HIMACHAL HELI SKIING - MANALI INDIA
"During the last thirty years of ski instruction I have been skiing over a hundred days a year. Today's heli skiing was the best day I have ever had." (Nestor Fellay, Ski Instructor from Verbier)
Why Heli ski Here?
- Adventure! - You are in the mighty Himalayas surrounded by 5,000 - 6,500 metre peaks.
- Lowest client to guide ratio in the world (3 or 4 per group).
- Long runs through exciting and varied terrain
- Fascinating local culture. Many interesting things to do and see when not skiing.
Location
The small Indian town of Manali is the base for Himachal Heli skiing. Manali is situated 500 kilometres from Delhi in the peaceful Indian state of Himachal Pradesh at the northern end of the Kullu Valley ("the Valley of the Gods").
The Heli skiing / Heli boarding
With groups of only 3 or 4 heli skiers / heli boarders and the mighty Himalayas as your personal playground, this is one of the most exclusive heli skiing experiences available.
If there is something in particular that distinguishes heli skiing in the Himalayas, it is the length, variety and sheer quality of the runs. Starting high in the alpine with views of 6,500m peaks, down steep cirque bowls, long rolling ridge lines, through glades of perfectly spaced birch and oak trees and finishing in towering forests of cedar. This is heli skiing of the highest calibre.
The majority of heli skiing takes place at altitudes between 2,700m and 4,300m with an impressive average run length between 900 and 1,200 metres. On occasions, it may be possible to heli ski at elevations of over 5,000m! Most people have no problem with the altitude because you never linger long at the higher elevations.
Accommodation & Facilities
Heli skiing guests stay in Manali's Holiday Inn situated at 2,000 m and about 3 kilometres from town. It is a four star hotel, comfortable, well equipped and modern. Rooms are spacious and have private bathrooms. There is a restaurant and bar, and the food alternates around Indian and European. Hotel facilities include: sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, massage therapist, weights room and billiards room.
Helicopters & Safety
Himachal Heli skiing is at the forefront of snow safety
research and is the only heli skiing operation in the world
to provide all its guests with an innovative new fm transmitter
and avalanche bag. Himachal heli skiing also invented the
Jillet Sabre snow penetrometer system which can speed the
acquisition of snow pit data to as little as ten seconds
per snow pit. This allows cross-slope profiling, which is
the most powerful tool available for avalanche analysis.
Fulltime heli skiing guides are all U.I.A.G.M. (international
Association of Mountain Guides) certified. This means they
are seasoned professionals who have passed a series of comprehensive
exams. They all have a great deal of heli skiing experience.
Lama and Bell 407 helicopters are flown and maintained by Swiss or Canadian pilots & engineers who are without exception highly qualified and experienced mountain aviation specialists.
Heli skiing Packages and Prices
Please contact us for 2010 prices
Heli skiing weeks run from Saturday to Saturday with
departure from your home country on Friday.
Rates per person in € (Euros).
(Click here for up to date exchange rates and other currencies.)
| Date | Himachal Powder Week |
| 24 Jan - 31 Jan | €6,850 |
| 31 Jan - 07 Feb | €6,850 |
| 07 Feb - 14 Feb | €6,850 |
| 14 Feb - 21 Feb | €6,850 |
| 21 Feb - 28 Feb | €6,850 |
| 28 Feb - 07 Mar | €6,850 |
| 07 Mar - 14 Mar | €6,850 |
| 14 Mar - 21 Mar | €6,850 |
| 21 Mar - 28 Mar | €6,850 |
| 28 Mar - 04 Apr | €6,850 |
4 skiers per guide Max.
Included in this package:
- 30,500 metres of vertical skiing per week (guaranteed 20,000m)
- Six days guide service
- Use of an avalanche transceiver and avalanche airbag
- Seven nights lodging in Manali on twin share basis including all meals
- Airplane and ground transfers Delhi - Manali - Delhi
- Airport transfer and local taxes.
Not Included in this package:
- International airfare to Delhi
- Single rooms
- Meals and accommodation in Delhi
- Alcoholic beverages
- Himachal State Government Heliski Tax (US $ 300 / week / person)
- Room services
- Excess baggage charges
- Taxis
- Visa fees
- Departure taxes and gratuities
- Extra Vertical metres
- Rescue flights are billed separately
Extra vertical meters (see also details "additional vertical meters"):
- €100 / 1,000 meters vertical skied.
Extra charge for single room:
- €290 for seven nights in Manali, whether by guest's choice or if no rooming partner can be found.
Extra charge for transfer Pinjore (near Chandigarh) - Manali by helicopter per rotation (max 5 guests):
- €3,500
Himalayan Exclusive (Private Package)
The Himalayan Exclusive operates in more distant terrain with fewer groups using the helicopter. The Exclusive is designed for skiers wanting to ski in excess of normal verticals and offers the possibility for first descents
| Guests | Price in € per person |
| 3 skiers | €14,400 |
| 4 skiers | €13,200 |
| 5 skiers | €11,300 |
| 6 skiers | €9,900 |
| 7 skiers | €9,000 |
Included in this package:
- 6 helicopter hours per week for groups of 1 to 3 skiers
- 9 helicopter hours per week for groups of 4 to 7 skiers
- Six days guide service (2 guides)
- Himachal State Government Heliski Tax (US $ 300 /week/person)
- Use of an avalanche transceiver and avalanche airbag
- Seven nights lodging in Manali on twin share basis including all meals
- Airplane and ground transfers Delhi - Manali - Delhi
- Airport transfer and local taxes
Not included in this package:
- International airfare to Delhi
- Single rooms
- Meals and accommodation in Delhi
- Alcoholic beverages
- Room services
- Excess baggage charges
- Taxis
- Visa fees
- Departure taxes and gratuities
- Rescue flights are billed separately
Max skiers per group are 7.
The groups are led by 2 guides.
Extra per helicopter hours:
- €2,100 / hour
Extra charge for single room:
- €290 for seven nights in Manali, whether by guests choice or if no rooming partner can be found.
Extra charge for transfer Pinjore (near Chandigarh) - Manali by helicopter per rotation (max 5 guests):
- €3,500
Typical Itinerary
| Friday | International flight to Delhi. Overnight in Delhi in the Imperial or Hyatt Regency Hotel. |
| Saturday | Transfer from Delhi to heli skiing base in Manali (air & ground) |
| Sunday to Friday | Heli skiing |
| Saturday | Return to Delhi. Overnight in Delhi. |
| Sunday | International flight. |
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