Grandvalira announces two new lifts for the 2027–2028 season: a new gondola lift between Pla de Ribaescorjada (El Tarter) and Portella (Canillo), and Andorra’s first 8-seater chairlift, at Pas de la Casa
The multi-purpose building at Pas de la Casa will be fully operational this winter, with a total of 3,200 m2 including all services, among them the new Els Pioners dining area, while Arinsal opens the El Refugi restaurant, located in Comallemple
The expansion of Mobile Pass to all the main Andorra Pass and Nord Pass ticket options is the first step towards the global implementation of the digital ski pass on mobile phones
The Grandvalira Resorts ski areas presented their new features for the 2026–2027 winter season this morning, which is expected to start on 4 December and run until 4 April, weather conditions permitting. This winter, Andorra’s ski areas will make a record investment of €42.8 million, 9.7% more than last season. Of the total investment, €34.3 million corresponds to Grandvalira, €4.5 million to Pal Arinsal and €4 million to Ordino Arcalís. The main areas receiving investment are snow guarantee, with a major increase in instant production capacity and water storage, new facilities and infrastructure in the various sectors, the incorporation of digital solutions that optimise the customer experience, and new dining options. All this comes in a season in which Andorra’s ski areas will once again host major international events. Grandvalira Resorts’ marketing director, David Ledesma, explained at the presentation that “we have been working with a medium- and long-term vision for years, and this season we are completing many projects while announcing new ones that make us look to the future with positive prospects. The aim is to continue increasing the quality of our ski areas and consolidate Andorra as an internationally renowned skiing destination”.
Exponential growth in snowmaking capacity and resource optimisation
Grandvalira Resorts’ ski areas have invested €39.1 million since the 2022–2023 season in improvements to the snowmaking network across their domains, in order to constantly strengthen their position as benchmarks for snow reliability in the Pyrenees. With the snowmaking network covering 66% of the skiable area of the domains, Andorra’s ski areas continue to make giant strides in optimising snow production.
One of the main projects for this winter is the increase in water storage capacity. Grandvalira is increasing it by 39%, from 370,000 to 515,000 m³, thanks to the new 100,000 m³ Vaquer lake at Grau Roig and the new 45,000 m³ Solana del Forn reservoir in Soldeu. At Ordino Arcalís, the new 36,000 m³ Coma reservoir increases total capacity from 8,000 to 44,000 m³, representing growth of 450%. The new reservoirs also incorporate an innovative water-cooling system, which can reduce the electricity consumption associated with this process by up to 90%; it has also been installed in three other Grandvalira reservoirs.
The other major area of improvement is the extraordinary 22% increase in instant snow-production capacity across all the ski areas this winter. Taken together, the projects carried out strengthen the ski areas’ ability to produce more snow in less time, make the most of cold-weather windows and offer optimal conditions throughout the season, with more efficient resource management. Thus, Grandvalira has rebuilt pump room 3 and, together with the new Vaquer lake room, increased its simultaneous production capacity to 6,250 m3/h of water transformed into artificial snow; in other words, it can operate 795 snow cannons simultaneously, covering its slopes with artificial snow. Ordino Arcalís, for its part, has tripled this capacity with the new pump room associated with the Coma reservoir, rising from 350 m3/h to 950 m3/h of water transformed into artificial snow. Finally, Pal Arinsal has renovated Pal’s pump room and increased its instant production capacity by 15%, reaching 1,640 m3/h.
The projects are completed by the installation of 50 new snow cannons and the replacement of 15 units across all the ski areas, as well as improvements to the profiles of various slopes, involving a total of 61,800 m³ of earth brought in or moved, in order to reduce snow requirements and optimise resource consumption, while also making the improved slopes more accessible.
Two new lifts confirmed for the 2027–2028 season
Grandvalira has announced two new lifts for the 2027–2028 season. On the one hand, Pas de la Casa will open Andorra’s first eight-seater chairlift, connecting the base of the ski area with the upper part of the sector and carrying 4,200 people per hour. The new Poma chairlift will be 1,522 metres long and overcome a vertical rise of 429 metres, with an expected journey time of just 4 minutes and 48 seconds. The commissioning of this new lift in the 2027–2028 season will be accompanied by the removal of three chairlifts in the sector: the current four-seater chairlift at Pas de la Casa, and those at Solana and Costa Rodona, thereby simplifying and optimising mobility within the sector.
On the other hand, Grandvalira will open the new TC10 Encampadana gondola lift, which will connect Pla de Ribaescorjada (El Tarter) with the Portella area (Canillo), facilitating connections between these two sectors and speeding up skiers’ movements between the different areas of the domain. The new lift, manufactured by Doppelmayr, a company with a presence in Andorra, will be equipped with 10-seater panoramic cabins and will have a transport capacity of 2,500 people per hour, with a route measuring 1,916 metres in length, a vertical rise of 385 metres and an expected journey time of 7 minutes and 14 seconds.
