This tiny country has a reputation for being a fantastic place to learn to ski, especially if you’re a Brit! The ski schools are very friendly and the instructors all have a good level of English, with many of them actually being native speakers.
Fantastic destination for beginners. Instructors were superb and accommodation was ideal for school groups. Tasker Milward School
Andorra also offers excellent value for money and is now the fourth most popular destination for British skiers. Its duty-free status means that prices here are pretty reasonable and you could pick up some real bargains!
If you’re keen to try a ski trip to Andorra, we can heartily recommend Vallnord. Last February, Paul and Beth, two of our Ski Specialists visited the area for themselves and were impressed with what they found.
Vallnord offers the opportunity to ski three resorts on one lift pass – Pal, Arinsal and Arcalis. Pal and Arinsal are great for beginners, with nursery slopes at a high enough altitude to enjoy good snow cover throughout the season. They can start to get to grips with skiing at the purpose-built complex at the top of the lift in Arinsal before taking the gondola over to Pal, where they’ll eventually progress on to some easy blues and moderate reds.
The skiing available in Arinsal at Easter was excellent – the opportunity for pupils to travel over to Pal was a great addition to their skiing experience. All instructors spoke excellent English and progressed even the very beginners’ group to skiing from the top of the mountain. St. Brigid’s School
The third area in Vallnord, Arcalis, is better suited to the more experienced skiers and is the most ‘alpine’ area in the Pyrenees. Its north/north-west facing slopes are just a short coach journey from Pal and Arinsal.
The principality has also seen massive investment in its lift systems over the last few years and the pistes are immaculate thanks to careful grooming. Added to this, Andorra has a fantastic snow record, meaning you can expect pretty reliable conditions.
Arinsal is a very good destination for late season school trips. The snow and facilities are of a good standard and the proximity of the slopes is ideal for school groups. Chulmleigh Community College
The Vallnord ski area is also just 20 minutes from the principality’s capital, Andorra la Vella. So, as well as enjoying some of the many après-ski options available in the area, make sure you also take some time to explore the city and discover the Andorran culture (and don’t forget to check out the shopping!).
Interested in Vallnord? Contact us today to find out more!