Ordino Arcalis Piste Map and Overview
Ordino Arcalis is most famous for hosting an annual stop on the Freeride World Tour. With no apartments or no hotels within the vicinity, Arcalis is truly a freeride heaven for ski purists. At the surface, a resort with a handful of lifts doesnât seem that compelling, but once you ski there, you understand; this little resort hidden in the most northern valley of Andorra is a gem.
The slopes are nothing extraordinary, but once you venture to the side country the magic begins to reveal itself. The terrain is varied, with tree runs and tight colouirs, all leading to the Basera chairlift at the bottom. Itâs virtually impossible to get lost.
The nearest resort to Arcalis is Pal-Arinsal, roughly 25 minutes away by car, but they all pertain to the Grandvalira company and subsequent ski pass.
Ski area size = 30 km / 18.6 miles
Base elevation = 1,940 m / 6,365 ft
Peak elevation = 2,625 m / 8,612 ft
Difficulty:
đ© 18% Green
đŠ 28% Blue
đ„ 45% Red
⏠9% Black
Local knowledge
Local knowledge for Ordino Arcalis has been provided by friend of the site: Felix. Check out some of his photos of his time in Ordino Arcalis below.
Felix also has a pretty sweet newslett – check it out: https://felixyanez.substack.com/
Things to do in Ordino Arcalis
1) Winter activities đ â·ïž
Ordino Arcalis is a hidden gem for skiing an snwboarding – particularly in the sidecountry!
2) Visit the sundial – Mirador de Tristania
Mirador de Tristania – a sundial found at 2,701m. In the summer, you can take the gondola, followed by a chair to the viewpoint. There are multiple hikes available within the area; and even one dropping into France for the more adventurous folk. The viewpoint is still accessible in the winter, however the chairlift is only open when there is enough snow, so youâll probably need to put your skins on or bootpack for a couple of hours.
How much is a season pass for Ordino Arcalis?
Ordino Arcalis is included in the Grandvalira Season Pass. This is available for âŹ815 for those who book before June 30th. Standard prices for for 23/24 they stood at âŹ900 (with insurance).
This pass gives you acces not only to Ordino Arcalis and Pal-Arinsal, but also to nearby (larger) Grandvalira ski area consisting of Soldeu, El Tarter, Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig.
On top of that, the Grandvalira company which recently acquired Pal-Arinsal has multiple partnerships with other resorts, including the Ikon Pass and Les Deux Alps.
Does Ordino Arcalis have a snowpark?
No – There is no snow park in Ordino Arcalis; but there are two designated freeride zonesâŠand plenty of off-piste to explore. The closest snowpark can be found in Arinsal.
Best bar in Ordino Arcalis to meet people?
The focus of Ordino Arcalis is not tourism or leisure, but riding. Your best shout is to go down to La Massana and visit Donpi or Surf in Arinsal for a few beers and tapas. If youâre looking for a lively apres-ski experience, El Tarter is better suited for this; given it is home to The Boss, LâAbarset and Nemo.
Best way to get to Ordino Arcalis?
Going by car is the best option but there is also a free bus; info for which can be found here.
A final option that works better than expected is hitch-hiking. For whatever reason, Andorra has a strong culture of hitch-hiking and those who stand on the side of the road with their thumbs out should get lucky within 15 minutes.