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    Andorra, Europe · Nord Pass

    Ordino Arcalís

    Ordino Arcalís: 442ha of skiable terrain, Freeride World Championships venue, best snow in Andorra. 1,940–2,625m.

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    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    28 Nov 2026
    Closes
    4 Apr 2027
    Days open
    127
    Annual snow
    2.1m
    Snow record
    0cm
    2026-27 so far
    0% of a typical winter207cm
    Explore 10 winters of snowfall→
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Ordino Arcalís occupies a remote position at the end of the Ordino valley in Andorra's northern parish, sitting entirely above 1,940m and topping out at 2,625m across 442 hectares of skiable domain. While the resort's 31 pisted kilometres across 29 runs make it the smallest on-piste ski area in Andorra, that figure tells a fraction of the story — Ordino Arcalís hosts 450 hectares of skiable terrain in total, with 21 freeride zones, 120 mapped off-piste routes across three difficulty categories, and 4 kilometres of marked freeride itineraries that have drawn elite riders to the Pyrenees for over a decade. The pisted terrain itself covers a practical spread of 31% beginner, 24% intermediate, 39% advanced, and 6% expert, anchored by the 8-kilometre Mega Verde green run — the longest beginner descent in Andorra — which winds from the summit area all the way to the base.

    Since joining the Freeride World Tour calendar in 2015, Ordino Arcalís has become one of the most technical stops on the global circuit Grandvalira, and in February 2026 the resort hosted the first-ever FIS Freeride World Championships — the inaugural event to crown official FIS World Champions in freeride across ski and snowboard disciplines. The valley of Ordino itself was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2020, giving the resort a natural setting of genuine ecological significance. At 2,701m, the Tristaina Solar Viewpoint — a suspended 25-metre ring structure perched on Pic de Peyreguils just metres from the French border — has become one of the resort's signature landmarks, accessible in winter by snowshoe or ski touring.

    685m
    Vertical
    29
    Runs
    31 km
    Piste
    2.1m
    Annual snow
    Nord Pass
    Pass
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    The Terrain

    29 runs across 31 km of piste

    Ordino Arcalís is the smallest of Andorra's three ski areas, with 31 kilometres of piste over 29 runs from 1,940 metres to 2,625 metres, a vertical of 685 metres. The grading is split between the extremes and the middle: 39% advanced, 31% beginner, 24% intermediate and 6% expert, so the in-between skier has the least to choose from. A high base means the snow tends to hold, and the area is quiet compared with its larger neighbours. The reason to come is the terrain just outside the groomed runs, which is where most of the resort's reputation was built.

    Freeride is the story: Ordino Arcalís has mapped off-piste itineraries and has been a stop on the Freeride World Tour. The Pic d'Arcalís route, reached by the Bassera cable car, is the gentler introduction, and the Pic de Tristaina line is a long, committing day for experienced skiers with touring gear. On the groomed side, the Mega Verde is a very long green run for beginners and families. The off-piste terrain is avalanche-prone, so hire a guide and carry transceiver, probe and shovel. It suits advanced skiers and riders chasing powder, plus beginners who want a quiet mountain.

    Terrain split
    29
    runs
    29 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner9 runs · 31%
    Intermediate7 runs · 24%
    Advanced11 runs · 39%
    Expert2 runs · 6%
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    Time it right

    When to visit Ordino Arcalís

    Ordino Arcalís typically runs the longest season of any resort in Andorra, with the 2025/26 season opening 29 November 2025 and closing 12 April 2026 — a week beyond the closing dates of both Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal. The resort's average annual snowfall of 5.84m is the highest of Andorra's three ski areas, a product of its north-facing orientation and position deep within the Ordino valley, which channels Atlantic moisture systems and shields slopes from the warming effects of direct southerly sun. Current season snowpack sits at 350cm at the mountain base, with 43cm recorded in the past seven days — conditions that reflect why advanced and freeride skiers specifically target Ordino Arcalís for the quality and longevity of its snow.

    January and February produce the most consistent powder conditions, with the high-altitude freeride terrain above 2,400m holding cold, dry snow through extended periods. The resort's March and early April conditions are particularly well regarded among those chasing late-season depth — the north-facing aspects preserve quality snowpack well beyond what comparable south-facing Pyrenean terrain can sustain. The season's extended closing date also aligns with the resort's ski mountaineering and snowshoe circuits, which remain accessible across the higher terrain into early spring, giving the more adventurous visitor compelling reasons to plan a late-season trip.

    Season 2026 - 2027
    28 Nov 2026
    Opens
    4 Apr 2027
    Closes
    127
    Days open
    2.1 m
    Annual snow
    The record

    Historical snowfall at Ordino Arcalís

    Daily snow reports at Ordino Arcalís go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.

    60 cm
    Snowiest day
    7 Dec 2021
    0.3 cm
    This winter · 2026-27
    so far
    207 cm
    Typical winter
    average of complete seasons
    Explore historical snowfall →
    Winter totals
    cm
    Past wintersThis winter
    Getting there

    Getting to Ordino Arcalís, and where to stay

    Ordino Arcalís sits at the upper end of the Riu Valira d'Ordino valley in the northern Ordino parish, approximately 25 kilometres from Andorra la Vella via the CG-3 and CG-30 roads. Unlike Grandvalira and Pal Arinsal, the resort has no on-mountain accommodation — the nearest lodging is in the village of El Serrat, five minutes by car, with the town of Ordino offering a broader range of hotels approximately 15 minutes from the base. This separation from resort infrastructure is by design as much as geography; Ordino Arcalís functions as a day-trip destination, and its car parks accommodate up to 1,500 vehicles free of charge at the slope-side base area. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation of the Ordino valley places the resort within a protected natural landscape of genuine ecological value, adding a dimension to a visit that most ski destinations cannot offer.

    The two primary international gateways are Barcelona El Prat Airport in Spain, approximately three hours south, and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France, around two to three hours north. Both airports are served by private transfer and coach services into Andorra, with most visitors collecting a hire car in Barcelona or Toulouse for the road journey, which is recommended given the resort's valley-end location and limited public transport frequency. Visitors based in Andorra la Vella can reach the resort in under 30 minutes by car, and the capital's full range of accommodation, the Caldea thermal spa, and duty-free retail all sit within easy reach for evenings after the lifts close.

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    Ordino Arcalís Trail Map

    Live Ordino Arcalís trail map

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    Downloadable Ordino Arcalís trail map

    Ordino Arcalís trail map↓ Download PDF
    Terrain split
    29
    runs
    Beginner31%
    Intermediate24%
    Advanced39%
    Expert6%
    31 km of piste
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    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base1940m
    Summit2625m
    Annual snowfall
    2.1m
    Season
    2026 - 2027
    28 Nov 2026 - 4 Apr 2027
    Trail coverage
    29 runs
    31 km
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    About Ordino Arcalís's trail map

    Explore Ordino Arcalís's full trail map with 29 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Ordino Arcalís intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.