Andorra Hotel Pas de la Casa

Discover the valley of Madriu with your accommodation in Andorra in the Hotel Petit Pas in Pas de la Casa (Encamp).

In opposition to popular belief, Andorra is a country not only to enjoy in winter. As soon as the snow melts, spring brings new touristic opportunities and new activities in a magical environment:  such as the Valley Madriu a mountain landscape with panoramic views that has been declared World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2004.

"Mother River" is the Latin name for Madriu. The valley owes its "U" shape to its glacial origin which is a characteristic of the valleys emerging from the ice. With an east / west orientation, Madriu has a total length of 11.8 km. It begins at 1,200 meters and reaches a height of 2,500 meters. Its main source of wealth is the water of the river which, in turn, feeds on a variety of lakes located in the glacial circle of Gargantillar. Thanks to the filtration, these virgin waters creates a natural reservoir of thermal water over 60o in Escaldes-Engordany.

With a surface area of 4247 hectares, which represent 9% of the territory of the Principality of found the evidence of climate change, cultural traditions, social and biodiversity of the country.

The trail begins near the Thermoludic Center of Caldea, but so you do not lose any details, the Hotel Petit Pas, your accommodation in Pas de la Casa (Encamp), will provide you with all the information you need and give you the opportunity to take specialized guides, if needed.

During your journey through the Valley of Madriu you will come across the typical shelters used by farmers of the Pyrenees. Because of their isolation and special location, they help to design a unique landscape along with the pine forests, rivers ...
The "Orris" are also to be encountered and are an example of infrastructure used in the XIII-XVII centuries for the breeding of animals for the production of cheese. You can also continue your visit up to the Estanques de L’Illa which are glacial lakes at an altitude of 2,400 metres.

In this splendid geomorphological surroundings, with a river and lakes of great interest, there are many different routes to visit the Valley of Madriu without technical difficulty for five hours. Among the long distance paths there are:
GR7, which covers the whole valley and the GR11, which is situated at a height of 1600 meters and that leads to the Lakes of  L'Illa: the last point of the valley of Madriu which gives way to the Valley of Civera. And finally, the GRP (the grand tour of the country) that starts at the highest point of the valley, parallel to the GR7, and ends with the glacial circle.

You can look up the different ways to discover the valley of Madriu in our hotel in Andorra, located in Pas de la Casa. Our friendly staff is ready to help you make the most of your stay in the Principality of Andorra. The Hotel Petit Pas in Encamp offers you the whole country.