Heatwave got you hankering for your next ski trip?! Canada is an ideal getaway destination and well worth considering for an unforgettable skiing experience.
Here are 8 Reasons why Canada’s the coolest place to ski this winter
The snow
All ski resorts promise snow, but not all have snow like Canada’s. Low humidity plus low temps create snow that’s light as a feather – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort claims to be Canada’s “Champagne Powder capital” with over 7 metres piling up on its highest runs each season.
It’s Instagram heaven
Because what’s the point of perfect snow if you can’t fill your Insta stories with it? The Banff and Jasper national parks are breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage sites… Ski areas sit surrounded by them, and you won’t be short of pictures to take. These areas are filled to the brim with camera-pleasing activities like ice skating on frozen lakes, dog sledding through pine forests and canyon hikes. There’s boundless opportunity to get your foodstagram fill, with things like maple taffy, craft elk burgers and cream-laden hot chocolates.
The actual skiing
We’ve covered how snowy and scenic Canada is, and the variety of skiing is spectacular too. You’ll find motorway-wide groomers to ski down (e.g. ‘Sun Run’ in Big White), all the way up to terrifying drops such as Sunshine Village’s ‘Delirium dive’. Enormous trail networks (Whistler is North America’s largest) give you days and days of new terrain to explore. They are beautifully designed – Lake Louise features trails of each level from every lift so groups of different skill levels don’t have to be mountains apart.
The value of holidays
Canadian ski hotels are great. Think things like hot pools outside, multiple restaurants inside and rooms with log fires and kitchen facilities. They’ve been making waves in the fight for sustainability; the Fairmont brand has properties in Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise, Tremblant and Jasper and is leading the way in environmentally responsible hospitality, see their corporate responsibility measures here. You’d think packages to these places would set you back a pretty penny, but actually holidays can be similar to what you might spend to ski France or Switzerland. We’ve even seen Canada trips coming up cheaper, e.g. we found a holiday with Heathrow flights, 7-nights bed & breakfast in the 4* Banff Aspen Lodge and airport-hotel transfers next January for £859pp. For same standard, board basis and dates in France, Hotel Le Taos in Tignes is £1,344pp. No brainer! Click here for the Sno website we found the prices on.
The mountain towns
The rustic Canadian ski towns are the perfect places to explore. Banff’s main avenue was planned to give great views of Cascade mountain. Whistler Village is set between two mountains with the cobbled ‘village stroll’ paved to follow the best views and path of sunlight. Fernie is built completely surrounded by the Rocky Mountains… Homely bars, breweries, restaurants and gift shops give you plenty to visit, whether you’re there for a day or a week.
The festivals
It seems that Canadian ski resorts can’t resist a celebration. Some festivals, like SnowDays in Banff and the Jasper in January Festival worship all things wintry, from comfort food to ice carving. Others celebrate that love is love – Whistler Pride & Ski Festival and Elevation Tremblant Gay Ski Week are two of the best events on the world skiing calendar.
The Powder Highway
North America is no stranger to iconic road trips. There’s Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, the Sea to Sky Highway and for powder hounds, the Powder Highway. Trailing through the Kootenay Rocky Mountains, it takes you between eight incredible ski resorts: Whitewater, Fernie, Panorama, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Kimberley, Fairmont Hot Springs and RED Mountain. You can start wherever you like and take as long as you like, with experiences along the way including snowcat skiing, heli-skiing, fat biking, snowmobiling and as the name suggests, a ton of powder. Click here for the official highway website.
The locals
Last but never least, the locals. Canada’s considered one of the happiest places to live on earth, see the Forbes article on it here. Ski resort residents get to enjoy what we’ve mentioned all day, every day and their passion for the place they live in is infectious. You’ll already love these ski resorts the moment you set foot in them, but the enthusiasm and kindness of the locals will see that tripled.
