Foto: The mountain lakes of Estanys de Siscaro (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Andorra - I decide to join a mountain hike to the lakes of Estanys de Siscaro—a challenging trek reaching more than 2,500 meters in altitude. At breakfast, the rafters are already gearing up. I leave the hotel at 9:30 with two fellow travelers and our guide, Bert. We walk behind the hotel and start ascending a grassy path. The weather is sunny with a clear blue sky. Unfortunately, the morning dew hasn’t dried yet, and the wet grass soaks my shoes. I quickly feel my socks getting wet. I steadily climb, though it’s an adjustment to be the slowest one today. The others gradually move ahead, but it's important to maintain your own pace when climbing. I catch up with them during breaks. Behind me, the village of Soldeu becomes smaller and smaller. As I ascend, more of the upper ski areas come into view. From a distance, the slopes look short and not very steep—I’m curious how they appear in winter. The grassy path becomes a forest trail and rises sharply. Eventually, I reach above the tree line and climb through a barren valley. In the distance, I see a snowy patch. Bert points out that it's the mountain pass we'll be crossing. Although I can see the snow clearly, the path to it is longer and harder than expected. After two and a half hours of climbing, I reach the snow. I walk into it, digging my boots in diagonally to avoid slipping. At the top of the snowfield, I have a breathtaking view over the Soldeu valley. Far away, I can see the mountains of Canillo and beyond. The air is crystal clear. On the other side, I see the deep-blue mountain lakes of Estanys de Siscaro, surrounded by peaks. Bert is right—this might be Andorra’s most beautiful view. I sit down with my packed lunch and enjoy the scenery. The weather is perfect, and I’m in no rush today.
Grandvalira Ski Resort
Andorra - Since the construction of the first lift in the 1950s on the slopes of Coll Blanc, a concentration of ski areas has developed in the region. These include Le Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, and Encamp—together forming the Grandvalira ski ...
The Capital: Andorra la Vella
Andorra - When I arrive at the bus stop for Andorra la Vella, I see the bus just pulling away. I have to wait half an hour for the next one. A little after one o'clock, I step off in the bustling shopping street of Andorra la Vella. Immediately, I'm surrounded ...