Where to ski in Andorra
This winter, you want to go to a winter sports resort in the Pyrenees, but you're not sure which destination to choose between France, Spain and Andorra. We'll give you some advice and a breakdown of the best areas to go to, depending on what you want.
Your winter holiday in Andorra in a ski resort is mainly based around a family holiday, a holiday with friends, are you looking for thrills with technical slopes or do you prefer hiking? Here are some of the features of Andorra's ski resorts to help you choose.
Andorra has three winter sports resorts: Ordino Arcalís, Pal Arinsal and Grandvalira, which are themselves divided into several sectors.
Pal Arinsal: the family resort
Planning a family holiday? Pal Arinsal is the resort for you! Accessible from the centre of the parish of La Massana by cable car, it comprises two sectors: Pal and Arinsal!
With 63 kilometres of pistes and 52 ski runs, many of the runs are suitable for young children, with 7 green runs and 18 blue runs, and 3 schools offering ski lessons in 2 or 3 languages! The little ones can also enjoy the snow and have fun in the 2 children's snow gardens at Pal Arinsal. Conveyor belts make it easier to get up some of the slopes!
You can even try your hand at a novel activity with snow bike hire in Pal-Arinsal! Available from the age of 12, you can enjoy this activity with the whole family. New to the sport? Before you set off, an instructor will show you how to use this slightly different kind of bike.
Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig: perfect for enjoying the nightlife
If you are travelling from France, the Pas de la Casa sector is the closest to the border and the first point of access to the Grandvalira ski area and the Principality.
Enjoy ideal snow and weather conditions for skiing and a great holiday! Après-ski life is also very well developed in Pas de la Casa, with a lively nightlife: popular clubs with sun loungers and DJs, bars or gather at La Plage Blanche, a huge terrace where you can relax after a day's skiing with drinks, snacks and, of course, music! The population at Pas de la Casa is often younger and a little less family-orientated than in other areas of Andorra's ski resorts.
Naturland: Nordic skiing paradise
Naturland isn't really a ski resort in the strict sense of the word; it's mainly an adventure park where families can enjoy a wide range of activities, including rail sledging and snowmobiling.
But Naturland is also the home of Nordic and cross-country skiing! Naturland is situated between 850 and 2,600 metres above sea level, so you can enjoy incredible panoramic views and snow-covered landscapes! At La Rabassa in Andorra, you can enjoy 15 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails that are accessible to everyone, even beginner cross-country skiers. Don't have your own equipment? Don't worry, you can hire it on site. Of course, if you'd like an introduction to cross-country skiing, you can take cross-country skiing lessons at Naturland.
Do you prefer snowshoeing? Naturland also has snowshoe tours of different durations and difficulties to suit everyone. Don't hesitate to ask the instructors or Naturland staff for advice on the best routes to choose!
El Tarter: for thrill-seekers
Grandvalira's El Tarter sector has hosted several World Cup and European Cup events on its FIS-approved slopes.
If you're a fan of downhill skiing and a slope with an impressive vertical drop, come and try out the Àliga SG and Àliga DH slopes. Forming an X, they have a vertical drop of 600 and 750 metres respectively, and the maximum gradient of the two slopes is 56%!
Snowboarders will be able to try their hand at the El Tarter Snowpark modules as they hurtle down the 1.3 kilometres of piste. The snowpark is divided into three zones: the beginners' zone for those just starting out, the progression zone and the expert zone for those with plenty of freestyle experience. Prefer to ski? No problem! The slope is also accessible to skiers.
Andorra offers a wide range of ski resorts to suit all types of holidaymaker. Whether you're travelling with the family, with friends or looking for a thrill, each resort has its own charm. Each sector of the resorts and ski areas has facilities to suit the type of holiday you're looking for: a family trip with child-friendly facilities, with friends to enjoy the nightlife after a day on the slopes, etc. Nordic skiing and freestyle skiing or snowboarding enthusiasts will also find something to suit them!
We can suggest other winter activities in Andorra that are accessible to everyone. Whatever your preference, Andorra promises a memorable stay in the heart of the Pyrenees.