon tops out at 2,950 metres at the head of the valley and unrolls 1,000 metres of vertical facing the Vanoise glaciers: two legendary red runs every skier passing through Mottaret should link together.

Add the combes on the Saulire side, the Plattières boulevards and, over in Méribel, the Roc de Fer stadium where international races are held: big skiing is at home here, from first light to last.

The areas of Méribel-Mottaret

Designed as a pedestrian resort, Mottaret is staggered between 1,700 and 1,800 metres. Its areas are connected by free shuttles, public lifts and a gondola, so everything is done on foot or on skis.

Choosing the right area matters as much as choosing the right apartment: balcony orientation, exact distance to the piste, proximity to the ESF or the shops. Here is how the village reads, the way our guests actually use it.

Le Laitelet, the largest base in our collection

Perched on the heights on the west side, Le Laitelet enjoys the morning sun and superb mountain views. Apartments here are very often ski-in ski-out — many open directly onto the Perdrix piste — and the shops are reached by public lifts and shuttles.

This is where most of our Mottaret properties are gathered: the Gentianes, Provères and Cembros residences, renovated apartments 150 metres from the slopes or with direct access, Aiguille du Fruit and Mont Vallon facing the piste, and Creux de l’Ours, whose south-facing balconies overlook the Perdrix.

The area has one more advantage for families: the ESF keeps a meeting point here, and several of our apartments — the Gébroulaz in particular — sit literally opposite it, 20 metres from the shops. On lesson mornings, that changes everything.

Le Hameau in Méribel-Mottaret, quiet and family-friendly

Slightly away from the bustle, Le Hameau is Mottaret’s peaceful corner. You stay here for the calm while keeping direct access to the slopes via the chairlifts — and the centre remains a few minutes away by free shuttle and gondola.

Our Hameau apartments capture its spirit well: the 61 m² Gébroulaz duplex for eight guests, with two south-facing balconies and covered parking, the Cimes 1 residence with direct access to the Perdrix piste, and Cimes 2, dual-aspect three-bedroom apartments with private covered parking and a ski locker.

Le Châtelet and the resort centre

On the other side, Le Châtelet is the newest area: modern, well-equipped residences, afternoon light and a handy starting point for Mont Vallon. Here we offer a duplex in the Pralin residence, with direct access to the pistes and to the Plattières, Pas du Lac and Combes chairlifts.

The resort centre, finally, is Mottaret’s lively heart: mini-market, bakery, ski hire shops, Savoyard restaurants, bars and cinema are all gathered here, along with the lift pass desks and the ski school meeting points. A rental near the snow front puts all of it a few minutes’ walk away.

Staying in Mottaret: studios, apartments and duplexes

In Mottaret, accommodation means residences set right on the piste. Our collection favours exactly that format: ski-in ski-out properties selected, equipped and looked after by our team — full kitchen, wifi, linen provided, cleaning and an in-person welcome included, heated ski lockers.

Every size is covered, from a 28 m² studio to a 91 m² duplex. To compare only the properties sitting on the snow, browse our selection of ski-in ski-out rentals in Méribel, which covers Mottaret and the rest of the valley.

Studios and compact apartments

For two to four guests, Mottaret’s studios are remarkably efficient. The Aiguille du Fruit studio — 28 m², south-east facing, two sofa beds — opens directly onto the Perdrix piste; the studio in the Mont Vallon residence faces the Chalets gondola, private parking included.

In the Gébroulaz residence, two ground-floor, full-south apartments of 25 and 35 m² sleep up to four, opposite the ESF meeting point and 20 metres from the shops. Wifi, bed linen and cleaning are included: just drop your bags.

Family apartments and large duplexes

Families are well served by the renovated one and two-bedroom apartments: Provères with its 50 m², master bedroom and bunk corner a few steps from the shops, Cembros with its plunging view over the slopes, or Gentianes, 150 metres from the pistes and designed for five.

For bigger groups, the duplexes take over: Creux de l’Ours sleeps up to nine behind its south-facing balcony looking onto the Perdrix, and the Mont Vallon duplex lines up 91 m², three bedrooms and two bathrooms for ten.

Looking for a chalet?

In Mottaret itself, chalet living comes in the form of the Les Chalets d’Ouréa residence: a brand-new 100 m² apartment with three bedrooms, a vast living room, a large terrace and high-end finishes, walking access to the slopes and private covered parking.

For a stand-alone chalet with real capacity, our collection extends to the Méribel side: Chalet Panicaut, ski-in ski-out in the La Renarde district, opens its picture windows onto a panorama taking in Méribel, Mottaret and Mont Vallon. We cover both villages — tell us your priorities, the team knows every building.

