Heliskiing Canada prices differ from other destinations around the world, sitting comfortably at a middle ground between expensive and budget options. Finding the right destination is a major part of getting the most out of your helicopter skiing experience. Pure Powder is the UK’s largest helicopter skiing facilitator, organising more trips than any other business in the country.
In this article, we look at how factors, such as travel, accommodation, heliskiing experiences and everyday amenities, compare to other countries in terms of cost and value.
We’ll highlight how Canada’s ease of travel, varied accommodations, and exceptional heliskiing experiences make it one of the most desirable heliskiing holiday destinations in the world. Along the way, we’ll offer some additional tips to help save money with Pure Powder and secure a truly unforgettable adventure.
How Travel Impacts Heliskiing Canada Prices
The exact price of travelling to Canada will vary depending on the season, time of booking and where you’re travelling from. Our UK clients can expect to pay anything from around £320 to £820 per round trip, which is often more affordable than a destination such as Chile (which can range from £530 to £ 1 170), but considerably more expensive than it would be to select destinations within Europe, such as Iceland, Sweden or Switzerland.
Travel costs are, however, not only about the initial flight to the country. In the sport of heliskiing, we find that most destinations are secluded high in the mountains and alpine valleys of a country. These destinations are no easy feat to reach without a helicopter.
Access to these locations often entails long periods of travel over land, which eventually transfers over to a helicopter ride to reach the most inaccessible of locations. These journeys can often tally up significant costs. Canada, on the other hand, stands out for the fact that many of its prime heli ski destinations are within easy reach of major population centres, even in cases where a helicopter is needed to reach the final spot.
Rather than embarking on a lengthy and arduous journey far off the beaten track, heli skiers can simply take a few hours’ drive from an airport city to reach the desired destination, saving themselves costs in the process. These uncomplicated journeys also give you more time and energy to devote to the experience on the slopes so that you can make the most of the overall experience.
Heliskiing Canada Prices For Accommodation
Canada is celebrated around the world as a destination for some of the finest skiing and heliskiing accommodations. Accommodation spots like the Bighorn Lodge have won the ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’ award for four consecutive years, promising an unforgettable time for anyone taking on the Canadian mountains.
This is also far from Canada’s only luxury lodge, as the country boasts many fine upmarket ski lodges and resorts throughout its skiable regions. Each one stands out for its spectacular services, amenities and setting. Canada’s long history with the sport of heliskiing, combined with its popularity here, has encouraged a great number and variety of heli-ski lodges to be established.
There are, therefore, lodges which cater to luxury, midmarket and budget needs, opening up the possibility of travel to more kinds of heli skiers and not only the wealthiest people. Having a large number of accommodation options also keeps competitive pricing alive, making Canada’s heli ski accommodation more affordable than it otherwise would have been.
In places where heli skiing is less popular or well-established, they tend to have fewer accommodation spots and less competitive pricing, so affordable lodgings are generally difficult to find.
Here’s a pro tip: If you’re searching for other well-priced heliskiing accommodation, although off the beaten track, you might want to check out heli skiing options in the Kaçkar Mountains of Turkey’s Black Sea region. Here, you can stay in the family-run Hasimoglu Hotel, situated in the quint town of Ayder.
How The Heliskiing Experience Impacts Heliskiing Canada Prices
While heliskiing isn’t exactly a cheap vacation, most who’ve experienced it themselves consider it well worth the cost. One of the primary drivers of the cost is the use of the helicopter as a mode of transport, as you’ll need qualified and experienced professionals taking the lead.
Helicopters are expensive to run, with high fuel costs and strict maintenance needs. Flying in alpine terrain takes a skilled, experienced pilot, and that level of expertise doesn’t come cheap. On top of that, the guides who make the experience safe and enjoyable put in a lot of hard work and deserve fair pay. There can also be extra costs for renting gear, including essential safety equipment like a shovel, probe, and avalanche beacon. All of these add to the overall cost of the trip.
The cost of a heliskiing experience will also vary upon the kind of trip that you book. Classic heliskiing, small-group heliskiing and private heliskiing all come at different price ranges. The more private and exclusive your heliskiing trip, the more expensive the trip is likely to be. Opting for a larger group, such as is the case with classic heliskiing, is generally more affordable.
Canada is home to many heli ski operators, who can offer clients a variety of heliskiing experiences at different prices, all competitive. Again, the variety of services offered, and the completive pricing thereof, makes Canada a good choice for those seeking more affordable ways to enjoy the sport of heli skiing. Heliskiing Canada prices are impacted by all of the above.