“These two new lifts confirmed for the 2027–2028 season represent a new starting point for a project to modernise the skiable domain, with next-generation facilities that allow us to look to the future with positive prospects,” said Ledesma.
The new multi-purpose building at Pas de la Casa fully operational
One of the main new features this season is the full opening of the new multi-purpose building at Pas de la Casa, with an area of 3,200 m² and an investment of €15.5 million, including improved access to the slopes from Avinguda d’Encamp and Carrer Bearn. The facility brings together ticket and ski-school sales points, a ski locker area with 58 lockers, a 175 m2 children’s area and a shop of more than 800 m² for equipment rental and repairs. The upper floor sees the opening of Els Pioners, a mountain restaurant serving Pyrenean products with Alpine influences, with capacity for 240 diners and a 325 m² terrace.
Automatic barriers have been installed in the Grau Roig car park to improve its management. Parking will remain free for skiers, who will be able to validate their exit using their ski pass, as well as for users of the ski area’s services via a QR code.
In the Soldeu and El Tarter sectors, new features include a new 100-metre covered magic carpet in the Espiolets beginners’ area and a motorhome area in the El Tarter sector, with 40 spaces and online booking. Grandvalira will also introduce an autonomous drone with artificial intelligence to support safety, rescue, surveillance and maintenance tasks. It is a pioneering project in the Pyrenees.
At Pal Arinsal, improvements focus on the learning areas, with the relocation of the magic carpet in the Arinsal nursery area, the remodelling of the beginners’ area and the creation of a new Fun Zone, also in Arinsal. For its part, Ordino Arcalís has covered the 100-metre conveyor belt in Coma, opened last winter, and is strengthening avalanche protection with new Wyssen installations.
Mobile Pass expanded and the app gains more features
Grandvalira Resorts continues to promote the digitalisation of its services by expanding Mobile Pass, which allows users to access the lifts directly with their mobile phone. This season it will be available with the Andorra Pass and Nord Pass Season Passes and with the main day and multi-day ticket options. “After a first year of testing and implementation, this year we are expanding our commitment to the digital ski pass on mobile phones. In the medium term, all skiers will use Mobile Pass and physical media will no longer be used, just as is already the case, for example, when boarding a plane,” Ledesma stated.
The Grandvalira Resorts APP will also add new features, such as access to Mobile Pass for children under 16, so that those who have a smartphone can use Mobile Pass, as well as a digital wallet for checking bookings and contracted services. At the same time, the ski areas are launching a renewed Wi-Fi network, with greater capacity and a unified connection.
Two new major restaurants and a broader quality après-ski offering
Gastronomy is also taking on greater prominence. In addition to the Els Pioners restaurant at Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal is opening El Refugi d’Arinsal, a new space in Comallemple inspired by a mountain pub, combining dining, music and après-ski, with capacity for 140 diners. The ski area in La Massana is also launching a new concept at Pla de la Cot, divided into three distinct spaces (vermouth bar, tapas and mountain cuisine) and welcoming new sponsor Petroni. In addition, Pal will launch the Caubella by San Miguel après-ski every Saturday and has revamped the dining options at Coll de la Botella.
At Grandvalira, the Snow Club Gourmet will reach its ninth edition, with four gastronomic events featuring renowned chefs, while the Grandvalira Gastronomic Days will once again bring together prestigious chefs at Racó de Solanelles and Refugi de Pessons. In addition, the Soldeu and El Tarter sectors will introduce new automation, artificial intelligence and robotics solutions in their food-service operations to speed up service and improve the customer experience.
In the après-ski sphere, L’Abarset will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a special programme including Brunch Electronik, Bresh, Ants and Zamna parties, as well as various events and celebrations throughout the season. Meanwhile, the Hibernation festival will mark the tenth anniversary of its launch with a new edition from 19 to 21 March at Pas de la Casa.
World Cups once again place Andorra on the international calendar
Major sporting competitions will once again be one of winter’s attractions. Grandvalira’s Soldeu sector will host the Alpine Skiing World Cup on 6 and 7 March 2027, with a women’s giant slalom and slalom on the legendary Avet piste. Pal Arinsal will be the setting for the ISMF Comapedrosa Andorra World Cup from 22 to 24 January, featuring the Sprint and Vertical races, while Ordino Arcalís will host the 35th edition of the Borrufa FIS Children Trophy from 18 to 21 January, one of the leading events in youth alpine skiing. The calendar will be rounded out by other competitions, such as the SLVSH Cup at Snowpark Peretol (1–8 March), the JAM Extreme FWJQ (13–14 March) and La Mamba Race by Joan Verdú (3 April).