Ordino Arcalis ski holidays
Established in 1982 the Andorran ski resort Ordino Arcalis lies at 1940 metres altitude in the ? region of the Andorran Pyrenees. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 2620m the area is snow sure. Over 26 snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 7km of trails, which equates to around 0 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Ordino Arcalis is Barcelona at a distance of 225km or approximately 240 minutes driving time. Their season runs from November to May.
SNO-man says
Andorra's newest ski area with ultra modern lifts is located in one of the country's most beautiful mountain valleys, also offering some of the principality's more challenging skiing above. High value as always in Andorra and lift queues a rarity.
Alpine Downhill Runs
Beginner Trails
 6 runs ?km |
24% |
Intermediate Trails
 8 runs ?km |
32% |
Advanced Trails
 9 runs ?km |
36% |
Expert Trails
 2 runs 2km |
8% |
Resort and Holiday Stats
| Beginners |  |
| Intermediate | |
| Advanced/Expert | |
| Snowboarders | |
| Apres Ski | |
| Family/child Friendly | |
| Snow-Sure | |
| Ambience | |
| Value for money | |
| Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | ? - ? |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Resort Opens | Nov 2013 |
| Resort Closes | May 2014 |
| (snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Mountain and Slopes
| Downhill Runs | 26km |
| total length of Ordino Arcalis trails |
| Longest Lift-Served Run | 4km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by lift |
| Slope Orientation | NE N |
| direction Ordino Arcalis area faces |
| Top Altitude | 2620m |
| top station of highest lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 1940m |
| bottom of lowest run |
| Resort Altitude | 1940m |
| centre of Ordino Arcalis ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 680m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 680m |
| can include extra hike up above top lift |
Snowboarding in Ordino Arcalis
Of the 14 ski lifts, 9 are surface lifts or "drag lifts" - this gives an indication of how modern the lift system is and how good Ordino Arcalis is for snowboarding - especially for beginners learning to board. Facilities include 0 terrain parks and 0 half pipe (longest half pipe length is ? metres), 0 quarter pipe and 0 boardercross courses.
Rating for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Ordino Arcalis Apres Ski
Off-Slope activities include:
3 apres ski bars 3 restaurants 1 bowling 1 night club 0 cinema 0 billiards / pool 0 games room 1 concert 1 indoor swimming 0 outdoor heated pools 2 saunas 1 hot tubs 0 solariums 0 masseurs 0 indoor ice skating 0 outdoor ice skating 1 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 0 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 1 horse riding 0 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 0 golf 0 fishing 5 museum 0 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Bowling, Fitness Centre, Concerts, Horse Riding.
SNO-man says
Your lift pass will allow you free entry into the Ordino Sports Centre . Its modern and well equipped with a swimming pool, gymnasium, climbing wall, squash courts, sauna and jacuzzi. The Palau de Gel (Ice Palace) at Canillo on the road to Andorra la Vella is well worth visiting with its Olympic sized ice rink and again a swimming pool, gymnasium, climing wall, sauna, jacuzzi and restaurant. In Andorra la Vella at Escaldes-Engordany a fabulous complex has been created under a huge crystal dome. Caldea is located at the point where Andorra's rivers all meet and water is used in every imaginable form for maximum relaxation and well-being. With around 6,000m2 of aquatic space there are thermal baths, jet streams and waterfalls, steam, Indo-Roman baths, saunas and jazuccis, an outdoor pool and even a snow patio. After your relaxation theres the panoramic bar SÃrius located in the Caldea tower which is 50m high and has magnificent views over the valley.
The swimming pool in Andorra la Vella and the covered tennis courts in Aldosa, la Massana are both Olympic facilities and well worth a visit. For golfers there are 2 magnificent courses at Puigcerda which is less than an hour's drive from the Principality, and a course in Aravell, also about a half hour's drive. The Heritage Museum Casa d'Areny de Plandolit is a manor house dating from 1633 built in traditional mountain architecture. It has been fully restored with period pieces and gives an interesting insight into Andorran life in the 17th century.
Rating for apres ski gets 2 stars out of 5 overall
"Ordino Arcalis" by any other name
The Andorran resort is also known as Ordino Ordino-Arcalis and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Ordino Arcalis slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Ordino Arcalis has slopes facing NE N.
Rating for snow gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Ordino Arcalis reviews, 2.8 star rating and information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.