Another pro tip: If you’re looking for more unique heli skiing experiences around the world at various prices, check out the Steep Shots and Pillow Drops course in Canada or the Patagonia yacht excursion in Chile. These Pure Powder facilitated trips are some of the most exciting and luxurious options you have available.
Heliskiing Canada Prices: Everyday Costs
While the majority of the costs associated with a heli skiing trip are dedicated to factors such as flights, accommodation and the heli skiing experience itself, other considerations such as food, transport and activities can slowly add up in the background and make their mark known at the end of the trip. As such, it’s important to stay aware of some of the everyday costs that may impact the overall price of your adrenaline-filled vacation.
Based on all of these factors together, Canada’s daily costs for a tourist are slightly more expensive than they would be in the UK. These destinations, however, are both cheaper than Iceland and Alaska. On the other hand, Turkey is the most affordable destination as a whole, and your everyday costs are likely to be the cheapest here.
Canada’s more expensive everyday costs can be attributed to activities such as national park visits and outdoor adventures, which can be enjoyed alongside heli skiing while in the pristine wilderness of the country. Although these costs can add significantly to the total costs of the trip, they are well worth the money spent and return the value with breathtaking vistas of untouched nature and exposure to iconic Canadian wildlife, such as moose, elk, eagles, wolves and, of course, bears.
And perhaps our most important pro tip: If you’re looking to save money on your trip, you should book with Pure Powder. We assemble packages optimised for the best prices and will never cost you more than booking with the operator directly, and in some cases, it may even cost less. If you’re willing to be flexible on location and times, we are happy to plan out the most affordable heliskiing trip possible for you.
Heliskiing Canada Prices For Insurance
Whenever you’re out travelling, insurance can be a financial lifesaver in case of an emergency. When heliskiing, keep in mind that regular travel insurance will not cover any incidents. While any respected heli ski operator is at all times dedicated to keeping clients as safe as possible through all parts of the experience, being out in the wilderness is unpredictable. Expertly trained guides monitor terrain, weather conditions and clients to determine any early signs of danger and react to them before they become a crisis.
Despite all this, the fact remains that heli skiing is an extreme sport that takes place amidst isolated and hostile mountain terrain where the weather can change swiftly and without warning, and where avalanches are always a risk to contend with. Should any kind of medical emergency occur, the inaccessibility of the location would likely necessitate a medical helicopter rescue. Nobody wants to wake up in the hospital with the bill for a helicopter rescue looming over them. Insurance is the best way to protect yourself financially in the case of a medical emergency, damaged equipment or lost property.
Pure Powder is, by regulation, unable to recommend any particular insurance provider, but those who are curious will find a list of providers on our ‘Ski Insurance’ tab on our website. We recommend browsing through this for educational purposes so you can make an informed decision about which insurance to purchase.
Heliskiing Canada Prices: Is It Worth It?
You might be wondering if it’s worth heliskiing in Canada, especially when there are cheaper destinations available, such as Turkey. Of course, the answer is still a resounding yes. Canada is where the sport of helicopter skiing was founded in the mid-20th century, and it’s remained the global hub of the sport ever since.
The region is celebrated for its amazing powder snow conditions and highly variable ski terrain, which is suitable for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers alike. There’s a rich and thriving ski culture here, proudly on display in hotspots such as Revelstoke, often referred to as the ‘Powder Capital of North America.’
The lodgings here are all breathtaking, offering incredible value for their price. Many visitors also celebrate the natural wonder of Canada and cite it as a prime reason to visit. In Canada, you get once-in-a-lifetime access to some of the most iconic wilderness and scenery in the world.
Final Thoughts On Heliskiing Canada Prices
In conclusion, the price of a heliskiing holiday in Canada sits in an intermediary position between other more expensive locations such as Alaska and Iceland, and cheaper destinations such as Chile and Turkey. However, Canada stands out as providing incredible value for money, especially for helicopter skiing enthusiasts.
Travel is easy within the country itself, owing to the proximity of many heli ski destinations to airport-bearing cities. Accommodation options are numerous and varied, coming at competitive prices, and a similar rule applies to heli ski experiences, which can be offered at budget, midmarket and high-end costs.
The everyday costs of tourism in Canada are higher than those of the UK, but well suited to outdoor activities and national park visits. And of course, be sure to secure ski insurance to protect yourself should something go awry.
All in all, Canada still stands out as an incredibly popular destination for good reason. If you’re looking to take on Canada or need any more information surrounding helicopter skiing trips, get in touch with Pure Powder today!
