When deciding on which heli skiing adventure is perfect for you, it helps to have as much information on the destinations as possible. In this short guide, we will focus on our exhilarating skiing trips to Turkey and Alaska, offering a detailed look at accommodations, skiing conditions, amenities, activities, and more. These two locations are about as different from each other as it gets, but both offer unique and exciting opportunities for adventure tourists and ski enthusiasts alike!
With Pure Powder, it has never been easier to open the doors to the incredible world of helicopter skiing. We provide concierge-style support throughout every aspect of your journey, ensuring that your heli skiing experience is an unforgettable one. So, if you are considering booking a trip to one of these exquisite locations or are simply curious to learn more about them, we encourage you to join us for this in-depth look.
Heli Skiing In Turkey: What To Expect
If you decide on Turkey as the destination for your next adventure, you have much to look forward to. As is the case with most of our other trips, we provide small group heli skiing, with the option of private, tailored tours, should you choose – either forge your own group of four or simply join another group of skiers and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
While Turkey isn’t one of the most well-known deep powder skiing locations, this does not detract from the incredible skiing opportunities that await you. Huge snowstorms coming from the Black Sea cover the Kaçkar Mountains in copious amounts of powder. This means, during the ski season, there is a consistent supply of untouched snow perfect for incredible heli skiing.
With around 5,000 sq. km of skiable terrain at your disposal, your guides have more than enough space to offer a wide range of experiences – from long, mellow descents to exhilarating steep couloirs, this vast expanse has it all. To sweeten the deal further, you will have exclusive access to this section of terrain, meaning there is no chance of running into anyone else while out and about in the wilderness. The ski season is slightly shorter than in most other locations, stretching from mid-December to the end of March, although, depending on the altitude, it is possible to ski until May.
Hotel Hasimoglu: A Magical Lodge In The Kaçkar Mountains
Located at the base of the village of Ayder, right in the centre of the magnificent Kaçkar Mountain range, this family-run hotel acts as the ideal base of operations for an unforgettable heli skiing experience. The fact it is in such close proximity to Europe makes travel preparations and costs less of a stress-factor. This convenience is compounded by the fact that the helicopter landing pad is right next to the hotel, meaning it is possible to step out of the front door and hop straight into the helicopter.
Hotel Hasimoglu is situated in one of the most remarkably beautiful parts of Turkey, and from most rooms you are treated to views of the river running alongside the hotel, as well as the breathtaking mountains it is nestled between. The accommodations have been described as laidback and the amenities allow for plenty of fun and relaxation once your electrifying day of skiing has concluded.
These amenities include a games room, jacuzzi, sauna, gym, and every room comes with an en-suite bathroom. Should you decide to head out and explore a bit, the hotel is situated on the doorstep of the village of Ayder. There, you will find hot mineral baths to soak in, unbeatable views from the Ayder Heights, and a range of excellent restaurants to choose from. All in all, Hotel Hasimoglu is a breath of fresh air, and you will no doubt be well looked after, should you choose one of these trips!
Beyond Heli Skiing: Indulge In Turkish Culture
When travelling somewhere for the first time, it helps to know a bit about the culture. As a matter of interest, let’s have a look at a few facts about Turkish people and their culture:
Generous Hosts: Hosting is a part of Turkish culture, and they take it quite seriously. If you are visiting, expect to be offered a nice warm cup of Turkish tea or coffee and possibly even a tasty snack. This friendliness and generosity of the locals is likely one of the reasons that Turkey is one of the most loved travel destinations in the world.
Cafés And Socialising: The Turkish people are highly social, so whenever they have free time, you are likely to find them chatting for hours over a few cups of coffee. If you happen to make any friends on your adventure, perhaps suggest meeting up at one of the many cafés across the region – we are sure that this request will be received with open arms.
Turkish Food Is Incredible: Fortunately for those travelling to Turkey, the cuisine is up there with some of the best in the world. They incorporate a tantalising mix of flavours and spices into all of their dishes, usually featuring lamb, beef, or another form of protein, and a blend of locally grown vegetables, like onions, parsnip, zucchini, chickpeas, artichoke, etc. We encourage you to try a range of options, this way, you are sure to stumble across a personal favourite in no time.
Heli Skiing In Alaska: What To Expect
Now that you know a bit more about our Turkish adventures, let’s head to the other side of the world, to the vast wildernesses of Alaska. This American state happens to be one of the world’s hidden heli skiing gems, and there are a number of reasons why it is perfect for these sorts of skiing adventures.
Firstly, the amount of snow in a region is usually directly influenced by the location’s proximity to the ocean and other large bodies of water. The fact that Alaska is surrounded by water and the temperatures are extremely low facilitates a healthy amount of deep powder or ‘White Gold’, as it is also known, throughout the ski season. Alaska happens to be in the perfect position to allow for vast amounts of fluffy, light powder, which is an absolute dream to carve your way through.
Secondly, the low temperatures effectively suck most of the moisture from the snow, which makes it more stable. This effect greatly reduces the risk of avalanches and allows for incredibly stable snow conditions that are tough to find anywhere else in the world. This lack of moisture comes with the added bonus of creating deep, velvety powder that tends to remain stable even on steep, challenging terrain.
Heli Skiing Terrain And Alaskan Ski Seasons
Since we’re on the topic of terrain, Alaska has some of the most varied and challenging steep lines, spines, bowls, couloirs, and descents. This means that you can make the ski experience into whatever you want. If you and your group would prefer something more mellow, your guides will easily find a slow descent somewhere in the snowy wilderness. Alternatively, if you want to get your heart racing a bit, you are spoilt for choice with all of the challenging spines in the near vicinity!
If you feel Alaska ticks all the right boxes and you would like to book a trip, the ski season typically runs from the start of February to the end of April. Similar to our Turkey trips, we provide small group heli skiing, as well as private tours for a maximum of four guests. If you have yet to experience the incredible Alaskan wilderness, we cannot recommend it enough – it truly is a skier’s paradise during the winter months!
The Luxury Tordrillo Remote Mountain Lodge
The intimate Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is certainly one of the most magical accommodations in the skiing world. This incredible lodge allows for ample heli skiing excitement during the day, and world-class, luxury treatment at night. Situated right next to the exquisite Judd Lake, and surrounded by big open glacier terrain, the views from the rooms are truly breathtaking. Only a short 45-minute flight from Anchorage, this lodge is remote but not all that tough to reach by air.
The Tordrillo Mountain Range boasts a mind boggling 1.2 million acres of terrain, and a whopping 600 inches of snowfall each season – making it perfect for heli skiing excursions. The lodge features a wide range of fantastic activities and amenities to keep you and your small group busy, including yoga, target shooting, fat tyre biking, snowshoeing, sport clay shooting, and more. There is certainly no shortage of fun to be had, even when the skiing has concluded for the day.
At night, your private chef will treat you to a fine dining experience, with locally sourced meat, fish, vegetables, and herbs! If you fancy a nightcap afterwards, head down to the lake-side bar for your drink of choice. There is also an exercise room, a wood-fired hot tub, and a beautiful outdoor sauna. As far as accommodations go, you would be hard-pressed to find a better choice than the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge.
In Conclusion
We do hope that you have found this brief guide to be useful in your search for the perfect heli skiing destination. Whichever option you decide on, we do not doubt that you will have the experience of a lifetime! If you have any further questions or would like to book a trip, do not hesitate to get in touch with a friendly member of our Pure Powder team. We love to help you plan an unforgettable ski adventure.
