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CANADA · DECEMBER–APRIL

Heliskiing
in British Columbia

Lodges in the mountains, a week with 30,500 m of vertical in the package, 8–15 runs a day, groups of four with a guide. Here they count snow in metres a year and runs in the hundreds per lodge. We match the lodge to your dates, level and budget.

Request a trip

7 nights, 6 ski days
arrival day is for the briefing

30,500 m in the package
of vertical per week; unlimited at some lodges

8–15 runs a day
runs of 600–900 m

Groups of four with a guide
two or three groups per A-Star

15–25 metres of snow a year
in the north of the province

Vancouver, a regional airport, the lodge
the transfer from the regional airport is in the package

GETTING THERE

How to get there

Fly into Vancouver with connections, then a regional flight and a transfer to the lodge. The exact route depends on the lodge you choose; we'll help you find flights.

WHERE WE SKI

Three regions, three characters

Heliskiing in British Columbia means dozens of lodges, each with its own tenure in a different range. Here are three possible regions; we'll put the actual trip together once you've chosen dates and a lodge.

THE COAST

Bella Coola, Coast Mountains

About 14,000 km² and more than 1,100 runs: open bowls, couloirs, spines and very good trees. An hour and ten minutes by charter from Vancouver to Bella Coola.

THE NORTH

The Skeena range

The largest single heliski tenure in the world — 10,100 km², more than 1,000 runs, the longest over 2,000 m of vertical. 15–25 metres of snow a year. Vancouver–Terrace is an hour and a half by air, then a transfer.

THE INTERIOR

Cariboos and Monashees

About 6,000 km² around Blue River, 4,500–7,500 m of vertical a day. Kamloops airport, a 2.5-hour transfer.

DECEMBER–JANUARY

Trees and short days

More tree skiing, lower prices.

FEBRUARY–MARCH

Peak season

Alpine terrain, the biggest vertical of the week.

APRIL

Glaciers and long days

High glaciers and spring snow.

Swipe sideways · photos from the trips

HOW THE WEEK GOES

Eight days

Day 1

Fly from Vancouver to the regional airport, transfer to the lodge. Ski fitting, avalanche gear, the compulsory avalanche-safety and helicopter briefing. No skiing on arrival day.

Days 2–7

Stretching at 7:15, breakfast at 8:00, first lift-off around 9:00. Morning skiing, a picnic lunch in the mountains, skiing until 15:30–16:00, back to the lodge. Sauna, hot tub, dinner at 19:00. 8–15 runs a day.

Day 8

Breakfast, transfer to the airport.

WHERE YOU STAY

A lodge for 12–36 guests

The lodge stands next to the helipad. Double rooms with en-suite bathrooms, all meals, a full dinner in the evening, sauna, hot tub, satellite internet.

LODGE

Log chalets in the mountains

Small lodges take 12 guests and one helicopter; the big ones take 36 guests and several helicopters.

LODGE ON THE WATER

A catamaran

In Bella Coola one of the bases is a catamaran moored in a fjord.

EVENINGS

Sauna and dinner

Sauna, hot tub, dinner at 19:00.

Lodges — swipe sideways · photos from the trips

WHO IT'S FOR

From a confident intermediate level

Many people think heliskiing is only for experts. The thing we hear most from first-timers before their first trip is "I'm not ready yet". In British Columbia guests are welcome from a confident intermediate level, and there are separate trips for couloirs and steep terrain.

SNOW

Untracked snow forgives mistakes

Skiing from a helicopter is easier than resort freeriding on chopped-up snow. We fly to where nobody has been.

LEVEL

Runs chosen for your group

Groups are put together by ability, and the guide picks runs for the group.

SAFETY

One guide per four and a full avalanche kit

Four guests and a guide in the helicopter. Transceiver, shovel, probe, airbag pack and radio are included.

Price

Priced for your group

On requestthe price depends on the lodge, the week of the season and the format — a place in a group or a helicopter just for you

7 nights at the lodge, double occupancy, all meals
6 ski days with ACMG, CSGA or IFMGA guides
30,500 m (100,000 ft) of vertical, or unlimited — depending on the lodge
Fat powder skis, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, airbag pack, radio
Transfer from the regional airport to the lodge and back

Russian passport holders need a Canadian visa. If you hold a valid US visa, the Canadian one may be processed faster. We'll help with the paperwork; the timing depends on the consulate.

NOT INCLUDED

Paid separately

Flights to Vancouver and the domestic flight. Canadian visa. Insurance with sports cover. Alcohol, massage, tips. Extra skiing beyond the package — on the chosen lodge's terms. Bring your own boots and snowboard.

WHO'S TAKING YOU

SnowSurfPro guides

SnowSurfPro guides lead the group; on site you ride with Canadian-certified ACMG, CSGA or IFMGA guides. More than 150 people a season ride with us on heliski trips, and more than 200 across all our trips. Meet the team on the About page.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE