Tired of chairlifts and lift lines but want to keep skiing in luxury? There are ways to ensure you don't have to share without hitting the backcountry on your own but it will cost you.
Private heli skiing at CMH Valemont Lodge, Canada
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There is a hierarchy within heli skiing circles. There is the one-day heli trip, the multi-day heli skiing at a lodge then there is Valemont Lodge. A private lodge deep in the Cariboo Mountains of powder-snow laden British Columbia, Canada. The swanky lodge sleeps up to 10 people and comes with a private chef, private heli ski guides and a private helicopter for you and your nine friends. How much? If you have to ask then you can't afford it. A private week at Valemont will cost at least $100,000 for five days. Canadianmountainholidays.com
Eleven Experience
The team at Eleven Experience specialise in curated holidays for discerning people who love outdoor adventures. They have a handful of carefully chosen properties around the world and activities to match, including heli skiing in Iceland. Bed down in Scarp River Lodge in Crested Butte Colorado with a world-class chef at your calling and cat ski guides to take you on the private cat ski terrain nearby. Prefer France? Try the super swanky Eleven Experience at the four-bedroom Chalet Pelerin in Le Miroir with private guides to take you off piste and a helicopter at your door. Just two of this crew's Eleven Experiences. Elevenexperience.com
Yellowstone Club, Montana, US
Be warned, you will need $4 million to get in. Well, technically you'll need to own property at the private Yellowsone Club to ski on its private hill but the minimum condominium price is $4 million. Oh, and you'll need to cough up $300,000 to join, then $36,000 a year. Did we mention this is US dollars? If you have friends or family who are members then you may get to ski the 890 hectares of coveted Montana terrain near Big Sky. If you know Bill Gates (he's a member) you may also get to schuss around the open bowls and ski into seven dining destinations, relax in the day spa or hit up the youth centre for some basketball, rock climbing and cinema action. The rest of us will just hang at the gate, hoping to get in when Justin Timberlake, Tobey Maguire and Neil Patrick Harris swing by. Yellowstoneclub.com
Minaret Station, South Island, New Zealand
This remote heli-accessed working sheep station near Wanaka boasts four stand-alone villas with hot tubs and jaw-dropping views connected to a main lodge with personal chef, library and lounge. And a heli pad, let's not forget the heli pad. This is where the real fun begins.
You and up to seven friends can wake in the wilderness and dine on a chef-prepared breakfast before climbing aboard the chopper for a private guided heli ski day on Minaret-owned terrain with no other helicopters or skiers in sight. Lunch will be served on the mountain or in the lodge at your request. After burning your thighs skiing powder, return for a hot tub under the stars and dinner with wines.
Three nights will cost from $9200 a person and six nights from $18,480 a person. Tell them we sent you. Minaretstation.com
Lyngen Lodge, Norway
Imagine waking in Scandinavia on the edge of the water at the base of snow-covered mountains. Then imagine boarding a boat with your ski boots on and skis at the ready for when you dock on the side of a pristine hill to begin a ski tour uphill in the great Norwegian outdoors. Once you've made it to the top, you'll ski back down to the boat and do it again.
Lyngen Lodge is legendary in ski circles. The seven-night experience includes six days ski touring with a guide. Visit in February, March and April and experience the aurora borealis.
The lodge boasts an outdoor hot tub and sauna, large open fires and eight rooms. Each room has an en suite. Prices start from about $6200 for a week. Lyngenlodge.com
INSTAGRAM COMPETITION: WIN A TRIP FOR TWO TO WHISTLER
Thanks to Ski Max Holidays, we're giving you the chance to win a ski and snowboard trip to Whistler Blackcomb for you and a friend. You will fly from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Vancouver, have two nights at the harbourside five-star Pan Pacific Hotel and take in the city's sights, including the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and FlyOver Canada. Then you'll spend five nights in luxury at the Westin Resort and Spa at Whistler Blackcomb with ski lift passes for two for the week you're there.
All you have to do is hashtag your original Instagram winter-inspired pics with #misssnowitall and #skimaxholidays to enter.
We will publish five finalists each week, with one winner at the end of the season. It's that easy.
Click here for competition terms and conditions.
Follow Rachael Oakes-Ash on Twitter & Instagram @misssnowitall and on facebook.com/misssnowitall
