Grandvalira - village

Overview

One of Grandvalira’s strengths is the number of base villages providing access to its slopes, all of which are connected by a single, picturesque highway. Hence, skiers are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation and local vibe. This ranges from large towns to pit stops on the road. Ski-in/ski-out accommodation is less common, but there are still options to choose from, and every village has a direct lift to the slopes.

Generally speaking, most visitors will opt for the convenience and name recognition of Pas de La Casa and Soldeu. However, the alternatives are definitely worth considering.

Accommodation types

Soldeu

Besides Pas de la Casa, Soldeu (1800m) is probably the best-known and most popular of Grandvalira’s base villages. Its prime position in the dead centre of the valley makes it an excellent access point for skiers looking to explore both ends of the resort, with some of the best local pistes accessible via its central gondola—leading to it hosting the 2019 and 2023 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals. While a little less rowdy than Pas de la Casa, the village has a strong après and shopping scene.

Built in an attractive wood and stone style, accommodation here ranges from modest family-run establishments to five-star suites. By far, its largest accommodation is the Sport Hotel Hermitage (+376 870 670): really three hotels stuck together, with an immense spa complex between them. More modest is the Hotel Soldeu Maistre (+376 801 963), praised for its restaurant, and the small, three-star Hotel Bruxelles (+376 851 010), just 50 metres from the main lift. Slightly further out is the two-star Hotel Roc de Saint Miquel (+376 346 791): a low-cost, yet still great quality, family-run alternative.

At the bougier end are the adults-only Hotel Naudi Boutique (+376 739 300); the five-star Lodge Park Hotel (+376 871 787), with an extensive spa and shuttle service; and the Serras Andorra, with gastronomic cuisine and its own nursery slope.

Peretol

Driving southeast from Soldeu towards Pas de la Casa, Peretol (1960m) is little more than a cluster of accommodations beside the road. It connects to the resort via the Pla de les Pedres chair, taking you directly to 2,500m. This is one of Grandvalira's newer lifts, opened in 2019 at the same time as Peretol became a constituent sector of the resort.

However, don’t let its size fool you. It’s home to the floodlit Sunset Park, open from 3 pm to 9 pm, named after one of the world's greatest freestylers and a current Andorran resident, Henrik Harlaut. Hence, Peterol is a major rendezvous point for evening freestylers.

Right next door to its snowpark is the small, three-star Hotel Peretol (+376 851 264), offering ski-in, ski-out access, plus snowshoeing and cross-country trails around the building.

Pas de la Casa

Slopes descending to Pas de la CasaPhoto: OT Grandvalira

Right on the border with France is Grandvalira’s other most popular, original ski village, Pas de la Casa (2100m). It’s much larger, with more of a town feel than its up-valley neighbours (as evidenced by its McDonald’s and Burger King). It's also Grandvalira's oldest sector, with the first ski lift installed here in 1956 and much of the architecture being purpose-built.

In the past, Pas de la Casa (often referred to simply as "Pas") had a strong reputation as the cheap and cheerful face of European skiing, attracting younger skiers looking for a bargain party and discounted designer goods. These days, however, its upgraded hotels appeal to a much wider clientele—though still with a penchant for après-ski. Hence, expect a mixture of young partygoers, families, and more sports-oriented guests, as well as a more distinctly 'French' feel (owing to the village's proximity to the border).

Given its high elevation, Pas' local piste is by far the most snow-sure, with all grades represented. The town boasts some ski-in, ski-out accommodation, including the four-star Hotel Grand Pas (+376 735 515) and the Hotel Kandahar (+376 755 700), which offers evening entertainment for children. A short walk from the slopes are Estival Sporting (+376 755 355), Hotel Màgic Pas (+376 756 900) (which runs a buffet and has an indoor pool), and the family-run, adults-only Hotel Les Truites (+376 755 155). 

Grau Roig

For a touch of the remote, Grau Roig (2120m) (pronounced ‘Rosh’) sits on the hillside high above Pas de la Casa, in the most unspoilt and beautiful part of Grandvalira. It has only one hotel, the Grau Roig Boutique Hotel & Spa (+376 75 55 56), as well as two unique yurt and treehouse-style cabins, run by the Serras Collection (+376 751 150). While there are no restaurants nearby (except for a daytime snack bar), the Refugi del Llac de Pessons (+37 675 90 15) does sit on Grau Roig's treelined home run— arguably the best mountain restaurant in all of Grandvalira.

As the village with the highest altitude, access to the slopes is arguably the best here, with Grandvalira's infamous Riberal black (the only approved speed-skiing site in the Pyrenees) a chair-ride away.

Understandably, however, you’re extremely limited in terms of après- and non-ski activities. Hence, it's best if you fancy a ski-heavy, boutique holiday, with the occasional dip into neighbouring Pas de la Casa for some shopping.

El Tarter

Driving from Soldeu in the opposite direction, El Tarter (1710m) offers swift access to the slopes thanks to a ten-person gondola. Despite growing significantly over the past few decades, it’s also a little quieter than Soldeu (and much quieter than Pas). That being said, while lacking in nightlife venues, the village does boast L'Abarset (+376 623 289) at the foot of its slopes—arguably Grandvalira's biggest single hub for après-ski.

