Pas De La Casa

Pas de la Casa is ugly to look at but convenient to stay in, and it delivers what a lot of young skiers and boarders want: high snowsure pistes, a large ski area, cheap alcohol, inexpensive slopeside accommodation and lots of places to party.


The first thing most people mention about Pas de la Casa is its duty-free status. Quite simply, it’s a good place to buy cheap alcohol – and tobacco, perfumes, electrical goods and anything else that normally has VAT or some other tax loaded onto its price. And inexpensive alcohol is a proven way to kick-start a party, and that’s the other thing Pas de la Casa is famous for. And whilst neither the resort nor its apres-ski scene are pretty, they can be fun, particularly if you like free vodka shots. And if you’re too old and sensible for that kind of holiday, try neighbouring Soldeu instead which is quieter and classier.

Then there is the skiing, and slightly to some people’s surprise, it’s quite impressive. Grandvalira is the name of the large lift-linked ski area that Pas de la Casa is just one part of, and it certainly lives up to the Grand part of its name, stretching over to Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter and finally onto the El Forn sector above Canillo. In total there are about 75 lifts (including a long one down to Encamp), 135 runs, 200 km of piste and 3 freestyle parks to choose from, which is more than enough to keep most skiers and boarders busy for a week, even if they stay sober and take advantage of uncrowded early morning slopes.

As well as being a large ski area, Grandvalira is also a high one, especially around Pas de la Casa itself, which is situated at 2050m above sea level, making it one of the highest ski resorts in Europe. The Grandvalira slopes also mostly face north and there is a lot of artificial snowmaking too, so the pistes should remain skiable into April.

Beginners and intermediates are spoilt for choice, and there are plenty of ski schools for those who want to learn or improve. Advanced skiers have a few challenges on-piste like the steep Avet run, as well as off-piste opportunities, particularly around Grau Roig and Pic d’Encampadana. The resort also organises day trips to Ordino-Arcalis which is included on the Grandvalira liftpass, and has good freeriding and ski touring, but it’s a long bus ride away.

As a resort to stay in, Pas de la Casa is charmless but convenient. Most of the accommodation is built of concrete but is situated on or near the slopes. The road running through the centre of the resort is also a busy one, but given the nightlife that surrounds it, it’s unlikely to be the main reason why visitors to Pas de la Casa seldom get a good night’s sleep.

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The closest airports to Pas de la Casa and the other Grandvalira resorts in Andorra are Toulouse in France, and Girona and Barcelona in Spain. Private transfers from the airport to the ski resort are easily arranged and take between...

Pas de la Casa is mostly a cheap and cheerful place, aimed at a younger crowd most of whom want a long day on the slopes, non-stop après ski until the early hours and a few hours sleep before starting...

Pas De La Casa Ski Schools & Guiding Across Grandvalira there are now 450 instructors working in its six centres (Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp). In Pas de la Casa the assembly point...

Pas De La Casa Ski Area Pas de la Casa is the northeasternmost point on the Grandvalira and one of six village resorts - Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp – now connected by...

Pas De La Casa Ski Lifts & Passes Grandvalira’s main ski lifts have a numeric code as well as a name, with the numeric character denoting the number of riders per chair or car and the exception to this rule...

Pas De La Casa Advanced The Grandvalira region has a total of 22 black runs of which 5 are in the Pas de la Casa/Porte des Neiges region. There's good off-piste skiing from Pic D'Encampadana but getting there is a...

Pas De La Casa Intermediate The Grandvalira region has a total of 38 blue runs and 32 red of which six red runs and four blue are in the Pas de la Casa/Porte des Neiges region. The Grandvalira route is...

Pas De La Casa Beginners The Grandvalira region has a total of 18 green runs and 38 blue. There are three gentle "beginner zones" just outside Pas de la Casa making it perhaps the most beginner-friendly of all the villages....

Pas De La Casa Boarding & Freestyle There is a freestyle area at Snowpark Pas (the others are to be found at El Tarter, near Soldeu, and Grau Roig between Soldeu and Pas de la Casa. At the top of...

Pas De La Casa Mountain Restaurants Grandvalira has codified its restaurants on the slopes into five categories: Restaurants with charm Average cost 36 euro, top menu (international choices) and with good views Self Service Restaurants Average cost 10 euros- salads,...

Pas De La Casa Village Pas de la Casa will never win any architectural awards. It’s a functional resort built to get people on to its slopes and into its shops. Built on lower slopes of the Costa Rodona the...

Pas De La Casa Restaurants & Bars On the whole food and drink is cheaper in Andorra so eating out won’t sting as much as it might in the UK. With only a 4% tax on spirits, ordering a beer...

Pas De La Casa Other Activities For something completely different ask at the tourist office about the new Grandvalira ice circuit at Pas de la Casa where you can drive a car across snow and ice on a specially designed...

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