A single 'pass' and 300 kilometers of ski slopes in Andorra

Something has moved in the always hermetic and conservative business world of Andorra.

If several years ago the two large local companies in the snow sector, SAETDE (of the Viladomat family), owner of Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig, and ENSISA (of Crèdit Andorrà and the Comú de Canillo), owners of Soldeu -El Tarter, overcame a thousand business and personal obstacles to create a single domain uniting the four sectors physically with ski lifts and commercially with the same corporate identity and the same ski

—Grandvalira— thus revolutionizing the ski market, the latest movement of both has been even more unexpected.

SAETDE bought Ordino-Arcalís, the small valley station in northern Andorra.

Shortly after, its partner, and sometimes rival, ENSISA acquired the other station in that northern valley, Pal-Arinsal.

In this way, the two domains that until now made up Vallnord, both belonging to the

(municipalities) of that area, have been included within the Granvalira Resorts business group, forming a new and gigantic ski area under the same brand and —the good news for the ski lover— with the same lift pass, the Andorra Pass.

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From the Astún to Sierra Nevada or Saint-Lary resorts, nine accommodations at the foot of the slopes

With this new

the skier has at his disposal 213 slopes of all levels, 123 lifts and 303 skiable kilometers.

Obviously, anyone who knows Andorra knows that it is impossible to ski in the three domains (Grandvalira, Ordino-Arcalís and Pal-Arinsal) in the same day.

That is why the Andorra Pass is only available in a multi-day version (from two days) —perfect for weekend stays, long weekends and full weeks— and seasonal, for the very faithful.

The prices are dynamic and can be consulted on their website.

If you are only going to ski in one of the valleys, Grandvalira or the one that encompasses Ordino and Pal-Arinsal, you will also find day passes that are somewhat cheaper and valid only for them.

Soldeu track, in the Andorran domain of Grandvalira.

Sergi Perez Moreno

Grandvalira (with its five sectors: Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, Canillo and El Tarter) is well known by the majority of skiers who choose Andorra.

The two smaller sisters of the northern valleys are not so much: Pal-Arinsal and Ordino-Arcalís.

A pity, because Pal, for example, is a beautiful, medium-sized and very familiar station with many blue and red tracks that cross dense red and black pine forests and a superb high mountain landscape from which you can see, in days clear, the entire string of peaks that are close to 3,000 meters and that form the roof of Andorra: Casamanya (2,752 meters) -watershed between the eastern and northern valleys-, Serrera (2,913 meters), l'Estanyó (2,915 meters) or the Font Blanca (2,906 meters), among others.

In Pal there is also very good gastronomy on the slopes,

something that makes skiers of a certain age more than a steep black run, however adrenaline-fueled it may be.

Good meats and excellent rice dishes (mountain, lobster, boletus...) are eaten at the Col de la Botella restaurant, from where the cable car that connects Pal with Arinsal leaves.

Another highly recommended culinary experience is to make a reservation for dinner at the Pla de la Cot restaurant, at more than 2,000 meters above sea level.

Open on weekends (weekdays also for groups) and you can go up on a

machine or on your own with snowshoes from the base of the station (half an hour) or on skis along an illuminated track.

A

of good cheese and good sausages from the country in that winter night atmosphere, under a blanket of stars, is a sensation that will be remembered for a long time.

Ordino-Arcalís, on the other hand, is the smallest station, the most unknown and the least frequented.

In part, because it is more difficult to access than the others, as it is located in a narrow valley in the parish of Ordino, which must be accessed with chains if the snowfall has been very heavy.

It is also the coldest due to its orientation.

However, thanks to that it is one of the most beautiful corners of the entire Andorran mountain.

And with the best snow in the entire Pyrenees.

lovers

for its incredible and varied off-piste.

But, nevertheless, it is also perfect for beginners because it has the longest green run I know: the Megaverde, with seven uninterrupted kilometers suitable for beginners.

Tristaina Solar Clock (Andorra), a viewpoint suspended in the void on the Peyreguils peak, at an altitude of 2,701 metres.

Ordino has three zones.

L'Hortell (the base of the station, where the road ends and the car park is), with a very agile detachable six-seater chairlift and a very hot red track, the Portella del Mig, which is sometimes left untrodden.

La Coma —my favourite—, with the best blue slope served by the chairlift of the same name.

And the Abarsetal, to the left of L'Hortell, with a somewhat old chair and a drag.

You can eat wonderfully in the La Coma restaurant, recently restored and modernized, at the foot of a ski lift that goes up to the Tristaina Solar Clock in summer, a viewpoint suspended in the void over the Peyreguils peak, at an altitude of 2,701 metres.

To all this is added that Ordino is the least exploited and most authentic valley in Andorra, with charming villages like Ordino itself or Llors.

You can also follow Paco Nadal on Spotify, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

And listen to him every Friday, at 7:40 p.m., with Carles Francino in 'La Ventana', on Cadena SER.

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