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Looking for winter activities? click here
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If
you're looking for an
active holiday, you won't be disappointed. Take the time to read all
the information on the things to do in or near Arinsal on this page, you won't
have
time to do them all!
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Trekking and walking
in the mountains (from June to November): No need to take the car! There are many fantastic excursions you can do on well marked trails which start right from your door step such as the Coma Pedrosa (2'942m), Andorra's highest peak, the Pic de Médécourbe (2'914m) and many others. What's more, there are 3 free mountain huts at a 1h30min. hike from your apartment or chalet as well as 7 mountain lakes! The GR 11 passes in front of your house and the GRP passes just above! Click here for more information on trekking in Andorra right from your apartment or chalet. |
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Via Ferratas (all year depending
on conditions): If you would like to try something different, how about climbing a few of the 9 Via Ferratas Andorra has to offer! A cross between trekking and rock climbing, a safe adrenalin rush for those that are not scared of heights. We have clients that stay in the apartments or chalet for a week and that climb a Via Ferrata or two every day! Click here to find out more about the Via Ferratas in Andorra. Canyoning in Llavorsí: (1h30
by car):
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The flowers in Andorra
(May - June):
We have more and more guests that come to study the flora here in Andorra in springtime. The valleys of "Incles", "Sorteny" and "Rialb" are easily accessible and will simply amaze you when they display their wonderful colours. Although the best time to study the flora is obviously in springtime, these valleys nevertheless have a very rich flora all through the summer. The Narcissus poeticus subsp. radiiflorus, (see picture) is Andorra's national flower. It's six petals represent the 6 original parishes. There are now 7 parishes and apparently the Andorrans are working on a 7-petal hybrid! Click here for a list and pictures of the flowers in Andorra |
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| Bird Watching (all year)
Andorra is a well known destination for bird watchers from all over Europe. Trekkers often see vultures from close-up (see picture on the right) and the Lammergeier is making it's reappearance in the country. |
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Mountain biking (from May
to November):
Mountain biking is difficult in Andorra except for champions due to the topography of the country! However, there are a few rides you can do such as the ascent to the top of the cable car station in Arinsal and the ascent to the Estanyò mountain hut. For those that prefer a "lighter" excursion, there is a beautiful 9 km ride one can do that is virtually flat from Ordino (at 6 km from your apartment or chalet) to El Serrat. |
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Hot air balloon flights
(all year, 1h by car):
A once-in-a-life-time experience normally reserved for the jet-set (or should be say balloon-set)! It's worth coming to Andorra just for this alone! Drift over the Pyrenees mountains in silence and admire the breathtaking scenery from an altitude of 4'000m with an experienced and certified pilot! Two different flights can be made
starting in la Seu d'Urgell, just 1hour by car from Arinsal: You will also help with the preparation and inflation of the balloon before the flight as well as with the repacking of the balloon at the end. All flights include: transport back to the departure point, a typical catalan lunch, a glass of champagne and a flight certificate. Minimum 3 passengers. If less than 3 persons, there is a supplement. We can also try and pool passengers in order to make up the minimum of 3 persons. The different balloons have a capacity of up to 12 passengers. Flying obviously depends on the weather. As you will be staying for a few days, the flying day will be scheduled according to weather conditions. We can handle all reservations for you. |
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Museums, sight-seeing and
cultural visits (all year):
Ordino is a typical Andorran village located at a 10 min. drive from your apartment or chalet. There are also many Roman XIIth century churches to visit as well as a few historical bridges.
