At Pure Powder, our goal is simple: utilising our decades of experience, we aim to facilitate the most incredible helicopter skiing trips by offering the highest calibre of service before, during, and after your adventure. Of course, we aim to do all of this at the best price possible for you, ensuring that it’s never more expensive to go through us than it would be to directly approach an operator.
Over the last few decades, we’ve maintained a continuous focus on evolution, perfecting our methods, and seeking new opportunities to improve our clients’ experiences. A major aspect of this evolution has been growing a globe-spanning network of partnerships with premium ski lodges and operators. The skiing opportunities on offer are enough to satisfy even the most seasoned enthusiasts.
This relentless dedication to excellence has allowed us at Pure Powder to claim the title of the most prolific heli skiing specialists in the United Kingdom. Every year, we organise more heli-ski adventures than any other operator in the UK. This article will serve as an introduction to the Pure Powder helicopter ski experience, introducing you to the distinct helicopter skiing trips available to you, describing key destinations, and walking you through some of the ways in which we prepare and support our clients.
Types Of Helicopter Skiing Trips We Offer
Let’s explore the unique heli skiing trips on offer at Pure Powder:
Classic Heli Skiing
It’s almost impossible to go wrong with our classic heli skiing packages. You’ll be skiing in groups of 10–11 people, with each helicopter carrying 3–4 groups. Each distinct group will be assigned a guide, who will help you through a full day of helicopter skiing, which can see you take on between 8 and 12 runs.
Small-Group Heli Skiing
Small-group heli-skiing is the fast, flexible, and intimate way approach to helicopter skiing. Skiing in groups of only 4-5 means there much faster turnaround times between the runs, so you’ll be getting the most out of your day. The operator in question will also be able to tailor the experience to your needs, choosing terrain based on the expertise of the groups.
Private Heli Skiing
Private heli skiing is a completely customised helicopter skiing experience that provides perhaps the finest experience available. You’ll have your own helicopter at your beck and call, cutting out any unnecessary waiting time between runs. Group size is, of course, entirely up to you, but we generally recommend smaller groups of around 4.
However, both bigger and smaller groups can be accommodated at a number of our destinations. This option is perfect for both new and veteran skiers as the operator will choose terrain suitable for the group.
Advanced Trips: Steep Shots & Pillow Drops
Would you consider yourself to be an expert skier or relentless thrill-seeker? If so, it could be time to seek out the zenith of the helicopter skiing experiences with the advanced Steep Shots & Pillow Drops programme. Like some of our other options, this exclusive adventure places a strong emphasis on skill development and coaching.
Groups of nine, accompanied by two expert guides and a guest athlete, will embark on a snowy gauntlet that takes you through some of the steepest slopes and gnarliest terrain in the helicopter skiing world. After this one-of-a-kind experience, your ski skills are bound to skyrocket. You’ll also leave with a new assortment of exhilarating stories to tell at dinner parties.
Destinations: Where To Go Next
Canada: Helicopter Skiing’s Global Mecca
Overview: As the birthplace of helicopter skiing, Canada holds something a Mecca-like status within the heli ski community. However, it’s not just sentiment that draws the crowds, as Canada has plenty of spectacular benefits to offer. Including vast swathes of silent wilderness, fluffy champagne powder, and the excellent CMH Lodges.
Accommodation: Canada boasts some of the most reputable helicopter skiing lodges in the world, like Revelstoke, known as the ‘powder capital’ of North America, or the remotely situated Adamants Lodge, famous for its pristine backcountry skiing. Those on the lookout for a real challenge can seek out Monashees Mountain Lodge, known for its super-steep slopes or tree lines, reputed to be some of the best on the planet.
Experience Required: Canada is a great place for beginners to start their journey but offers plenty to experienced skiers too.
Alaska: Taking It To The Extreme
Overview: Alaska is where many skiing movies are filmed, and this is to absolutely nobody’s surprise, as the reasons are glaringly obvious. The rugged wilds of Alaska are dramatically beautiful, with stunning snow-capped vistas waiting around every twist and turn. Intensity is thematic in these regions, and Alaksa makes its name in the helicopter skiing community by offering some of the most extreme terrain and challenging runs.
Accommodation: Alaksa is best experienced from Tordrillo, a top-notch mountain lodge situated in the famous Alaskan Spines that specialises in accommodating smaller, more intimate groups.
Experience Required: As you’ve likely deduced, Alaska offers a high level of challenge and is a thrill best pursued by the more experienced helicopter skiers who are eager to elevate their skills and head out on an unforgettable journey.