With its circus-themed nursery slopes and numerous children's activities at the Grandvalira Adventure Centre, El Tarter is exceptionally family-friendly. Excellent accommodation choices include the Hotel Nòrdic (+376 739 555) (which also has apartments), Hotel Llop Gris (+376 75 15 15) (if you’re looking for a spa), and the family-run Hotel del Tarter (+376 80 20 80). There’s also the Hotel Euroski & Spa (+376 736 666) at the very edge of the village, which runs its own shuttle service to the lifts, and several self-catering, ski-in/ski-out accommodations designed for families.

Canillo

En route to Encamp, Canillo (1500m) is a quiet, family-oriented base with a skating rink and direct gondola access to a beginner area. Unlike its up-valley neighbours (i.e., El Tarter, Soldeu, Peretol, etc.), Canillo is a genuine mountain village, with origins dating back to the 9th century and a year-round working population.

Given its low altitude and quiet nightlife, Canillo gears itself more towards beginners and children, with a themed children's area, Mont Magic, at the foot of its slopes. Canillo is also good for non-ski activities, including the Màgic Gliss mountain coaster (rideable from age 3+) and ice-skating at its Palau de Gel.

Nevertheless, Canillo does connect to the rest of the resort via a gondola built in 1999. For accommodation with good lift access, your most convenient options are the Hotel Bonavida (+376 751 300) and Hotel Font d’Argent (+376 753 753). For self-catering, there’s the Hotel Obaga Blanca (+376 751 200), and for something a little different, the Ski Plaza Hotel & Wellness (+376 739 444) offers fairytale-themed family suites.

Encamp

At the other end of Grandvalira’s main valley is Encamp (1300m), by far the largest of your options. It's a busy, year-round town with shops, restaurants, and heritage sites such as its Romanesque churches and the National Automobile Museum. Beyond some local pubs, however, don't expect too much by the way of après-ski; a few quiet glasses of local wine, as opposed to dancing on tables.

Encamp connects to the rest of the resort via a 6km cable car, the 'Funicamp', inaugurated in 1998 at a cost of €21mn. This means that, despite having the lowest altitude and least 'ski-town feeling' of Grandvalira's villages, Encamp provides pretty speedy access to the top of the slopes at Solanelles, around 2500m up. Just don't expect any ski-in/ski-out accommodation, or a last run home for that matter—and keep in mind the cable car's last descent at 5 pm.

Owing to its size, you’re pretty spoilt for choice in terms of accommodation, much of which tends to be on the cheaper side. Some good value-for-money options include the Yomo Petit París (+376 731 525), the Hotel Coray (+376 831 513), and for self-catering, the Apartaments del Meligar (+376 831 945).

Worth keeping in mind, Encamp is also the closest village by bus to Andorra’s capital, Andorra la Vella, making it your best option for day trips and for taking advantage of the country's duty-free status.

Ski/snowboard equipment hire

Every base village except Grau Roig has its own equipment rental shop. As the two largest, Pas de la Casa and Encamp have several to choose from, located on their main high streets. In the past, we’ve hired from the excellent Pic Negre (+376 737 720) in Soldeu, where skis were served alongside a glass of local hot grog.

Grandvalira also have an equipment rental wizard on their website that you can use to book in advance—or you can go directly to each rental shop's website.

Non-ski activities

The mountain-coaster in Canillo's Mont Magic Family ParkPhoto: OT Grandvalira

Grandvalira has a good range of non-ski activities spread across its base villages. These include snowshoeing (for which several new circuits have been created in Soldeu), dog-sledging, archery, igloo-building, and snowmobiling. There’s also a seated zipline and mountain coaster in Canillo within its Mont Magic Family Park, as well as an ice rink at its Palau de Gel (+376 800 840). Most activities can be booked as packages on the Grandvalira website, and are accessible by bus.

One particular attraction to Grandvalira, however, is the number of activities outside the resort. Given that Andorra is only 468km2 (just a bit larger than the Isle of Wight), with much of the activity concentrated in one area, day trips are pretty easy. The country’s capital, Andorra la Vella, is a 15-minute bus ride from Encamp. Here, you’ll find medieval buildings and churches, the cycling and national history museums, wine bars, cocktail-tasting nights, and southern Europe’s largest spa, Caldea (+376 800 999). More importantly, taking the bus or driving to Andorra la Vella opens up a world of new restaurants and designer shops—all at significantly lower cost than in France or Spain.

From Andorra la Vella, you can also take the bus northwest, towards La Massana (and the country’s two other, much smaller ski resorts). La Massana is renowned for its clear night skies, particularly within the Comapedrosa Natural Park, which contains Andorra’s highest summit, Comapedrosa (2,942m). Avid astronomers should not miss out.

Childcare

Grandvalira has four nurseries for children aged 1–5 years, situated in Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu, and Grau Roig. All four are open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and available every day of the week.

For the best prices, you can book online. Keep in mind that meals are not included in the price.