Ski the Pyrenees

Ski Holidays at Baqueira Beret

Baqueira Beret is one of Europe’s best-kept ski secrets. Nestled in the attractive Vall d’Aran in the heart of the picturesque Catalan Pyrenees, it has long been recognised as the best resort in Spain and even the Spanish royal family have a residence here. Baqueira was put forward as the world’s best ski resort by the Daily Telegraph in 2014 and with good reason.

The main station, Baqueira, is located at 1500m with Beret at 1850m and Bonaigua at 2070m and the resort has 102 well-managed slopes. Skiing at Baqueira is plentiful and varied, with a wide range of alternatives for all levels. Its 153 km of runs are 52% green and blue, 35% red and 13% black, the latter including some very tricky moguls and the infamous Escornacabres (goat-tumbler) guaranteed to challenge even the most experienced skiers and boarders. Aside from the slopes, there is also plenty of superb off-piste powder to enjoy.

Snow at Baqueira is consistently good, which means it has always opened in December and is an ideal choice for Christmas. At a lower latitude to the Alps it also has an extra hour of sun, so you can enjoy more time on the slopes.

Skiers are mainly from Spain, but not exclusively and Baqueira has grown in popularity with a growing number of international clientele in recent years. The Spanish love for long lunches, late nights and leisurely starts means that the slopes are often not crowded, the busiest times being before lunch and the mid-afternoon, so it’s ideal to take advantage of the first hours of the morning.

The resort takes good care of its skiers and everything is easily accessible including off-piste options. There are helicopters to take you up to the high slopes beyond Bonaigua and there’s even a tractor that pulls a trailer with seats to haul you to the first lift if the short walk looks a bit too far. Queues are not something to worry about thanks to the modern, super-efficient lift network and there is also a quad chair to get you up to the action from the village.

The Spanish love of late nights and late starts means that the first part of the morning is an excellent time to have the runs pretty much to yourselves.

Food-wise there are plenty of good places all over the resort to stop for lunch, all of which serve excellent food, and with the lively company and a glass of good wine the only danger is that you might spend a bit longer on it than you planned to.

Beginners and Tuition

Baqueira has a well-deserved reputation for providing excellent ski instruction through the best ski school in Spain. There is also a British ski school which has expert instructors who can help you work on your technique or be your guide for off-piste adventures.

For the less experienced there are plenty of beginners areas to practice on with wide, easy slopes connecting all the main areas of the resort, so you are not confined to one spot. The well-equipped children’s schools at Baquiera and Beret make it ideal for families with youngsters.

Off the Slopes

Once you’ve put away your skis for the day, there are no shortage of things to keep you busy including dog-sledding, snowshoeing, a ride on a snowmobile or journey through lovely scenery on a horse and sleigh.
Or if you just want to relax there’s no better way than to enjoy the thermal waters at one the resorts luxury spas.
Alternatively, you might want to spend an afternoon exploring some of the Vall d’Aran’s medieval villages and its world heritage Romanesque churches. We’ll also point you in the direction of the farm famous for its goat’s cheese that they infuse with rum, cognac and vinegar.

Apres Ski

Hit the Moet winter lounge first to get you in the spirit of things with some champagne and tapas. The first wave of apres-ski starts off at a reasonable hour, but this being Spain some people don’t get moving much before midnight. Whichever your preference though, there are plenty of good options for a traditional Aranese supper before moving on for drinks at the convivial pubs and cool designer hotel bars.

Getting There and Equipment Hire

We pick up from Toulouse ( 2 hours away ) and Barcelona ( 4 hours ). Ski or board hire can be arranged in advance, just let us know.

How to Book

Just Get in touch with your dates and preferred accommodation and we’ll provide a choice of the best deals at Baqueira’s 4 and 5 star hotels, chalets or apartments, helping you find the ideal option according to your preferences and budget.

Included as part of our service we’ll provide you with plenty of helpful suggestions on how to best enjoy Baqueira, book any activities you’d like to do and get you tables at some of the resort’s best restaurants.