Right after crossing the border between France and Andorra, you reach Pas de la Casa. Best known for its cheap cigarettes, perfumes, and laundry detergent, the city is often seen as a shopping stop rather than a travel destination. But it also has some surprisingly beautiful hikes. People are always surprised when I say I’m going on vacation in Andorra because they usually only go there to buy things. And when I come back with incredible memories and photos, they’re even more surprised. That’s exactly what happened with Lake Les Abelletes.
Finding Our Way (More Or Less) To Lake Les Abelletes
In May 2025, I drove to Andorra with a friend, Anaïs. We parked in Pas de la Casa and started walking. We weren’t totally sure we were actually on the right trail, but in the end, we did make it to Lake Les Abelletes and it was beautiful!
Behind the lake, a snow-covered mountain rose in the background. A few people were enjoying the spot and the sunny weather: a couple perched on some rocks, and a mom with her two little girls wearing bright blue cleaning gloves, exploring the rocks like archaeologists, scraping here and there as if they might uncover hidden treasures.
There was a phone stand set up, so of course we used it to take pictures with the mountain behind us and they turned out great!
Then it was time for a picnic break on a concrete table. It wasn’t exactly pretty or cozy, but it got the job done. There were even barbecue grills nearby. Everything was thoughtfully arranged for visitors.
Should We Walk Around The Lake?
We took in the view and debated whether we should walk around the lake. Anaïs was feeling motivated, so we went for it!
At first, it was manageable. But the farther we went, the more the melting snow had created little streams cutting across the path. We hopped from rock to rock to cross them, Anaïs moving with much more confidence than I did. We kept saying, “Let’s go a little farther, it looks easier over there.” Spoiler alert: it usually wasn’t.
We had almost made it all the way around. All that was left was a stretch of big rocks to cross, but some of them were sharp and offered no obvious foothold. So we walked a little farther to see if there was an easier option. Not really.
Anaïs felt okay about crossing on a series of smaller rocks. I definitely did not. I was picturing myself slipping into the cascade and twisting my ankle. At the beginning of a trip? That would have been a disaster.
The “Lazy” But Genius Option
Then I spotted another solution: what I jokingly called the lazy option.
We took off our shoes and socks. I rolled up my jeans (Anaïs didn’t need to, since she was wearing shorts), and we walked the last stretch straight through the water.
Which was freezing. Absolutely freezing.
Anaïs pulled out a towel, we dried our feet, put our socks and shoes back on, and instantly felt better. The only downside? The water was deeper than expected, and my jeans were pretty soaked. No big deal, I had a spare pair of pants waiting in the car.
And honestly? Totally worth it.
So, what do you think of the view?
To see more photos of Andorra, you can visit the gallery Andorra.