Summer in Mottaret: Lake Tuéda on the horizon

In summer, the resort reinvents itself as a high-altitude base camp. The coolness of 1,750 metres works wonders in August, rates soften considerably and the big apartments open up to extended families.

The main asset sits at the village gates: the Tuéda plateau and its lake, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park, form one of the valley’s most beautiful landscapes, a few minutes’ walk from the residences. Mottaret offers the most direct access to the nature reserve.

The Lake Tuéda loop

Starting from Plan Ravet, just above Mottaret, the trail circles the lake in around an hour: 1.8 kilometres and 30 metres of climb, in the heart of the reserve. The Arolla pine forest lining the lake is one of the most remarkable in the Alps.

It is the family walk par excellence, and the gateway to our summer itineraries: you will find it in our guide to hiking in Méribel, graded by level, from the lake loop to full mountain days.

Refuges, passes and mountain activities

Seasoned walkers push on to the Refuge du Saut, in the valley above the reserve: allow four and a half hours, 13.9 kilometres and 525 metres of climb from Mottaret. In winter, the same scenery is explored on snowshoes or along the cross-country track, between century-old larches.

Around the lake and across the valley, summer also means mountain biking and enduro on waymarked trails, via ferrata, trail running and lake fishing. A quieter, wilder mountain — and sunsets over Mont Vallon worth the journey alone.

Lift passes and webcams: planning your days

At the geographical centre of the area, Mottaret is where the 3 Valleys pass — 600 km of pistes — pays off best: every valley becomes a ski-to day trip. For a family stay focused on learning, the Méribel Valley pass and its 150 km are more than enough.

No need to queue on arrival: we prepare the whole group’s passes with your booking, and they are waiting in the apartment. Options and areas are detailed on our page dedicated to the Méribel lift pass.

Before you travel — and during your stay — a glance at the live Méribel webcams lets you check the snow, the day’s weather and the mood at the snow front. It is also the best way to pick your side of the mountain over breakfast.

Getting to Méribel-Mottaret

By train, TGV and winter Eurostar services run to Moûtiers, a 30-minute drive away; we then arrange your transfer, or you ride up by shuttle. By air, allow 1h45 from Chambéry and around 2h30 from Geneva or Lyon. By car, the A430 leads to Moûtiers before the climb through Les Allues and Méribel — winter equipment is mandatory from November to March.

Once you are here, the car sleeps in the car park: free shuttles, the Chalets gondola and your skis replace the wheel all week. Several of our residences offer covered parking or free parking close by — tell us if that matters, and we will steer your choice.

Mottaret through the season

Christmas and New Year transform the resort: decorations, torchlit descents by the ski schools on the snow front, fireworks. Demand is very high, so book early. February remains the most family-oriented period, carried by optimal snow and the school holiday entertainment.

January and March are the clever months: excellent snow, quieter pistes, often more attractive rates. April, finally, plays the spring skiing card towards Mont Vallon, with long sunny days until closing.

Après-ski happens on the snow-front terraces, drink in hand as the last skiers carve home, before moving on to the centre’s bars and cinema. The mood is more relaxed and family-friendly than in Méribel Centre — ten minutes by shuttle covers the bigger nights out, and our concierge delivers raclette, groceries or a private chef for cocooning evenings.

Frequently asked questions about Méribel-Mottaret

How high is the resort? The village sits between 1,700 and 1,800 metres, with the local area topping out at 2,950 metres at Mont Vallon — a guarantee of reliable snow from December to April.

Is Mottaret genuinely ski-in ski-out? The vast majority of residences sit piste-side; we confirm each property’s exact configuration before you book.

How does it differ from Méribel Centre? More altitude and doorstep skiing in Mottaret, more village life in the centre — ten shuttle minutes apart, and we cover both.

Is the resort good for beginners? Yes: learning zones at the snow front, ski schools at the base of the village and gentle runs on the lower slopes.

Can you come without a car? Easily: train to Moûtiers, a transfer, then free shuttles and the Chalets gondola — the whole stay works without driving.

Is there a supermarket in the resort? Yes: mini-market, bakery and shops in the pedestrian centre, with grocery delivery to your apartment through our concierge.

What about non-skiers? Snowshoeing towards Tuéda, pedestrian gondola rides for mountain lunches, the cinema and wellness treatments fill the week effortlessly.

Book your rental in Méribel-Mottaret

A modern ski-in ski-out apartment, a studio facing the Perdrix, a family duplex or a home near the ESF: our collection covers every format in the village, selected and looked after by a team that lives in the valley all year round.

By booking direct you get the best prices and a local contact before, during and after your stay — passes, lessons and equipment can even be waiting in the apartment on day one.