Near Els Llacs Mountain Apartments lies Pas de la Casa, an Andorran town on the border with France, which in both winter and summer is full of fun and activities.
In winter, skiing and snow sports; and in summer, mountain routes and hiking. All year round, one activity that is a must in Pas de la Casa is shopping, which perfectly complements the rest of the activities on offer.
Today, we’ll tell you about the main attractions you’ll find to enjoy a day or more in this town.
Excursion to Les Abelletes Lake
If you are looking for nature, you will also find it in Pas de la Casa. We suggest an excursion on foot to the lake of Les Abelletes, the natural border between Andorra and France. The curious thing about this lake is that half of it belongs to the Principality and the other half to the neighbouring country.Â
The starting point is the Coll dels Isards chairlift in Grandvalira. Following the mountain track you will reach the lake, which is situated at an altitude of 2800 metres. The route is 8 km long (round trip) and it only takes 1 hour to get there. It is a path that you can’t miss, easy to access and can be done with children.
We recommend you check the weather conditions before starting the walk to avoid surprises, as the weather in the mountains can change quickly.
Shopping in Pas de la Casa
If there is one thing the town of Pas de la Casa is known for, it is its wide range of shops. You can do all kinds of shopping: perfumes and cosmetics, clothes to create your best outfits, electronics or motorcycling accessories. In fact, it is very common for French tourists to come to Pas de la Casa to buy these products. In summer, you’ll find sales from 23 June to 5 September, and you can also buy snow equipment in the outlet sports shops.
All over Pas de la Casa you will find cafés, bars and restaurants where you can stop for a drink and a bite to eat. It should be noted that the climate in summer is much more pleasant than in other places (and even more so in recent years when the heat has become much more intense in many towns). In Pas de la Casa the climate is high mountain, cool in the morning and evening and hot at midday. Although it is not unusual to see snow in August.
The sports centre
Pas de la Casa has a sports centre with gymnasium, swimming pool, solarium, paddle tennis and squash courts which is open to the public for an entrance fee. It is used by many sports teams for pre-season training at altitude. This winter it has even hosted the filming of the movie 42 seconds, by Dani de la Orden, starring Jaime Lorente (La Casa de Papel).
Â
The Envalira Mountain Pass
To get to Pas de la Casa you can go through the tunnel or through the mountain pass of Envalira and enjoy the views. At the top of the pass you will find a viewpoint. Stop for a moment to admire the landscape. It has a small parking area, benches to sit and breathe in the fresh air and a small hut made from the wood of the first hut in Pas de la Casa. From there, on one side you will see the town centre and on the other, the mountains and peaks that form the Pessons glacier.
The Envalira pass is the highest pass in the Pyrenees. It is at an altitude of 2,400 metres and has seen the fastest riders in the 2021 Tour de France.
El Pas de la Casa is a village surrounded by mountains at the foot of the slopes and in summer it is the starting point for many hiking excursions. It is near Els Llacs Mountain Apartments and is one of the visits you can make while staying in the flats.
If you want more plans like this, be sure to read our blog.
Â
