Heli skiing in Bella Coola

The Heliskiing

In describing the heli ski potential around Bella Coola it would be hard to improve upon the poetic verse of the late, great Shane McConkey who was among the first to explore these imposing mountains:

"Bella Coola was one of the most stunning places I've ever had the opportunity to heli ski. Swede and crew have truly discovered an amazing new powder kingdom. I was constantly glued to the window of the heli scoping out some of the most spectacular terrain I have ever seen. Big, steep and deep, here's terrain for the fearless, as well as for the pussies. Wax your boards and get your ass up to Bella Coola."
Shane McConkey, Professional Skier.

This is a very different type of heli ski experience compared to the bigger, more mass-market-type you might find at the traditional heli ski operations in Canada. It is small, it is personal and the guest is king. If you have felt restricted and unchallenged by the heli skiing in Canada, this is the place for you. A stable, coastal snow pack and a team of highly professional heliski guides with refreshing attitudes allow you to enjoy a certain freedom that until now was unheard of amongst heli ski operations in Canada.

If you want to challenge yourself - and conditions permit - there are opportunities to heliski on steep terrain. Equally if you prefer a gentle cruise, there is plenty to keep everyone happy.

Lodging

There are two main lodging options, Tweedsmuir Park Lodge on the bank of the Atnarko River and the Coast Mountain Lodge on the outskirts of Bella Coola town.

At Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, guests stay in newly constructed cabins with private bathroom and shower. Each has a main bedroom, a loft bedroom and a fireplace. The main lodge has a charm and sense of history that is extremely rare, if not unheard of elsewhere in British Columbia.

Inside there is a large dining room / living room with fireplace, a sports bar with pool table, games and satellite TV and a guest media room with satellite linked computer, fax and phone service. Outside, there a large out hot tub and a fitness room.

Guests choosing the Big Mountain package stay at the nearby Coast Mountain Lodge, which has fourteen well-appointed rooms and combines the comforts of a lodge and a hotel. All rooms include private baths, full kitchens, satellite TV, VCRs, telephones and all the modern amenities. There is a sauna, a common room with pool table, darts and games, and Internet access is also available.

Helicopters & Safety

Only three groups of four heli skiers or heli boarders share an A-Star B2 helicopter.

Pilots are highly qualified, with years of experience flying in the Coast Range. Both pilot and machine are regulated to exacting standards by Transport Canada, the governing body for all aviation in Canada. Furthermore, your pilots undergo specialised heli-sports training.

Helicopter maintenance and check-up are done on a daily basis by a team of professional engineers. Overnight storage of the helicopter is in a hangar. This improves both the reliability and quality of maintenance.

Heli ski guides are all dedicated professionals and are members of the A.C.M.G. and the U.I.A.G.M. (Canadian and International Association of Mountain Guides). Weather and snowpack conditions are continuously monitored in an effort to balance exceptional skiing with safety.

Booking Enquiry

Please indicate the heli skiing destination you are most interested in and your preferred dates and we will respond as soon as possible.

Please note that if you are wishing to go heli skiing mid-season then you should let us know as early as possible to secure these popular periods.

Tweedsmuir Lodge

Explore the heart of British Columbia's imposing coast range from the historic Tweedsmuir Park Lodge. With easy, quick access from Vancouver, you are able to cut down on travel time and maximise ski time. The minute you step off the plane in Bella Coola, you get changed, hop and the helicopter and go heli skiing, giving you a total of eight possible heli ski days in any standard week.

To maximise your time further and maintain the highest levels of flexibility and efficiency, there will never be more than three groups sharing a helicopter and four or five skiers or riders per group.

2012 Heliski Rates

• Rates are in Canadian dollars and subject to 6% HST for non-Canadian citizens.
• For single occupancy, add CAD $275 per night.
• Departure from your home country is on the day before your heli ski package starts.

Trips to Bella Coola can be easily combined with a few days skiing in Whistler. Please ask us for details.

