Grandvalira

Grandvalira links the eastern Andorran valleys into a single ski area of some two hundred kilometres of piste, the largest in the Pyrenees, running from Encamp and Canillo through Soldeu and El Tarter to Pas de la Casa on the French border. It hosted World Cup racing at Soldeu, and the altitude, with most of the skiing above two thousand metres, gives it more reliable snow than much of the range.

What you actually see

• The linked area - some two hundred kilometres of piste across the eastern valleys.
• The altitude - most of the skiing above two thousand metres.
• The Soldeu race pistes - the World Cup runs on the sector above the village.
• Pas de la Casa - the sector on the French border at the eastern end.

When to go

December to April is the season, with the most reliable snow from January. Weekends bring heavy traffic from Spain and France. Summer opens part of the area for biking and walking.

Honest expectations

Weekends and Spanish holidays make the lifts and the roads extremely busy. Pas de la Casa is dominated by duty-free shopping and drinking rather than skiing. Snow at the lower levels is unreliable early and late.

Nearby

Soldeu is at the centre, and Vall d'Incles is west.