In the eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France is a dwarf state — the Principality of Andorra. Such a modest size does not detract from the advantages of the highest country in Europe after Switzerland. Nature has generously rewarded the principality with breathtaking beauty of valleys, wooded slopes and snow-white mountain peaks. There are cozy villages with a developed tourist infrastructure.
The ski resorts of Andorra are hospitable to many lovers of active winter recreation. Tourists are given the opportunity to spend an exciting time on well-groomed, safe and certified trails of various levels of difficulty. In the picturesque towns there are cozy hotels and entertainment and sports complexes, ski schools and restaurants, shops and a variety of health centers.
Arinsal
At an altitude of between 1,550 and 2,560 meters, near the border with Spain, is the popular ski resort of Arinsal. It consists of two small towns surrounded by mountain ranges and connected to each other by a new lift-telekabina “Seturia”.
The resort attracts many fans of active sports activities with its excellent snow cover, perfect slope preparation and developed infrastructure. It offers hotels, bars, restaurants, equipment rental, a fitness club and shops.
Arinsal is perfect for novice skiers and high-level professional athletes. There are 46 tracks of various levels of difficulty laid out here. Their total length is 63 km. The length range of the ski lines is 1,550-2,573 meters, and the height difference reaches more than 1,000 meters.
At the disposal of athletes there are wide gentle green slopes, as well as high-speed steep narrow red and black sections. Professionals will enjoy off-piste skiing areas that can be tested after heavy snowfall.
Ordino-Arcalis
One of the most remote ski resorts from the capital of Andorra is Ordino Arcalis. This picturesque place is especially famous for its unique highland landscape. Peaked peaks and peaks of majestic mountain ranges rise above the valley. It offers ideal conditions for an exciting winter holiday.
The resort offers its guests hotels with comfortable rooms and an entertainment center where you can play active games, relax in the pool and visit the solarium. Restaurants, equipment rentals and a sports school are also available.
Ordino-Arcalis is suitable for the category of skiers whose skiing level is above average. Here athletes can enjoy plenty of skiing on well-groomed and comfortable tracks of varying degrees of difficulty. The ski complex is equipped with rope and chair lifts. At an altitude of 1,940-2,625 meters, there are black, red, blue and green ski routes.
Virgin areas alternate with steep and gentle simple descents. Experienced skiers will enjoy challenging steep narrow forest trails in mountain gorges between the rocks. Fans of extreme skiing will enjoy a mogul (bumpy) slope. Snowboarders are welcomed by the snow park with jumps and various shaped ramps for performing tricks.
Grau-Roch
On the border with France stretches one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Andorra — Grau Roch. A high-altitude sports town in the Pyrenees is located in two valleys at once. Their slopes impress with a variety of well-groomed trails, as well as high-quality snow cover throughout the season.
The developed infrastructure guarantees numerous tourists an unforgettable pastime in Grau Roch. Vacationers can stay in hotel bases with all amenities. The resort has quite a large number of restaurants, bars, discos, shops, equipment rental points.
The ski resort has ski areas at altitudes from 2,050 to 2,640 meters. Green, blue, red and black trails with a total length of about 100 km are organized for beginners and experienced skiers. Thanks to the vast expanses of snow and long roll-outs on the slopes, speed skating is practically not dangerous.
Tourists will find a considerable selection of rolled wide sections. Professionals should pay attention to the complex twisting mogul (hilly) slopes. For fans of snowboarding, there is a special park equipped with a half-pipe and ski jumps.
Pas de la Casa
The picturesque town is the largest ski resort in Andorra. The resort has a well-developed infrastructure from hotels to modern ski lifts, as well as a large selection of trails of various levels of difficulty — from gentle for inexperienced skiers to steep for experienced athletes. From December to mid-April, the weather is pleasant with an abundance of sunny days with sufficient snow cover and moderate temperatures.
The Pas de la Casa trails are located at an altitude of 1 550 — 2 560 meters. High-altitude complex red and black slopes alternate with more gentle and easy routes for those who have just started to learn skiing or snowboarding. In total, there are 55 descents, which are served by 32 lifts.
