Andorra

High up in the Pyrenee mountains it is a unique place to visit. In winter time Andorra has some fine ski slopes to explore. In summer it is an enjoyable stop when going from Spain to France. The capital, Andorra la vella is a nice town, with a few good museums and a relaxed atmosphere.

Andorra's shopping is known all over the world. Everything is prepared to give the customer the leading role. The privileged tax system allows very competitive prices. In the Principality you will also find Caldea, the largest fun spa centre in the south of Europe, a water palace situated at an altitude of 1000 m, with an architecture and amenities which make it a unique building.

Skiing:

Ordino - Arcalis is located in a open and naturally preserved and protected area on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, in the northwestern region of Andorra. El Serrat is four kilometres from the ski fields at the resort, while Ordino is 15kms away. The resort is blessed with having an abundance of high quality snow and an extended winter due to its northeast-to-northwest location. The Ordino - Arcalis ski season runs from December to April, with mid-January and the beginning and end of the season offering cheaper incentives. The most practical way to get here is to fly to either Barcelona, or Toulouse, and hire a vehicle or take a regular scheduled bus.

The village of Ordino has a range of hotels along with an historic atmosphere and character; however, El Serrat is the nearest option for lodging close to the slopes. A variety of café-bars offer après-ski and night-time activities, while the resort also boasts duty-free shops and sports outlets offering great shopping opportunities.

The resort is low on crowds due to the diverse slopes suitable for all levels of skiers and the strategic placement of lifts, which have an uplift capacity of 16,510 skiers per hour. The longest slope at the resort of Ordino - Arcalis measures two kilometres, while the resort itself features 24kms of pisted runs. There is also a kindergarten and nursery available for children.

Andorra also has other ski resorts in the region including Pal-Arinsal, Soldeu and Pas de la Casa; all located within close reach of each other. Expert skiers looking for more slopes can travel to Soldeu and Pas de la Casa. Europe’s highest capital city at 1,029m is La Vella in Andorra, which is famous for its duty-free status; most of the stores are on Avinguda de Meritxell, the main shopping street.

The resort of Ordino - Arcalis offers 24kms of slopes divided into various levels of difficulty. Beginners get 25 per cent of runs, intermediate skiers get 29 per cent, advanced have 34 per cent and the expert receives eight per cent of the total runs, of which the longest is two kilometres in length. The resort also offers 12kms of cross-country trails.

Altitude of the lifts:
Max: 2.600 m Min: 1.940 m
Ski-lifts: 8
Sit-lifts: 4
Tracks
76 ha of marqued tracks
310 ha off-tracks ski
442 ha ski area
26 km de pistes
25 tracks
green: 6
blue: 8
red: 8
black: 2
Slalom area: 1
Nordic ski: from 6 to 15 km

North of the capital, La Vella, and to the west of the Andorran state of La Massana, lies the ski resort of Pal - Arinsal. For those looking to learn, Pal - Arinsal is a great first-time venue and is ideally suited to the absolute beginner or lower intermediate skier. Excellent childcare makes this a good family destination, while the hectic nightlife combined with a focus on learners makes Pal - Arinsal a great choice for younger crowds.

Mostly beginner and intermediate runs make up the 63kms of wooded glades and open slopes over 41 pisted runs between the two resorts, the longest of which is three kilometres. Around 31,700 skiers per hour are transported by 31 lifts, consisting of a cable car, one gondola, 12 chairlifts (eight quads, four doubles), and 16 surface lifts. In addition to the slopes, there are also five FIS slalom courses.

Pas de la Casa – Grau Roig ski resort provides 16- to 25- year-olds who are on a tight budget with an ideal winter package holiday. The resort is set in the east of Andorra on the French/Andorran border. One hundred kilometres of pistes covering the linked areas of Grau Roig and Soldeu make this the largest ski area in the Pyrenees, with snowboarders much more prominent at this resort because it has slopes perfect for cruising.

Young British and French skiers are well catered for at this Alpine resort, which lacks the usual charm but makes up for it with good après-ski. You can ski to most of the accommodation, which consists of everything from apartments to hotels, hosting 9,000 beds. The après-ski is extremely lively due to plenty of cheap alcohol and tax-free bargains, while Grau Roig accommodates the best of the on-piste restaurants.

There are 100kms of pistes, with a longest single run of two kilometres at Pas de la Casa - Grau Roig ski resort - boasting 55 slopes. Snowmaking guns cover more than 30kms of slopes, which are mainly intermediate and advanced runs. About 47,435 skiers per hour are shifted by 31 lifts, including 14 chairlifts, 15 surface lifts and a cable car. Both Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa have ski kindergartens.

A greater number of beginner slopes can be found at the nearby Soldeu ski resort, while Europe’s highest capital city, La Vella, is nearby and has duty-free stores offering excellent bargains as the largest shopping centre in the Pyrenees. The Casa de la Vall (the ancient seat of government) and a fine 12th century church are also sights worth visiting.

Pas de la Casa - Grau Roig’s ski season runs from December to the end of April, with the cheapest rates offered from the beginning of the season to the Christmas holidays, as well as mid-January and during April. You can fly to either Toulouse or Barcelona, and catch the regularly scheduled bus to the resort or hire a car and drive yourself.

Soldeu - El-Tarter is located in Andorra, in the centre of Canillo, and is one of the most popular resorts in the area. There’s plenty of sun and fairly reliable snow, plus it’s cheap. A great place to learn, the resort pistes cater mainly for beginners and early intermediates, while the ski school at Soldeu is one of the most highly rated in Europe. A snowcat makes access to advanced off-piste runs easy.

There are some good hotels and a fantastic atmosphere at the villages of Soldeu and El-Tarter. Three hundred beds in 75 apartments plus 1,200 beds in 16 hotels offer good accommodation. Traditional stone chalets at several other locations as well as luxury condos at the nearby Procasa Refuge provide an alternative. A scattering of discos supplement the nightlife which is bar-based. Both locations offer a kindergarten.

Off-slope skiing through woods and 86kms of trails through glades are available at Soldeu - El-Tarter ski resort. The Gall de Bosc is the longest of the 52 runs at 8.2kms in length. Around 45,000 skiers per hour are transported via two gondolas, 13 chairlifts, seven surface lifts, five carpets and five tows. Thirty-two kilometres of runs are guaranteed snow-cover by snowmaking machines.

Expert and advanced level skiers are better off heading east to the nearby Pas de la Casa ski resort, which has far more terrain for this level. At 1,029m above sea level, Europe’s highest capital city, La Vella (to the west of Soldeu - El-Tarter), boasts some great duty-free bargains.

The season at the resort runs from December to April, with the periods before the Christmas holidays, after the New Year celebrations, and during the last month of the season, offering the cheapest weeks. A flight to Toulouse or Barcelona, and a hire vehicle or return bus, is the easiest way of getting to Soldeu - El-Tarter ski resort.

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