The Grandvalira Resorts stations will have 91 skiable kilometres open over the Immaculate Conception bank holiday weekend. Last Friday's snowfall and the low temperatures of the subsequent days have been good for snowmaking. This, in addition to the intense efforts of the technical ground crews, means the Andorran domains can confirm their opening for this Tuesday the 5th of December. Ordino Arcalís and the Pas de la Casa sector of Grandvalira will open partially tomorrow, and the remaining the sectors and the Pal Arinsal station will be operational starting this Wednesday the 6th of December.
The Pas de la Casa sector of Grandvalira will kick off the season tomorrow with the opening of the TSD4 Pas de la Casa, providing access to the Directa slope. For this first day of partial opening, the day pass will have a special price of 36 euros, and can only be purchased at the sector's ticket offices. Starting Wednesday, the skiable area will expand with the opening of the Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo, Grau Roig and Encamp sectors of Grandvalira. In total, the resort will have 53 skiable kilometres open, with 35 slopes and 34 lifts in operation, including the Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Funicamp cable cars. The different sectors are connected by a bus line provided by the resort which will be free for anyone with a Grandvalira ski pass. The Canillo sector will have its capacity limited to 500 beginner skiers, as well as visitors who want to enjoy the Mon(t) Magic family park. The day pass will have a special price of 59 euros starting Wednesday and can be purchased either at the ticket offices or through Grandvalira’s online channels, which will have updated information on the prices of the different passes.
Pal Arinsal will open Wednesday with 40% of its slopes and 71% of its facilities; a total of 19 slopes and 22 lifts. In the Pal sector, guests can ski from Caubella to Coll de la Botella, passing through the Cubil area, while in Arinsal, slopes from the base of the sector to the Les Fonts area will be open. Therefore, during the first few days, the connection between the two sectors via chairlift will not be operational, and guests will be able to travel between them on the bus line provided between La Massana and Arinsal, which will be free with any Grandvalira Resorts pass. The day pass for Pal Arinsal during these first few days will have a reduced price of 39 euros and can be purchased either at the ticket offices or through the resort's online channels.
Finally, Ordino Arcalís will reopen La Coma tomorrow with the disengageable six-seater chairlift, the Tristaina Cable Car and the Orris ski lift. Five more lifts will open Wednesday, providing access to eight new slopes. In total, the Ordino resort will have 54% of its skiable kilometres open, as well as 50% of its facilities. The price of the day pass tomorrow will be 30 euros and it can only be purchased at the ticket offices. Starting Wednesday, it will be 39 euros and also available for purchase through the Grandvalira Resorts online channels.
Importantly, all the Grandvalira Resorts stations will have their ski and snowboard schools in operation as well as the beginner areas of the various sectors and the crèches.
Ski Pass Plus+ now on sale
The Ski Pass Plus+ will go on sale starting this Wednesday, allowing guests to enjoy each ski day to the fullest without having to stop by the ticket offices. This personal and non-transferable pass is valid for the entire winter season, and guests only pay for the days they ski at Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís. Moreover, the Ski Pass Plus+ rewards each ski day with a 15% discount on that day's price at the ticket offices, beginning the second ski day at the resort visited. It should be noted that the Ski Pass Plus+ card can be topped up, so anyone who has one from last season or previous seasons can reuse it through the MyGrandSki account and ski without having to stop by the ticket offices.
Last days of the Season Pass Promotional price
The Season Pass, Andorra Pass, Nord Pass and Mountain Pass, as well as the Extracurricular Ski Passes, remain on sale at the resort ticket offices, the Grandvalira Resorts stand in Illa Carlemany and through the online channels. It should be noted that non-residents of Andorra are still in the Promo sales period, allowing them to purchase season passes at a reduced price until the 10th of December. In the case of the Andorra Pass, the price is €895 for new customers, while those who had the pass last season get a 5% discount and can therefore purchase it for €850. From the 11th of December, the price will be €1,145 and €1,205 for returning and new customers, respectively. As for the Nord Pass, the price is currently €660 for returning customers who are not Andorra residents, while new customers can purchase it for €695. From the 11th of December and until the end of the season, the price will be €779 for returning non-resident customers and €820 for new customers. Andorra residents can purchase the Andorra Pass for €503 if they are returning customers and €530 if they are new customers, while the Nord Pass will cost them €309 and €325, respectively.
Magical activities other than skiing to enjoy the mountains
Alternative activities to skiing are part of the Grandvalira Resorts experience, which is why the resorts have also been busy getting these ready. At Grandvalira, adventure lovers can enjoy the Mon(t) Magic zip line in Canillo, running for 550m at speeds of up to 80km/h, as well as the Màgic Gliss, a mountain slide over half a kilometre long. At Grau Roig, guests can enjoy the magical experience of exploring the snowy forests in a dogsled and snowshoe excursions from Roc Roi.
