Once the ski runs have closed for the day, try your hand at driving these 500cc two seater motorbikes built specially for the snow. With the rear wheel replaced with a caterpillar track for momentum and the front wheel swapped for a pair of skis for steering - snowmobiles are incredibly quick and able machines whether snow, ice or even water is put in front of them.

Whether your a beginner or you've done it several times before after some expert instruction and tuition your soon be out on an open country trail enjoying the buzz and adrenalin rush of being in control of a snow scooter through deep powder (when there is some!) and speeding up and down the ski runs in the quiet of a late moon lit evening whilst  closely observed by the highly experienced instructors.

The Snowmobiling company in Meribel is not officially based in Meribel itself, its further up the valley in Meribel Motterat. The exact location of Snowmobiling is in an area of Motterat called La Hammau which is at the very top of Motterat right next to the Perdix ski run where the hotel and apartment buildings finish.

The free bus from Meribel can be caught from the bus stop outside the Parc Olympic by La Chaudanne - Meribel's main ski lift area. You will need to catch the Number 3 bus to Motterat and get off at the last stop - Le Hammau. You will know that it is Le Hammau as the bus would have climbed all the way up the hill through Motterat and come to a final stop next to a roundabout. Once off the bus if you look up the hill you will see the Snowmobile office perched at the very end of the apartment building blocks. From here you need to walk up the road with the wooden barrier separating the lanes and then into the car park when the road finishes. Walk to the far end of the car Park and then up the piste on the left hand-side to the Snowmobiling office.

Collected from your chalet you and the other participants will be transported straight to the Snowmobiling venue for your chosen Snowmobiling excursion. The Whitetracks host will then walk with you to the Snowmobiling office where they will introduce you all the Instructors, answer any final questions or queries that you may have and make sure that you are being looked after properly.

As your Snowmobiling excursion finishes the Whitetracks host will be at the Snowmobiling office waiting for your return, ready to escort you back to your chalet or hotel in Meribel. Whitetracks Host

Before any Snowmobiling excursion commences there is a safety brief followed by a driving test to make sure that everyone in the group has understood all the instructions. 

The Discovery trip, as it suggests is to discover Snowmobiles. It is the Beginner / Intermediate level Snowmobiling excursion. The discovery trip is the only trip that you are allowed to carry passengers on your Snowmobile. To drive a snowmobile you need to be 18+ years old but passengers can be as young as 6/7 as long as they hold on tight!

After the driving test you will all follow in a line - keeping a safe distance between you and the Snowmobile in front - STRICTLY NO OVERTAKING. The Discovery trip will take you along ski runs, around mountain restaurants, through gullies and on to a track.

When at the track the passenger is told to get off the Snowmobile and the driver is let loose around the marked out oval. If the passenger is able to drive this is the time to swap over driver duties. The passenger can then drive the journey back to the Snowmobiling Office.

For those of you that do not want to drive you can ride behind one of the professional guides, but hold on tight as this is one of the fastest and most exciting rides available. You are only allowed to ride behind a guide on a Discovery Excursion.

The Sport trip is for those among you that are fuelled by adrenalin! The Sport trip is the Intermediate / Advanced Snowmobiling excursion that allows a maximum 6 bikes out at a time, with 'NO' passengers and only one instructor. As long as all the rules are obeyed i.e. speeds and distances this excursion is one that you will never forget. Powder snow when we have some, driving up embankments, flat-out up the pistes is only a few experiences of driving a Snowmobile that you will encounter. A MUST if you have Quad bike or Jet Ski / bike experience.

Some of the helmets have visors BUT the majority don't! There are no rules or safety instructions saying that you need to wear goggles and many people prefer not to. Please bring goggles if you decide not to wear them you can.

Dress for what could be an extremely cold evening - its more comfortable being hot that being very cold. In Mid-Winter, December, Jan and February all the excursions including the 5.30pm (1730hrs) will be in the dark under moonlight and Snowmobile headlamps. Temperatures could be as low as -35°c with the wind chill factor. In March and April when the days are getting longer and lighter, the start of the 6.30pm excursion could be in daylight and much warmer.

Engine specs - acceleration 0-60, torque, horsepower etc

caterpillar track for momentum

Bikes differ slightly from company to company but the basic controls are the same!