Ski Safari pioneers even more exciting combinations for skiing worldwide this winter

Still undecided where to ski this season? Ski Safari offers a choice of trips that spans three continents. Whether you are an Olympic-level skier or an enthusiastic novice there is an adventure waiting for you. From the peaks of British Columbia, birthplace of heli-skiing, to snow sure Norway, ideal for families, to Switzerland’s Glacier Express, gateway to Europe’s most spectacular scenery, Ski Safari offers unforgettable experiences. If you fancy Asia for a change, try Japan’s top ski destination Hokkaido. Or fly over the pond to sample Ski Safari’s American twin-centre holidays, which can pair many of North America’s best ski resorts.  With so much variety and each ski safari offering top class skiing, the only difficulty will be choosing where to go.

Ultimate BC Ski Safari, Canada

This brand-new programme allows travellers to combine any of Ski Safari’s 12 resorts in British Columbia, from Whistler Blackcomb to Whitewater. Throw in the world’s best heli or cat-skiing, or some top ski tuition, and guests will have the most memorable experience. The concentration of ski areas means relatively short driving distances between each resort, allowing skiers and snowboarders to maximise their time on the mountains. Kicking Horse puts even the most seasoned skiers and snowboarders to the test, with more black and double black diamond runs than any other grade. Advanced skiers and boarders are spoilt for choice with inbound chutes, ridges and bowls. Panorama is a great all round resort with terrain for all levels with an award winning ski school and some phenomenal backcountry options too. It has one of the biggest vertical drops in the US and the challenging Extreme Dream Zone and Taynton Bowl feature over 750 acres of patrolled ex-heli-ski terrain.  There’s even a full heli-ski programme operating right from the resort base. Fernie is known for its super-light champagne powder and consistently steep pitch. The resort has the largest number of marked runs in the Canadian Rockies and five legendary bowls to please even the most advanced skiers and riders. Don’t leave without visiting Yamagoya Sushi, a renowned Japanese restaurant and a popular hangout amongst the locals. Other resorts to stop at include Red Mountain Resort, Kimberley, Apex, Big White, Sun Peaks and Silver Star.

Ski Safari’s (01273 224060, www.skisafari.com) Ultimate BC Ski Safari costs from £2,290 pp (two sharing) for a 21-night trip. Price includes return flights with Air Canada (London to Kelowna), accommodation and SUV hire.

Ski & Spa Ski Safari, Norway

Combine skiing with time to relax and unwind at three of Norway’s most luxurious spa hotels, a new, unique, tailor-made combination introduced this season by Ski Safari that starts and ends in Norway’s capital, Oslo.  Drive by rental car to Geilo, a resort ideal for beginners and risk-averse skiers, and stay at the ski-in ski-out four-star Vestlia Resort for three nights. The resort has a luxurious adult-only spa and a separate family pool and kids’ soft play area. Drive to Norefjell, a tranquil area, little known among British skiers. Here, skiers can carve from the summit (1,188 metres) all the way down to the fjord below (Norway’s greatest vertical drop), taking in spectacular alpine views en route. Stay at the four-star Norefjell Ski & Spa for three nights, a triple prize winner in the 2015 World Travel Awards.  The property features an indoor and outdoor spa area spread across two floors, along with an ice-skating rink, climbing wall and a toboggan run for the more adventurous. Finish the ski safari back in Oslo and stay at the luxurious five-star spa hotel The Thief for two nights before heading home. New to Ski Safari’s luxury portfolio, The Thief offers spectacular views and impeccable service against a backdrop of unique artwork and delicious global cuisine.

Ski Safari’s (01273 224 068, www.skisafari.com) Ski & Spa Ski Safari costs from £1,485 pp (two sharing) for eight-nights. Price includes return flights (London to Oslo), accommodation, half board in Geilo and Norefjell and car hire.

