Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Try something new! A skiing trip to Whistler will fulfil all your dreams of the perfect skiing holiday!

Whistler is the Canadian counterpart of many of the great French skiing resorts. A really large and great skiing area, lots of lifts and off-piste with easy access. Whatever service you can wish for is there for your comfort. If you want a relaxing skiing holiday or if you want to try out some new exciting things this is the place for you. Whistler has everything for everybody!

Whistler and Blackcomb are the two mountains that the skiing resort was originally built around. Whistler is where you will be staying and where the ski-lift system is just growing bigger and bigger. Blackcomb is very special as it is the only glacier in northern America that you can ski on. It is also open during the summer season, but then there are more mountainbikers than skiers. The summits reach between 2,100 and 2,200 meters, not quite as high as those you may be used to in the European Alps. But even if you're used to those heights, you won't really notice much difference in altitude, since you can go skiing above the tree limit here as well.

In the area there are about 200 downhill slopes that you can reach with 38 ski-lifts. Here you will be skiing both above the tree limit and in the middle of it.The average depth of snow is 10 meters per year so don't worry about the snow.

Great snowparks and halfpipes

If you are using snowboard or twintips you simply have to visit the snowparks. In Whistler there are two snowparks and one halfpipe and in Blackcomb there are three snowparks and one big pipe. Both mountains are good for those of you on snowboards as there are quite a few ski-lifts that are well situated with few flat areas.

Heli-skiing - wow!

For the equivalent of approximately 160 Euros you will get a memory for life. Deep snow and long downhill skiing to the valley will be something to relive again and again. Someone is sure to be filming your passage downhill so that you can bring the experience home with you and enjoy it over and over again. If you prefer the helicopter not to drop you and your skis on the top of a mountain you can instead take a breathtaking tour by air through the valleys.

Ski schools and other fun stuff

In a truly northamerican spirit you are guaranteed to have a fun time even once you have taken off your boots for the day. There are activities for children as well as adults, for adventurers and for those who enjoy a more relaxing time. Schools for children and adults for skiing and snowboard are, of course, available. If you prefer cross-country skiing there are plenty of fine tracks. If you prefer to take it easy, you can rent a scooter. Go exploring on your own or join a group for an organized tour!

Snow-shoe walks, dog-sledge tours or sleigh rides in moonshine? Whatever you wish it is there for you. In Whistler there is everything and a little more.

Finding a place to stay

115 hotels are spread over several areas: Whistler Village, Whistler Upper Village, Whistler Village North, Whistler Creekside as well as Whistler Valley. Squamish and Pemberton are places that are also available provided you rent a car. There are all levels of hotel standard from low-cost rooms for skiers to luxurious apartments. If you plan on spending more than a week here, it would be a good idea for you to rent an apartment. Whistler is busy town the whole year around with a population of some 10,000 inhabitants, which means that there are also private homes for rent.

How to get to Whistler

Whistler is most easily reached by flying to Vancouver, 115 km from Whistler. Plenty of major air companies fly here with one or two touchdowns from all over the world. From Vancouver you go on to Whistler by airport coach or a rental car.

If you wish to travel in style get a limousine to pick you up at the airport. Otherwise, rent a car. The expressway from Vancouver was recently rebuilt, so transfer time is relatively short.

If you are looking for an unusual trip to Whistler, going by rail is the cool alternative. The Whistler Mountaineer will take you to Whistler on a breathtaking tour through mountainous scenery.