Stoke Travel’s STUDENT Ski break

JAN 24-26 | JAN 31-FEB 2 | FEB 7-9 | FEB 14-16 |FEB 21-23 | FEB 28-MAR 2 | MAR 7-9 | MAR 14-16 |

Stoke’s first ever Student-only Andorra trip: where we squeeze all of the best mediterranean and mountain experiences into just five days. Kicking things off in downtown Barcelona, the amount of fun jam-packed into one weekend will enrich your soul and soothe your travel-bug (but maybe damage your liver). We’ll be shredding and partying, maybe stacking it, definitely treating ourselves, and hanging out with fellow powder-loving ratbags. 

We’ve worked hard to get the mix of snow sports and partying just right, splitting our time between the mountain and the après-ski* below, and we’ve found that the best formula is to have as much fun as is physically possible over the weekend and then pass out on the bus on the way home – content, a little sore, and with a small hangover. We’ll be skiing and partying, maybe relaxing, and definitely treating ourselves, as this package is specifically tailored to deliver a good dose of escapism from the pressures of uni and help you let loose with other students. Keep reading for a little itinerary of what happens on these trips.

*For the uninitiated, “après-ski”, literally after ski, refers to drinking booze after – and sometimes during – a day on the slopes.

RIDE WITH US ski and snowboard trips from barcelona to andorra

On Thursday you’ll meet up with a bunch of other wide-eyed and bushy-tailed students in downtown Barcelona, trauma bond with a vent about your study-load and get to know our new best friends for the weekend (and beyond!) – starting with a traditional Catalan Calçotada dinner before hitting the town with your local Stoke guides. In the morning we’ll brush off the dusties from the night prior, throw our luggage on the bus and ride the two-or-so hours through Catalunya and the foothills of the Pyrenees into Andorra. At the hotel there’s time to check into our rooms and have a sticky-beak around the village. We’ll break the bread, relax into the flowing wine and conversation, then end the night in a bar where it’s known to get wild (see flaming shotski below). Or for those not feeling the bar, some of us can stay behind and play board games in our cozy hotel.

On Saturday we’re up and heading across the road to the gondola, where we will start to explore Pal-Arinsal. Ski hire is included, but snowboarders are welcome too with a tiny surcharge. If you’re a first timer, or a bit out of practice, now’s the time to grab a lesson, otherwise let’s hit the lifts and spend the day whizzing around the slopes. Lunch isn’t included, but at the end of the day we’ll all be meeting at our favourite bar at the bottom of the slopes for a little bit of après-ski fun, where the DJ will be playing bangers, and we can ease out the kinks with some drinks. 

Back in the hotel we will have the option to dine as a group, or grab something more intimate at one of the many spots around, if that’s what you’re vibing. Generally, as it’s a Saturday night, we’ll find our way around our favourite Andorra bars and clubs, keeping warm with some more wine, beers, some cocktails, or flaming shots for the efficient.

We’re up bright and early again on Sunday for one last day of looking wonderful on the mountain before heading back to Barcelona. We’re going to be tired, we’re going to be sore, we might even be a bit hungover, but we will be relaxed, with a smile from ear to ear, and a whole bunch of new friends. 

Want to read more? Here are our Andorra facts, our backpackers’ guide to Andorra, a look at the ski slope dickheads you might find up there, and the most important – and useful – how to pick up on the ski slopes guide.