Baqueira is the best ski resort in the Pyrenees, offering some of the finest Spanish skiing. We are thrilled to be the first bespoke operator to introduce the resort to the luxury ski market. You may well not have heard of this secret gem but we guarantee it is a must visit!
The Val D’Aran (The Aran Valley) is a small territory of high mountains located in the north west of Catelonia right in the centre of the Pyrenees, only 1.5 hours from Toulouse airport. It is also perhaps one of skiing’s best kept secrets, and the chosen resort of Spanish Royalty and many a celebrity.
The snowfall driven from the Atlantic weather patterns is, on average, better quality and of greater quantity then most mainstream resorts across the European Alps. The unique weather pattern means that great snow is usually followed by glorious sunshine; it truly is a skier’s paradise.
The incredibly affordable accommodation, luxurious hotels, fantastic tapas-style restaurants, sedate yet fun après ski scene and unrivalled historical and cultural heritage make Baquiera and the Aran Valley a must visit destination for anyone looking for their next exciting ski experience.
The skiing and the available ski experiences are what really stand out. The resort marked its 50th anniversary in 2015 and offers a total of 153kms of skiing spread over 2166 hectares (that’s huge!). The lift system has 35 lifts with a hugely impressive capacity of over 60,000 people per hour.
For the leisurely or family skier this area is plentiful for a long weekend or even a week’s skiing – believe us, you would not get bored. The ski schools are locally run with an international mix of ski instructors covering all languages. The children’s ski areas and ski schools are well equipped for learning with a big emphasis on a fun experience.
Whether here with family, a romantic ski break with your partner or on an exciting, new corporate adventure you will have the most amazing Spanish skiing holiday experience. Everything is taken care of by our own in resort concierge team, who will help make sure your experience is nothing but the best. Read on below for more information on the experiences on offer.
Another step further and you enter the realms of heli-skiing & heli-rando (heli touring). Taken by your guide and the helicopter to literally anywhere within a 400 sqkm. boundary, the possibilities here are quite literally endless.
Fresh untracked snow with options of big peaks, chutes, gullies, ridges and drops down to sedate, easy, ‘cruisey’, off-piste runs. Just you, your guide and the wilderness, it’s peaceful and serene; all with the back drop of the Val D’Aran and the Pyrenees.
Working with our local partners, KABI, we are able to use the best guides the area has to offer and have the full backing and co-operation of the KABI team in resort, on the ground and in the air. The guides and pilots will choose the best areas, the best runs and allow the most fun for your ability. Whether you are heli-skiing, touring, or heli-rando (touring) you will have an unforgettable experience.
The best bit – all of it is totally affordable for such wonderful experiences.
With superb slopes for all abilities, excellent ski schools, dedicated professional private guides, a modern lift system and endless off piste opportunities the Baqueira Beret Ski Resort and the surrounding Val D’Aran is a must visit ski destination.
Snowfall averages between 12-14 meters a season, meaning the resort sits amongst the top five snow sure resorts across Europe.
Off the Piste you are in for an even bigger treat, no matter your off-piste ability. With over 7km’s of marked off-piste trails in the resort alone the scope to explore, gain your confidence and trial the off-piste culture is immense. When the snow is soft and fresh, the off-piste skiing is phenomenal. For those wanting to venture further afield we recommend taking advantage of one of our local guides; the scope of skiing is almost limitless. Hiking and ski touring alone allows you access to a hidden world of powdery delight where our guides will really show you the very best of the area. The only limit on how far you go and what you ski is your fitness!
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Our Top Tips:
Take one of our super experienced, local guides for an unforgettable day or days on and off the piste. Our partners at Kabi really know the mountains and how to help you make the very best of it. They will also help advise you on the best restaurants, the best tapas and give you all the insider tips you need.
Heli-ski – no matter if you are a heli-ski veteran or a heli-ski virgin you will love the experience. For those veterans, you can be dropped off, quite literally, anywhere that you can see. The guide will suggest the best and safest spots and you can pick your lines, as extreme or as deep as you like. For the virgins or for a family it’s the perfect place to introduce you to off-piste and heli-skiing. Short flights access you to beautiful, peaceful routes where no one else can be seen. Your guide takes you and skis to your ability, sharing this stunning experience with you. Truly memorable for a first time!
The Ski–Doo trip to the Montgarri Refuge. An exhilarating ride on a two person ski-doo through the woods at night is a great rush and great fun for all. Finished off with a fantastic taster menu at the Refuge, cooked over an open fire. Alternatively try the huskies – also breathtaking!
Make sure you take evenings out from the hotel to sample the Aranese cuisine. You wont be disappointed. From fine dining to simple, cosy and comfortable tapas.
Getting around the Valley is either by bus or taxi. Resort taxis are usually quite expensive but some hotels have shuttle services and the bus system is really good. Let us help plan your dining and evenings so that you don’t miss out. Our guides and heli-ski guides also have their own transport, so you don’t have to worry! Expect to be getting taxis back and forth in the evenings.
Super slope side restaurants cater for every pallet, from quick and easy fast food burger joints to sophisticated tapas restaurants, fine dining Spanish and private international dining options, you wouldn’t leave the slopes hungry!
Val D’Aran is famous for the richness of its gastronomy. Most restaurants, be it fine dining or casual and relaxed use indigenous products of the valley so everything is fresh and local. Wild chamois, boar, rabbit, duck, trout and fresh river fish are staples in the Aranese cuisine. The very affordable and delicious fine dining restaurants showcase the best of the area and they sit alongside the more relaxed and informal tapas bars – with 100’s to choose from, you can expect to enjoy aged cured deli meats and local cheeses mixed in with the traditional Catalonian tapas specialties.
Off the slopes the après ski is a little different to that usually found in the Alps, but definitely just as enjoyable. You tend to enjoy a cold beer or a bottle of wine with a plate or two of delightful tapas shared around an old barrel in one of the tapas bars at the foot of the slopes or in the local beautiful historic villages that make up the Val D’Aran. Returning to the hotel afterwards for a siesta before embarking on a gastronomic delight at one of the many local restaurants and then back to your hotel and in bed by midnight ready for the excitement of the next days experience. Or embark on something a little more adventurous in the evenings with some experiences we highly recommend. Husky dog rides or ski-doo tours to ancient refuges where you can sample some divine home cooked, rustic cuisine with specially prepped taster menus.
If you do want a party then there are numerous bars in the valley that are open until the early hours, including an oversized Pacha superclub, but with snow, slopes and ski experiences this good, you want to do it like a local!
Local beer is cheap and lovely at just over €1 a glass. Local Spanish wines (always take a local recommendation) are delightfully priced and easy to drink.
Let us arrange a selection of restaurants and tapas bars for you, to really make the most of your stay!
A sample of a typical day:
09.30 – 12.30: Ski and enjoy the mountains
12.30 – 14.00: A delicious lunch on the mountain at one of the superb restaurants
14.00 – 16.30: Ski on as long as possible
16.30 – 18.00: Enjoy some local wine, a cold beer and share some tapas
18.00 – 21.00: Relax/siesta/spa at hotel
21.00: Dinner in one of the 170 restaurants of the Val D’Aran
00.00: Bed, ready for the next day
Nearest Airports:
Toulouse 1.5 hrs
Barcelona 3 hrs
Private transfers available for all group sizes.
Drivers will meet and greet you at the airport and our team will meet and greet you in resort.
Helicopter transfers also available on request.
Why not indulge yourself in the ultimate Spanish Trip. A night or two in beautiful Barcelona, followed by a helicopter transfer straight to the resort for a few days skiing?
