Our small group of skiers went to learn more about un unknown winter destination for us, the Principality of Andorra.
The journey to this high-mountain country began at Barcelona Airport, from where we went to a nearby local restaurant for lunch to try some traditional Spanish and Catalan cuisine. Admiring the beautiful views along the way to Andorra, we reached our destination – a cute mountain village in the largest Pyrenees ski resort consisting of more than 240 km of ski slopes connected by ski lifts.
After check in at the hotel and dinner, there was a welcome meeting with a glass of wine, during which we learned the framework program of the event and the fabulously promising snow conditions for the next few days.
Our group spent the first two days very actively – skiing on the endless ski slopes of the ski resort. After amazing days on the ski slopes, we started with some of the après ski activities. A karting on ice competition was a lot of fun and boosted our adrenaline. Before returning to the hotel, we visited some of the local bars, where we tasted beer from Andorran brewery. The next day after skiing we had an interesting training conference, which the host company had prepared for us. As a reward for good participation we were told to pack only the necessary items and clothes and to leave the hotel. We were brought to one of the ski slopes we already knew. Suddenly, we saw an Airstream Caravan appear from the darkness and this was to be our home for the night. What a unique experience!!!!
We spend the night at more than 2000 m above sea level in a comfortable and cosy American caravan. Around us there was nothing else, only us, the caravan, and the starry sky. A delicious dinner awaited us at the caravan, when we came back from a trek with snowshoes and headlamps.
In the morning after breakfast we were the first to ski on the freshly prepared ski slopes even before the ski station opened. Down in the valley snowmobiles were waiting for us as our next activity– an exciting trip through the most beautiful corners of the valley. After this amazing experience, every one of us had the opportunity to lead a real dog sled.
In the evening some of our snowboarders went to the lighted snow park open at night to practice newly acquired skills, while the others went to the spa for a well-deserved break after our busy past few days.
On the last day, feeling rested after our SPA evening, we left our hotel early in the morning to discover the Pyrenees from a new perspective. On this day our transportation vehicle was hot air balloon. Amazing views of the snow-capped tops of the three Pyrenean countries will forever remain in our memory. After landing, we had a real Pyrenean breakfast: sausages, mountain cheese and a simple, though delicious pa amb tomàquet (baked bread soaked in olive oil and tomato).
After the meal, we reached another picturesque valley. Already waiting for us were 4x4 cars, that brought us to the highest vineyard in Europe. We learned about the method of creating high-mountain wine and of course we tasted this special and rare wine (you can only find it in a few wine shops). In a cosy stone restaurant, among the snow-covered vines, we tried delicious grilled Andorran meat and Catalan desserts.
We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping, focusing on bargain-priced liquors and whiskey, watches, jewellery, and Andorran tobacco products.
We all gathered together for a farewell dinner in a traditional Andorran restaurant to cap off our trip with the sound of local music, cava and lovely Calçotada (a dish from a delicious variety of fresh green onion).
The next morning the last activity during our trip was a visit to a famous brewery near Barcelona, on the way to Barcelona airport. After our last tasting, we returned to our homes with hundreds of photos and gifts for family and friends who could not join us on this amazing trip to the small Pyrenean Principality.