Vallnord in the Northern Valley of the Principality of Andorra encompasses two ski areas under one lift ticket with 93 km of slopes and a vast back country area for amazing freeride skiing. Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis together offer combined 74 ski runs, connected by 45 ski lifts.
Lovely views from Vallnord-Pal Arinsal
It is now 3 years since Josep Marti-Cella and his assistant Xabier Arjona took over the management of Vallnord – Josep was in charge of Vallnord-Pal Arinsal and Xabier of Vallnord- Ordino Arcalís. Their idea was to join forces, give an impeccable service with reasonable rates and work as one consolidated ski resort.
These two resorts have now terrain for all kinds of public: families, experts and beginners/intermediates.
10 months of the year – winters and summers
Although Vallnord is known for its winter, their summers are starting to become very popular: mountain biking, hiking, trail running – the list is extensive and Vallnord has become now the place to be for many of the world-renowned events.
A ski pass to suit each customer
Guests can choose to purchase lift tickets for the whole year, for one day, for one of the resorts or both, for the season and also non-consecutive days. In this way, Vallnord is offering a great flexibility for all guests.
Bike & Ski, a pass valid for the whole year, opens the door to the treasures hidden in the mountains of La Massana and Ordino for only one Euro more than the winter ski pass. These two passes are the most popular among our customers. Apart from a long-term ski pass, it is also possible to choose a product for a few days. The top-up ski pass, for example, allows you to buy extra days whenever you want. The non-consecutive pass, on the other hand, allows you the possibility of not having to ski two days running.
Beyond skiing
Vallnord-Pal Arinsal offer sledge rides, snowbikes and mushing, tours on snowshoes or snowcats. And Vallnord-Ordino Arcalis is the home of freeride.
Vallnord has launched a new App and simplified the booking process through Vallnord.com:
Vallnord has updated their App to give guests all the information on their mobile phone. On top of updating all the maps and data, you can also book your packaged tours to stay at La Massana and Ordino.
The new responsive technology installed at vallnord.com, will even further enhance our customers’ browsing experience.
Vallnord is the centre for international events
The calendar for Vallnord resorts extends over 10 months and is not only limited to the winter: from January to December, international renowned events take place in the mountains of the north.
SOLIDARY SKIMO RACE
Pal, 7 January 2018
Pal’s solidary race is one of the events that, year after year, ski mountaineering enthusiasts mark on their agenda as essential. Apart from being one of the first races in the 2018 winter season, they participate in the event knowing that that are contributing to solidary causes being undertaken in Andorra.
FONT BLANCA ISMF WORLD CUP
Arcalís and Pal, 27 and 28 January 2018
All the force and international repercussion of the Northern Valley ski slopes comes to the fore in a single event: the Font Blanca ISMF World Cup. The organisation of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation has made Vallnord a stopover of excellence on its event calendar. Over the last weekend in January 2018, both Vallnord resorts will host one of the stops of the Ski Mountaineering World Cup, a championship that also visits, amongst others, the Wanlong slopes in China and Villars-sur-Ollon in Switzerland. On Saturday 27 Vallnord – Ordino Arcalís will host the Individual Race, when the professionals of greatest renown in ski mountaineering will be challenged to the resort’s couloirs that are only suitable for experts, and on the next day, Sunday 28, Vallnord – Pal Arinsal will host the race at the greatest slope: the Vertical Race.
TROFEU BORRUFA – FIS YOUTH CHILDREN RACES
Arcalís, from 29 January to 1 February
This is the competition at which children from all over the world look forward to each year. For the 26th time, the slopes of Vallnord – Ordino Arcalís will welcome a new edition of the Borrufa Trophy. This alpine skiing competition attracts hundreds of children aged between 13 and 16 from more than 30 countries from around the world, all competing in four events on the Les Canals and Portelles runs: giant slalom, super-G, slalom, and combined.
FREERIDE WORLD TOUR
Arcalís. From 1 to 7 March 2018
The freeride competition with greatest repercussion in the world, the series of races of the Freeride World Tour, comes back to Andorra for the fourth year running. The couloirs of Arcalís will be the site for the most surprising adventures of the 45 best riders in the world. Whether on skis or with a snowboard, all of them will have to show their dare-devil dexterity to earn the title of World’s Best freerider in men’s and women’s categories.
ELDORADO FREERIDE JUNIOR TOUR
Arcalís, 4 March 2018
Coinciding with the week that the best racers in the world come to Ordino Arcalís slopes to compete in one of the stops that will decide the champion, the resort will also host this 3-star event for youths from all over the world aged between 14 and 17. Apart from elite skiers, this week will also let us see the potential champion of the world.
