Andorra

• Andorra la Vella

In a picturesque gorge at an altitude of 1050 m above sea level, surrounded by mountains and coniferous forests, is the capital of the Principality of Andorra. The city will surprise you with the diversity of its culture - modern buildings and ancient temples are located on the banks of a mountain river. For lovers of shopping, this is a real expanse: exquisite fashion boutiques, commercial centers, small private artisan shops. Most of the shops are located on Meritxell Avenue.

• Encamp

Trail map

The city, located at an altitude of 1250 m above sea level and 7-10 minutes by bus from the center of Andorra, arose as a result of the confluence of five small mountain villages. After the opening of the Funicamp telecabin in 1999, it has become one of the main ski centers.

• Soldeu and El Tarter

Trail map

Soldeu and El Tarter are two mountain villages. This is perhaps one of the most picturesque skiing areas, located at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level, in the central part of Andorra. The dynamically developing resort offers skiers 193 km of slopes of any level of skiing. An 8.2 km long descent along a pine-lined trail to Soldeu is very attractive.

• Pas de la casa

Trail map

One of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Andorra - Pas de la Casa - Grau Roig stretches to the border with France. According to experienced skiers, the local snow has amazing feature: at +10 C it remains dry and very slippery. The highest mountain resort of the Pyrenees impresses with the variety of its ski slopes and the constant snow cover throughout the season due to the huge number of snow cannons. All slopes are equipped with a modern lift system.

• La Massana

Trail map

This town in the west of the country is located between the rivers North Valira and Arinsal, at the intersection of the roads to Arinsal, Ordino, Arcalis and Andora la Vella. On the territory of La Massana is highest point Andorra-Coma-Pedrosa Very quickly and conveniently can be reached from the capital, using the new tunnel that connected Andorra la Vella and La Massana. In the very center of the town there is a new telecabin lift, which in just 5 minutes will take skiers to one of the skiing sectors of Vallnord - Pal. In addition, in 10-15 minutes, skiers can get on ski buses from hotels located in La Massana to the ski lifts of Arinsal, Yerts and Arcalis.

• Pal Arinsal

Trail map

The ski resort includes two centers - Pal and Arinsal, combined into a single complex, which is called Pal-Arinsal. You can get from one center to another using a modern high-tech cable car - the Seturia telecabin. Resort Pal - Arinsal is located in the western part of Andorra, just 10 kilometers from the capital of Andorra La Vella. The main advantages ski resort are: developed tourist infrastructure, stability of the snow cover, perfect preparation of the slopes (Pal resort is the world leader in the number of snow guns per kilometer of descent).

Most Lovers winter holiday know map of ski resorts in Andorra as these places are popular among tourists. A small principality with an area of ​​468 km 2, whose capital is Andorra la Vella, is located in the east of the Pyrenees between France and Spain. locals they know Spanish and French well, despite the fact that the local language is Catalan. However, employees of local resorts speak English. There are also places where Russian-speaking agents work from international travel operators, as well as professional instructors. The popularity of the country among vacationers is quite simple to explain.

Coma Pedrosa is the highest point in the Principality. Its height is 2942 meters. For this reason, the majority of tourists know where is the ski resort of andorra, because I can rightfully be called the queen of all existing winter sports. Coma Pedrosa is located on the northwest side of the principalities in the Pyrenees region of La Massana. Local resorts are more suitable for lovers of a quiet, relaxing holiday. On the territory of Andorra, the main means of payment is the dollar. You can exchange currency in almost any bank or hotel, where the rate is usually much lower. It is best to first take care of the availability of a sufficient amount of non-cash and cash funds.

There are no rail or air links inside the principality, so moving between ski resorts in Andorra description which is also presented, the traveler will have to public transport, rented car or taxi.

To get to the country, the tourist can use one of the nearest airports that accept international flights. These include Spain's Il Prat Airport and France's Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. The path from Barcelona to the Principality is 200 kilometers, and from Toulouse - 170 km. Getting to Andorra is easier from Barcelona, ​​where twelve flights depart daily, while from Toulouse there are only two. The border of the principality is open to France and Spain, so in order to get to the local resorts, you should apply for an entry visa from one of these states or any other country belonging to the Schengen zone. On numerous photos of Andorra ski resort tourists relax with their pets, however, it should be remembered that the animal must go through customs control with a medical certificate, where there are marks on all vaccinations.

