Well, what to make of this intriguing combination of ski resorts. First and foremost, we must put out there that whilst the Pyrenees can get loads of snow in some seasons (sometimes more than the Alps), its southern European location makes booking a ski holiday here a somewhat questionable proposition. It is more of a “snow has fallen, let’s go now” kinda ski destination. We visited in mid-February & for us it was a case of, “the sun is shining, the weather is hot, there is bugger-all snow, but we are going anyway!” And we do love the idea of a ski hill that serves up superb anchovies ……….. doesn’t everyone? Aaah, Spain.
Our visit to Alp 2500 can best be described as good fun with reservations or an asterisk*. The terrain is fun (& full of interest), piste trails are fun (& full of interest), the general ambiance is fun (& full of…… happy souls enjoying themselves). Food was good (& cheap), lifts are good, skiable vertical is good & the snow-making system exceptional (because it needs to be*). Sounds good huh.
Reservations* include: the snow was comparatively rubbish & the resort base villages are comparatively rubbish plus super busy. Without artificial snowmaking the resorts would not have been skiable below the alpine zone, which is more than a touch concerning in mid-Feb.
On the positive side, away from the base villages, the crowds thin very quickly. We were amazed at how many people at the resorts never left Chairs 4 & 5 in La Molina or chair 14 in Masella. Makes it easy to avoid the crowds. Most skiers & snowboarders are in the beginner / lower intermediate category, which may mean on a powder day the slopes may be deserted (or it just means we didn’t see many gun skiers because the snow was so crap)!
From the childishly humorous 2,535m summit of La Tosa (snigger!), there are incredible terrain & trail options that simply do not translate to a 2-dimensional trail map. The peak is the central most important point in the combined Alp 2500 resort. From La Tosa, the alpine zone is fully loaded with interesting freeride descents, most with easy exits onto piste trails leading back to the lifts.
Of the two sides, Masella is the pick for us. Truly excellent piste terrain combining pitch, roll, shelter & north-aspect for better snow quality, plus the better steep alpine terrain from La Tosa. La Molina’s trails seemed to have a lot less snow, less pitch, less length & overall, less interest. With some decent snow on the ground there would be worthy tree-skiing here, but alas …… Both ski area’s have quite good novice & beginner zones, but they are heaving with people when the sun is out.
Après ski in the Masella base is a splendid, lively affair. Lots of options along the base area. Masella also has the best mountain resort village feel. La Molina has a more downtrodden vibe, particularly way down in the valley near the train station. Away from the mountain, the town of Alp is surprisingly vibrant & pleasant. The larger town of Puigcerdà, on the French border, is positively bustling. If you have a car, the villages of Castellar de n'Hug or the lower elevation, La Pobla de Lillet (and its Bar La La!), are worth a visit & perhaps an overnight.
Despite some failings in the snow department (admittedly that IS A BIG DEAL for us), and a slightly shabby village feel, the combination of La Molina Masella is a great place to ski & will appeal to many people. However, we won’t be going back. We are POWDER hounds after all & there are way more places to explore!
You can see our thoughts on the pros and cons on the La Molina - Masella (Alp 2500) overview page and also see our European ski resort ratings page regarding how we score it compared to other skiing areas.