VALHALLA UNDERWEAR FREERIDE
Arcalís, 25 March 2018
The most outstanding event for daredevils; the most entertaining race of the season, where all are welcome to participate on skis or snowboard under one condition: to do so in underwear.
ANDORRA SKIMO 10
Arcalís, 24 and 25 February 2018
The Andorra’s most extreme crossing comes to Arcalís on the last weekend of February 2018 with Andorra SKIMO 10, the race that challenges almost 200 people in teams of two, the hardest ski mountaineering race in the country. The cross-country race begins in Naturlandia and, after of going through Grau Roig and 10 different mountain refuges, finishes in Ordino Arcalís on Sunday.
TRI-BLANC
Pal and La Massana. March 2018
After the success of the inaugural edition held in March 2017, 2018 will see the second edition of Triblanc. This is a competition where participants are faced with three different sporting specialties in one race: running, cycling, and ski mountaineering. The event takes place at La Massana and the finish line is at the ski runs of Pal, where the last part takes place: climbing in randonnée 680 metres of vertical.
CURSA DE LA DONA (Women’s race)
Pal, March de 2018
It is not the most international but; on the other hand, it is one of the races with most fans in Andorra. It is a woman’s SKIMO race, an event with a solidary character with the participation of whole families and which this year consolidates its third edition.
JAM EXTREME FREERIDE WORLD QUALIFIER 3*
Arcalís, 1 April 2018
This event forms part of the series of competitions making up the Freeride World Tour. In this case, the participants are youths and adolescents taking their first steps so that, in the future, they can earn the highest places among freeriders with either skis or snowboard.
Vallnord celebrates its 35th anniversary:
Half a million skiers-days sold in a single season showcases the leadership of Vallnord – Pal Arinsal as the preferred ski resort both at home and abroad. This is shown by the 35th anniversary that the resort celebrates this 2017-2018 season. The slopes of La Massana welcome families with open arms. Everyone has guaranteed fun!
This 2017-2018 winter, improvements have been especially far-reaching: a new building at Coll de la Botella has opened.
As of December 2017 the Coll de la Botella road will become a new strategic point for the Pal Arinsal ski resort. A new 1,100 square meter installation as an access area to both spaces offered by the La Massana skiable domain: Planell de Pal, at the arrival point of the cable car from the centre of the parish, and the area for services and activities located at the foot of the Arinsal slopes.
The resort’s restaurant offer continues to gain importance with this investment, the main one included in the Master Plan. The offer now includes three new places to eat: Bistro, Grill, and Xiringuito. From the very first day, skiers will have three new options to choose from to recover their strength, all of them located in the very centre of the slopes.
On the one hand is the Xiringuito, a new fast-food restaurant for those who want a good meal but don’t want to take too much time away from their skiing. On the other hand, the Bistro: the culinary service will be reinforced with a cafeteria – restaurant, a new place to have a quiet breakfast or lunch, with good music and in pleasant surroundings to relax with family or friends, before getting back to the snow or participating in other activities. Finally, the Coll de la Botella services building will have an exclusive restaurant offering quality mountain cuisine. The best entrecote in Andorra will be one of the star dishes of the Grill. This means you can relax in the ideal surroundings of the mountains while enjoying exquisite barbecued meat, served with the best offer in local food produce.
Aside from the restaurants, the building also includes a new ski and snowboard school.
The different services such as ski storage or hire, for example that will be installed once the new building is open, will be complemented by a new information desk to book any of the various activities offered by the resort. If you access the slopes through this new main entrance you will find everything that you could possible need, with no need to go to La Caubella in Pal.
The Pla de la Cot Restaurant will increase its terrace area. The restaurant is great to stop for a burger or a drink. Now guests will be able to sunbathe in comfortable chairs.
Ski Slopes extensions and more snow cannons for the resort:
This season work has focused on extending the blue Beç slope and the green Transversal slope, both at Pal. This will help those beginners to the sport, to have more space where to try their first steps in skiing or boarding.
This year has started the master plan of extending the artificial snow in the resort, with a snow cannon network in Pal Arinsal. There will be also snow cannons at the ski mountaineering slopes, so also those skiers and boarders going off piste can enjoy improved conditions if Mother Nature does not oblige.
For more information go to http://www.vallnord.com
To keep on reading news of the mountains go to https://www.the-ski-guru.com
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