Glacier Express Ski Safari

If you are looking to combine skiing with alpine sightseeing, Ski Safari’s Glacier Express experience is ideal. A luxury train journey from Zermatt to St Moritz combined with opportunities for world-class skiing and haute cuisine make this a unique adventure. In Zermatt you can enjoy the expansive terrain and excellent snow. And what better way to end a day on immaculately groomed pistes than in one of a selection of Michelin-star mountain restaurants. St Moritz is just as exclusive with its own distinctive appeal, including scenic slopes overlooking the lake and a mountain vista reminiscent of a James Bond movie. The transfer between these resorts is via the Glacier Express, the world’s most spectacular mountain railway. Sit back and relax while it takes you in comfort through a winter landscape that is sometimes steep and precipitous and never less than breath taking, with highlights that include the famous Landwasser viaduct. The rail journey includes lunch with panoramic views and an audio guide so you can clue up on your Swiss history. You have the option to spend a night in Zurich which is also the arrival and departure point for flights.

Ski Safari’s (01273 224 062, www.skisafari.com) Glacier Express Ski Safari costs from £2,325 (two sharing) for a ten-night trip. Price includes return flights, accommodation, Bed & Breakfast in St. Moritz and Zermatt and rail transfers.

Hokkaido Explorer Ski Safari, Japan

Home to Japan’s best snow and freshest seafood, the Hokkaido Explorer allows adventurous skiers and snowboarders to experience off the beaten track resorts. Recently named the top Asian destination by Lonely Planet magazine, Hokkaido offers world-class skiing. Experience Rusutsu, known for its phenomenal powder, crazy Japanese kitsch and its beautiful tree runs; Ski Safari’s new resort, Kiroro, with its quiet slopes, wide-open groomers and incredible backcountry terrain (best experienced with a local guide); and Furano, famous for its spectacular volcanic scenery and traditional Japanese character, before finishing in Tokyo for a full day of sightseeing. Immerse yourself in the buzzing city, stopping at quiet temples, mega-malls, theme parks and fish markets.

Ski Safari (01273 224067, www.skisafari.com) has an exciting selection of trips to Japan. The new 14-night Hokkaido Explorer Ski Safari (which features a stay in Kiroro) costs from £2,495 pp (two sharing). Price includes three-star and four-star accommodation, return flights (London to Sapporo Chitose) and transfers.

NEW TWIN CENTRES

Ski Safari’s twin centre holidays allow visitors to have twice the fun by pairing up some of North America’s premier resorts. With new, direct flights to Salt Lake City from London Heathrow, skiing in Utah is now a lot easier. Plus, a new stopover means visitors can enjoy twin centre holidays for a fraction of the cost. Utah is known by many as having the ‘The Greatest Snow on Earth’, and this season guests can combine it with any one of seven other resorts, from steep and deep Jackson Hole, to Montana’s huge terrain in Big Sky and its best tree skiing in Whitefish, in addition to Lake Tahoe, Red and Whitewater in Canada, plus Ski Safari’s newest resort, Sun Valley in Idaho.

A Park City & Heavenly twin centre costs from £2,035 pp (two sharing) for a 14-night holiday with lift pass. The price includes return flights with Delta (London to Reno via Salt Lake City), shared return transfers to Park City, seven nights’ B&B accommodation at the three-star Landmark Inn, seven nights’ B&B accommodation at the three-star Best Western Station House Inn, SUV car hire and Epic Local pass with unlimited skiing at both resorts.

Alternatively, a Snowbird & Jackson Hole twin centre costs from £1,830 pp (two sharing) for a 10-night holiday. The price includes return flights with Delta (London to Jackson via Salt Lake City), shared return transfers to Snowbird, five nights’ accommodation at the three-star Lodge at Snowbird, return transfers to Jackson Hole and five nights’ B&B accommodation at the three-star plus Parkway Inn in Jackson Hole.

For more information call 01273 224060, www.skisafari.com.

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