Night skiing at Masella

Masella lights thirteen runs totalling 10 km, with 420 m of vertical drop from La Pleta, at 2,020 metres, and six lifts running. It is the way to extend a day in the snow without sleeping further away, and the resort itself boasts of having the largest night ski area in the Pyrenees.

What you ski at night

The lighting network covers the main runs on the lower and middle levels of the ski area, not the upper part of the Tosa. The thirteen lit runs are linked by six lifts, so you do not always repeat the same descent: there is a route to vary throughout the whole session. What does not open at night is the highest zone, so anyone who wants the long runs up top has to come by day.

By level, you should already be comfortable on blue runs. At night the light flattens the terrain, changes in slope are harder to read and the snow hardens as soon as the sun goes down. It is not the session for learning from scratch, but it is for those who want a couple more hours after a day on the slopes or come up in the afternoon from Barcelona.

What it costs

The night lift pass costs €27 for adults and €22 for youths, children and seniors. If you already hold the day pass, the night supplement is €13.50 for adults and €11 for the rest. There is also a day pass plus the following day with night included: €69 for adults, at the ticket office. If you come for several days, compare prices with those of the Masella resort by day.

Dinner afterwards

When you finish, the après-ski is at the foot of the slopes, at the Restaurant del Pla de Masella, with mountain cooking. The resort advises booking dinner on 972 89 06 78, especially on Saturday, when the most people come up.

Before you go

Night skiing does not run every day: check Masella's website for the season's calendar and schedule, which is published in a monthly calendar on the night skiing page. For any questions, the resort answers on 972 144 000.

Masella is in Alp, less than two hours by car from the main Catalan cities. From Barcelona, the resort recommends the Cadí Tunnel, which avoids the mountain passes; those who prefer not to pay the toll can go up by the Collada de Toses, with more bends. Coming back at night, expect ice on the road and carry chains in the car.

At night it is colder and the snow is hard: bring a helmet, good gloves, an extra warm layer and goggles with clear or yellow lenses, never dark sunglasses. If you sleep nearby, Puigcerdà is a few minutes away and you can end the day with a walk around the lake the next morning.