Peer at a map of Pyrenees, and you’ll spy a landlocked nation on the border of France and Spain. This is Andorra: an isolated microstate that’s existed in its current form for over 700 years. That sense of independence fuels walking holidays in Andorra. Adventure seekers strike out into the mountains, forests, valleys, meadows and stone villages on walks that range from family-friendly ambles to long-distance treks. Cyclists are in their element too, thanks to the smooth, swooping mountain roads and hair-raising backcountry tracks that host the MTB World Championships each summer.
Walking Holidays in Andorra: The grand routes of the Pyrenees
Glacial valley walks, lazy lakeside loops, mountain village strolls, pine forest trails, via ferrata and suspension bridges… walkers will find every type of footpath in Andorra. Explore the many view points with breath-taking scenery on offer or have you ever wanted to be in two places at once? Well on certain walking routes you can be, with trails sharing borders between Andorra and France - you can have one foot in each country. Many of the marked walking trails have also been seriously thought out with clear signage and even QR codes to translate directions into numerous different languages.
Summer adventures in the mountains
Road cycling and mountain biking are huge in Andorra – there are over 200km of marked cycling trails, including 20 mountain passes. Three natural parks offer places where you might wind up sharing the trails with semi-wild horses and horned ibex, or catching a glimpse of golden eagles and bearded vultures high above. These giant birds of prey aren’t the only amazing things to be spotted in the skies. La Massana is a lively town to visit and at night, if you head outside the main town then you'll find a dark sky reserve with viewpoints perfectly placed for catching glimmering constellations and the luminous brushstroke of the Milky Way.
Family holidays in Andorra
Many of Andorra’s ski resorts transform into family adventure parks in the summer. Mon(t) Magic has zip lines and toboggan rides, Pal Arinsal hosts one of southern Europe’s biggest bike parks, and Naturland offers archery and forest trails. Plus, there are lots of easy footpaths that ramble through foothills and between storybook lakes.
Sky-high cities and Catalan culture
Andorra is home to the highest capital city in Europe: Andorra la Vella. Peruse Romanesque stone churches, the open-air geology museum and riverside Parc Central. Digging into the cuisine is one of the best ways to experience the city’s Catalan culture. Mountain flavours are often on the menu – so cannelloni, wild boar with even wilder mushrooms, salted cod and lake trout, and charcoal-grilled snails called caracoles a la llauna. While you’re out and about, try out a few words of Catalan. Spanish, French and Portuguese are widely spoken in Andorra, but Catalan is the national language. Bon profit!
