El Tarter - Introduction
Probably Andorra’s best known resort, Soldeu & El Tarter offers varied skiing, great for beginners and improving intermediates, and some great off piste for experts. In Soldeu, you can take the gondola to the slopes of Espiolets, where there is a wide bridge across the river which forms the piste on the way home and elevators take you up to the gondola. There are two neighbouring villages, El Tarter and Canillo, El Tarter being a few miles down the road and El Canillo lower down. The Espiolets nursery area is ideal for beginners and has moving carpet lifts and the ski school has a special British run section. For building confidence intermediates should try the area east of Espiolets, or race around the Riba Escorxada valley.
Skiing
There are six excellent sectors to choose from; Soldeu, Pas De La Casa, Canillo, Grau Roig, El Tarter and Encamp. GrandValira is excellent for beginners and intermediates with easy to handle runs situated at the bottom of the mountain. Advanced skiers have the chance to experience some of the harder trail runs although challenging but well maintained. El Tarter also offers great off-piste skiing.
Snowboarding
Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig has got to be the best areas for snowboarders offering many fun parks, half pipes and boarder cross courses, Great for off-pistes trails. El Tarter is not as popular with boarders although runs are available for those boarder cross enthusiasts.
Ski Schools
The Soldeu ski school offers a great range of both private and group lessons. Children are welcomed from the ages of 4-15 years old.
Eating Out
Soldeu El Tarter is great for authentic Andorran cuisine as well as other cultural dishes. Colorado Tex Mex offers great food at great prices with excellent service. Pas de la Casa offers a choice of Chinese, Italian and Tapas food whereas Pal-Arinsal offers everything from British, Authentic Andorran and Indian.
Bars and clubs
Soldeu boasts lively après-ski with many bars and discos open until the early hours with some great bars offering live music and entertainment. The Aspen Bar being the core of the evening. Quo Vadis in Pas de la Casa is the one if you are out for the night.
Off the slopes
A small resort and not the most attractive however Andorra offers some good value for money accommodation Within the resort itself, other activities include Shopping, walking trails, leisure facilities including swimming and fitness centres, snowshoeing and ice-skating. Nightlife and restaurants are minimal but vibrant. Alternatively, you can visit the capital La Vella only 30 minutes away.