Included in the 7 night package

• Return flights from Vancouver to Bella Coola and ground transfer to the lodge.
• Eight possible days heli skiing including 30,500 vertical metres (100,000 vertical feet).*
• Seven nights' accommodation at Tweedsmuir Lodge (twin occupancy).
• All meals.
• Guide service.
• Avalanche transceiver.
• Use of powder skis.
• Ground transport in the Bella Coola valley.
• Use of all lodge facilities.
• Use of safety equipment including: avalanche transceiver and avalanche airbag.

Not Included

• Anything not mentioned above.
• International flights.
• Heli skiing in excess of the vertical included in your package (charged at CAD $44 per 1,000 vf).
• Insurance. This MUST cover you specifically for heli skiing. Please ask us for advice if you are unsure of your options or consider our customised heliski insurance.
• Drinks.
• Massage.

* 24,400 vertical metres (80,000 feet) of heli skiing is guaranteed.

Typical Itinerary

Big Mountain Heliskiing

This is the no-frills approach to heli skiing that offers outstanding value for money. With easy, quick access from Vancouver, you are able to cut down on travel time and maximise ski time. The minute you step off the plane in Bella Coola, you get changed, hop and the helicopter and go heli skiing, giving you a total of eight possible ski days in any standard week.

To maximise your time further and maintain the highest levels of flexibility and efficiency, there will never be more than three groups sharing a helicopter and four or five skiers or riders per group.

2012 Heliski Rates

• Rates are in Canadian dollars and subject to 6% HST for non-Canadian citizens.
• For single occupancy, add CAD $50 per night.
• Departure from your home country is on the day before your heli ski package starts.

Trips to Bella Coola can be easily combined with a few days skiing in Whistler. Please ask us for details.

Included in the 7 night package

• Return flights from Vancouver to Bella Coola and ground transfer to the lodge.
• Eight possible days heli skiing including 30,500 vertical metres (100,000 vertical feet).
• Seven nights accommodation at the Coast Mountain Lodge (twin occupancy).
• All meals.
• Guide service.
• Avalanche transceiver.
• Use of powder skis.
• Ground transport in the Bella Coola valley.
• Use of all lodge facilities.
• Use of safety equipment including: avalanche transceiver and avalanche airbag.

Not Included

• Anything not mentioned above.
• International flights.
• Heli skiing in excess of the vertical included in your package (charged at CAD $44 per 1,000 vf).
• Insurance. This MUST cover you specifically for heli skiing. Please ask us for advice if you are unsure of your options or consider our customised heliski insurance.
• Drinks.
• Massage.

Typical Itinerary

Bella Coola Private

The Ultimate Heliski Experience

With one helicopter for the exclusive use of your group you will have the luxury of 100% flexibility to ski or snowboard entirely at your own pace. Forget what the other groups are doing and concentrate exclusively on the kind of skiing or riding that you and your friends want to do.

With easy, quick access from Vancouver, you are able to cut down on travel time and maximise ski time. And for those wishing to fly directly to Bella Coola at their own convenience, we can arrange a private jet and have you out heli skiing first thing in the morning on your arrival day.

2012 Heliski Rates

• Rates are in Canadian dollars and subject to 6% HST for non-Canadian citizens.
• For single occupancy, add CAD $275 per night for Tweedsmuir Lodge and add CAD $50 per night for the Coast Mountain Lodge.
• Departure from your home country is on the day before your heli ski package starts.

Included:

• Return flights from Vancouver to Bella Coola and ground transfer to the lodge.
• Eight possible days heli skiing including either 8 or 14 hours of helicopter flying time.
• Seven nights' accommodation at Tweedsmuir Lodge or the Coast Mountain Lodge (Twin occupancy).
• All meals.
• Guide service.
• Use of powder skis.
• Ground transport in the Bella Coola valley.
• Use of all lodge facilities.
• Use of safety equipment including: avalanche transceiver and avalanche airbag.

Not Included:

• Anything not mentioned above.
• International flights.
• Flying time in excess of what is included.
• Insurance. This MUST cover you specifically for heli skiing. Please ask us for advice if you are unsure of your options or consider our customised heliski insurance.
• Drinks.
• Massage.