You are picked up in Calgary. We recommend to guests that are traveling further than North America to stay the prior evening in the hotel The Fairmont Palliser which is located in downtown Calgary and is our chosen meeting place It also offers you an opportunity to discover a little of downtown Calgary if you have the inclination. The Fairmont Palliser is a historical landmark, has a good reputation and is at the heart of the city. If you are interested in staying on your own accord prior to the guided adventure please let us know and we can book your accommodation for you with preferential rates to Fatline Riders.

You will be picked up at 12pm. We will then drive to Banff, which will take approximately one hour and a half. Hopefully it will be a clear day and you can take in the beautiful drive – going from the flat lands of Calgary through the foothills arriving in the front ranges of Banff Town site. We will check into our accommodation in Banff, which is at the Ptarmigan Inn. The Ptarmigan is located right downtown and is great for getting little missions accomplished. The Ptarmigan is owned and operated by Caribou Properties. The accommodation is rated 3 and a half stars.

If anyone would like to buy gear, this afternoon is the time. We will help you with your needs and assist you in the shopping if you would wish.

This evening we get together at the Ptarmigan for cocktails and canapés to start enjoying one another’s company and to discuss the adventure ahead. Moving on to dinner in a downtown restaurant.

We head up to Sunshine Village. You will take you to some hot spots on the slopes. If the snow is right we can ride the Delirium Dive double black run and there is some good runs to be had off Goats Eye Mountain.

Then we can enjoy après ski up on the hill before heading back downtown. For the evening meal we will walk downtown to enjoy Alberta hospitality (Banff cowboy style) at a pub style saloon restaurant. Everyone needs to try a Cesar or two! - Canada’s version of a Bloody Mary.

This morning we are off to Lake Louise. There is plenty to do here. We will spend two days riding at the Lake. There are again some beautiful views to be had. If the sky is clear you will be able to see Lake Louise itself – although it will be frozen over and you will not get the chance to see its famous blue waters, come back in the summer!

We will après ski in Lake Louise Ski Hill and then drive back to Banff for dinner and rest. Tonight we can enjoy relaxing in the Ptarmigan – use their health club facilities and enjoy a meal at their restaurant ‘Caramba’.

If the snow conditions are right we will be going backcountry as well as staying inbound. Also along with us today is a qualified Mountain Guide and will be there to assist us into the backcountry of Lake Louise for some fun lines.

For those of you who do not have avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels we can stop off in the hamlet of Lake Louise and hire them for an additional charge from Wilson Sports for $19 CAD for the full day. This is compulsory if we go into the backcountry.

At the end of the day we will drive only a short distance to the Post Hotel – located in Lake Louise. We are going to stay for one night and just enjoy all the Post has to offer, including a fantastic dining experience. They have won many awards for their excellence. The dress code tonight is the dressiest of the trip.

Also after skiing we will need to stop in again at Wilson Sports, to pick up the gear for the following two days. This is an additional charge – if you have your own gear for backcountry bring it.

Our guide will be able to aid in the decision for tomorrow. We have to make a group decision based on fitness and desirability. Tomorrow we are going to Skoki Lodge – you can either cross-country ski in, telemark ski in, or ski tour in on a backcountry set up. If everyone in the group is super keen to do a few lines once we get to the lodge then we will ski tour in, instead of cross-country ski in.

Today’s adventure will depend on yesterday’s discussion and decisions, but we will have the same guide for the day.

If we have decided on a light cross country set up, it will be nice and relaxing, approximately a two to three hour journey. It will be a shorter trip in with the lighter set up. Once there we can just relax in the cozy lodge and enjoy their fantastic cooking. The next day we can take a nice leisurely start and slowly take in the views on the way home.

Alternatively if we have decided for a little bit of a harder slog in with our backcountry set ups (four to five hours) We will be able to do more downhill riding once there, definitely some great lines to be had in the area of Skoki Lodge.

When we arrive at Skoki Lodge, you will appreciate the distance traveled. Skoki Lodge is one of seven National Historic Sites in Banff National Park. Skoki Lodge is a very beautiful, rustic, characteristic of the time and most of all homely lodge. You will love the food and just enjoy being in what feels like the middle of nowhere. No other noises to hear. Skoki Lodge was built in 1930-31 and has kept up with renovations; its elevation is at 2,164 meters (7,100 feet) in the very heart of the Rocky Mountains.

After enjoying all of the food Skoki Lodge has to offer we will take more! We will head off some time in the morning, depending on what sort of gear we have ended up on, with a packed lunch.

Heading back to the van in the early afternoon. We will then drive to the next destination where we will be spending the next three days heli-skiing, with accommodation and all meals provided in beautiful British Colombia as there is no heli-skiing allowed in Banff National Park.

We will spend three nights with the Heli-ski company.

Heli-skiing

Heli-skiing.

The early evening of Day Nine, after we have finished the day of final heli-skiing we will drive back to Banff for a final evening at the Ptarmigan.

Depending on how tired you all are this morning there are a couple of options for the day.

We will go over this together the evening before. The tour officially ends as late as you would like, you have me for the day! We can act as your tour guide for a day of sight seeing of the area, there are numerous things we can do. If you are interested in the heritage of the park we can visit museums and National Historic Sites, we can take you to must see spots for photo opportunities.

We could spend the afternoon skiing if you would like – Mt Norquay would be a great spot for a wind down. Alternatively we could go Dog Sledding together or something of the like!

It is up to you on what time you would like to leave Banff. If you would like to stay longer in the Ptarmigan let us know, we can organize airport transfers if you have a plane to catch in Calgary, alternatively you may wish to spend the night in Calgary, let us know and we can organize this too.