Resorts of Andorra

It should be noted right away that the principality attracts vacationers with its material availability, as well as the quality of the slopes intended for skiing. The prices of similar French or Alpine resorts are much higher. However, an attractive cost does not at all indicate a low quality of service or a poorly developed infrastructure. Each of the available resorts is characterized by the presence of many trails of various levels of difficulty. Each of them has its own specific marker, signs are placed along the paths. To prevent an inexperienced skier from flying off the track, all of them are fenced. All working lifts are safe and convenient. Presented on the Internet Andorran ski resort map, among which it is necessary to highlight the main ones. The Principality is territorially divided into two zones, called Vallnord and Grandvalir. There is something to see in almost any chosen city of the kingdom, however, ski resorts are still among the pearls. Among the best places Grandvalira are marked as follows:

Vallnord is also divided into several sectors for skiing. The total length of the trails is about ninety kilometers, most of which are colored blue and red on the map. About twenty-six tracks are characterized by height differences up to 600 meters, as well as 63 tracks with differences up to a kilometer. Among professionals, the Ordino-Arcalis resort, which is located near the princely capital, is popular. There are mostly gentle slopes, the highest of which is 2600 meters. They are ideal for high speed descents.

Some of the tracks belong to the category of increased complexity and are available only to specialists in their field.

Among the well-known the best ski resorts in Andorra also applies to Pal-Arinsal, the highest point of which is over 1950 meters. In total, tourists are presented with about forty trails of varying duration and complexity. Thus, Andorra is multifaceted. Its ski resorts are suitable for all categories of vacationers, both in terms of the financial side and the level of preparedness of the athlete.

When is the best time to go

Winter in the Pyrenees of Andorra pleases vacationers with its winter landscapes with heavy snowfalls, coniferous forests and warm weather. There is no harsh winter here. The temperature, as a rule, ranges from -2 to +2 degrees, and only in some areas can it fall below -5 degrees during the day, and below -15 degrees at night. The favorable season for a trip to Andorra lasts from the last days of November to the first days of April. However, there are also resorts-exceptions. For example, not everywhere ski season in Andorra lasts until the beginning of April. Some trails of Pal-Arinsal are available until May. The most popular recreation areas are also equipped with snow cannons that maintain a full snow cover suitable for skiing. With the help of such equipment, the season can be extended until late spring. For this reason, holidays here are as popular in May as they are in the dead of winter.

Thus, Andorra ski slope is in demand among a huge number of tourists who do not want to overpay extra money while relaxing in France. A developed infrastructure network of local recreational areas allows the traveler to spend their vacation comfortably, in addition, the quality of the routes presented is pleasantly surprising.

In a picturesque gorge at an altitude of 1050 m above sea level, surrounded by mountains and coniferous forests, is the capital of the Principality of Andorra. In the highest mountain capital of Europe, ancient temples coexist with ultra-modern houses, and wide squares coexist with narrow ancient streets.
You can walk from one end of the city to the other in half an hour, but going around all its shops will not work even in a week. For shoppers, Andorra la Vella is a real expanse: exquisite fashion boutiques, commercial centers, small private artisan shops. Most of the shops are located on Meritxell Avenue.
One of the main attractions of the capital is the Olympic sports complex Andorra Multisport Centre. The ski slopes can be reached by bus, taxi or cable car Funicamp. In the evening, tourists and Andorrans have fun in numerous bars, cafes, restaurants and disco clubs of the city, many establishments are open until the morning.
The small town of Escaldes adjoins the metropolitan Andorra la Vella, they are connected by one central street. Escaldes is the youngest historical region of Andorra. It is here that the famous thermal springs are located, one of the hottest in Europe.
The sulphurous water of the Escaldes springs is very healthy, and two large thermal spa complexes operate in the city at once: Caldea and Inuu.

The city, located at an altitude of 1250 m above sea level and 7-10 minutes by bus from the center of Andorra, arose as a result of the confluence of five small mountain villages. After the opening of the Funicamp telecabin in 1999, it has become one of the main ski centers.

Two mountain villages located at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level, in the central part of Andorra. This is perhaps one of the most picturesque ski areas. A dynamically developing resort with the most modern equipment offers skiers 193 km of slopes of any level of skiing. There are both beginner trails and a boardercross trail. An 8.2 km long descent along a pine-lined trail to Soldeu is very attractive.

One of Andorra's largest and most popular ski resorts, Pas de la Casa/Grau Roig, stretches to the border with France. Pas de la Casa is highly regarded for the vastness of the slopes and good quality snow. According to experienced skiers, the local snow has an amazing feature: at +10°C it remains dry and very slippery.
Thanks to a huge number of snow cannons, the highest mountain resort of the Pyrenees impresses with the variety of its ski slopes and the snow cover that is unchanged throughout the season.

This town in the west of the country is located between the rivers North Valira and Arinsal. Coma Pedrosa, the highest point of Andorra, is located on the territory of La Massana. You can get here very quickly and conveniently from the capital, using the new tunnel that connected Andorra la Vella and La Massana.

