Alex's space

Piau-Engaly

Piau-Engaly is a gem of a resort tucked right in the Haute Pyrenees.

bassically is is a huge North facing bowl starting at 1850 m rising up to 2600 m (it also descends below that for the longest vertical descent in the Pyrenees of 1200 m)

there is one superfast 6 man chair up the middle and from their you have your choice of blues, reds, blacks and off piste descents back down to the resort where most runs end and most lifts start.

for a day pass cost of 19.8 euros including insurance this place is extremly good value also there are only a couple of cafes / self service restaurents at reasonable prices (Sandwich American 4 Euros, Beer 2.2 Euros, coffe 2.2 Euros). so all in all a cheap days skiing (there is also a well placed pic nic room).

Ski hire starts from 11.5 Euros a day for complete kit and there are often brand new top of the range skis to try.

Also as it is just on the Spanish Border you tend to get more spanish skiiers than french.

all levels of skiier can enjoy it (proof is that my mother likes it too)! with a fantastic learners area right infront of the cafees and easily accessible blues for intermediates, for better skiiers just take the fast chair to the top and choose your descente .. blacks, moguls, shallow and steep off piste all accessible from the top of the lift.

one of the best features of the resort is the apparent lack of people that go there.. especially if you go during the week where you can find yourself totally alone on major sections of piste! and never que for a lift.

Official site:
Piau-engaly

Jon W says:

I have been here (with Alex) and its great skiing for next to no money whatsoever. Furthermore we almost had the whole place ot ourselves on weekdays, with only slightly less space on a weekend.

People are friendly and more than willing to put up with the less bi-lingual (namely me) and will kindly offer assisstance when needed.

Great place, cheap as chips, go…