There are quite a few trails in the valley designed for confident skiers.
For beginners, wide slopes with a minimum slope angle are available for training. For snowboard lovers, there is a whole park with all sorts of jumps. Tourists will be interested in visiting the sports and entertainment center with a swimming pool, spa, playgrounds and fitness club.
Soldeu
Soldeu is one of the most modern winter resorts in the Principality of Andorra. It is located at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters above sea level in a picturesque gorge that guarantees protection from the winds. The resort welcomes a wide variety of fans of skiing – from novice athletes to experienced extreme athletes.
Vacationers will not have any problems with settling on the territory of the ski complex. There are a sufficient number of quality hotels here. Guests of the resort enjoy the services of cozy restaurants, equipment rental points, sports centers, shops and night clubs.
Soldeu offers well-organized trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Most of the routes pass through a picturesque woodland area. For the safe descent of inexperienced skiers, gentle green areas are provided. Professionals can show their skills on high-speed red and curvy black descents. There are vast virgin areas that attract connoisseurs of virgin snow cover. Extreme athletes will enjoy icy steep tracks.
El Tarter
This is a cozy village with narrow streets, surrounded by majestic mountain ranges. It is particularly popular with fans of active winter recreation. Beautiful, well-groomed slopes, mild climate and excellent trails of various levels attract skiers from all over the world. Hotels, bars, shops and restaurants are located on the territory of the resort.
There are numerous ski schools with professional instructors. El Tarter together with Soldeu form a single ski area, which originates at an altitude of 1,710 meters. The total length of the trails is 90 km. Green, blue, red and black slopes are represented here. They are served by rope, chairlift, and cabin lifts. Every guest of the ski resort will enjoy skiing.
For beginners, there are wide gentle slopes with rolling out onto the plateau. For intermediate skiers, narrow descents with twisty turns and a length of up to 8 km are available. Experienced craftsmen are interested in routes on virgin snow and icy steep descents. There are also organized slalom tracks.
Canillo
The small town is deservedly one of the pearls of the Principality of Andorra. Spectacular scenery, a variety of hotels and an extensive ski program attract tourists to visit this area of the principality. The resort is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. Sports lovers can enjoy trails of any complexity, snow parks and a variety of winter entertainment.
The main infrastructure object of the city is a magnificent mono-functional Ice Palace, where ice discos are regularly held, a gym, swimming pools, a solarium, baths and saunas work. Hotels in Canillo are located near ski lifts, which makes your stay in the resort especially comfortable.
A modern and extensive ski lift network connects Canillo with the vast Grandvalira ski area. There are more than 100 first-class descents, including green, blue, red and black routes. The total length of the trails is about 200 km.
The elevation difference is 930 meters. For beginners, there are smooth, wide descents. Professionals can expect high-speed winding slopes laid through woodlands. Experienced skiers will enjoy going downhill on virgin snow.
Enkam
The cozy and welcoming town of Encam is one of the six resorts that make up the Grandvalira Ski area. For tourists, excellent conditions have been created that guarantee an exciting and unforgettable holiday. The resort has a well-developed infrastructure. The hotel base is represented by hotels of various star rating categories.
There are numerous cafes and restaurants, discos and shops, rental shops, and ski schools at guests ‘ disposal. Guests are happy to visit the gym, solarium, massage parlor, gym and dance halls, sauna. By choosing Encamp as their base of operations, winter sports enthusiasts get quick access to the ski slopes.
A gondola lift takes tourists to a vast ski area of more than 2,000 meters in 15 minutes. There are green slopes for beginners, blue routes of low difficulty, red slopes for experienced skiers, black sections of high difficulty.
There are slalom tracks and border-cross sections at the athletes ‘ disposal. The altitude difference is 1 km. Slopes of any difficulty level are kept in a well-groomed condition, equipped with reasonable markings and all the necessary equipment.
