Vallnord - Ordino Arcalis Ski Resort

Ordino-Arcalis is one of the smaller ski areas in Andorra. It includes 30 kilometres of runs, spread out across 28 trails. Of these runs, seven are marked green – i.e. very easy trails which are ideally suited for beginners and families. There are also six blue-marked and ten red-marked runs which are excellent for intermediate and advanced skiers. If you fancy a challenge, you can also try the two black-marked runs or one of the five FIS slalom courses in the ski area. 16 lifts carry skiers up the mountain across the 442-hectare ski area. Thanks to its excellent location and modern snowmaking facilities, visitors can look forward to excellent snow and trail conditions well into the spring. 

The Pekepark, the ski area’s children’s park with snow kindergarten, is the perfect place for the youngest guests to spend the day. Under the instruction of professional ski school teams and surrounded by lovingly-designed scenery, youngsters can make their first attempts at skiing and learn the ABC of winter sports. The very youngest visitors can play to their heart’s content in the Baby Club, spending the day painting or making things while their parents are out on the slopes. The Family Park offers fun for all the family with three themed obstacle courses for children, which are named after the Vallnord mascot. 

Freestyle fans should head over to the Pi-Park, the ski area’s terrain park, which offers plenty of features for both beginners and experts alike. In addition, there is also a Woodpark in Arcalis’ Hortell Forest. Both natural and artificially-created features offer plenty of options for landing creative tricks here. The boardercross course is a lot of fun for snowboarders and freestyle skiers, too. Freeriding is also possible in Arcalis, with several easily-accessible ungroomed slopes with a plentiful supply of freshies.

The ski area offers an array of restaurants with snacks, coffee and excellent food for when you decide to take a break. The Hortell is a coffee shop, bar and self-service restaurant rolled into one. There is also just about everything you need at Planells close to the beginner slopes – from fast food to snacks, the menu is pretty comprehensive. At an altitude of 2,000 metres, the Terrassa La Coma offers its guests food at the highest level (no pun intended!), with specialities including chargrilled meats. The snack bar Les Portelles is also located directly next to the slopes. It is situated at 2,552 metres above sea level and offers the perfect opportunity to soak up the astonishing views of the surrounding mountains. One particularly noteworthy feature in Arcalis is that all restaurants offer the special kids’ menu “Augustina” for young skiers.

A real favourite with beginners is the eight-kilometre simple Megaverde run, a lovely long groomer which allows you plenty of time to lose yourself in the turns.

There’s also lots to do away from the slopes in Arcalis. You can get your action fix with tours by snowmobile or airboard, a shared white-knuckle ride on the snow snake, a couple of circuits on the ski bike or a speed ride – a mix of skiing and paragliding. And if that isn’t enough adrenaline for you, you can even go bungee jumping here. Animal lovers can ride on a dog-pulled sled and explore the pristine backcountry together with these canines. And if that all sounds too action-packed for your liking, try a snow-shoe tour or winter hike through the snowbound surroundings – you can make your own way or take a guided tour.

For après-ski, you are best to head for Arinsal, as Arcalis is a little on the quiet side after the mountain closes. However, there are plenty of bars and clubs for dancing the night away in the former.

The Arcalis ski area is 14 kilometres from Ordino and 22 kilometres from Andorra la Vella.

By car
From Andorra la Vella, the capital of this small country, the road CG-3 leads via La Massana to Ordino and then on into the ski area. Andorra la Vella is itself easy to reach from France or Spain. You can leave your car in the designated car park by the valley lift station.

By public transportation
If you want to travel here by air, you can fly to Barcelona, Reus or Toulouse. All of these airports are around 200 kilometres from the ski area. Regular buses and trains run to Andorra from these airport hubs and other cities in Spain (Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Reus) and France (Toulouse, Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre). Locally, you can catch the free ski bus which stops in all three separate areas (Arcalis, Arinsal and La Massana).