A great summer weekend in Andorra: a destination 100% nature

This time I’m taking you to Andorra, this little territory that was completely unknown to me until someone offered me the chance to visit it for a short stay at the end of June. A short stay, but quite intense and sporty! Just what I needed to get in shape before the summer. Until now I associated Andorra with duty-free products and other bargains to be found on a return from Spain…

But this destination is full of many wonders, starting with its mountains! The views are breathtaking and there are many activities to do, such as trekking, via ferrata, downhill mountain biking, buggy rides and many more. In short, whether you come as a couple, as a family, with friends, there is something for everyone, and everyone will find something to their liking.

In Andorra there is also a culture specific to the territory. Did you know that Andorra is the only country in the world where Catalan is the official language? This was also the opportunity to learn a few words with Gil, my mountain guide, who was so proud of his country. And then there are all those little peculiarities related to the organization of the territory and its history, which make this principality a destination quite unique in its kind; enough to be a bit disoriented during a stay.

When we think of Andorra, we immediately think of Andorra-la-Vieille. However, this 468 km² territory is not limited to this city. In fact, it is one of the seven «Parishes» of Andorra, along with Canillo, Encamp, Ordino, Sant Julià de Lòria, Escaldes-Engordany and La Massana, where I stayed during this long weekend.

Hiking in the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

I set off for a 6-hour hike in the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), starting from Escaldes-Engordany following the GR7. I was accompanied by Gil, a passionate and exciting mountain guide who knows absolutely everything about his country. As we climbed up, the scenery changed completely. The forests gradually gave way to alpine pastures where we saw cows by the river, and finally to more desert-like areas where we could see snowdrifts and some lakes before arriving at the refuge of l’Illa located at 2490 meters above sea level. Every step of the hike was breathtaking! Okay, it was my first hike of the year and my legs were tired at the end of the day, but it was worth it. There were still 1300m of positive elevation gain!

Information for booking a mountain guide

Sleeping at the Isla refuge

Halleluya, finally here! I was completely exhausted… Well, this refuge is nothing like the ones you might imagine: no water or electricity, just 4 walls and a roof. Here everything has been thought out to ensure the comfort of the hiker. Moreover, it is brand new, less than a year old, and welcomes guests all year round. The refuge has 6 large rooms with bunk beds that can accommodate 50 people. There are toilets, shower rooms, and showers (with 1-minute bursts of hot water!). Oh, and there’s also Wi-Fi with excellent network quality!

On my arrival, I put my shoes in a suitable locker at the entrance (I had to do this after 6 hours of hiking!) and they gave me Crocs (ahah!) to make me feel comfortable. Before going out for dinner at 7pm, I took the opportunity to relax on the terrace and stretch while admiring the spectacular panorama of the valley at sunset. After the meal (delicious and plentiful), it’s time to go to bed; the lights are turned off at 10pm!

When I woke up, the scenery was just as beautiful… There are so many colors! I had my breakfast at 7:00 and after folding my things I set off for a 4-hour hike to reach another valley, passing through a pass at 2900 meters (the view from the top is crazy!) All along the descent it was the knees that took the brunt of the effort this time… But in the end I arrived at the restaurant at 13:00, the « Refugi del Llac dels Pessons » or the lunch was excellent by the way… I had no strength left to do anything, I was exhausted from these last 24 hours…

Practical information: The island’s refuge
Prices: 20€ per suite – 55€ for half-board – 10€ for breakfast – 12€ for a picnic

Doing downhill mountain biking

The next day, at 9:00, I took the cable cars (it was strange not to have skis with me anyway) to reach the Vallnord Bike Park La Massana, the must-visit place for all downhill mountain bike enthusiasts. The spot is considered one of the most spectacular in southern Europe. In fact, Andorra hosts international championships every year where the best in the discipline compete. Well, I am still very, very far from that… I went to get my equipment from a rental shop: back protector, okay, knee pads okay, gloves, okay, helmet, okay, all I need is a good downhill bike and I’m ready to ride down the slopes. The question is in what condition I’ll be in! In fact, I thought we had conventional bikes like the ones I could have… No, these are quite different. We almost never sit down; we have to train to manage our braking, then the tight turns, and finally find our balance by doing «bombos», jumps with both pedals at the same level to better manage all the obstacles.

And so the descents began! As with skiing, there are different levels: green, blue, black descents, and others for pros with jump ramps, like in the Redbull videos I often see! Well, first of all, on a green descent I had a few scares in some tight turns, but in the blues it was even more strenuous! This time it’s the thighs and front arms that are put to the test. In any case, the sensations remain great and a few more descents would have been enough for me to gain even more confidence. I hope to do it again soon if the opportunity arises.

More information here on the Mountain biking in Andorra

And in the promo, a video of downhill biking during a world championship!

Buggy ride in the mountains

I ended the trip with an hour-long ride in a Polaris buggy through the Andorran mountains, an opportunity to enjoy the mountain scenery from a new angle, with even more sensations! At the beginning of the ride we went slowly to get used to the buggy, then after a few minutes the guide took me to tracks adapted to take advantage of the speed even more. In the end we found ourselves in the heart of a landscape that resembled that of the Mongolian steppes (at least that’s the idea I get from seeing photos) and we stopped at the Spanish border before turning around. It was really great and it reminded me for a moment of my time in the Soviet Union. road trip in a buggy in Brazil… To do it again!

More information here on the buggy tours in Andorra

Well, this weekend has given me a boost for the summer; I’m back feeling refreshed and recharged, with a few minor aches and pains… Ah ah! 3 days is quite a short time, but I hope I’ll have the opportunity to discover this destination in winter to ski down the slopes!

* Stay was made possible thanks to a partnership with the Andorran tourism office

The content of this article only reflects my opinion; I maintain complete freedom in my statements, and my recommendations are always objective.