Vallnord in the north of Andorra – winter holidays in Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís: Anyone wanting to go skiing in Andorra often thinks first of the vast slopes around Grandvalira. Yet it’s worth taking a look northwards. There you’ll find Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís, two ski resorts that were formerly known as Vallnord. They are now part of Grandvalira Resorts, but have retained their very own character. Even the journey there gets you in the mood for a winter holiday. Beyond La Massana, wooded slopes roll by, small villages cling to the mountainsides, and the peaks of the Pyrenees tower over the valleys. Here, it’s less about covering as many kilometres of slopes as possible in a single day. It’s much nicer to explore the two ski resorts at your own pace. If you set off early, you’ll often find the valleys still quiet. It’s only at the valley stations that things liven up, as families and snowboarders shoulder their kit. In Pal Arinsal, the day’s skiing gets off to a very relaxed start. In the Pal sector in particular, many runs wind their way through the trees. Those who are still a bit unsteady on their skis will find wide slopes to practise on. Families appreciate the clearly laid-out areas and the ski schools. On the Arinsal side, the landscape takes on a completely different character: the slopes become more open, the runs more challenging, and the view stretches far across the mountains. A cable car connects the two sectors. Together, they offer around 63 kilometres of slopes. Ordino Arcalís, on the other hand, feels almost like another world. The road leads deep into the valley until the mountains suddenly take centre stage. Rugged peaks, plenty of off-piste terrain and snow that often lingers for a long time thanks to the northerly exposure: this is a playground for anyone who loves high-altitude mountains. With 30.5 kilometres of slopes, leisurely skiers will also find plenty to enjoy. Experienced freeriders will, moreover, find challenging opportunities off the groomed runs – naturally, only with the right equipment and knowledge of the avalanche conditions. The two areas are not directly connected by slopes. However, with the Nord Pass, they can easily be combined during a single skiing holiday. One day you might enjoy a leisurely day amongst the trees, the next you might be making wide turns against a rocky backdrop. It is precisely this variety that makes the north of Andorra so appealing. If you need a break from skiing, you can explore the winter landscape on a snowshoe hike. Away from the slopes, you get a completely different view of the mountains. And after skiing? In Ordino, the old alleyways invite you to take a stroll, whilst in La Massana the nearest restaurant awaits. Once you take off your ski boots, you’ll discover an Andorra that’s full of atmosphere even away from the lifts. A winter holiday in the former Vallnord region doesn’t have to be noisy to be one you’ll remember for a long time to come.
