Andorra is a European microstate, lost high in the Pyrenees mountains, between Spain and France. Despite its small size, four times smaller than the territory of Moscow, this high-mountainous republic is an important center of world tourism. Suffice it to say that this country with a population of 70 thousand is visited annually by over 9 million travelers. Most of them are attracted here by the wonderful ski resorts located in the picturesque valleys of the Pyrenees.
The local winter recreation industry is distinguished by a high level of service and infrastructure support. There are wonderful slopes designed for skiers of different skill levels, fashionable restaurants and inexpensive taverns, luxury hotels and budget campsites. If desired, tourists will be able to combine active recreation with exploring local remarkable places, of which Andorra abounds – medieval towns located in amazingly beautiful mountain valleys with lakes and waterfalls.
Pal / Arinsal
Not far from the capital of Andorra there are two resorts, essentially representing a single ski area. It was opened in 1973, when ski slopes were laid on the nearby slopes and the first ski lifts were installed. The two small ancient towns of Pal and Arinsal, although located within walking distance of each other, differ in the tourist activities they offer. Pal is a calm settlement, considered an excellent place for families with children, while Arsinal is the center of youth life with night discos and bars. There is a cable car between these cities, so travelers can easily get from one tourist area to another.
Experienced riders are attracted here by significant elevation changes, exceeding a kilometer figure. They have access to unequipped virgin slopes of the highest difficulty category. There are also gentle, safe slopes for beginner skiers and children, and a snow park with jumps and slides for freestyle and snowboarding. The slopes are equipped with lifts that deliver skiers to any starting point, and Pal-Arinsal ranks first in Andorra in terms of the provision of snowmakers per kilometer of slopes. The resort has a well-developed infrastructure: comfortable hotels and affordable campsites, chic restaurants and budget eateries, 24-hour bars and night discos await vacationers here.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 1010 meters
- Resort altitude – 1550 – 2560 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 63 km
- Number of tracks – 41
- “Green” – 4 pcs.
- “Blue” – 16 pcs.
- “Red” – 16 pcs.
- “Black” – 5 pcs.
- Lifts – 31 (3 gondola, 11 chairlifts, 17 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 39€ / 35€
- Season duration – December – March
Vallnord
Vallnord is a relatively young resort region of Andorra, which includes several winter recreation centers. It is located near the border with Spanish Catalonia, ten kilometers from the capital of the country, Andorra la Vella. There are a variety of slopes here, some of which are intended for inexperienced beginners, while others can cause an adrenaline rush in even the most experienced freerider. The high level of technical equipment of the slopes, equipped with snow cannons, mechanical lifts and lighting systems, will not leave vacationers indifferent.
The range of active entertainment provided by Vallnord is quite wide. Travelers are offered snowboarding, freestyle skiing, ski biking, and orienteering. Tourists will also be able to stroll through the picturesque surroundings on snowbikes or snowshoes, and explore the beauty of the Pyrenees Mountains from a helicopter. In the neighboring town of La Massana there is a large indoor sports complex with fitness rooms, a squash court and tennis courts. You can satisfy your hunger in Vallnord in one of the many restaurants with national flavor or in an inexpensive tavern serving local cuisine.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 685 meters
- Resort altitude – 1940 – 2625 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 92 km
- Number of tracks – 67
- “Green” – 14 pcs., 17 km
- “Blue” – 21 units, 30 km
- “Reds” – 26 units, 35 km
- “Black” – 6 pcs., 10 km
- Lifts – 30 (2 gondola, 11 chairlifts, 17 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 39€ / 35€
- Season duration – December – March
Ordino / Arcalis
This region is located in the north-west of the country, near the French capital. High mountain ranges provide excellent conditions for active winter sports, primarily alpine skiing and snowboarding. Most of the slopes are intended for average amateurs who do not have outstanding sports experience. But there are also a couple of truly extreme “black” trails that can satisfy the needs of experienced freeriders. The total area of the ski area is 440 hectares, of which more than three hundred are used for off-piste downhill skiing.
