Resort Overview for Soldeu - El Tarter: The Pyrenées have traditionally been 'off the beaten track' of world skiing along with many of the most famous resorts in New England, The Rockies, the Alps, Dolomites or Japan. The area between France and the semi-autonomous Catalonian region of Spain, with Andorra sandwiched between the two, has seen dramatic investment and expansion of ski areas during the 1990's. There are now nearly a hundred ski resorts dotted around the area and the major centres have invested in snowmaking and new lifts interlinking some areas.
Famous for its duty-free environment Andorra attracts a vibrant, youthful international ski scene and competition between the five major ski areas has led to spending on ever-improving lift infrastructure and other state-of-the-art facilities. All five areas are now included on a 'Ski Andorra' pass making it possible to stay in or near the capital, La Vella, and ski a different resort every day. Similarly, with all the ski areas within a short drive of one another, you may easily stay in one and ski in several others during your stay.
Largest of all is Soldeu El Tarter which has established a lift link to the country's other big ski area - Pas de la Casa - Grau Roig - together forming one of the largest lift linked areas in the Pyrenées. Soldeu is a typically lively, high value, friendly Andorran resort with a larger than average ski area. The biggest investor in skiing in the Pyrenées during the 1990s, the resort added a new 8 seater gondola for the 1996/97 season and new hotels. Then for 1999-2000 the resort again made a huge investment with three new six seater chairs together with a second eight seater gondola. Soldeu is a modern, dynamic resort set in dramatically picturesque surroundings. First rate for bumps and moguls - Soldeu is a regular venue for freestyle mogul comps. The second base at El Tarter is more traditional and many visitors choose to stay in the town of Canillo, 4km (2 miles) down the valley which has the lion's share of the 'off slope facilities' in the area.
The Skiing in Soldeu - El Tarter: The ski area is accessed by parallel chair and gondola lifts from the two bases at Soldeu and El Tarter, giving at least four choices to get up to the above-treeline terrain first thing in the morning, minimising queues. There are two large ski areas specifically designed for beginners at Els Espiolet in Soldeu and Riba Escorada in El Tarter and more than 160 multi-lingual teachers ready to give advice. Beginners will soon progress on to the gentle slopes of Solana del Forn above the resort. Intermediates will enjoy Soldeu's skiing the most, with predominantly easy and intermediate trails to enjoy.
The lift link to Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig opens up 200km (125 miles) of terrain best suited to intermediates. Expert skiers have eight trails to choose from and a drag lift serving the off piste terrain of Pic d'Encampadana. Here you will find a snowcat operation, unique to the Pyrenées, bringing off-piste powder to those who want it. It may be unique to the world in that the service is offered free of charge to lift pass holders without supplement. The resort announced a huge investment in new lifts and other infrastructure improvements for the millennium season. Soldeu built three new six-seater chairs all located to service the large snowfields above the treeline directly above Soldeu and neighbouring village of El Tarter. The lifts accessed 8 newly created trails (5 blues and three reds) adding 11km (6.5 miles) of terrain. A new quad, Les Solanelles also accessed some of these new trails and creates and also improves the link over to Pas de la Casa and Grau Roig.
An eight seater gondola links a third base village, Canillo, into the system, running from a base at 1500m up to 2100m where a new complex, El Forn, is being developed to include nursery school, ski school and restaurant. A quad then takes you further up to 2465m. A beginners area is also serviced by a short slow quad - North American style. The area also features a new drag lift and two new runs (blue and red). Soldeu's ski school manages heli-skiing excursions, snowcat and off-piste ski lessons if you need them and can also offer telemark and snowboarding tuition.
Après Ski in Soldeu - El Tarter:Soldeu El Tarter's three bases are usually lively from lift closure in to the small hours and its fortunate that the free ski bus runs to 1am. It's particularly busy in the holiday periods. The duty free priced drinks, cheaper than pretty well anywhere else are a major contributing factor to the fun, international young feel of this resort.
The most popular haunts tend to follow an Anglo-American theme with names like the Aspen Bar, Pussycat and Fat Alberts. The El Duc discotheque is one of five helping to keep the action going through the night, with the Piccadilly Bar especially lively with a different theme every night of the week.
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For more information on Soldeu - El Tarter please visit the resort's website http://www.grandvalira.com |
