This is the only true palace in the Pyrenees, the only member hotel of “The Leading Hotels of the World” to be based in the Pyreebees, and yet it’s a relatively unknown hotel compared to its Alpine counterparts at Courchevel, no doubt due to the fact that it’s located in Andorra. Built at the foot of the slopes, with 8 restaurants and spacious rooms with balconies, the Sport Hotel Hermitage & Spa has plenty to offer. In our opinion, the hotel’s greatest asset is its gigantic spa : the Sport Wellness Mountain Spa, a 5,000 m² space dedicated to relaxation and well-being, with a three-storey hydrotherapy course and 19 treatment rooms. A detailed account of a family trip by Luxe Wellness Club editor Pascal Languillon.
Family sport and well-being
Do you know where Andorra is? This tiny state, nestled between France and Spain, is only a two-hour drive from Toulouse and two-and-a-half hours from Barcelona. Known for its low taxes, it is also renowned for the quality of its ski areas. The Sport Hotel Hermitage & Spa is the flagship of the Andorran hotel industry and the only 5-star hotel at the foot of the slopes of the largest ski area in the Pyrenees, the Grandvalira resort, with 315 kilometers of pistes.
The hotel is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, including a large, free Kid’s Club and childcare for young children, as well as in-room babysitting. So it was an opportunity to try out the wellness offer as a family, and I was accompanied by my wife Virginie and our 6-month-old baby, Ophélie.
Perched at an altitude of 1850 meters in the village of Soldeu, the hotel offers 135 rooms and suites. Our room was a 42 m² “Junior Suite Deluxe”, the smallest category. The spacious marble bathroom had a beautiful shower and a large whirlpool bath that came in very handy with our baby. Each room has a balcony with a mountain view. Everything is very comfortable, in line with the standards you’d expect from a five-star hotel. The little extra: a cradle awaited our baby, with a free cuddly toy and toiletries suitable for the youngest.
The common areas are very spacious, with oversized sofas and a fireplace in which a wood fire crackles. The hand-carved wooden pillars and beams give the whole building a very warm feel. The most impressive architectural feat , however, is the glimpse through a glass roof to the spa pool, located 4 floors below the lounge.
A grandiose spa
The Sport Wellness Mountain Spa’s astonishing dimensions are rarely matched in the luxury hotel sector: 5,000 m² on 4 floors. By way of comparison, the largest spa in Paris, The Peninsula Spa, is “only” 1800 m². The entire space faces the ski slopes, with huge bay windows flooded with light during the day. In the evening, the spa takes on colorful hues that change thanks to sophisticated lighting.
At the very bottom of the spa is the pool area, with several relaxation pools heated to 34ºC, a micro-cascade, water jets, and the undeniable little extra: 2 outdoor Jacuzzis facing the mountains which is accessed by passing through a swimming tunnel that links the spa’s interior to its exterior. Magical.
The upper floor is a paradise for those who like to detoxify in the heat: there’s a hammam, a sauna with music and chromotherapy, a tepidarium (relaxation area with 9 thermal hammocks heated to 36ºC), a caldarium, a sanarium, contrasting showers, an ice fountain and an aromatherapy room….
Note that the spa is also open to guests from outside the hotel, and can be very busy at peak times.
Another level up is a relaxation area with deckchairs and, above all, four whirlpool baths facing the mountains. Finally, another floor is dedicated exclusively to treatments, massages and therapies, with no fewer than 19 treatment rooms!
Different ranges of cosmetics are used. These include the Swiss brand Valmont an anti-aging facial care specialist, and the French brand Altearah Bio composed of essential oils that combine aromatherapy, olfactotherapy and chromotherapy in the form of highly active beauty treatments.
The spa also offers INDIBA treatments, treatments for children and teenagers, manicures, pedicures and more. In short, this is a very complete offer.
Quality Ayurvedic treatments
After a good day’s skiing and a mandatory visit to the various hydrotherapy areas, I was treated, as all customers are, to a ayurvedic consultation free of charge with Dr Dinu Raj, an ayurvedic specialist from India who has been based in Spain and Andorra for several years. After asking me a few questions about my health and lifestyle, taking my pulse and observing my tongue, he was able to advise me on a few small dietary habits to improve the flow of energy in my body. Very interesting initiation.
This was followed by an absolutely divine hour-long “Karma Herbal” massage by an Indian practitioner called Dileep. The room itself differs from other treatment rooms, with an Indian-style wooden massage table and the full range of utensils used for Ayurvedic massages. It’s almost like being in a spa on the banks of the Ganges!
The practitioner, Dileep, had the fingers of a fairy and mastered the technique perfectly, helping me to immerse myself in a state of deep relaxation through the application of warm plant oils. These oils, which are applied alternately with the fingers and pouches, have detoxifying properties and are designed to strengthen the immune system. For me it was one of the best massages of the year, and truly an authentic Ayurvedic experience. Of course, getting a massage after a day on the slopes adds to the satisfaction!
A cuisine combining tradition and modernity
Let’s face it: it’s not exactly the kind of hotel where people come to have a detox stay. The main aim here is to enjoy the pleasures of the mountains, and for many that means eating and drinking wellwith the kind of calorific dishes the Spanish know how to prepare!
The complex boasts 8 restaurants, from bistros to gourmet restaurants, combining tradition and modernity. For lunch, we preferred the Sol i Neu Club Hermitage restaurant, which offers traditional regional cuisine in a warm atmosphere overlooking the mountains. On the lovely terrace, you can enjoy a pizza or fish while taking in the panoramic view of the slopes.
In the evening, we tried out the Glassbar 1850, which offers quality snacks and tapas in a beautiful room, as well as a meal served in your room thanks to room service, which is very appreciated with a baby.
The real treat for us was breakfast! A sumptuous buffet with a wide selection of hams, salmons, cheeses, toasts… and of course pastries and yoghurts. For the healthy side of things, we were able to prepare some delicious fresh fruit salads, with walnuts, pistachio and goji berries for extra kick! A great pleasure before embarking on a day of sport in the mountains.
Skiing, snowshoeing and hiking
Of course, one of the main attractions of the Sport Hotel Hermitage & Spa is its location at the foot of the slopes. So I was able to try out a day’s skiing at the Grandvalira resort. Despite an overheated winter, with several resorts in the Pyrenees closed for lack of snow, Grandvalira had no problems in February 2020. The snow was very good, the views spectacular, and the resort so large that I was only able to explore a small part of it…
The following day, we were able to try out a family snowshoe outing at over 2,500 meters altitude, with a very friendly Sport Hotel guide. The feeling of hiking in the snow, enjoying the fresh air and magnificent views of the surrounding peaks will remain one of the highlights of our stay.
In summer, guests can also enjoy a wide range of activities, primarily hiking and mountain biking. We’ll have to come back!
Our feeling
A mountain palace with the best spa in the Pyrenees, both in terms of size and the quality of treatments on offer. A very appreciable plus: the unfeigned kindness of the staff, especially towards the children.
Luxe Wellness Club
Video
Watch my video below, which focuses on the bathing area within the Sport Wellness Mountain Spa.
Book the Sport Hôtel Hermitage & Spa
Rates: From around 600-700 euros per night in winter, around 350 euros in summer. Please contact us below.
Call us for France on +33 1 85 73 22 14, for the USA on +1 (646) 980 6652 and for the UK on +44 20 4577 3258 to discuss your holiday plans.
