The Grandvalira Resorts stations presented this morning the adventure, family, and gastronomic activities of the summer 2024 season in an event held at the La Coma restaurant in Ordino Arcalís, led by the general director of Grandvalira Resorts, Juan Ramón Moreno; the director of Ordino Arcalís, Israel Ramonet; and the general director of Pal Arinsal, Josep Marticella. Once again, the three Andorran domains offer a multitude of proposals for all audiences. “We have a very consolidated summer product, which is unique and varied,” Moreno recalled, adding that “the forecast regarding visitors is to maintain similar numbers to last summer, when around 180,000 visitors were received, not counting the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, which are expected to attract more than 80,000 people.”
Expansion of the Grandvalira E-Bike project
One of the main novelties of this season is the expansion of the Grandvalira E-Bike project, which debuted last summer, and this year reaches 102 kilometres of circuits, eight more than in 2023, with several improvements incorporated, especially regarding the signage of all of them. “With this, we aim to enhance the overall experience of users who enjoy these cycling routes in the Grandvalira domain,” explained Josep Marticella. It is worth remembering that there are 3 lifts that provide easier access to the circuits (the gondolas of Soldeu and Canillo, and the Funicamp), and there are 5 charging points for electric bikes in the nerve centres of the operational sectors in summer.
Another improvement for users is the agreement with the renowned navigation application Wikiloc, which allows recording hiking or cycling routes. With this collaboration, the Grandvalira profile will become official within the application, so, for example, it can be followed for free worldwide without the need to have the Premium APP, even without an internet connection. In addition, the routes can also be consulted on the Grandvalira website and through the Grandvalira Resorts application. In this sense, 2 new tours are proposed for e-bikes, but also for trail and enduro.
Another improvement in the project is the incorporation of the Flowtrail concept into the circuits of La Cueva, Maians, Gall de Bosc, and Copa del Mundo Avet, especially banked, classified by colours according to the level, and with new transitions to make them more fun.
Mon(t) Magic Family Park and Soldeu Golf
The longest zip line in the Pyrenees and the iconic Màgic Gliss slide, along with many more activities, are once again among the main attractions in summer at the Mon(t) Magic Family Park in Canillo, which continues to consolidate its wide range of offerings for all audiences, making it one of the most visited family parks in summer.
The family leisure centre will be open from June 22 to September 8 and will include as a novelty new Family Walks itineraries that will be added to Fornatura (the legends trail), Marmota Forest and Marmot Observation Center, Clots Fondos trail (of great geological interest), and Cap de Rep trail (of botanical and scenic interest). Additionally, Mon(t) Magic will debut a lift to quickly retrieve the various materials needed for the zip line, making it more sustainable as well.
The family day can be rounded off by enjoying the park's catering service at the magnificent Xiri Forn and the cafeteria. Additionally, between July 27 and September 1, access to the Portella Viewpoint will also be available.
On the other hand, Soldeu Golf, the highest 9-hole course in Europe, will also open on June 22 and run until September 29. This year, it debuts a new practice course and changes its orientation to enhance the customer experience. In its facilities, enthusiasts can enjoy the exquisite gastronomic offer of Wine & Meat Bar by Jean Leon and, starting from July 22, also the Petroni terrace.
Pessons environment, GMG guides, and Epic Andorra lodges
One of the star gastronomic attractions of the resort, the Restaurant del Llac dels Pessons, in the Grau Roig sector, will offer, as always, its magnificent service alongside the incredible views of the lake, this year from June 22 until October. As usual, the 4x4 bus will be activated to reach it from the Grau Roig school. In this same sector is the nerve centre and one of the starting points for various hiking routes proposed by the Grandvalira Mountain Guides, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year and will also carry out various thematic outings on special dates, such as full moon or the solar phenomenon of Arcalís peak.
The Grau Roig sector of Grandvalira also activates in summer the unique accommodations of Epic Andorra, so you can sleep in the middle of the mountains. On one hand, there is the Cabana Piolet, which simulates a treehouse at 2,150 m, and on the other hand, the Domo Lodge, a transparent igloo located even higher, will be the perfect space to round out the experience and will be ready from June 22 until September 8.
On the other hand, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, part of the Grandvalira territory will host different activities to celebrate it.
A multitude of proposals with the Funicamp and fishing in Pas de la Casa
Beyond being one of the nerve centres of Grandvalira's e-bike routes, the Funicamp will propose multiple activities for all audiences from July 6 to September 1. Europe's longest funitel, with a 25-minute journey through the Els Cortals valley, will have a 4x4 bus from Solanelles that will take you to Lake Cubil. From there, you can also enjoy various activities and hiking, as well as discover the high mountain landscapes of the heart of Grandvalira and the cultural and historical heritage of Orri del Cubil. Gastronomy in the Encamp sector will also take center stage through the brasserie at Racó de Solanelles, as well as its cafeteria, all combined with the spectacular views from the terrace.
Finally, in the Pas de la Casa sector, two lifts will be activated again: the Pioners gondola and the Coll dels Isards chairlift, which will provide access to Lake Abelletes, very popular among fishermen in the area. In this sense, activities for the whole family and for children will be carried out, focusing on catch-and-release fishing.
UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Maxiavalanche, bike school, and the new Furious by Pal Arinsal
The summer in Pal Arinsal will be marked by the celebration of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, from August 26 to September 1, where more than 80,000 attendees are expected, and where the world's best mountain bikers will compete for the rainbow jerseys in the 5 disciplines that will be part of the event.
This very Friday, there will be two-wheeled competition in Pal Arinsal with the Maxiavalanche, the mass start race that will bring together more than 500 riders and officially kick off the summer season in the domain. Additionally, the resort will host two competitions of other sports this same weekend: the Trail 100 Andorra by UTMB, which will pass through Coll de la Botella, and the ‘Pujada a Arinsal’.
Beyond the competition, the offer of Pal Arinsal will once again be characterized by the Bike Park, one of the most prestigious in the world with over 60 km of trails, which will open this weekend from June 14 to 16 and from June 22 to September 8, except for the days of the Mountain Bike World Championships. In September, it will reopen, but only on weekends from September 14 until the weekend of October 12 and 13.
In this context, the resort introduces the new season novelty, the Furious by Pal Arinsal club, an MTB program for children aged 3 to 11 available throughout the season, and during school holiday months, it offers the option to enroll in specialized thematic camps to prepare them for future competitions.
In parallel, the Pal Arinsal Bike School product is being enhanced, offering families an ideal framework for children to enjoy supervised mountain biking practice by specialized instructors.
The Pal Arinsal offer is completed with the Mountain Park, which will also open its doors on June 22 and offers a new ticket sales model through which individual tickets can be purchased, in addition to the usual combined activities pass. The activity centre of Pal Arinsal offers sports and family leisure activities such as skill challenges, ropes course, karting, zip lines for adults and children, tubing tracks, climbing walls, ball pool, inflatables, etc.
The resort has a wide gastronomic offer with the restaurant at Coll de la Botella and also at Caubella, with different points of sale such as Xiri and the Expresso Terrace. Also, in the Arinsal sector, the Els Orriols gondola will open on weekends in July and August to facilitate access to the Comapedrosa Natural Park.
Ordino Arcalís, with new routes and the expansion of the Koikoi terrace
The Ordino Arcalís resort, which opened the season last summer with the inauguration of the Tristaina gondola and the Creussans chairlift to facilitate access to the Tristaina Solar Viewpoint, continues to focus on family-friendly and inclusive tourism and reinforces information dissemination points for visitors. In this way, two new points of interest will be marked with a QR code integrated with Parl'APP plates with Braille that provide access to information about the site with inclusive videos in Catalan, Spanish, French, and English, with audio, sign language, and subtitles to promote inclusive tourism. The water cycle with its waterfalls and marmots are the chosen themes to highlight the natural environment.
These two points are integrated into the Riberamunt route, which already has more than 30 stops that allow visitors to learn about the history and curiosities of the villages with the aim of connecting the past, present, and future of this territory declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Another novelty of the season is the implementation of GMG guide products. In this sense, the guided Sorteny-Arcalís tour allows overnight stays at the refuge, breakfast, and a hike to the Tristaina Solar Viewpoint. It also includes a meal at the La Coma restaurant.
On the other hand, the catering service at Ordino Arcalís is also reinforced this season with the opening of the Koikoi terrace at Hortell, which has doubled its space and capacity, and with thematic dinners at the La Coma Restaurant. Additionally, the Camp Base (Fast Drink) has also been expanded.
Furthermore, the La Coma restaurant will offer customers with lunch reservations on Saturdays an apéritif to enjoy inside the Tristaina gondola accessing the La Coma sector. Last season, this gondola inaugurated six new cabins with transparent glass floors that allow hikers to feel like they are flying over the mountain on a journey of more than a kilometre and a half.
Finally, the Hortell car park lot inaugurates 10 new chargers for electric vehicles, adding to the 6 that were already installed in Planells last winter.
Andorra Pass Estiu, Bike Pass and Season Passes
Like the previous season, the Andorra Pass Estiu pass combines access to the mountains of the different sectors of the Grandvalira Resorts stations with admission to some activity. You can choose between different entries on non-consecutive days throughout the summer and according to the opening dates of each sector:
- Entry 1: Canillo pedestrian pass (up and down) + 1 ride on the Màgic Gliss
- Entry 2: Soldeu pedestrian pass (up and down) + 1 Practice
- Entry 3: Funicamp pedestrian pass (up and down) + 4x4 excursion to Orri Cubil
- Entry 4: Ordino pedestrian pass (up and down) Tristaina gondola + Creussans chairlift
- Entry 5: Pal pedestrian pass (up and down) + 3 Tubbing rides
Andorra Pass Estiu customers can use more than one entry on the same day, and any day of the season until the lifts close. The purchase can be made online through the Grandvalira, Pal Arinsal, and Ordino Arcalís websites, although you will need to go to the ticket office on the first day to collect the pass and, later, also to collect the activity tickets when you wish to use them.
Another seasonal product in summer is the Bike Pass, the pass that allows unlimited access throughout the summer to the prestigious Pal Arinsal Bike Park. It is also worth noting that the season passes from this past winter, the Andorra Pass and the Nord Pass, provide access to the operating lifts in summer at Grandvalira Resorts, including the prestigious Pal Arinsal Bike Park.