Holidays to Arinsal

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Make each day a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking in Arinsal

Arinsal is a hidden gem in the summer. Tucked away in the Pyrenees, it's a peaceful retreat and a paradise for walkers. Trails range in abilities from family-friendly walks to challenging hikes and with a reliable bus service you can easily reach neighbouring towns like La Massana to explore further. The walking routes are also some of the best marked trails we’ve seen in Europe with clear signage and many even offering QR codes that you can scan to find directions translated into numerous languages. With Andorra known for its many forests, mountains, lakes and wild life, we're sure you'll love walking here as much as we do.

Buses

Arinsal offers a good and reliable bus service to take you to neighbouring towns. The L5 route runs throughout the day and generally departs every 15 minutes, it can take you to La Massana in around 15 minutes or onto the capital city of Andorra La Vella in around 30 minutes, from there you can connect to other bus routes to travel further.

Summer lifts

The summer lift in Arinsal is open at the weekends in July and August or you can head to La Massana and make use of the lift there, it takes you up to the mountain activity park and during peak season is open everyday (lifts payable locally, lift schedules are weather dependent and subject to change).

The walking in Arinsal is so good that every route could be classed as a favourite, but here are just a few routes that we really love:

Interpretation circuit of the Comapedrosa

This gentle walk is a nice introduction to the Comapedrosa park and Arinsal. You'll walk in a circuit and pass traditional constructions, local flora and fauna, rivers, pine forests with the Scots pine and local wildlife.

Cami de Percanela to Les Fonts and Pla de L’Estany

• Approx. 4hrs 30mins of walking
• 585 metres of ascent
• Challenging ability

This walk begins in Arinsal and takes you through forests, past rivers and into the Comapedrosa Nature Park. Its a long and challenging walk so those embarking on it need to ensure they have the correct equipment as well as food and drink.

Erts: Cami Del Jou-Roc De La Cauba

• Approx. 1hr 40mins of walking (one way)
• 489 metres of ascent
• Moderate ability

Beginning in the charming village of Erts you’ll head along the forest path until you reach a viewpoint where you’ll see wonderful views of La Massana and nearby villages. You’ll head to the Jou forest which is a tranquil place to stop for a moment and admire the beautiful Scots pines. Please note this is not a circular route and you have to walk back the way you came.

Cami del Cardemeller – Font Del Bisbe

• Approx. 1hr 30mins of walking (one way)
• 435 metres of ascent
• Moderate ability

Beginning in Pal, this walk is of moderate ability and follows trails through the valley and up to a great clearing where you’ll have views over Pal. Please note this is not a circular route and you have to walk back the way you came.

For every walk you will need: suitable walking shoes with good grip, appropriate clothing, sun cream, sun glasses, rain jacket, a warmer layer, rucksack, at least a litre of water, a snack and cash for mountain huts/transport. You may find walking poles useful.

Recommended equipment

Comfy walking boots, waterproofs, rucksacks and walking poles are useful for hiking around Arinsal.

Hiking guidelines

The mountains and lakes are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help them stay that way, and remain enjoyable and safe places for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

• Plan your route well and don't overestimate your self
• Check the weather forecast
• Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
• Take all the recommended equipment
• Make a note of emergency numbers
• Don't leave the marked trails without a guide
• Let nature stay wild by not picking flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
• Always leave gates as you found them
• Leave no trace

Relax at the famous Caldea Spa

Spa’s don’t get much better than the Caldea Spa. It’s one of the largest thermal spas in Southern Europe and just a 30-minute bus ride from Arinsal. Its iconic 80 metre high tower is the highest tower in Andorra. Head inside to marvel at the architecture and of course, enjoy the extensive facilities that were built to make use of the local hot springs. Mineral-rich water flows from the earth at 70ºC or you might want to try the ice pools if it's a warm summer day. The different areas and pools are plentiful with hydro massage jets, whirlpools, waterfalls and treatments available to book.

Walk across the Tibetan Bridge

Don’t look down! The Tibetan Bridge is a architectural masterpiece sitting 158 metres above the Vall del Rui and stretching 603 metres wide. It’s a thrill seekers dream with incredible valley views on either side and a must-see on a summer holiday in Arinsal. The bridge is in Canillo and can only be accessed by the official Canillo bus or from the Roc del Quer viewpoint car park. We recommend booking onto our excursion if you'd like to visit.

Explore Comapedrosa Valley National Park

Right on Arinsal’s doorstep is the Comapedrosa Valley National Park that's just beautiful in the summer. It's home to Andorras highest peak, Pic del Comapedrosa, which sits at 2,942 metres. The area is highly protected with a range of wildlife and nature spots including lakes, waterfalls and forests. There are a number of hiking routes to explore in the summer and three mountain refuges within the park, which are always a welcomed site for a mid-hike refreshment.

Shopping haven

If retail therapy is on your agenda then the lower tax rates here will be very welcome. Andorra la Vella has 'The Shopping Mile', which is partially pedestrianised. It begins in Avinguda Meritxell and passes all the way to Vivand. You'll find plenty of shops to browse with clothing, perfumery, sports equipment as well as electronics available to buy. The area also offers cafés and restaurants, so you can take a well-earned break from carrying the shopping bags.

Available to pre-book soon.

Tristaina Lakes and Solar Viewpoint (full day)

Tristaina Lakes and Solar Viewpoint are bucket-list items for a summer holiday in Arinsal. The solar viewpoint mimics a sundial but, perched on a suspension platform at 25m wide and 2,700m high on the Andorra/French border, its seriously impressive. You can reach this engineering marvel via a gondola (with optional glass floor) before taking a chairlift further up to the ridge. Stop for a picture with one foot in France and the other in Andorra before walking a further 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint.

Once you’ve had your dose of exceptional views across three countries in the Pyrenees, you'll have time to explore the beautiful Tristania Lakes. The three lakes reflect the mountains and are linked by a cascading stream. The first lake is a 45-mins to 1-hour easy round-trip walk and it'll take about 1.5-2 hours to get to the third lake.

Please note: at the start and end of season the gondola may not be open so you'll be driven to La Coma.

Roc del Quer viewpoint and Tibetan bridge (half day)

This is a wonderful half day trip to two stunning sites in the Canillo valley. You’ll head to the Col d’Ordino first, which sits at 1,980m and has incredible views over the surrounding mountains. A short walk down a ridge will take you to the Roc del Quer viewpoint. It juts out of the landscape on an impressive platform, with some sections of the floor made from glass so you get views from all angles. The scenery here is fantastic and you even have a birdseye view of the towns of Soldeu, Canillo and Encamp.

Next on the agenda is the impressive Tibetan bridge at Canillo, which stretches 603m long across the valley at a height of up to 158m above the Vall del Riu. Even if you’re not feeling brave enough to cross, the sight of the bridge and the surrounding views are still seriously impressive.

We act at all times as a selling agent for our suppliers. All excursions require minimum numbers to run and are subject to change. Some excursions may not be available to pre-book in low season but may be available to book locally subject to numbers. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking.