Skiing in the Spanish Pyrenees is one of Europe’s great secrets. Seemingly endless swathes of fresh powder cover the slopes from mid-December until early April, with more than two dozen resort villages tucked away in the mountains. Not many people know about this snow. You don’t queue for the lifts, and you don’t have to snowplow behind large groups of learners. There’s a feeling of escapism instead, a sense of possibility that emanates from such a large and untouched mountain landscape. The skiing can be otherworldly, with an abundance of off-piste adventures complementing the compacted snow: think heli-skiing high on the French Spanish border, taking a snowmobile to a forgotten village, and slaloming through the trees.
You create a personal journey through the snow, going on and off the piste during four full days in the Aran Valley. The skiing isn’t just different when you’re carving the only marks in the snow. This is also a Spanish experience and the Spaniards like to stick to their distinctive style. Gastronomy plays an integral part in every day, especially on the border between Catalonia and Basque. For lunch, take your time over elegant cuisine in the most exquisite of settings. Dinnertime is savored, the Spanish apres-ski all about sumptuous food and good wine. Over the four days, you’ll find that the pleasures of the mountains also epitomize the unadulterated allure of Spain.
This handcrafted ski vacation uncovers the beauty and bounty of what travel journalists are starting to call the world’s best ski destination. Fly to Barcelona and spend two days in the Catalan capital. An afternoon is dedicated to the best of Gaudi and the Modernista architects, then day two involves a bike and food tour, taking you off the beaten track in a city with many hidden corners. Travel to the Aran Valley on day three, meandering into the mountains and the resort town of Baqueira-Beret, a base for four full days of skiing and dining.
Spend the first day exploring with a guide, checking out the abundant routes and genuine emptiness of the landscape. Drive a snowmobile to a dinner in a cute nearby village, before a day of guided skiing takes you on and off the piste. There are near-countless options of where to go, the skiing can be tailored to your level and mood. The general rhythm is always laid-back here, so rather than endless shuttles on the gondola, you’ll be spending plenty of time simply soaking up the charm of the surroundings.
You go heli-skiing, landing high in the Pyrenees with views over France and Spain. After each run, you’re collected by helicopter and returned to the summits, where there are hundreds of routes back down, expertly led by one of the area’s best guides. The following day involves a guided ski tour, a journey across the back slopes that immerses you in the drama of nature. Both these days end with a stunning dinner, one at a mountain lodge, and one in the cute mountain town of Vielha.
Note that this is a handcrafted itinerary and can be adjusted to your requirements. In most years the Pyrenees ski season runs from the middle of December until the start of April. This is a high mountain chain, and while skiing isn’t well known in the Spanish Pyrenees, it’s long been a famous highlight of Andorra, the principality next door. Read some Zicasso travelers’ Spain travel reviews to gain further inspiration for your own trip.