Soldeu Ski Area
Historically, the six village resorts that make up the “Grand Valley” were unable or unwilling to cooperate with each other meaning that, potentially, you needed a different pass for Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp.But that was before the government in Andorra la Vella
insisted that the families who ran these resorts start working
together. Grandvalira is the result – the union of Pas de la Casa –
Grau Roig and Soldeu El Tarter to create a unified 1,926 hectares
ski area with 110 runs and 193km of skiing and boarding served by
64 lifts, 972 snow cannons, 2 ski and snowboard schools with 450
instructors and a total of 33 mountain restaurants and
eateries,
The entire ski area spreads above Soldeu (1,800m) and five nearby
villages – Encamp (1,300m), Canillo (1,500m) and El Tarter
(1,710m), Grau Roig (2,120m) and Pas de la Casa (2,100m), rising to
2,640m and besides 193km of pisted runs includes 4 off-piste ski
routes, 2 competition areas, 3 freestyle areas, 2 permanent
boardercross and an adventure activities centre.
It’s not in the same extent nor as high as the biggest ski areas
in the Alps, but with 193km of skiing and a lift system carrying
99,600 skiers per hour Grandvalira is by far the biggest ski area
in the Andorra and Spain – Baqueira Beret has 104km, Sierra Nevada
84km and Aramon Formigal 64km.
Skiing out of Soldeu begins at TSD6 Soldeu or TC8 Soldeu from which
it is possible to connect with all the other runs in the
Grandvalira once you reach Tossal de la Llosada. If you get to the
northern end of the run (Pas de la Casa) or the south (El Forn) and
decide you don’t want to ski back, there is a bus (free if you show
your ski pass) from any point on the Grandvalira all the way home.
To make matters simpler still, the bus displays the word
“Grandvalira” in very big letters so it won’t be mistaken for the
local service.
Snow cannons cover 68km of 193km (35%) of the ski area and with
Soldeu and most villages in Grandvalira at an altitude above 1,700m
and the skiing mostly between 2,000 -2,680m the ski area is
reasonably snow sure.
With 18 green slopes, 38 blue, 32 red and 22 black runs all
categories of on-piste skier are catered for, but it’s
predominantly best for beginners and intermediates, but there’s
plenty of opportunity for advanced skiers including skiing
off-piste between the trees.