Pal Arinsal has its full suite of activities ready for families to enjoy the Immaculate Conception bank holiday weekend to the max with its sled slope, the fun tubing slope, the Big Airbag jump and the Big Zip and Kids Zip ziplines. Guests can also join snowshoe excursions in this sector.
Meanwhile, in Ordino Arcalís guests can enjoy guided excursions to the Mirador Solar de Tristaina lookout point or Port del Rat.
As part of the Christmas season, visits to Santa Claus visits are now available at pal Arinsal in the Canillo sector of Grandvalira and in the Cabaneta de Incles of Epic Andorra, one of the year’s most highly anticipated activities in which children can meet and give their letters to Santa in a welcoming, magical mountain setting. In Pal Arinsal, visits to Santa started on Friday the 1st of December and will also be available on 6-10, 15-17 and 22 December. In the Canillo sector, visits to Santa began on the 2nd of December and will continue on 6-10, 15-17 and 22 and 23 December. Meanwhile, visits to Santa at the Cabaneta de Incles in Epic Andorra started on the 25th of November and will continue to be available every day until the 23rd of December. Epic Andorra experiences combine stays in unique accommodation in the middle of the mountains like La Cabana Piolet and the Domo Lodge with adventure activities, and will be available starting this Wednesday.
L’Abarset kicks off the season with a sold out sign
The best après-ski in the Pyrenees opened this weekend with a full house. For the upcoming days, L’Abarset has prepared an intense first-class schedule to kick off the official start to the season during this Immaculate Conception bank holiday weekend. Friday the 8th will be the new edition of Brunch Electronik, with four more dates to follow at L’Abarset this season. NTO Live, Pole Position, Isa Rojas and Edu_Art will be in charge of raising the roof at the El Tarter sector venue in a session that has been sold out for weeks. On Saturday the 9th of December, the party will continue with the Swiss Animal Trainer and the Spanish Los Suruba, who will once again bring the unbridled party spirit to the resort with Argentinian DJ Noe Osses finishing the session off.
The bank holiday weekend’s musical offerings include the first Wednesday Urban Sounds session with Blade on the 6th, and sets from Barcelonan Rendher and Italian Sante Sanone on Thursday the 7th. The bank holiday weekend will wrap up on Sunday with a new edition of “Friends & Family: We Love the 80s & 90s” where the DJs will play hits from the 80s and 90s in sessions for all audiences so that entire families and groups of friends of all ages can feel the music at the L’Abarset après-ski.
DJ Nano at Cala Bassa Costa Rodona
Renowned Madrid producer DJ Nano will be back in Andorra this week with a show at Cala Bassa Costa Rodona in Pas de la Casa this Friday the 8th of December. Madrid musician Jaime Moreno will also perform at the same venue in a day full of rhythm at Pas de la Casa starting at 2p.m.
The gastro scene is ready to go
The domain’s restaurants will be the ideal space to take a break, regain strength and continue enjoying the Grandvalira Resorts experience. The Pas de la Casa sector will open the San Miguel terrace tomorrow, a 300m2 space at the base of the sector which is one of the new offerings this season. Starting Wednesday, it will be joined by many other establishments in Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig and Encamp, such as Abelletes, CBbC Costa Rodona, Coll Blanc, Coma 3, Pulka, Els 3 Estanys, Llac de Cubil, Burger Brothers, My Corner Grau, Bordes, Colibrí and the Racó de Solanelles.
The Soldeu, El Tarter and Canillo sectors will have Obac, the Fun Food cafeteria and the Trattoria de Ribaescorjada, the Gall de Bosc restaurant with its cafeteria and the Pasta Box, the Wine&Meat Bar by Jean Leon, the In the Snow Veuve Clicquot, the Vermuteria Petroni, the Barra Riba and El Forn with its cafeteria and the Roc de les Bruixes à la carte restaurant. The IQOS Terrace will have a DJ line-up with the best live saxophone and trumpet players, and guests can have their ski equipment personalised by the best artists.
Pal will have its insignia restaurants Pla de la Cot and Coll de la Botella, as well as the Expresso Café and Expresso Pizza, the Xiringuito de Planell, the Rústic and Crêpes &Go, while Arinsal will reopen The Terroir with updated cuisine this year, the Iglú, the Piccolo, the Polar and the Derbhi Deli, with all types of dining options at the foot of the slopes.
Ordino Arcalís will continue with the Restaurant La Coma, Fast Food La Coma and the L'Hortell cafeteria, in addition to the Planells cafeteria and the Refugi de les Portelles.