Soldeu ski holidays
Established in 1964 the Andorran ski resort Soldeu lies at 1710 metres altitude in the ? region of the Andorran Pyrenees. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 2640m the area is snow sure. Over 1097 snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 90km of trails, which equates to around 43 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Soldeu is Barcelona at a distance of 220km or approximately 180 minutes driving time. Their season runs from November to N/A.
SNO-man says
Typically lively, high value, friendly Andorran resort with a larger than average ski area. The biggest investor in skiing in the Pyrenees during the 1990s, the resort added a new 8 seater gondola for the 1996/97 season and new hotels. A skiing link with Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig was completed in 1997/98 and has been subsequently improved. The two areas finally issued a joint lift ticket - Grandvalira - for the first time for the 2003-4 season. Investment for 2000 included three new six-seater chairs, immediately placing the resort in the world top five for numbers of this type of lift at the time. Soldeu is a modern, dynamic resort with picturesque scenery surrounding and the only ski area with ISO 9000 quality award status, a lot of competitions are organised each season and there are some first rate mogul/bumps slopes. The second base at El Tarter is more traditional.
Alpine Downhill Runs
Beginner Trails
 18 runs ?km |
16% |
Intermediate Trails
 32 runs ?km |
29% |
Advanced Trails
 37 runs ?km |
33% |
Expert Trails
 23 runs 23km |
20% |
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) | 200 - 232 |
Traditional Ski Village / Purpose Built Ski Resort |
| Resort Opens | Nov 2013 |
| Resort Closes | N/A 2014 |
| (snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Mountain and Slopes
| Downhill Runs | 193km |
| total length of Soldeu trails |
| Longest Lift-Served Run | 8km |
| longest piste or trail reachable by lift |
| Slope Orientation | N NE |
| direction Soldeu area faces |
| Top Altitude | 2640m |
| top station of highest lift |
| Bottom Altitude | 1710m |
| bottom of lowest run |
| Resort Altitude | 1710m |
| centre of Soldeu ski resort |
| Vertical Drop | 930m |
| total descent from top lift to bottom piste |
| Skiable Vertical | ^v 930m |
| can include extra hike up above top lift |
Skiing in Soldeu
110 pistes and trails means approximately 193km of runs. 64 Soldeu lifts have capacity to transport 100700 per hour. The longest run in the Andorran ski resort is over 8km.
The mountain has 16% beginner runs or nursery slopes, 29% intermediate, 33% advanced slopes and 20% for experts - the most difficult piste is the 2km Avet No Fifteem run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Soldeu Apres Ski
Off-Slope activities include:
9 apres ski bars 40 restaurants 0 bowling 5 night club 1 cinema 0 billiards / pool 0 games room 0 concert 1 indoor swimming 1 outdoor heated pools 1 saunas 1 hot tubs 1 solariums 1 masseurs 1 indoor ice skating 1 outdoor ice skating 1 indoor sports centre 0 indoor tennis 0 squash racquetball 0 sleigh rides 0 ballooning 0 horse riding 0 prepare winter walks 0 climbing 0 golf 0 fishing 1 museum 0 library Plus these additional apres ski facilities Sauna, Tennis, Torchlit Descents (Most Facilities beyond Bars and Restaurants are in Canillo 15 minutes) .
SNO-man says
Unusual activities, although these only one-off events in the past that typify the resort's active program of organised fun events coupled with international competitions, include a Snow Bike speed competition with mountain bikers racing downhill at speeds of over 110 kph over snow, hunting with bows and arrows on cross-country skis and snowshoes, or dog sledding races. More frequently organised events include torchlit descents, carnival events and concerts.
You are perhaps most likely to take advantage of the Palau de Gel de Canillo swimming pool or squash courts at Canillo, part of a first rate complex which includes an Olympic size ice rink on which discos or hockey games are organised, as well as free skating. The complex also includes sauna and games room.
Excursions to the thermal baths in Caldea are also popular, located just 15km (9 miles) away this complex includes natural hot springs with jacuzzi, indic-roman bath, massage and sunbeds.. On and above the slopes you can try snowbikes, torchlit descents, heli sight seeing tours and hang gliding. Other recently organised events include a live concert on the slopes, The Bumps = Europa cup, and snowrunning - a snowshoeing race!
Rating for apres ski gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
"Soldeu" by any other name
The Andorran resort is also known as Soldeu and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Soldeu 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. Soldeu has slopes facing N NE.
Rating for snow gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Soldeu reviews, 3.8 star rating and information is collated by SNO man from staff experience and customer feedback.