In the resort area of Ordino, the main objects of additional tourist infrastructure are concentrated – hotels and chalets, restaurants and taverns, bars and nightclubs. Arcalis, on the other hand, is more focused on sports recreation, and the most interesting trails, a snow park with jumps, and a ski school for beginners are located here. In addition, both towns will be able to provide travelers with an extensive cultural program with a tour of local medieval attractions and museum exhibitions. There is a single ski pass for both resort areas, so skiers can easily enjoy the slopes in both Arsinal and Ordino.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 685 meters
- Resort altitude – 1940 – 2625 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 30 km
- Number of tracks – 25
- “Green” – 7 pcs., 10 km.
- “Blue” – 6 units, 8 km
- “Reds” – 10 units, 10 km
- “Black” -2 pcs., 2 km
- Lift in – 9 (4 chairlifts, 5 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 39€ / 36€
- Season duration – December – March
Canillo
Canillo is a small ancient town that has perfectly preserved the spirit of the Middle Ages and attracts thousands of history buffs. Since the end of the twentieth century, this place has also been actively developing as a ski center. During this time, fashionable five-star hotels, such as Ski Plaza, were built here. Near the hotel complexes there is a lower station of cable cars that take tourists to the starting points at an altitude of 2.5 km. Canillo is perfect for families with children. There is a ski kindergarten for kids, where they can learn the basics of skiing under the guidance of experienced mentors.
The resort has a large ice sports complex, Palau de Gel, where vacationers can skate or play hockey, relax in the sauna or swim in the indoor pool. The evening entertainment program usually includes visits to restaurants with local flavor, night bars and discos. Men will undoubtedly be interested in the motorcycle museum in Canillo with dozens of rare bikes produced over the years in different parts of the world.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 850 meters
- Resort altitude – 1710-2560 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 92 km
- Number of tracks – 52
- “Green” – 10 pcs.
- “Blue” – 19 pcs.
- “Red” – 13 pcs.
- “Black” – 10 pcs.
- Lifts – 60 (4 gondola, 30 chairlifts, 26 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 44€ / 39€
- The duration of the season is December – March.
Pas de la Casa / Grau Roig
Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig are two neighboring ski centers, which together form an extensive resort area for winter sports. This is a very lively and popular resort in Andorra, attracting thousands of tourists with its superbly equipped slopes and high level of service. There are also safe, gentle trails for beginners, steep winding slopes and virgin slopes for extreme freeriders, and areas for freestyle and snowboarding. All slopes are well equipped with additional infrastructure facilities. These are snow cannons, evening spotlights and mechanical lifts that deliver vacationers even to the highest starting points.
In total, there are over a hundred kilometers of pistes here, so even during the high ski season in Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig there is no crowding and crowds of people on the lifts and starting points. Near the slopes there are fashionable hotels, individual chalets and inexpensive campsites, snack bars and restaurants. The most expensive and respectable of them are the Coll Blanc and Lac des Pessons restaurants, where visitors are served real culinary masterpieces.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 590 meters
- Resort altitude – 2050 – 2640 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 100 km
- Number of tracks – 58
- “Green” – 8 pcs.
- “Blue” – 11 pcs.
- “Red” – 23 pcs.
- “Black” – 16 pcs.
- Lifts – 33 (1 gondola, 16 chairlifts, 16 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 44€ / 39€
- The duration of the season is December – March
Grandvalira
Grandvalira is located in a mountain valley on the border with France , and is the largest cluster of resort areas in Andorra. Travelers are attracted here by the huge number of trails built on the surrounding mountain slopes. Their total number exceeds a hundred with a length of more than 200 km. All of them are provided with all the necessary equipment: snow generators, evening lighting, high-speed lifts. Here is the longest track in the entire Pyrenees, Tossa de Losada, almost 10 km long and with a height difference of 800 meters.