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Exploring the region by
car (all year):
There are many interesting places to visit in the region. Barcelona (check our transport page) , Carcassonne and Toulouse are, of course, well worth visiting but it takes about 3 hours by car to get there meaning a long day trip. There other things to visit (if you have a car) such as the Cathar castle of Montségur, the wolf park in Ax le Thermes or the prehistoric caves in Tarrascon! Click here for more information! |
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Trout fishing in lakes
and rivers
(from April to September): You will find a trout stream in front your apartment and there are 7 mountain lakes accessible on foot from your door step. However, these lakes are more for "real fishermen" rather than for the "tourists" as they do involve quite a hike. If you want, we can arrange for your licence so that you can go fishing right from day 1! |
Trout lake above Arinsal. Photo: Jaume Ribas Sabaté |
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Horse-back riding (all
year, even in winter):
Stables can be found in Aldosa, at a 10 minute drive from your apartment or chalet. Children and complete beginners welcome! They have ponys, horses for confirmed riders and quiet, calm and nice horses for beginners that just want to go out on a ride. They organise excursions for 1 hour, 2 hours, half-days and full days, with or without a picnic lunch. A brilliant way to discover Andorra on all fours. No previous experience necessary! They also have ponys for children that you can rent for 30 minutes or for an hour. You can take the pony for a walk, either through the forest or though the small and pretty village of Aldosa. Riding hats available free of charge. Please reserve by calling: (+376) 837 329 or 325 629 or 331 898. In summer, the Pal activities centre also offers excursions on horse-back. |
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Skiing (from December to
April):
The resorts of Arinsal and Pal are now linked by a cable car, giving you access to a huge ski area of over 700 ha right in front of your apartment or chalet. New for the 2004-2005 season: the Pal-Arinsal pass will also be valid in the Ordino-Arcalis resort! If you like, we can arrange for your ski passes at preferential rates as long as you book in advance. Ski clothes cannot be rented so you'll either have to bring them with you or buy them upon arrival. For more information on the Pal-Arinsal and Arcalís resorts (pictures, prices and general info...) Click here! If you would like to try the other resorts, Arcalís is 20km away, Grand Valira (Soldeu-Pas de la Casa) is only 14 km away via the gondola at Encamp . Ski touring and snow-shoe excursions
(from December to April):
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| Snowmobiles (in Seturia, 15 minutes
by car from Arinsal)
The Pal resort has a permanent circuit for snowmobiles with unique features in the Pyrenees. It starts at the Coll de la Botella car park and descends into the Seturia valley through the woods. From there, one can return to the Coll de la Botella or continue to the log cabins at the end of the valley. Prices:
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| Snow Shoes (in Seturia, 15 minutes
by car from Arinsal)
Take a walk on snow shoes with your friends or family and enjoy the scenery, especially the woods near Caubella or in the area around Setúria. This activity can be organised with or without guides, and does not require any physical skill as the level of difficulty depends on the route chosen and the rate you go at. It is ideal for those people who do not ski, yet want to have fun in the snow and the mountains, without taking risks, or for skiers who are looking for a break from the slopes. The wide surface area of a snow shoes allows you to walk on the soft snow without sinking in. For hard snow, they have small crampons to stop you from slipping. Prices per a guide and per hour:
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| Mushing (in Seturia, 15 min.
by car from Arinsal) Discover what these amazing animals are like and how they behave, what instructions you have to give them and enjoy skating along the snow through the breathtaking scenery of Setúria. There is also an option where you learn how to drive them along a circuit that leaves from close to the Coll de la Botella restaurant and lasts about half an hour, or to travel around for an hour or more with a professional musher. These excursions can be done both during the day or at night, and can also be combined with lunch or dinner surrounded by nature. 5-minute ride |
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Swimming pools and sport
centres:
"Xixerella" Outdoor pool (5 min.
by car from your apartment): The sports centre in Ordino
(10 min. by car from you apartment): Princesa Parc Sports complex
in Arinsal (in the village): The sports centre in Ordino
(10 min. by car from you apartment): |
The open pool at Xixerella |
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Caldea (15 min. by car)
is Europe's largest recreational health spa located in the mountains and
offers you 6'000 square meters of inside and outside thermal water
lagoons, saunas, jacuzzis, a grapefruit pool, an Aztecian pool, Indo-Roman
baths, cascades, bubble beds, warm marble slates, and much much more.
Open all year. If your husband or wife wants to go skiing and you
don't, here's the perfect solution! The spa is only 8km from your
apartment.