In the very center of the town there is a new telecabin lift, which in just 5 minutes will take skiers to one of the skiing sectors of Vallnord - Pal. In addition, in 10-15 minutes, skiers can get on ski buses from hotels located in La Massana to the ski lifts of Arinsal, Yerts and Arcalis.

ANEX Tour expert about the features of tracks and resorts

The ski slopes of Andorra this season will be of particular interest to Russians - the rest will cost less than in the Alps, and the quality of the slopes will surprise even the most experienced skiers. What Travel Agents Should Know About These Slopes, Shares Information , head of destinations Spain, Andorra, Mexico companies.

Let's imagine: a tourist comes to a travel agency who wants to buy a ski tour to a European resort. He wants to try something new, or he is interested in buying an inexpensive tour - cheaper than to France or Austria. I believe that the ski resorts of the Principality of Andorra, bordering France and Spain, will be an excellent alternative. The quality of the local trails is beyond praise, and a week-long tour for two can be purchased for as little as 638 euros. Tourists will also have no problems with transportation, thanks to our charter program, and ANEX Tour's own office in Barcelona is responsible for accommodation and reception of tourists.

Whom and where?

Now let's see what are the advantages of the slopes and slopes of Andorran ski resorts. There are two main ski areas in the principality: Vallnord in the west and Grandvalira in the east. In terms of the level of the hotel base and the availability of entertainment, they are equivalent. If we talk about skiing, then advanced amateurs and professionals will especially like Grandvalira: 55 of the most difficult slopes of the “red” and “black” levels are concentrated here. The attention of beginners is better to turn to the Vallnord region, and tourists with an average level of training can be sent to any of these resorts.

Difficult means interesting

First of all, let's look at the slopes and slopes of the Grandvalira region, which includes the resorts of El Tarter, Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig. This is the largest ski area in the Pyrenees: on an area of ​​​​1926 hectares, 118 different tracks were built, with a length of 210 kilometers. Grandvalira is a valley in which six ski sectors are connected: Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, Encamp and Canillo. At the top there are high-altitude slopes of any level of difficulty, and at the bottom - forest trails closed from the wind. In total, there are 21 "green" slopes, 42 "blue", 30 "red" and 25 "black". All trails are well marked and perfectly groomed, dangerous areas are fenced with a net. I would like to note that there are 64 ski lifts in the Grandvalira ski area, which are subject to a single ski pass.

For experienced skiers, I would especially recommend the slopes of the resort of Pas de la Cassa - Grau Roig. In the upper part of the valley there are trails with a large elevation difference, which are considered the most difficult and, therefore, interesting. But in Grandvalira there is something to offer to beginners - it is for them that seven ski schools are open in the Soldeu-El Tarter area.

I would like to say a few words about the children's slopes of the region: there are three thematic zones for little skiers. For example, the Bababoom Circus tracks in El Tarter are designed in a circus style. A family park Mon(t)Magic in the Canillo sector will introduce children to the legends of Andorra.

Unusual relief, rocks and competitions

Now let's move on to the features of skiing in the second ski cluster of Andorra - Vallnord. The unified skiing area here consists of the ski stations Pal-Arinsal and Ordino-Arcalis. The resorts located in Pal-Arinsal offer their guests 42 pistes of different difficulty levels: there are 7 "green", 15 "blue", 16 "red" and 4 "black" pistes. In addition, today Pal-Arinsal is the only complex in the Pyrenees equipped with the most modern closed lift - telecabin.

The second station - Ordino-Arcalis - is represented by trails of medium difficulty with good snow cover. They are suitable for both experienced skiers and beginners. I would especially like to highlight the conditions for snowboarding. And, although the resort has fewer marked trails, they have a more interesting terrain. All lovers of extreme sports and alpine exoticism will like it here: the slopes are quite steep, the lower sections pass through forest clearings. I would also like to emphasize that Arcalis is the “Mecca of freeride”, due to the elevation changes and steep slopes, skiing here is truly exciting. This is also why international sporting events are held on the slopes of Arcalis.

In conclusion, I would like to summarize the advantages of skiing in the ski resorts of Andorra, which offersAnexTour.

A large number of high-quality, safe trails with a total length of about 300 kilometers. Slopes for all skill levels.
- Special slopes and theme parks for children. The resorts have kindergartens and nurseries for babies from one year old.
- Dozens of schools for teaching snowboarding and skiing skiing, Russian-speaking instructors. Developed infrastructure.
- ANEX Tour opened an office in Barcelona, ​​which provides profitable contracts with hotels in Andorra and customer service throughout the trip.
- Own charter program: departures twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.