Grandvalira is hailing the Christmas holidays with the largest skiable area in southern Europe. Skiers travelling to the resort in Andorra, the Pyrenean country, will be able to enjoy ideal conditions for snow sports throughout the six sectors’ slopes, with some 175 kilometres available for skiing. This amounts to 85% of slopes open, with 90% of ski lifts in operation. Over the last five days, snowfall has left up to 50 cm of fresh snow, with depth of powdery snow between 30 and 80 cm. Right now we’re happy to say it’s snowing in Grandvalira.
If you’d like to spend the holiday season here with your family, we currently have Mon(t) Magic up and running in the Canillo sector, while over the next few days the youngest skiers will be able to enjoy the Imaginarium circuit in the Grau Roig sector and the Bababoom Circus circuit in the El Tarter sector.
Every day during the Christmas holidays, you’ll be able to enjoy the full range of services offered by the Ski and Snowboard Schools in Grandvalira, which are spread out across the six sectors of the domain. This season, the Ski School in Grau Roig is planning to inaugurate its centre for sports massage and treatments for the first time.
Those who love mountain skiing will be able to enjoy the sport on three circuits at the resort: the Montmalús circuit, the Envalira circuit and the Pessons circuit, all accompanied by the Grandvalira Mountain Guides, the only centre with qualified mountain guides in Andorra at a skiable domain.
One of the main family attractions this time of year are our adventure activities. Two of the resort's centres are used as bases for this type of activities. These are the Grandvalira Mountain Park (Grau Roig) and the Grandvalira Outdoor Center (El Tarter), where visitors can enjoy a range of fun alternatives to skiing, such as dog sleds, snowmobile rides and snowshoe outings.
High-mountain freestyle
Lovers of freestyle skiing are sure to love Grandvalira thanks to the Snow Domain services with all the snowparks open and the Freestyle Club available for all ages.
Snowpark El Tarter offers customers a beginners range of courses with 7 modules on top of modules in the lower part to link the upper and lower part of the park. At Xavi Park in the Grau Roig sector, they will be providing services to cover three different lines: pro, expert and beginners. For the most experienced, the snowpark is also offering a new pyramid module on top of the two kickers currently available. Expert skiers will be able to enjoy the round tube rail + Z, while freestyle beginners will be able to enjoy the dancefloor, the flat square rail and the Round Tube Rail.
Finally, Grandvalira finished off its selection of snowparks with Sunset Park Peretol. The night-time snowpark is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and is introducing a new beginner’s course with three tins, a flat tin, an up-down tin and a rainbow.
Passion for cuisine
One of Grandvalira's new attractions this season is the collaboration agreement with the renowned pastry master Christian Escribà for the Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa sectors. Escribà has provided a wide range of desserts inspired by the snow with chocolate, in all its versions, taking pride of place as the star of the show, the perfect way to round off any meal this season. During the holidays this year, they can be tasted at sit-down restaurants in the sectors mentioned above.
In the Grau Roig sector, the 3 Estanys Restaurant and the Llac de Pessons Refuge, as well as the Igloo Hotel, which is already being built, are ready to help you bring in 2018 in style on New Year's Eve.
This season, Grandvalira has launched an exclusive new space that tea lovers are sure to enjoy. If you love a hot drink, there’s a new space in the Soldeu sector specialising in teas, called The Exceptional Tea Lounge Experience by Dilmah. Here those who love teas and herbal infusions will be able to get out of the cold of the slopes and enjoy pairings with hot drinks and the finest teas imported directly from Sri Lanka.
Grandvalira has put together a special musical programme for the festive season on its exclusive terraces, where visitors can sample the finest culinary delights. This is certainly the case at Amélie Experience on the terrace at the Llac de Pessons restaurant in Grau Roig: this exclusive bar serves the very highest quality Premium Huîtres Amélie oysters, accompanied by the finest French champagnes. The solarium terrace at the Igloo Hotel will also host DJ sessions at midday on weekends during the Christmas holidays.
Champagne is also the star of the show at the fabulous Clicquot Snow Club Grandvalira on the terrace at Gall de Bosc in the Soldeu sector. This exclusively chic space, the only one of its kind in the Pyrenees, will satisfy even the most demanding palates with one of the world's leading champagnes paired with a selection of the finest cured Iberian pork products by Joselito, meat by Txogitxu and smoked fish by Carpier. Clicquot also features at El Tarter’s L’Abarset, which has a new VIP area with capacity for 30 people. Remember that booking ahead is required.
Once again this year, L’Abarset will become the centre stage for Christmas après-ski, with a special programme that will consolidate El Tarter’s place on the musical scene alongside the best ski resort parties in the Iberian peninsula, thanks to visits from renowned DJs such as DJ Ismael Rivas on 23 December, Viktor Ollé on 28 December and Chelina Manuhutu's DJ set on the last Saturday of the year, 30 December.
The Christmas calendar
The Snow Domain will be presenting one of the biggest programmes of special activities in the Pyrenees, especially designed to make sure everyone enjoys their stay at southern Europe’s largest ski resort.
Here you’ll find the programme with confirmed activities. For more information on bookings and prices, you can check the website: www.grandvalira.com :
Until 23 December Visit Father Christmas at El Roc de les Bruixes, in Canillo. Booking ahead required.
23 December Hunt for cagations, the traditional Catalan Christmas log, in the woods of Grau Roig. Organised by Roc Roi.
20, 22 and 23 December Visit Father Christmas at the Piolets restaurant in Grau Roig. Snack/dinner for children and parents, entertainment activities for children and a personalised visit from Father Christmas for children to deliver their letters.
24 December Visit Father Christmas in Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig and Encamp sectors with sweets and hot chocolate for the children.
24 December - 11 a.m. To 1 p.m. Father Christmas will be visiting the Grandvalira Ski and Snowboard Schools in the Soldeu, El Tarter and Canillo sectors.
24 December - 6 p.m. Father Christmas arrives by dog sled at the Ice Palace in Andorra, from Canillo - Leaves from the Canillo cablecar car park.
24 December - 7 p.m. Father Christmas arrives by dog sled at the Hotel Sport Village in Soldeu and the Vodka Bar in Grau Roig.
26 December - 6:45 p.m. Cagatió experience with snow shoe outing, supper and cagatió celebration at the Igloo Hotel.
29 December - 7:45 p.m. Dreams on Ice - Ice skaters from Andorra Club de Gel will be recreating a series of the best-loved characters from popular entertainment in an ice and music extravaganza for all the family, where Mickey and his friends will be the hosts.
31 December - 4 p.m. San Silvestre Skimo & Run in Grandvalira-Grau Roig. Ascent with snow shoes, alpine skis or on foot to the Igloo Hotel Free registration from 3 p.m. at the Ski School in Grau Roig. Briefing at 4:30 p.m., with departure scheduled at 5:15 p.m.
31 December - 6:30 p.m. Torchlit descent from Pla d’Espiolets (Soldeu) to Soldeu village.
31 December - 8:15 p.m. Supper and New Year's Eve at the Igloo Hotel.
3 January - 6:30 p.m. Beacon descent from Grandvalira-Soldeu Ski and Snowboard School to Soldeu village.
3 January 7:45 p.m. Dreams on Ice - Ice skaters from Andorra Club de Gel will be recreating a series of the best-loved characters from popular entertainment in an ice and music extravaganza for all the family, where Mickey and his friends will be the hosts.
6 January Torchlit descent with the arrival of the Three Kings in the Pas de la Casa sector.
