A Tale of the Spanish Pyrenees: What to Expect on a School Ski Trip to Spain
In this blog, our account manager Jo Highfield tells us her first-hand account of skiing in the beautiful Spanish Pyrenees – providing an insight into what to expect on a school trip there.
While the Spanish Pyrenees often fly under the radar when it comes to school ski trips, there are several reasons we at Equity love the resorts scattered here – including excellent snow conditions, varied terrain, and uncrowded pistes.
Over three days last month, the Equity team – led by account manager Jo Highfield – explored many of the ski resorts across the region, finding out about their unique character, strengths, and appeal for different ability levels.
Read on to find out more about what you can expect when you visit these beautiful ski resorts, through Jo's first-hand tale of the trip.
Day One: La Molina
Our journey began in La Molina, a beautifully tree-lined resort spread across multiple mountains, with a wide range of pistes to explore. We were fortunate to arrive after a fresh snowfall of around 10–15cm, which transformed the landscape and helped keep the slopes pleasantly quiet.
La Molina works particularly well for mixed-ability groups. There are generous, clearly defined beginner areas set apart from faster traffic, allowing learners to build confidence at their own pace. For more experienced skiers, the resort delivers a solid selection of reds and blacks. One ungroomed black run stood out as a particular highlight: steep, challenging, and perfect for those seeking a little adrenaline.
Accommodation was equally impressive. Hotels HG and Guitart sit right next to the slopes, separated only by a short walk across the car park. Both offer modern, cosy interiors and lovely views over the pistes. Guitart’s indoor pool and gym, available to book in sessions by teachers, added an extra layer of comfort that was particularly welcome at the end of a long day on the mountain. Buffet meals here also offered plenty of choice and catered well to different tastes.
Heavy overnight snowfall meant even getting out of the resort became an adventure, with cars needing to be dug out in the morning. A minor inconvenience, perhaps, but also a reassuring sign of strong snow coverage and a solid base for the days ahead.
Day Two: Port Ainé and Espot, Rialp
A 25-minute drive took us to Port Ainé, though the final stretch was slow-going due to the sheer volume of snow on the road. Unable to drive higher without chains, we left the car at 1,650m and took the access chairlift up to 2,000m. From there, Port Ainé opened out into a true winter landscape.
This is an exceptionally well-organised resort and an ideal environment for beginners. The gentle progression of runs alongside the lifts allows learners to practise skills while becoming comfortable with different lift types. From the top of the resort, longer, flowing runs wind their way through the trees, offering a satisfying sense of journey without overwhelming less confident skiers.
Later, we visited nearby Espot, a resort known for its higher-level skiing. Often used by race teams, Espot offers more demanding terrain for those ready to step up. Its north-facing slopes and high-altitude runs, reaching up to 2,800m, help ensure excellent snow conditions and a long season. Once the basics are mastered, this is a resort that rewards ambition.
Day Three: Boí Taüll
If there was a standout discovery of the trip, it was Boí Taüll. Fresh snow greeted us once again, coating the road all the way from the urbanisation up to the resort. With 45km of pistes and remarkably quiet slopes, it felt like a hidden gem.
Boí Taüll is particularly well suited to mixed-level groups. From the upper sections of the resort, a series of gentle reds and blues offer long, enjoyable descents, while the base station sits at an impressive 2,000m. Skiing up to 2,750m, the resort benefits from north-facing slopes that retain snow exceptionally well, contributing to a reliably long season.
The resort’s credentials are further reinforced by its role as a host for World Cup events and races. Despite this, it retains a relaxed, uncrowded feel that makes it a pleasure to ski. For many, this may well be the best-kept secret of the Spanish Pyrenees.
To find out more about our school ski trips to the Spanish Pyrenees, or to enquire about a resort not listed here, please call us on 01273 648248, and we'll do our best to accommodate your requirements. You can also fill out our webform, and our school trip experts will get back to you as soon as we can.
