The Travessa d'Encamp, Andorra's oldest mountain race

The Travessa d’Encamp is Andorra’s most established trail race. Encamp’s own council presented it in 2026 as the oldest race in Andorra, and May 2027 brings the 44th edition. What wins me over is that it isn’t only for specialists, running from a 7K you can walk to an 84 km ultra.

The 2027 dates

The 44th OTSO Travessa d’Encamp runs from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 May 2027, according to OTSO, the sportswear brand that organises it and gives it its name. Everything revolves around the Plaça dels Arínsols in Encamp, where every race starts and finishes. On Friday bibs are collected from noon to 8pm and the vertical kilometre sets off at 6pm. On Saturday the 84K starts at 5am, the 42K at 9am and the children’s race at 11am. Sunday is for the more popular distances, the 21K at 8am, the 14K at 8.45am and the 7K at 9.30am.

The previous edition, the 43rd, ran from 22 to 24 May 2026, with a 12 km course where there’s now a 14K. New for 2027 is the 84K relay, for teams of four splitting the course into four legs.

Which race should you pick?

The organiser describes each one pretty frankly, which helps me recommend. The 7K is meant for people starting out in the mountains, or even walking, with a three-hour limit and the return by Engolasters lake as its highlight. It’s the one I’d suggest to anyone who walks comfortably. The lake is covered in Engolasters lake.

The 2026 12K was a good deal harder, since the first kilometres are almost all uphill to the Agols hut, where the only feed station was. The 21K is a half marathon for experienced mountain runners, technical and with plenty of climbing, and the 42K a mountain marathon for experts. The 84K is an ultra with a night section, which the organiser reserves for people prepared physically and mentally.

The vertical kilometre is something else. In 2026 it climbed over 1,000 m in under 5 km, from the Plaça dels Arínsols to Cap de Rep on the Encamp-Canillo border, and it was an official race of the International Skyrunning Federation’s VK Open World Cup.

What’s included and what isn’t

Entry includes a medal for every finisher, feed stations (except in the children’s races) and, on the 84K, drop-bag transport. It doesn’t include medical insurance, which is compulsory unless you’re federated in mountain running, or the mandatory kit for each distance. There’s a podium and trophy for the top three in each race, and prize money on the longer distances. On Sunday you can book paella for runners and supporters.

A note for British runners. Andorra doesn’t accept the GHIC or EHIC, so GOV.UK advises comprehensive travel and medical insurance on top of any race cover; check it includes mountain running and rescue. More in healthcare in Andorra.

Races for children

The children’s races are for ages 6 to 11, starting and finishing in the Plaça dels Arínsols. They’re non-competitive, so no timing and no podium, and they work as a party. For a family, it’s a good excuse to stay the whole weekend.

The days either side are worth planning too. Engolasters lake, the highlight of the 7K, is an easy walk for supporters, and after a long race Caldea in Escaldes-Engordany makes an obvious recovery session. Late May is also early in the mountain year, as Andorra Turisme says snow lingers in the high mountains until early June, worth bearing in mind if you want to recce the longer routes.

The Pas de la Casa Travessa, in August

People often mix them up. The Travessa Pas de la Casa is a separate race in August that Andorra Turisme bills as the highest trail race in Andorra. Its 5th edition ran from 13 to 16 August 2026, with distances from 3 to 22 km and a night charity run. 2027 isn’t dated yet. The resort town is covered in Pas de la Casa.

Where to stay

With 5am starts, I’d sleep in Encamp, a short walk from the square, and book as soon as you’ve entered, since the whole weekend’s field and supporters need beds in the same small town. The parish is in Encamp, the Funicamp parish, and the year’s other sporting dates in Andorra events. What else the country offers around those dates is in Andorra in May.