🎿 Pal Arinsal Nord Pass: Lift Pass Guide & FAQs

Staying in Arinsal or La Massana? Start here.

Lift passes in Andorra can sound more complicated than they really are.

Nord Pass. Andorra Pass. Pal. Arinsal. Ordino Arcalís. Grandvalira. Different mountains, different names, one small country and, occasionally, one slightly confused skier staring at a piste map over breakfast.

The good news? If you're staying in Arinsal or La Massana, the Nord Pass will usually be the lift pass you need.

It gives you access to 63 km of skiing across Pal Arinsal. If you book a pass for 2 days or more, you can also ski at Ordino Arcalís, taking your available northern Andorra terrain to 93 km.

Book a Nord Pass for 4 days or more and you also get one day in Grandvalira, giving you the chance to head east and explore Andorra's largest ski area.

And because Andorra Travel Service is based here in Andorra, we're going to explain not only what the pass includes, but whether you're actually likely to use all of it.

Let's get you on the right mountain. 👇

🏔️ First things first: what is Pal Arinsal?

Pal Arinsal is one ski area made up of two main sectors.

⛷️ Arinsal

Arinsal is the side most people know from staying in Arinsal village.

It's a particularly good choice for beginners, improvers, families and groups with mixed skiing abilities. There are learner areas, ski-school meeting points, plenty of blue and red terrain, and a lively village below with bars, restaurants and après-ski.

🌲 Pal

Pal is the sector reached directly from La Massana by gondola.

It has a different feel to Arinsal, with plenty of tree-lined skiing and a good mixture of terrain.

The important bit is that Pal and Arinsal are linked on the mountain, so you don't need to choose one or the other when buying your lift pass. You can ski both.

Between them, Pal Arinsal offers 63 km of pistes.

🎟️ So what exactly does the Nord Pass cover?

For most holiday skiers staying in Arinsal or La Massana, this is where things become much simpler.

If you have a 1-day pass

You ski Pal Arinsal. That's 63 km across the Pal and Arinsal sectors.

If you have a Nord Pass for 2 days or more

You can ski:

✅ Pal ✅ Arinsal ✅ Ordino Arcalís

That gives you access to 93 km of skiing across Andorra's northern ski areas.

If you have a Nord Pass for 4 days or more

You get all of the above, plus:

✅ One day in Grandvalira

Grandvalira currently offers 215 km of skiing, so that bonus day gives you the chance to explore a completely different part of Andorra during your holiday.

Not bad for wandering slightly off-piste from your original holiday plan.

📍 Arinsal, Pal, La Massana and Ordino Arcalís: what's where?

This causes more confusion than almost anything else, so here's the simple ATS version.

Arinsal

Village + ski sector.

If your hotel is in Arinsal, this will normally be your everyday gateway to the slopes.

La Massana

Town + gondola access to Pal.

You walk to the gondola in the centre of La Massana and travel directly up into the Pal sector.

Pal

Ski sector.

Pal isn't normally where you'd say you're staying. If you're based in La Massana, Pal is the mountain you're accessing.

Ordino Arcalís

Separate ski area.

It's further north and isn't physically linked to Pal Arinsal by ski lifts. You'll travel there by road or ski bus.

Grandvalira

Separate 215 km ski area on the eastern side of Andorra.

With a Nord Pass of 4 days or more, one day's skiing in Grandvalira is included.

There. Piste-map headache cured. ☕️

🧭 ATS local view: is the Nord Pass enough for a week's skiing?

For most people staying in Arinsal or La Massana? Yes.

And this is where we'd advise against buying a bigger pass just because a bigger number of kilometres sounds better.

If you're a beginner, intermediate skier, family or mixed-ability group, there's plenty to keep you occupied across Pal Arinsal.

Add a day at Ordino Arcalís and, on a 4-day or longer pass, your included Grandvalira day, and you've suddenly got a very varied ski week.

A typical week might look something like this:

Day 1: Find your feet in Arinsal Day 2: Explore more of Arinsal Day 3: Ski across to Pal Day 4: Spend the day properly exploring Pal Day 5: Take a trip to Ordino Arcalís Day 6: Use your included Grandvalira day

That's not a timetable you have to follow, by the way. This is skiing, not school.

The point is that you have options.

❄️ Is Ordino Arcalís really worth visiting?

We think so, particularly if you're already comfortable skiing blue and red pistes.

Ordino Arcalís feels noticeably different from Pal Arinsal. It's higher, more open and has a wilder mountain feel. It's also particularly well known for freeride terrain and natural snow.

But here's the useful bit that doesn't always make it onto a lift-pass description: you don't have to go.

If you've got young children settled into ski school, you're a nervous beginner who's loving the slopes around Arinsal, or you're simply having a great time where you are, don't feel you have to tick Ordino Arcalís off a list.

