Essential Travel Ski Guides

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Travel to Pal-Arsinal

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 in the east is the largest of Andorras ski resorts and offers expert slopes. Breathtaking scenery and views can enjoyed from the highest road pass in the Pyrenees, climbing to 2,403m at the Port dEnvalira. Andorra also offers great shopping opportunities, while a huge range of goods in duty-free stores can be found in the capital, La Vella.

Cheaper rates are available before the Christmas holidays, in mid-January, and towards the end of the ski season, which runs from December to April. A flight to Toulouse or Barcelona and a hire car or scheduled bus is the most practical way to get to the resort.

Skiing in Pal-Arsinal

Pal - Arinsal ski resort is located in the west of La Massana, Andorra and is an ideal ski destination for learners and intermediate skiers due to its easy, sheltered runs. With inexpensive alcohol and a lively après-ski, the resort is especially suited to the young. Pal - Arinsal’s attraction is also enhanced by its proximity to La Vella, the capital.

The 63kms of pisted runs over 41 slopes at Pal-Arinsal ski resort offer beginners 45 per cent of all runs, intermediates 31 per cent, and advanced skiers 24 per cent. Thirty-one ski lifts, comprised of chairlifts, surface lifts, as well as a gondola and cable car, allow 31,000 skiers per hour to enjoy all slopes. Tight conservation laws around the area provide very few cross-country opportunities.

February to mid-March provides the best ski conditions, with the beginning and end of the season, and mid-January offering cheaper weeks.

Toulouse (France) and Barcelona (Spain) are the gateway airports, with a regular return bus service to Pal - Arinsal available from both. A train/bus combination is also possible; however, air travel and transfer, although long and uncomfortable, is the easiest option. You can hire a car for an easier transfer.

Apres-ski in Pal-Arsinal

The lively Arinsal has an après-ski and nightlife which includes a large selection of bars and clubs, some featuring live music. The resort also offers additional activities which include: parapenting; snowshoeing; helicopter flights; snowmobile riding; ski biking; and a snow park with a half-pipe for snowboarders. Additionally, all pistes accommodate snowboarders. There is also an indoor swimming pool; a bowling alley; and a sports centre with a gym.

Quality hotels are the primary accommodation available at Arinsal; however, those looking for a cheaper bed and plenty of après-ski, and arriving on a budget or package holiday, will find the resort well suited. A good range of sports outlets as well as duty-free stores are also to be found at Arinsal.

Transportation to Pal-Arsinal

Pal - Arinsal ski resort is situated in the Andorran state of La Massana, sandwiched between France and Spain, and reachable by road only. The most convenient and practical way to get here is to fly to Toulouse or Barcelona, and hire a car or take a bus. A train/bus combination can be quite arduous, while a popular option is to drive all the way.

By car, Pal - Arinsal is a two-day journey and 1,186kms from Calais via the A-1, A-10, A-71, A-62/1, E-9, and the picturesque CG1. Travel via the A-64 and D-919, merging with the E-9, farther south (three hours) from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, west of the city. From Barcelona (three hours) the major roads include the A-18, C-1411, and N-260, and you enter Andorra via the N-145, CG1 and the CG3.

A Eurostar train leaves for Paris (Nord) station from London’s Waterloo station at 17:09 and arrives at 20:59 daily. An overnight train leaves Paris’ Austerlitz station, travelling via Toulouse to LHospitalet-près-lAndorre, and arrives at 07:25 the next morning. From there, catch a bus service to Andorra la Vella before boarding a local bus on to Arinsal.

From Barcelona, catch the train to the station at Puigcerdà, east of Andorra, where the train eventually terminates. From here travel by bus to Arinsal, via La Seu d’Urgell and Andorra La Vella. Buses to Andorra travel from LHospitalet, La Tour de Carol and Ax les Thermes in France, while Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, Tarragona, Tuy, Valladolid and Zaragoza all have buses travelling from Spain.

Pal - Arinsal is the same distance from both Toulouse-Blagnac Airport and Barcelona’s El Prat de Llobregat Airport. Far more budget and worldwide flight options are offered at Barcelona than Toulouse, making it much more popular. Toulouse-Blagnac has two buses daily while El Prat has four to Arinsal, costing €30 one-way and €56 return. The most convenient way to transfer is by hire car, although a train and then bus to the resort is an alternative option.

Pal-Arinsal Ski Partners & Resources

Apartment & Chalet Rental in Arinsal
Self catering apartments and chalet rental in Arinsal, Andorra. Located within walking distance to the lifts which lead to the Pal-Arinsal resort, our properties are ideal or couples and families. Discounts on ski passes and ski rental, door-to-door bus service from all major airports.

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