If it is in the depths of this kingdom of snowflakes, or rather in this snow-covered Pyrenean principality embodied by Andorra that you decide to spend your winter holidays with your family this year, it will probably not be by chance! It must be said that this small mountainous country between the south of France and the north of Spain has everything to please: countless ski slopes spread over four areas that also allow an impressive number of original and fun activities linked to snow, a local cuisine with a very personal character, a breathtaking architectural and cultural heritage, but also, last but not least, ultramodern infrastructures dedicated to the well-being and care of the body. The legitimate question then arises: is it possible to come to Andorra with children? Will they have enough to get their teeth into? Well, yes, it is! The Principality has a very wide variety of play areas designed for toddlers but also for young teenagers, whether in terms of skiing or other sports activities, and even in terms of well-being. The ski resorts of Grandvalira, Vallnord Pal-Arinsal and Vallnord Ordino-Arcalís, as well as the Naturlandia park, are equipped with routes adapted to all levels - with a selection of surprises for the youngest - and Naturlandia in particular offers a cascade of exciting activities. Not to mention the vast ice rink and its surprising activities, not to mention the wellness area dedicated to the youngest, which is located in the heart of the Caldea thermal spa centre, the largest in southern Europe. In other words, for your family holidays in Andorra, a mountain of activities awaits you!

Ski young! Grandvalira and Vallnord

The Grandvalira ski resort is perfectly suited to the youngest: spread over the sectors of Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu, Grau Roig and Pas-de-la-Case, there are six snow gardens that welcome children from 3 to 6 years old. Each area is equipped with fun inflatable modules but also with a ski school, the Sky and Mountain Academy, run by specialized instructors who teach the secrets of skiing and snowboarding in private or group lessons, adapted to everyone's level. The Cortals Snow Garden (Encamp sector) even has a covered gymnasium - the GymSki - where children learn the basics of skiing: balance and fall, in complete safety, before going on the slopes!

Thematic and recreational areas enrich Grandvalira's offer. Let us mention here the brand new adventure parkMon(t) Magic, in Canillo, equipped with the longest themed sliding track in southern Europe, but also with one of the most impressive zip lines in the Pyrenees: 550 m down to 40 m high! El Tarter welcomes the Badaboom Circus, a fun and colourful 500 m circuit punctuated by elements of the circus world and designed for children under 12 years old. In Soldeu, the youngest will have fun participating in the adventures of Yokai, a character inspired by the rooster of the Soldeu woods, in the heart of a recreational circuit more than 600 m long, while they will discover all the fantasy of the Imaginarium d'Encamp in the super-tunnel (10 m long) of the Cortals area. Another Imaginarium - the Imaginarium Forest - also with a tunnel (50 m long) is located in Pas-de-la-Case, where children rush into a magical forest. But the most amazing of all is certainly the Imaginarium Circuit in Grau-Roig: snowmobile, tubbing, zip line and other daring acrobatics are on the program. Granvalira offers many other family activities, from igloo building to snowmobile and dog sledding to snowshoeing.

The two resorts of Vallnord - Vallnord Pal-Arinsal and Vallnord Ordino-Arcalís - also have many attractions for children: each is equipped with a snow garden specially designed to introduce children aged 4 to 8 to skiing. The ski and snowboard schools, run by professional and multilingual instructors, are suitable for all levels but are only open to children over 6 years old. Those of them who already have a satisfactory level will even be able, at the Freeride School, to try off-piste skiing and develop new skills. In addition, Vallnord also houses family theme parks. Augustina Parc de Vallnord Ordino-Arcalís is equipped with amusing installations featuring references to the Augustina children's tale, whose modules test the agility of children through two tunnels, one 6 m long and the other 8 m long. In the Pal sector of the Vallnord-Pal Arinsal station, a track area for sledges and other games has been created. You can also, among other things, practice mini-snowmobiling and venture into the rope park. Vallnord also offers some other joyful experiences such as SnowSnakeand snowshoeing.

It should be noted that Grandvalira, like Vallnord Pal-Arinsal and Vallnord Ordino-Arcalís, are equipped with daycare centres (1 to 4 years old), allowing parents to entrust their offspring to qualified instructors, in comfortable premises adapted to the youngest. Grandvalira has three daycare centres for children over 24 months (Canillo, El Tarter and Soldeu) and one for children aged 12 to 24 months (Grau-Roig), while Vallnord has two (1 to 4 years old), while Parador Canaro, which has a ski school and slopes particularly well suited to children, as well as a toboggan run, a restaurant and a cafeteria to recharge. 100% family atmosphere!

Activities to do with the family

Other highlights of Andorran family holidays include Naturlandia Park, which offers a wide range of activities for the youngest, starting with cross-country (or Nordic) skiing. Supervised by instructors or with your family alone, you will have the opportunity to explore more than 15 km of trails of all colours through the magnificent Rabassa forest at an altitude of some 2,000 m. Also, it is possible to discover this beautiful region by wearing snowshoes, with or without instructors. Going with a guide has the advantage of being entrusted with a whole bunch of explanations and amusing anecdotes about this part of the mountain.

Before being a great terrain for Nordic skiing, Naturlandia is a wildlife park that combines adventure and learning that will delight both children and parents. Unlike the zoo, only native species can be found here that evolve in their natural habitat. While the brown bear is the largest mammal in the park, there are also fallow deer, deer, marmots, chamois and even the boreal lynx, the largest in the Iberian peninsula. But it is certainly the wolf that will impress children the most: we learn here its amazing habits and way of life at the same time as we are fascinated by its wild beauty!

The Naturlandia eco-park also houses an attraction that will only amuse children: the dizzying Tobotronc, the longest alpine slide in the world. Mounted on a steel rail, the two-seater machines equipped with a brake lever run down the 5.3 km long slide at full speed in just under 10 minutes. The total altitude difference, in the middle of the beautiful Rabassa forest and with the Andorran mountains in the background, is 400 m. In other words, the adrenaline is there! The height of Tobotronc contenders must not be less than 1.20 m, and children under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

On another level, still in Naturlandia, the youngest will be able to engage valiantly in the vast structure of the Airtrekk. It is a tangle of wooden platforms running up to 13.5 m high. The 17 m wide aerial structure is full of obstacles (54 to be exact, grouped into three levels of difficulty) and puts the balance of young acrobats to the test!

Going down to the bottom of the valleys, you will find in Canillo the Palau de Gel (Ice Palace, in French), the only ice track in the principality. In addition to the joys of skating, children will be able to try the impossible: ride ice quads on a marked course. Controlled and safe skids guaranteed! Finally, after all these emotions and energy spent, the children will have the chance to have their first thermal experience: in the excellent Caldea spa centre, the playful Likidsspace introduces children from 3 to 8 years old to the relaxing benefits of thermal water. A team of wellness professionals, through games and workshops, explains and teaches them the virtues of thermalism. It is certain now, children are not likely to be bored in Andorra!

In a future post, we will come back to the many good deals that the principality has to offer.

More information on the Andorra Turisme website and on the AndorraWorld Facebook page.