Pas de la Casa Slopes

Pas de la Casa has an excellent, English-speaking ski school and wide, sunny slopes on which to learn; so it's a good choice for beginners. Once those first turns have been mastered, there are 18 very easy green runs on which to totter around. The largely easy to ride high-speed detachable chairlifts or walk-in gondolas take beginner skiers back up the slopes without needing to master the dreaded drag lift too early on.

About two-thirds of Grandvalira's skiing is on wide, fast blues and reds above the treeline, which are perfect for confident intermediates.

Experts, meanwhile, have 22 blacks, including the toughest run, Avet No Fifteem, a 2km (1.2 miles) challenge. Accomplished skiers can also try heli-skiing, or an off-piste powder course with the ski school when snow conditions are right.

Despite its southerly latitude, the high altitude of the Grandvalira ski area, its mostly north-facing slopes, and its extensive snowmaking have been proven to provide snow cover over much of the terrain even in poor snow years. The season in Pas de la Casa typically runs from early December until late April.

Grandvalira, and the other Andorran ski area Vallnord, which covers three resort bases at two other ski areas, both participate in the Ski Andorra lift pass. This pass is valid at any ski area in the principality.