For all areas included in the Guadvalira ski region, a single ski pass is valid. In addition to ski slopes, there are several ski parks on the surrounding mountain slopes for snowboarders and freestyle fans. They are equipped with jumps, slides, snow fields and boardercross tracks. Grandvalira provides experienced freeriders with ample opportunities for off-piste skiing on virgin snow.
You can relax après-ski here in numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs, or go for entertainment in the capital of the country, located seven kilometers from the resort. A visit to Grandvalira will leave indelible memories for both experienced athletes and beginners – it’s not for nothing that this resort is one of the world’s twenty best places for alpine skiing.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 930 meters
- Resort altitude – 1710 – 2640 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 210 km
- Number of tracks – 118
- “Green” – 21 pcs., 12 km
- “Blue” – 42 units, 65 km
- “Reds” – 30 units, 76 km
- “Black” – 25 units, 57 km
- Lifts – 52 (4 gondola, 30 chairlifts, 18 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 44€ / 39€
- The duration of the season is December – March.
Soldeu / El Tarter
The ski area of the resorts of Soldeu and El Tarter is located one and a half dozen kilometers from the Andorran capital. These two high mountain villages are separated by a distance of only 3 km, and both resorts have a single area for winter sports. They are also united by a common ski pass, which gives the right to use the ski lifts in both Soldeu and El Tarter. All slopes in the resort area, of which there are about eight dozen, are well equipped technically. For kids, there is a flat Bababum-Circus track, virgin slopes for freeriding and a snow park for snowboarders. 380 snow generators installed along the slopes will not allow any weather surprises to spoil the pleasure of skiing.
Beginners can benefit from the services of experienced instructors at the local ski school. Families with a small child will be able to temporarily leave their child in the care of animators and nannies at a local kindergarten. Finding a place to stay overnight or have a snack after active sports will not be a problem. The resort has more than forty cafes, bars and restaurants, there are respectable hotel complexes and affordable inexpensive hostels. Special mention should be made of local boutiques where you can purchase fashion accessories, ski equipment and sportswear at very affordable prices.
Specifications:
- Height difference – 850 meters
- Resort altitude – 1710 – 2560 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 92 km
- Number of tracks : El Tarter – 30, Soldeu – 48
- “Greens” – El Tarter – 3, Soldeu – 6
- “Blues” – El Tarter – 7, Soldeu – 14
- “Reds” – El Tarter – 5, Soldeu – 5
- “Blacks” – El Tarter – 4, Soldeu – 7
- Lifts – El Tarter – 11, Soldeu – 16
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 44€ / 39€
- The duration of the season is December – March.
Encamp
The Encamp ski resort is located not far from the capital of the country, and is known as one of the most expensive and fashionable winter recreation centers in all of Europe. There are expensive restaurants and comfortable hotels, a large indoor sports complex, museums, fashion boutiques and shopping centers. If desired, vacationers can visit Andorra la Vella, located just a few kilometers from Encamp.
The resort has all the conditions for families with children to relax: the baby can be left in the care of an animator in a local kindergarten. Also, the child will be able to master the basics of skiing under the guidance of professional trainers in one of the ski schools. You can get to the starting point here directly from the center of the town thanks to the 6-kilometer Funicamp funicular. In terms of the quality of the slopes and their technical equipment, Encamp is one of the best ski centers in Europe .
Specifications:
- Height difference – 930 meters
- Resort altitude – 1710 – 2640 meters
- Length of ski slopes – 210 km
- Number of tracks – 118
- “Green” – 21 pcs., 12 km
- “Blue” – 42 units, 65 km
- “Reds” – 30 units, 76 km
- “Black” – 25 units, 57 km
- Lifts – 59 (4 gondola, 24 chairlifts, 31 rope tows)
- Ski pass per day in high/low season – 39€ / 44€
- The duration of the season is December – March.