Waking up a few kilometres from the slopes, with the heating on and your boots dry, is the best reason to take a ski trip by motorhome. This route starts in Les Franqueses del Vallès and links La Molina and Masella (the Alp 2500 ski area), Puigcerdà, Llívia, Nordic skiing at Lles de Cerdanya and a day at Grandvalira in Andorra.
It is five nights: you collect the motorhome on the afternoon of day 1 and return it on the morning of day 6. The season runs from December to March. Christmas is high season, with a 7-day minimum; from January to March, outside holidays, it is low season and the minimum drops to 3. If it is your first time in the cold, read our winter motorhome guide first.
Route plan
Route map
Tap a day or a stop to see it on the map, or press "Follow the route" to travel it stage by stage.
Approximate line between stops, not a navigation itinerary. Check road conditions and restrictions for large vehicles before you set off.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 · Pick-up and a short leg to Ripoll
You collect the motorhome between 16:00 and 19:00; we show you the Truma heating and, if you have hired them, how to fit the chains. The C-17 takes you to Ripoll in just over an hour. Sleeping here means you avoid climbing a pass at night on icy roads. Stroll around the centre, by the monastery of Santa Maria, and fill up with diesel before the mountains.
Day 2 · Collada de Toses and La Molina
Check road conditions before you set off and climb via Ribes de Freser to the Collada de Toses, at around 1,800 m, where chains may be compulsory after snowfall. On the other side lies La Molina, one of Spain's most historic ski resorts. Ski all day and then spend the night at a campsite or authorised area around Alp. Never assume the resort car park allows overnight stays.
Day 3 · Masella and Puigcerdà
Masella shares its ski area with La Molina, so with a joint pass you can ski from one to the other. It has tree-lined, north-facing runs that tend to hold the snow well. In the afternoon, drive down to Puigcerdà, capital of the Cerdanya: the lake, the bell tower and the shopping streets of the centre are all walkable. Sleep near Puigcerdà.
Day 4 · Llívia, Lles de Cerdanya and La Seu d'Urgell
Llívia is a Spanish enclave surrounded by France; its museum houses one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe. Then change pace: Lles de Cerdanya, or Guils-Fontanera, has Nordic skiing and snowshoe trails, perfect for resting your legs after alpine skiing. Head down the Segre valley to La Seu d'Urgell to sleep close to the Andorran border.
Day 5 · Grandvalira and back to Bellver de Cerdanya
Leave early: drive through Andorra la Vella and up to El Tarter or Soldeu, gateways to Grandvalira. Pas de la Casa lies beyond the Port d'Envalira, at around 2,400 m: if you go, consider the tunnel and carry chains. In the afternoon, return to La Seu and continue to Bellver de Cerdanya for the night. For more ideas, see our motorhome ski guide. On the morning of day 6, the Cadí tunnel gets you to Granollers in under two hours, in time for the return between 9:00 and 12:00.
Where to sleep
The Cerdanya, the Ripollès, the Alt Urgell and Andorra have campsites open in winter, and some villages have authorised motorhome areas. On bank holidays and snowy weekends they fill up: book ahead. A campsite with electric hook-up lets you run the heating more freely without worrying about the battery. Park4Night or Campercontact help you check what is open.
Sleep only at campsites or authorised areas, and never assume a ski resort car park allows overnight stays: many forbid it. You may park wherever any vehicle may park, as long as you are not camping: no awning, chairs or levelling chocks, and no emptying of waste water. Wild camping is not permitted in Catalonia.
Where to sleep with a motorhome in Catalonia
Practical tips
- Chains: at Segimon Rental they are an optional extra at €20. Always carry them in winter and practise fitting them before you need them. Winter tyres or chains may be compulsory at Toses and Envalira.
- Check road conditions before every pass (Servei Català de Trànsit and DGT; in Andorra, the official road information service) and do not go up if heavy snow is forecast.
- Keep the diesel tank full and the Truma heating running: the EisEx system protects against frost and the grey-water tank is heated. Do not leave water in outdoor hoses overnight.
- Dry boots and clothing inside with the heating on, and ventilate a little to avoid condensation. A mat by the door helps.
- Andorra is outside the EU: carry your ID card or passport, respect customs allowances on the way back, and tell us before pick-up so we can check the insurance.
- It is about 500 km over five days: with 300 km a day included on 3 to 6-day rentals, you have plenty to spare.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sleep in a motorhome at ski resorts?
Only where it is authorised. Some resorts and villages have motorhome areas, but many car parks forbid overnight stays. The safe option is a campsite open in winter or a nearby authorised area.
Is the motorhome ready for snow?
Yes: the Sunlight V66 has Truma Combi 4 heating with EisEx frost protection and a heated grey-water tank. Snow chains are an optional extra and well worth carrying in the Pyrenees.
Do I need anything special to take a motorhome into Andorra?
Valid ID (ID card or passport), and let us know before pick-up so we can confirm the insurance. On the way back, remember there are customs checks and duty-free allowances.
What is the minimum rental for a motorhome ski trip?
From January to March, outside holidays, the minimum is 3 days. Christmas is high season with a 7-day minimum; for a quieter alternative, consider late January or February.
