Many winter activities
Andorra's tourist offer of snow sports is based on its mountains. The two large ski areas of Grandvalira and Vallnord (Ordino Arcalis and Pal Arinsal) as well as the Naturlàndia park (with its 15 km of slopes in the Rabassa forest) offer, in addition to skiing and snowboarding, a thousand other ways to have fun on the snow. For walks, you can choose cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, mushing (sleds pulled by dogs) or even skibike. Ski joëring, the ski harnessed to a horse, is also possible in Grandvalira. Are you looking for more excitement? Then you should definitely go down the 5.3 km Tobotronc in Naturlàndia, the longest alpine toboggan in the world. If you want to slide faster while visiting the snowy surroundings, snowmobiles, quads or buggies are ideal. And there are even night tours for those who want to try a night adventure! Families and large groups can have fun sledding down the slopes or riding a snow snake, a "snow snake" made up of several sleds attached to each other. Even more fun, the airboard is a kind of inflatable sled that will propel you up to 80 km/h on the snow. In addition, the ski areas also offer the possibility to fly between sky and snow: panoramic flights in helicopter, hot air balloon, paragliding. The most intrepid will indulge in more original extreme sports: the speed-ride combines paragliding and high mountain skiing, while heliskiing combines helicopter flights and off-piste skiing. Ice diving in mountain lakes is also a new trend, with the possibility of night diving. Thrills guaranteed! Finally, the Palau de Gel in Canillo, an Olympic ice rink, is the place to go for skating fans. In addition to ice skating, the structure offers many other activities: field hockey, broomball, curling or go-karting on ice!
Popular hiking trails
Andorra is a small country to discover on foot. It offers hikers a vast network of routes and paths that can be covered on foot, on horseback or by bicycle
The long-distance paths (GR). The country is crossed by five long-distance paths (GR) which lead to the most secret corners of the mountains. To use them, you just have to follow the red and white markers along the paths.
The GR Pays (GRP) goes around the country and can be followed in 6 or 7 stages through its peaks and valleys. Some of its points join the GR 7, the GR 11 and the cross-border GRs. The smaller GR 7 runs from the eastern to the southern slopes of the country. It enters Andorra from France via the Portella Blanca, crosses the country and continues into Catalonia, ending after Andalusia. The GR 11 crosses the country from northwest to southeast; the cross-border GR 1 - the Loop of the 3 Nations, has 5 stages lasting a total of 24 hours; the cross-border GR 2 - the Tour of the Lakes has 3 stages lasting a total of 14 hours
In addition to the GR trails, there are numerous medium and high mountain hikingtrails of varying difficulty, accessible in spring, summer and autumn. The Comapedrosa Valleys Natural Park, the Sorteny Valley Natural Park, the Incles Valley, the Enclar Valley, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, the Pessons cirque or the paths of the old trades in Sant Julià de Lòrià, the possibilities are endless!
Mountain huts. Nature lovers can go on long hikes and sleep in mountain huts to get the most out of the mountain environment. The network of refuges in Andorra ensures a minimum of comfort. They are located between 1,660 and 2,480 m above sea level. The most important is the Coma Pedrosa refuge (2,265 m).
Outdoor recreation for all
Walking not your cup of tea? The mountain resorts of Grandvalira, Vallnord and the Naturlàndia leisure park offer a wide range of outdoor activities.
Horseback riding.
Rides last between an hour and a day. In this case, it is best to have some riding experience, as the horses sometimes take somewhat steep paths. Or you can prefer to ride a donkey. Children are not forgotten in Vallnord, where they can take accompanied pony rides.Cycling.
There are paths without too many slopes, perfect for those who want a quiet bike ride. But for the adrenaline, you can also try downhill mountain biking at the Bike Park in Vallnord, for example. Sensations guaranteed! Note that electric bikes are now available in Andorra.Climbing and via ferrata.
Andorra is an ideal destination for climbing and via ferrata routes. These are vertical sports routes (somewhere between hiking and climbing) which have the particularity of offering artificial holds on the rock faces to facilitate the passage (iron stairs, handrails...). There are many courses of different levels.Water sports are not forgotten, thanks to the many lakes, ponds, rivers and streams that Andorra has to offer, especially in the parishes of Ordino and Canillo. Some of their streams can be discovered by canyoning. This is an ideal activity for exploring caves and nooks and crannies, and enjoying natural slides. Fishing is more relaxing and is practiced in a small number of designated areas made up of lakes and rivers. The fishing season opens in mid-March and closes at the end of November. Diving in the high altitude lakes of the Incles and Ordino valleys will undoubtedly be more attractive during the summer months.
Mechanical sports.
For a more exciting ride, why not drive a quad bike, a buggy or an amphibious vehicle? Or try your hand at go-karting on a circuit?Extreme sports. Finally, for those who love big thrills, treat yourself to a zip line crossing, a bungee jump or a paragliding session to enjoy the landscapes from the sky!
