Bucket-list ski and snow experiences to recommend
After missing out on several ski seasons due to the pandemic, clients will no doubt be determined to eventually return with a trip to remember. Abra Dunsby rounds up some unmissable experiences for fans of ski and snow holidays
Ski and snowboard touring in Antarctica
Ski or snowboard aficionados looking for the ultimate bragging rights should consider a touring expedition to Antarctica, where clients can access hidden bays studded with icebergs, spot wildlife from 800-metre-high vantage points, conquer varied terrain from alpine bowls to crevassed glaciers, and learn lifelong mountaineering and ski touring skills – including roped glacier travel – from experienced polar skiing guides.
The experience is being rolled out by Aurora Expeditions as an excursion for clients cruising Antarctica with them. The ski and snowboard tours range from full-day outings to excursions lasting from two to six hours, with the guides aiming to take skiers out around six times throughout the course of the voyage, and with group size capped at 10 people.
Clients who’d prefer to explore without the skis can don snowshoes instead to hike across untouched terrain and enjoy Antarctica’s awe-inspiring scenery up close.
Book it: Ski or snowboard touring (£1,073pp) and snowshoeing (£270pp) are offered as add-on activities on Aurora Expeditions’ Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula trip travelling onboard Greg Mortimer, taking place 29 October-18 November 2021, priced from £16,475pp. auroraexpeditions.co.uk/travel-agents
Catamaran-based heli-skiing in Canada
After seeing an increased demand for beyond-the-norm ski trips from British clients, trade-friendly ski operator Mabey Ski has launched a selection of bucket-list adventures for 2021-22 in Canada and beyond.
The operator’s founder Nickie Mabey explains: “Last year we asked our community what was important to them and spent the past season researching, creating and testing new adventures that will not only excite advanced skiers looking for their next challenge, but also encourage intermediate skiers to try something new.
“After months of lockdown, it appears that British skiers are looking for more than just a typical ski holiday – they want to escape the crowds, are looking for unusual experiences and an adventure.”
On Mabey Ski’s new trip to Bella Coola, Canada, clients can heli-ski pristine powder runs and take first descents from the deck of a luxurious private 42-metre catamaran, docked at a different private anchorage each day. As well as skiing, clients can fish for their dinner, soak in the natural oceanside hot springs, and enjoy daily massages and a hot tub onboard the catamaran.
Book it: Prices start from approximately £125,000 for four days, for up to eight guests and exclusive catamaran use. Available trip dates are 5, 12, 19 and 26 March or 2 April, 2022. mabeyski.com
Dog sledding in Snowmass, Aspen
Luxury holiday rental company onefinestay recently unveiled its collection of chalets alongside a selection of curated ski and snow experiences in the US.
They include travelling through serene and pristine Snowmass backcountry with a team of friendly huskies for company as part of the Dog Sledding in Snowmass experience.
The day kicks off with a tour of the kennels to meet the dogs and find out more about the daily life of sled dogs and mushers. Then clients will get comfy in their sled before venturing out on a 45-60 minute tour through snow-filled forests and past towering sugar-dusted peaks. The sleds can accommodate a couple or a small family of two adults and one child, and up to eight sleds can be taken out at one time, making it a great excursion for larger parties.
Book it: The dogsledding excursion is priced from $395 per adult and $245 per child (aged 3-9). onefinestay.com/aspen
Zip lining over the Swiss Alps
In Verbier, clients craving an adrenaline kick can soar high above the mountains and reach speeds of up to 63mph on the new Mont 4 Zipline, which is the world’s highest, beginning at 3,330 metres above the Tortin glacier.
The zip line will operate in both winter and summer and runs for almost a mile between the summit of Mont Fort and Les Gentianes restaurant. Clients’ skis and snowboards are sent down separately and can be picked up at the end of the zip line so they can hit the slopes once more for an extra dose of adrenaline.
Book it: Tickets costs from £38 per adult and £15 per child. Riders must hold a valid lift pass. easyverbier.com/fr/mont-4-zipline
ShangriLa Vancouver’s new Ice Caves Heli Adventure is packed with luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for snow lovers, from being whisked away to Whistler’s Ice Caves via their own private helicopter and with their own personal photographer to snap the experience, to enjoying a five-course meal inside the aqua blue chambers of the Ice Caps.
After their gourmet meal, clients can explore the fairy-tale landscape by snowmobile or buggy alongside an expert guide, while golf enthusiasts can even practise their swing on the snow with biodegradable golf balls.
Following a dessert and champagne tasting at a private location, the experience is topped off back at the hotel with a mixology lesson, where drinks are served with glacier ice collected from their recent snowy escape.
Book it: The Ice Caves Heli Adventure package includes a three-night suite stay at Shangri-La Vancouver and is priced at around £3,464 for two people. Booking is required 15 days in advance.
shangri-la.com/landing/ice-cave-heli-adventure/
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