On the other hand, if you're a confident skier staying for a week, we'd absolutely consider making a day of it.

💡 ATS tip

Check the weather and conditions before choosing your Ordino Arcalís day. On a good mountain day, it can be one of the highlights of the holiday.

🚌 How do I get from Arinsal or La Massana to Ordino Arcalís?

Pal and Arinsal are connected on the mountain, but Ordino Arcalís is a separate ski area, so you'll need to travel there by road.

The good news is that there is a timetabled ski-bus service connecting Arinsal and La Massana with Ordino Arcalís, making it straightforward to use the extra ski area included with your Nord Pass.

We've put together a separate guide covering:

✅ Where the ski bus stops ✅ Timetable information ✅ How the service works ✅ How to book or reserve your journey ✅ Getting from Arinsal and La Massana to Ordino Arcalís ✅ Travel options for visiting Grandvalira too

👉 Read our Free Ski Bus guide for Arinsal, La Massana, Ordino Arcalís and Grandvalira

💡 ATS tip

If you're planning an Ordino Arcalís day, check the timetable before deciding which day to go. Pick a day with good weather and snow conditions, book your transport where required, and make a proper day of exploring a very different side of Andorra.

🌍 What about the included Grandvalira day?

Now this is a nice little bonus.

With a Nord Pass of 4 days or more, one day skiing in Grandvalira is included.

Grandvalira has 215 km of skiing spread across seven sectors:

🏔️ Pas de la Casa 🏔️ Grau Roig 🏔️ Peretol 🏔️ Soldeu 🏔️ El Tarter 🏔️ Canillo 🏔️ Encamp

But don't make the classic mistake of deciding you're going to “ski all of Grandvalira in a day”.

Technically ambitious. Practically exhausting. And you'll spend half your holiday checking the piste map like you're navigating the M25.

Pick an area, enjoy it properly, and leave yourself an excuse to come back.

🤔 Nord Pass or Andorra Pass: which do I actually need?

This is probably the question we'd most like people to ask before buying their lift pass.

Choose the Nord Pass if...

✅ You're staying in Arinsal or La Massana ✅ Most of your skiing will be in Pal Arinsal ✅ You'd like the option of visiting Ordino Arcalís ✅ One Grandvalira day during a 4-day or longer ski trip is enough ✅ You want a pass that matches where you're actually staying

Consider wider Andorra access if...

✅ Exploring all of Andorra's ski areas is a major part of your holiday ✅ You're an experienced skier who enjoys covering serious mileage ✅ You expect to spend several days in Grandvalira rather than one ✅ Your group already knows the Andorran ski areas and wants maximum flexibility

💡 ATS advice

Don't automatically buy the biggest lift pass.

Tell us where you're staying, how many days you're skiing, whether you've skied before, whether you're travelling with children, and what level everyone skis at.

We'll tell you what we'd book ourselves.

Sometimes the simpler option is genuinely the better one.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Is Pal Arinsal good for families?

Yes, and it's one of the main reasons Arinsal and La Massana have remained so popular with our customers.

Pal Arinsal has learner terrain, ski-school facilities and plenty of skiing that works well for families whose members aren't all at exactly the same level.

That last bit matters.

One confident parent. One cautious parent. One child who has decided they're basically a professional skier after Tuesday's lesson. Another child who mainly wants hot chocolate.

That's a ski holiday.

Pal Arinsal works particularly well for those mixed groups because you don't need everyone charging around a huge ski domain just to have a good day.

🌱 Is Pal Arinsal good for beginners?

Very.

Arinsal in particular has long been a popular place to learn.

There's a good progression from beginner areas onto easier pistes, meaning new skiers aren't necessarily stuck doing the same tiny run repeatedly while everyone else disappears over the horizon.

Lessons are still one of the things we'd strongly recommend booking in advance, especially during peak school-holiday weeks.

Your first morning on snow is infinitely more enjoyable when everything is already organised.

🎿 What about intermediate skiers?

This is arguably where Pal Arinsal quietly does very well.

Once you're comfortable on blue and red pistes, you can start properly moving around the area rather than simply lapping the same beginner slopes.

You can explore both Pal and Arinsal, add Ordino Arcalís into the mix, and potentially spend your included day in Grandvalira.

For a six-day ski holiday, that's a decent amount of variety.

🏂 What if I'm an advanced skier?

If you're an advanced skier who's happiest spending the whole day hunting out new terrain, you'll probably want to use the flexibility built into your pass.

Explore Pal Arinsal properly, definitely consider your Ordino Arcalís day, and use the Grandvalira inclusion if your pass qualifies.

Ordino Arcalís in particular has a strong reputation among more experienced skiers.

If skiing huge mileage every day is the absolute priority of your holiday, talk to us about whether the Nord Pass or wider Andorra access makes the most sense before booking.

🏨 I'm staying in Arinsal. Where will I normally ski?

Arinsal.

It sounds obvious, but it's worth saying.

One of the benefits of staying in a ski resort is being able to get onto your local mountain without turning every morning into a transport operation.

Start by enjoying what's outside your door. Once you've got your bearings, head across and explore Pal. Then decide whether you fancy an Ordino Arcalís adventure or your Grandvalira day.

You don't need to chase kilometres from breakfast onwards to get value from your lift pass.

🚡 I'm staying in La Massana. Where do I ski?

The gondola from La Massana takes you directly into the Pal sector.

That's one of La Massana's big attractions.

You're staying in a lively Andorran town, but you still have direct lift access to the ski area.

From Pal, you can explore the wider Pal Arinsal terrain.

La Massana is therefore a particularly good option if you want mountain access without necessarily staying in a traditional slopeside ski village.

📅 Can my ski pass start on any day?

Your lift pass doesn't have to begin on a traditional Saturday or Sunday changeover.

Andorra works particularly well for flexible-duration ski holidays, so we regularly arrange trips starting on different days of the week.

Your exact lift-pass dates should simply match the days you're actually planning to ski.

That's one reason we recommend sorting your accommodation, transfers and ski extras together rather than treating every part of the holiday as a separate puzzle.

🎒 What else do I need besides my lift pass?

A lift pass gets you onto the mountain. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide skis by magic.

Depending on your trip, you may also need:

🎿 Ski or snowboard equipment 🥾 Boots 🧑‍🏫 Ski or snowboard lessons 🚌 Airport transfers 🏨 Accommodation 🍽️ Lunch options or ski-pack inclusions

This is where booking your Andorra holiday as a joined-up package can make life considerably easier.

🔥 Can I book a Pal Arinsal ski package with Andorra Travel Service?

Yes.

We can combine your accommodation with the ski extras you actually need, rather than forcing everyone into the same package.

Depending on your holiday, that can include:

✅ Pal Arinsal / Nord Pass ✅ Ski or snowboard hire ✅ Group or private lessons ✅ Airport transfers ✅ Accommodation ✅ Ski-pack offers and other extras

Some customers want everything sorted. Some already own their equipment. Some need lessons. Some haven't been near a ski school since 1997 and would very much like to keep it that way.

That's fine.

We'll help build the right Andorra ski holiday around you.

👉 Search accommodation and ski packages

👉 View ski extras

❓ Pal Arinsal Nord Pass FAQs

🎟️ Does the Nord Pass cover both Pal and Arinsal?

Yes. Pal and Arinsal form one ski area, with 63 km of skiing across the two sectors.

❄️ Can I ski Ordino Arcalís with a Nord Pass?

Yes, when you have a Nord Pass for 2 days or more. That extends your available skiing across Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalís to 93 km.

🏔️ Can I ski Grandvalira with the Nord Pass?

With a 4-day or longer Nord Pass, you receive one day of skiing in Grandvalira. Grandvalira currently offers 215 km of skiing.

🚡 Are Pal and Arinsal connected?

Yes. The Pal and Arinsal sectors are linked, so you can explore both without having to return to the valley and take a bus between them.

🚌 Is Ordino Arcalís connected by lift?

No. Ordino Arcalís is a separate ski area and requires road transport. There is a timetabled ski-bus service from Arinsal and La Massana.

👉 See our guide to the Free Ski Bus, including stops, times and how to book

👶 Is the Nord Pass suitable for beginners?

Yes. If you're staying in Arinsal or La Massana and learning to ski, Pal Arinsal gives you plenty of terrain without needing to spend your holiday travelling between different ski areas.

🎿 Do I need to use Ordino Arcalís if it's included?

No. Think of it as an extra option rather than compulsory homework. If you're enjoying Pal Arinsal, stay there. If you're ready for something different, go exploring.

🌍 Do I need an Andorra Pass instead?

Not necessarily. If you're staying in Arinsal or La Massana and expect most of your skiing to be in Pal Arinsal, the Nord Pass is usually the logical starting point.

If you specifically want to ski extensively across Grandvalira as well, speak to us and we'll help compare the options.

💙 The ATS view

The best lift pass isn't the one with the biggest number written next to it. It's the one that fits your holiday.

If you're staying in Arinsal or La Massana, the Nord Pass gives you an excellent base at Pal Arinsal, the option to explore Ordino Arcalís from a 2-day pass onwards, and a Grandvalira day when you're skiing for 4 days or more.

For most people, that's a lot of Andorra packed into one ski holiday.

And if you've reached the end of this guide and you're still thinking, “Right... but which one should I actually book?”, excellent. That's what we're here for.

We're not a booking engine pretending to know Andorra. We're the people in Andorra.

Talk it through with our team before you book, while you're here, or whenever another mountain-shaped question pops into your head.

👉 Contact the Andorra Travel Service team

Just Click. Book. Ski.

We're here, when you're here.