09 Sep Choosing heli-skiing in Europe

Choosing heli-skiing in Europe is not easy as not all heli-skiing trips are equal. You need to know your stuff to find the best experience.

The choice of a heli-skiing trip in Europe can be one of the most rewarding winter adventures there is. But, as with any quality product, it comes at a price. Heli-skiing costs significantly more than a lift ticket at a ski resort, or even remote cat skiing. So, forget about saving for the moment: live in the now.

To be able to choose heli-skiing in Europe, first, you need to know where you can heli-ski

The European Alps provide heli-skiing of epic quality. Think mountaineering on skis but with a helicopter. Descending the highest and most dramatic peaks in Europe cannot be replicated anywhere else. But not everywhere in the Alps allows heli-skiing.

Europe’s high population density and strong local traditions have led to a regulated industry. This limits expansion, keeping the mountain wild, as it should be. Alpine heli-skiing is effectively banned in France and Germany, and severely limited in Austria. In Italy it is only allowed in certain areas, and it is not permitted in the Dolomites. The Dolomites does offer helicopter transfers to a nice lunch, but that is not real heli-skiing.

Unlike heli-skiing in other parts of the world, here in western European we cannot land just anywhere. However, we can choose our own descent so we do not farm the terrain. This means that we navigate our own track to the bottom of the mountain, choosing from many different routes.

Position, Position, Position

Start planning the heli-skiing first and choose accommodation second for the best chance of an awesome adventure. Heli-skiing often requires early mornings so extra travel can complicate things, and at Swisskisafari we know where to find luxury accommodation in the right places. In fact, we often stay in two different countries on heli-ski weeks so that we can take advantage of fantastic descents in more than one country.

Do we jump out of a helicopter when heli-skiing in Europe?

I still get this question after 20 years. On the day, the helicopter lands and we step out onto the mountain, usually alone. A wonderful advantage to heli-skiing in Europe is that you can be completely alone descending a very big mountain.

What to look out for

Steer clear of the standard one-day heli operations in larger resorts if you want to experience glorious, deserted descents. These operations work on quantity, not quality. This means they sign up as many different people as possible, put them into groups to fly everyone on the same day to the same places. We prefer to design a private trip, just for you. The beauty of a guided week long private trip for your heli-skiing means that you will avoid the masses. You have a guide to yourself and he will tweak the itinerary each day to suit you, your group, and the conditions so that you can choose the best heli-ski descents possible. And this makes all the difference.

If you rent a chalet in a known resort and choose to heli-ski on one day with a large heli-ski operation, you will find yourself with other people in the same area doing the same thing. You’ll be with a guide who has not met you before, let alone skied with you before. Yes, it is more expensive to plan your own bespoke private heli-skiing trip, but there is much more focus and attention to detail on you and your group and the result of this is heli-skiing as it should be……. Epic.

How fit do I need to be for heli-skiing?

You do not need to be the best skier for heli-skiing but you do need to be comfortable skiing in all snow conditions. Plus, being fit will make it more fun. It means that you will really enjoy your heli-skiing especially if you intend on doing multiple descents during the week.

So, if you are ready to take the plunge by choosing heli-skiing in Europe, get ready for a heli-skiing trip that you will never forget. Give us a call and we will craft an original trip designed especially for you and your group to really take advantage of the incredible opportunities to heli-ski in the European Alps.

Warm regards from the mountains,

Danielle