Ski mountaineering in Andorra

Ski mountaineering, better known in Andorra as rando or skimo, lets you enjoy delightful routes through our mountains and valleys. Due to the growth of this discipline, if you want to try it you need the Natura Pass, which lets you enjoy the skimo circuits in all the country's ski resorts: Grandvalira, Ordino Arcalís, Vallnord – Pal Arinsal and Naturland.

For your convenience, at Park Piolets MountainHotel & Spa we have a Ski Room where you can safely store your equipment, suit up, put on your boots and jump on our private shuttle to the Soldeu sector, just 5 minutes from the hotel. And if you’ve left anything at home or you don't have all the equipment you need, don't worry, you can rent or buy it at the Viladomat Signature shop located inside the hotel itself.

The Natura Pass makes a total of 27 marked ski mountaineering circuits available to you, as well as the use of 13 ski lifts with one ascent and one descent per day and per lift. You will also need to follow some rules of conduct for your safety and that of other skiers:

• On the pistes, ski mountaineering is only allowed on specific routes and at the times designated by the resort.
• The signs on the pistes must be respected and closed pistes must not be used.
• Dogs are not allowed on the skimo circuits.
• Skiing down the uphill circuits, marked as off-piste, is not allowed.
• If the route is on the piste, skiers must go up the side of the piste, while always watching out for the skiers coming down. If you are ascending in a group, you will have to do so in single file.
• Crossing the pistes in places with poor visibility (such as changes of gradient or places where two pistes cross, among others) is not allowed.

Ski mountaineering at night
The ski resorts have specific schedules for ski mountaineering at night (from 5.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.). For your safety and that of other skiers, you should pay particular attention to the following recommendations:

• Always use a headlamp with a minimum brightness of 300 lumens and wear reflective accessories to make you more easily visible.
• Respect the signposted routes prepared for night-time ski touring.
• Ski at a moderate speed, always descending down the side of the piste.
• Pay particular attention to the flashing lights, which indicate that you should pass behind them as there is a live cable powering the snow groomer.
• From 10:00 p.m. to 7.00 a.m.
• Ski mountaineering is not allowed in the resort’s ski areas, neither uphill nor downhill, from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. From 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., ski mountaineering is permitted throughout the resort.

Park Piolets MountainHotel & Spa and ski mountaineering
At Park Piolets MountainHotel & Spa we have strong links with ski touring, a discipline that is attracting more and more followers every day among fans of the Pyrenees. On the one hand, we have the collaboration of the highly experienced mountain guides at Grandvalira Mountain Guides, who will help you discover the most beautiful spots on the mountains that surround us, away from the ski slopes, but with the safety provided by individuals who know the mountain and its secrets.

On the other hand, we are still committed to our support for the Andorran Mountaineering Federation (FAM).

The mountains of Andorra await you for the ultimate experience!