South America: Journey To The Southern Hemisphere
Overview: Choose Chile and head to the soaring peaks of the Andes for a remarkable and culturally enriching helicopter skiing voyage. On top of incredible scenery and pristine slopes, opting for a South American ski trip comes with another added benefit: due to the hemispheres having inverted seasons, prime conditions for skiing are between the months of June and September, which means no more waiting for the Christmas holidays to hit the powder snow.
Accommodation: Make your way to the central Andes and seek out Altiplanico Lodge. Altiplanico is a rustic, luxurious riverside ski lodge built in a traditional Chilean style, known for its laidback vibe and gorgeous scenery. But if you want an unparalleled helicopter skiing experience, Patagonia Yachts provides the almost unthinkable chance to take a helicopter ride straight from the deck of a luxurious yacht.
Experience Required: Chile’s tough terrain and varied slopes should only be attempted by intermediate and above skiers.
Sweden: Skiing Snowy Scandinavia
Overview: There are two reasons why Sweden stands out as an excellent helicopter skiing destination. Firstly, it boasts a skiable region the size of Austria. Secondly, Sweden’s northern location means that even during the ski season of April–May, the daylight hours are long. These factors combine to give you great flexibility and freedom of choice when it comes to where and when you’ll be heli skiing.
Accommodation: Lapland’s Abisko mountain lodge is the perfect cosy spot for you to wind down and warm up between skis.
Experience Required: Sweden’s helicopter skiing destinations are viable to skiers of all skill levels.
Turkey: Gem Of The Black Sea
Overview: Trek to Turkey’s Kaçkar mountains for rolling Alpine slopes regularly replenished with powdery snows blown in from the Black Sea, making helicopter skiing consistently available.
Accommodation: Nestled in the small mountain village of Ayder, Hotel Hasimoglu is a cosy family-run mountain lodge and the perfect home base.
Experience Required: These exciting Turkish runs should be attempted only by intermediate or experienced skiers.
Iceland: Land Of The Midnight Sun
Overview: Unleash your inner explorer and set out to conquer the icy slopes of Iceland’s Troll Peninsula. The terrain here is utterly vast and remarkably diverse, from mellow descents to tear-inducingly steep slopes— and in many places, backdropped by the magnificent Arctic Ocean.
Accommodation: Your base of operations will be the humbly named Deplar Farm, which is easily one of the finest remote lodges one could find anywhere. It’s an incredibly well-appointed luxury ski lodge that will see to all of your needs and then some.
Experience Required: Iceland’s rough terrain and Arctic conditions means it’s a challenge best approached by seasoned skiers.
Japan: A Trip Unlike Any Other
Overview: For a truly scintillating off-piste skiing journey, Japan offers one some of the most exciting and enigmatic opportunities. The culture is rich and the scenery otherworldly – you’ll be gliding through sheet-white birch forests on magical slopes.
You’ll also be skiing over some of the finest snow in the world, offering almost unbelievably fluffy, dry powder. It is worth noting that we do not offer helicopter skiing in Japan, but the Ski Touring Trips are equally magnificent and certainly worth your consideration.
Accommodation: To make the most of the land of the rising sun, we offer a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with a nomadic programme that runs through January, taking individuals or groups on a grand ski tour throughout the country’s best (and hidden) ski spots.
Experience Required: We recommend Japan as an ideal destination for experienced powder hunters who are skilled at navigating dense tree lines.
Pure Powder’s Additional Services And Support
We want to ensure that you’re as ready for your helicopter experience as you could ever be. Based on our decades of experience, industry knowledge, and trusted partnerships, we’re able help our clients choose the right equipment, insurance, and even provide a dedicated fitness programme to get them in shape for the rigours of helicopter skiing.
Of course, our experiences include continuous assistance and advice throughout the duration of your helicopter skiing adventure. Over four decades of industry experience means we’ve got insider information on the best ski regions and terrain, on top of hundreds of other crucial tips and tricks to help you make the absolute most of your experience.
Testimonials And Customer Experiences
Don’t just take it from us. Check out the many glittering testimonials left by past clients who chose Pure Powder to organise their ultimate getaway. Above all else, customers have called attention to our staff’s professionalism and attention to detail in helping make the entire trip a seamless (and thoroughly enjoyable) experience.
Four-time repeat client Rob says: “You can tell they’ve done it for decades and just been building on their knowledge year and year out.”
Choose Pure Powder And Prepare For The Heli Skiing Trip Of A Lifetime
If you’re looking for an unbeatable helicopter skiing adventure, Pure Powder has your back. Offering a range of thrilling and unique experiences, our decades of expertise are brought to bear in ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety are met throughout all stages of your trip.
With a trusted and experienced provider like us, you’re equipped with everything you need to plunge headfirst into the jaw-dropping, adrenaline-pumping, frost-rimmed trip of a lifetime that is helicopter skiing.
