Arinsal Andorra

There are many activities on offer in Arinsal, besides skiing and snowboarding. Some are provided by the ski area, others in the valley. Many of these will be offered to you by your tour company if you come on a package tour, but you may want to compare the price they ask with what the ski area charges, bearing in mind that the tour company price probably includes transport if necessary. Below we give some of the most popular activities along with typical prices.

The activities in Seturia can be reached by an intermediate skier (the return is a difficult blue run), or by road. There is no public bus there so unless you have a car with you will need to book a taxi or use transport provided by your tour company or by some of the hotels. Skiing to Seturia will be beyond the abilities of most beginners, even at the end of the week.

This is not an exhaustive list - there are many other activities, but these are the ones which tend to be popular with English speaking visitors. More information can be found on the Vallnord website or at Hola Andorra.

Mushing

Location: Seturia
Prices: 1 person - €19, 2 people €36.50 total, 3 people €44 total
Riding on sleds pulled by dogs through the Seturia forests. Several other options are available, including longer rides, and night time rides with dinner afterwards.
For more information see the Vallnord website Mushing page or ask at the information points at the ski station.

Skidoos

Location: Seturia
Prices: 1 person - €51.50, 2 people (sharing a skidoo) - €64.00. Prices are for a 30 minute ride. Longer rides are also available
Riding snowmobiles on a circuit which winds around the Seturia valley.
For more information see the Vallnord website Snowmobile page or ask at the information points at the ski station.

Shopping

Location: Andorra la Vella
Andorra is well known for its duty free shopping, and the capital, Andorra la Vella, is worth a visit. Tobacco and alcohol tend to be very cheap but bear in mind that duty free limits apply. There are also often good deals on electrical goods and ski gear, but do check the current UK prices to make sure you are getting a bargain. The high street is lined with designer shops and perfumeries, and there are also large department stores and hypermarkets sellling almost everything. Most of the shops are open until around 8pm, but many are closed for lunch between 1pm and 3pm. The shops will ask for ID - usually a passport - if you want to pay by card.
Getting there: The tour companies will often arange a coach trip to Andorra la Vella, but there are also public buses (ask at your hotel or at the ski station information desk) around twice an hour for under €3 each way. You can also book a taxi (again, ask at your hotel and be sure to book the return taxi as well) for about €20 each way.

Caldea

Location: Andorra la Vella
Price: €33 per person for a 3 hour visit, €25 in the evening (after 8.30 or 9.30 dependent on season).
Europe's largest spa complex - located centrally in Andorra La Vella/Escaldes - is an impressivly towering edifice of glass that was opened in 1994. The prices above are to access the main spa area. Various treatments are also available, priced individually, or you can join the Caldea Club for a day which gives you a programme of treatments.
Getting there: see the information for Shopping, above.
For more information see the Caldea website, or Hola-Andorra.

Helicopter Ride

Location: Arinsal
Price: €60 per person for a 10 minute flight
A 10 minute helicopter tour leaving from the carpark at the top of the gondola and making a breathtaking circuit through the local valleys.
For more information see the Vallnord website Helicopter page or ask at the information points at the ski station.

Arcalis

Location: Arcalis
Price: Included in the ski pass
Ok, a trip to Arcalis is definitely a ski/snowboard activity - there is nothing else to do there as the ski station is some distance from the nearest village. However we have put it on this page as it is one of the activities which takes you away from Arinsal, requires transport arranging, and is often offered by the tour operators. Arcalis is the undiscovered gem of Andorra - the ski area, whilst not the largest, has some really excellent ski terrain. The runs range from long cruising greens and blues up to steep reds and blacks with some very good off-piste possiblilties as well. Because the ski area has no accommodation itself, it is often quieter than the other ski areas in Andorra.
Getting there: Arcalis is about thirty minutes drive from Arinsal, so getting there requires a car, bus or taxi. The ski area provides buses at 8.30am and 10.30am, leaving from the bus stop by the bottom gondola staion. Return buses are at 3.30pm and 4.30pm. These buses are free with your Vallnord skipass, however they are not always 100% reliable. A taxi will be around €20 each way if you pre-book via your hotel. Finally, most tour companies and some hotels offer a bus to Arcalis at varying costs.