One can go just for 3 hours and relax in Caldea's warm thermal water or reserve a 1 to 15-day programme with treatments such as massages, aerobaths with milk and essential oils, beauty treatments, mud baths and much more. We can arrange your entrances for you at a special price. Click here for more information on Caldea. If you do not want to go to Caldea
after a day's skiing or trekking, an alternative is the fitness centre
at Princesa Park hotel in Arinsal. |
Caldea |
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The sports centre in Ordino (10
min. by car from you apartment): Good place to go if the weather's bad. Squash courts, a bowling alley, bar,etc. Princesa Parc Sports complex
in Arinsal (in the village): |
The indoor pool, Ordino Sports centre |
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Golf:
It is hard to imagine that one can play golf in or close to Andorra. Don't be mistaken! Even if you cannot roll out of bed and onto the first tee, there is quite a choice of courses close by, all which are open to the public: 1) Pitch and Putt "Xixerella",
9 holes, 5 minutes from your apartment or chalet |
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Rafting (La Seu d'Urgell
in Spain, 30 minutes by car):
"Avantgarde" sport which consists of descending a white-water river in a rubber raft such as a "Zodiac". The 2 x 4 m. rafts have a capacity of 6 persons plus a certified instructor, responsible for steering the raft and instructing the team. Rafting is an intense and exiting sport but which is not dangerous. In "La Seu d'Urgell", a town located at a 30-minute drive, one finds the "Parc del Segre", host of the Barcelona Olympics kayak events, which organises rafting on its 500m long artificial white-water river all year round (15 cubic meters p/second). Price includes: 4 descents with a certified instructor, first-class rafts and equipment (helmet, wetsuit, K-way, boots and life-jacket), insurance, warm showers and changing rooms. Children welcome. Can be combined with hydrospeed and canoeing. Click here for more information on la Seu d'Urgell and on rafting Rafting, hydrospeed, etc (in Llavorsí
in Spain, 1h30 by car):
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Rafting in la Seu d'Urgell |
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Hydrospeed (La Seu d'Urgell
in Spain, 30 minutes by car):
Fun sport for persons from 12 to 66 years of age which consists on descending and surfing on the waves of a white-water river (see above) on a special body-board. Price includes: 60' of surfing with a certified instructor, first-class hydrospeeds and equipment (helmet, wetsuit, K-way, boots and life-jacket), insurance, warm showers and changing rooms. Children welcome. Can be combined with rafting and canoeing. Click here for more information Canoeing (La Seu d'Urgell in Spain,
30 minutes by car)::
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Jeep rides:
For those that do not fancy walking,
we propose a new way to discover the surrounding mountains: in a jeep!
Click here for more information on jeep excursions in Andorra.
| Helicopter
flights (all year round):
HELITRANS offers you panoramic helicopter flights that start right from Arinsal! Whether it be for heliskiing, scenic flights, transporting "not-so-fit" hikers or fishermen, click here to find out more. |
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| Summer activities in Pal
Pal offers a wide range of activities throughout the summer for the entire family! Located at just 15 minutes by car from your apartment or chalet. Quad rides, horse-back riding, nature walks and much more! A perfect place to take the kids for half a day whilst you have a drink on the terrace of the restaurant. Open from June to September. In order to find out how to get your adrenaline going, click here. |
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| El Bosc Aventura (20 min. from Arinsal)
If you like spending your time in the trees, try "Bosc Aventura" next to the Engolasters lake above Escaldes and Andorra-la-Vella. They have 2 circuits, one for children and two for adults which are fun to use and not dangerous. Kids (and older kids) love it! |
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Shopping (all year, especially during sales!):
You will find 3 km of tax-free shops
in Escaldes and Andorra-la-Vella at only a 15 minute drive from your apartment
or chalet, meaning that you can go shopping without having to sacrifice a whole
day! As far as what you can take out of Andorra without getting "caught",
visit our customs and border information page.
© 2001- 2005 on all pages of this
site.
