Music, Madness & Mayhem in the Mountains

04th – 11thMarch 2018

This unique tour departs Dublin on Sunday, 04th March 2018 for seven fun filled days and nights in the Skiing capital of Andorra! Situated between France and Spain, Andorra is a small, independent state which lies in the heart of the Pyrenees, where the mountains are high, the snow abundant and the sun is nearly always shining. In the last few years it has invested heavily in its resort infrastructure and now offers fantastic skiing and modern equipment. Ideal for beginners, advanced and groups alike, Andorra is a friendly, welcoming country.

Duty-free shopping, tapas restaurants and a relaxed vibe on the slopes; is it any wonder Andorra has become such a favourite among Irish skiers!

LOCATION:

Set high in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, this tiny principality has invested hugely in upgrading its lift systems, terrain, snow-making and activities in recent years. It also has a strong snow record.

It now boasts a 200km connected ski area – Grandvalira – to rival many top European ski regions. The Grandvalira lift pass gives you access to 64 lifts and 118 slopes around popular Soldeu and party-mad Pas de la Casa.

Arinsal in the Vallnord area is situated in the west of Andorra and while it’s quieter and smaller than hotspots like Pas de la Casa, it’s home to a freestyle area and plenty of good nightlife. Andorra is regarded as having some of the best ski schools in Europe with English-speaking instructors and a high level of instruction.

Andorra’s slopes offer a wide variety to suit beginners, improving intermediates and perhaps unexpectedly, off-piste fans who make a bee-line for the free-ride slopes of Arcalis. One of our favourite things about Andorra is that you can take time out from skiing and spend a day in Andorra La Vella, the capital. Luxuriate in the Caldea Spa with its 25,000 square metres of hot springs, thermal spas, jacuzzis and saunas or browse the city’s many shops for duty-free bargains.
Top it all off with dinner in a tapas restaurant and you have a recipe for pure winter holiday happiness.

OUR HOTEL:

The 3* Hotel Crest which is located right next to the Les Marrades ski run and a new express chairlift that offers easy access to the Vallnord ski area and it is possible to ski back via a blue run at the end of the day. For non skiers the main resort gondola is a short walk away, and is also a short walk down into the resort centre. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery of the Pyrenees to absorb and relax and unwind in the lounge area with fireplace. Rooms are comfortable and spacious and are equipped with complete bathroom, Individual heating, fridge, telephone, TV and balcony. (Upgrade to the 4* Hotel St Gothard, Arinsal for €40 extra per person)

LOCATION IN ANDORRA:

Located high in the Pyrenees on the western side of the principality, the lively resort of Arinsal is very popular with families and younger groups of skiers who enjoy the ‘après’ as much as the ‘ski’!
A single lift pass covers three areas in Vallnord – Arinsal, Pal and Arcalis. With a high point of 2,560 metres, 63km of terrain and 31 lifts, people enjoy Arinsal’s smaller scale and its lively nightlife. Situated in the west of the Andorran Pyrenees close to the Spanish border, Arinsal’s beginner slopes are perfect for people learning to ski while intermediate skiers and boarders will enjoy its wide open slopes and the pretty, tree-lined runs at Pal. For a relatively small area, Vallnord offers an amazing range of activities, airboarding, boardercross, ski biking, speedriding (a combination of paragliding and skiing), sledging and avalanche training for off-piste skiers and boarders.

The resort also offers a range of restaurants including Catalan, Mexican, Italian and Argentinian while some bars are family-friendly, with regular entertainment. Catalan is the official language but English, French and Spanish are widely spoken. As the Catalans say, bones vacances!