Walking in Arinsal

Walking Trails:
100km of walking trails

Terrain:
Mountain terrain

Arinsal at a glance

  • Catalan
  • Euro (EUR)
  • London Gatwick (LGW), Manchester Int. (MAN), Birmingham Int. (BHX), London Luton (LTN)

Travel included to Arinsal

Depart on: Saturday or Wednesday

Fly into: Barcelona airport

Transfer time: approx. 4 hours by public shared shuttle with a change in Andorra la Vella and scheduled stops along the way. Shuttles depart every 2 hours from the airport.

Included in your walking holiday to Arinsal

  • On holiday support and tailored advice over the phone from our Destination Expert
  • Access to Inghams Digital Resort Guide with things to do, walks and useful information on holiday
  • Flights from the UK, transfers and accommodation

Walking in Arinsal

Walks and hikes

Walking Trails:
100km of walking trails
Terrain:
Mountain terrain

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.

Our favourite self-guided walks in Arinsal

  • Distance: 8.5km (4.25km each way)
  • Ascent/descent: 163m elevation

Venturing beyond Arinsal and into Ordino, we really enjoy the Ruta del Ferro for an easy walk with maximum cultural content. This is a fantastic walk to warm up your legs and immerse yourself in Andorran culture. The walk follows the Ordino valley, beginning in Llorts. 

  • Grade: Easy
  • Distance: 5 kilometres

With views for miles and incredible flora up close, this is a circular walk which is well signposted. The route starts at the information hut, at the entrance to the national park, you'll pass by rivers and botanic gardens on this lovely route.

Our accommodations in Arinsal

Discover Arinsal

  • Nestled in the Pyrenees, Arinsal is a peaceful base for exploring scenic walking trails.
  • Visit Andorra La Vella for shopping or wandering the charming old quarter.
  • Explore well-marked trails and immerse yourself in stunning mountain views and lush valleys.

The mountain village of Arinsal drapes itself along a valley in the north-west of Andorra, not far from the Spanish border. The forested slopes of the Pyrenees close in on either side – a preview of the walking and cycling territory that’s the highlight of a summer holiday in this neck of the woods. Back at base, the restaurants and cafés are as international as their clientele. For a change of scene, hop on a bus to La Massana and its family-friendly adventure park (open during selected dates) or head to the capital city of Andorra La Vella.

Arinsal, nestled at the head of one of the two valleys above La Massana, is your perfect base for summer explorations. Just a short 15-minute bus ride from Arinsal, La Massana buzzes with activity. Hop on the gondola (operating on select summer dates) to reach a mountaintop park filled with treetop rope courses, playgrounds, and stunning views. For adventure seekers, the area also boasts bike tracks ranging from smooth, winding paths to rugged backcountry trails, prefer walking boots to wheels? Follow the picturesque paths along river valleys, connect to charming villages or pass by historic churches and over wooden bridges - it's the perfect way to soak in the beauty and culture of the area.

While Arinsal is a summer paradise for walkers, it’s also a haven for cycling enthusiasts. The area boasts hundreds of bike-friendly routes and trails, with nearby La Massana standing out as a hub for all things cycling. Whether you prefer road bikes, mountain bikes, or e-bikes for an extra boost on long rides, rentals are readily available to suit every rider's needs.

Arinsal is an ideal destination for a family holiday, offering a variety of activities and kid-friendly accommodation. Children will love the Mountain Park in nearby La Massana, accessible via a scenic gondola ride (open during selected dates). At the top, they can enjoy a range of games and activities set against stunning mountain views. The area also features numerous walking trails catering to all abilities, from easy family-friendly routes to more challenging hikes. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing stroll or an adventurous outing, there’s a trail to suit every family member. Take a look at things to do below, and you will find more family activities to enjoy in Arinsal.

Enjoy the rugged landscapes of the Pyrenees on a walking holiday in Arinsal. With the Comapedrosa Nature Park not far away and well-marked trails on offer - it's a great destination for those wanting to get out and explore on foot.

Comapedrosa Nature Park lies just north of Arinsal, where you can hike marked paths to high mountain waterfalls, lakes and forests – all watched over by Coma Pedrosa itself which, at almost 3,000 metres tall, is Andorra’s highest peak. For a walk with a hearty mountain food finale, climb through forests and along a ravine to a stone-clad mountain refuge called – you guessed it – Comapedrosa.

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 opening dates vary slightly year to year but in La Massana the lift operates during peak season (usually starts from 22nd June) and is normally open everyday (lifts payable locally, lift schedules are weather dependent and subject to change).

Travel to Arinsal

Travel by air

Flights to Barcelona depart on a Wednesday or Saturday between 07 Jun - 27 Sep 25.

Fly from:

  • London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, London Luton

Transfer times:

  • Approx. 4 hours by public shared shuttle that runs every 2 hours at set times from Barcelona airport to Arinsal, with scheduled stops. Guests will change at Andorra La Villa for a shuttle up to Arinsal
  • Car hire is available from Barcelona airport as an alternative to transfers and at a supplement - please call our sales team to book

Things to do in Arinsal

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.

Possible to reach with pre-booked car hire

The Tibetan Bridge and Roc del Quer viewpoint are two stunning sites in the Canillo valley. You can head to the Col d’Ordino first to the car park near the view point, it's then a short walk down the ridge to 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 birds eye view of the towns of Soldeu, Canillo and Encamp.
The Tibetan bridge at Canillo is popular attraction in this area. To get to the bridge it's an easy 15 minute walk up from the carpark. Once you reach it you'll see a structure that stretches 603 metres long across the valley at a height of up to 158 metres 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.

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, one of which offers light refreshments.

If retail therapy is on your agenda then the lower tax rates here will be very welcome. Andorra la Vella (around 30 minutes by bus from Arinsal) 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.

The hiking paths are really well marked in Arinsal, you’ll find information on the difficulty of trails and accessibility – great for families wanting to carefully plan out their routes. You’re also right on the doorstep of the Comapedrosa National Park where you’ll find forests, lakes and waterfalls – children can keep their eyes peeled for local wildlife such as lizards, deer and marmots (just be sure to keep a safe distance and leave nature undisturbed).

There also family friendly routes, some of which cover easy trails detailing fictional stories with clues and educational information on route.

Not too far from Arinsal you'll find the Pal Arinsal Mountain park (open during selected months and some activities have age restrictions). It offers a number of activities for children including a mini pedal car circuit, electric train, archery, zip lines, rope parks and more.

Arinsal is a great destination for families that love being out and about in nature, with plenty of walking trails to suit different abilities as well as local attractions to explore. The mountain park in La Massana is great fun with a miniature train, zip lines, bungee jumping, tubing and plenty more, it'll keep the kids entertained for hours (open during selected summer months and you may wish to purchase tickets in advance).

Possible to reach with pre-booked car hire

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 25 metres wide and 2,700 metres 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, why not take the 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 (see our walking tab for our useful information & guidelines when walking in Andorra and always plan and prepare when walking)
Please note: at the start and end of season the gondola may not be open so you'll have to drive to La Coma.

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