Elevate your ski vacation this season.
Some 6,000 years ago, humans strapped wood to their feet to glide across the icy tundra in the very first act of skiing.
Those early shredders likely weren’t concerned with their carving technique and didn’t think twice about pizza versus french fries. Instead, it was all about survival. These primitive planks allowed them to travel long distances safely in winter and track their prey as it migrated during the season. Humans would continue to take to the snow this way for thousands of years, until skiing was no longer a necessary task. But, by that point, the sport had been hardwired into our brains as necessary for something else: fun.
There are now thousands of ski resorts dotting the globe, all promising to deliver the thrill that humans have enjoyed for millennia. However, there are far fewer promising an unparalleled luxury experience as well. So this winter, rather than hunting down your dinner, why not head out on a quest to find both excitement and the best in luxury? Here are a few luxury ski experiences that would make our prehistoric, powder-loving ancestors proud.
Colorado
Aspen
Noted skier Kim Reichhelm is offering up her time and services for those who want to hit the hills. Skiers can enjoy a private guided trip with Reichhelm for a truly unforgettable experience. Though Reichhelm hosts adventures all over the globe, her expertise is at her home mountains in Aspen. She’ll happily show off all her favorite hidden powder spots.
Beaver Creek
The four-bed, four-bath hideaway known as Trapper’s Cabin sleeps up to 10 guests in total style. The mountainside ski chalet features mountain chic furnishings, a large fireplace, a Jacuzzi tub, and a personal cabin keeper to attend to all guest needs. Requests like a private chef and ski instruction are also available on-demand.
Vail
This four-bedroom, five-bath chalet is ski-in, ski-out at its finest. It sleeps up to 10 guests and boasts a private outdoor hot tub nestled at 10,500 feet above Vail Village. Access is only available via private snowcat, making it an exciting place to stay from the start.
Bluebird Backcountry
Bluebird Backcountry opened for its first season in 2020. Guests planning to visit should be willing to work for their turns as there isn’t a single chairlift in this ski area. Instead, it’s entirely human-powered, designed for both learning and adventure. Bluebird is also offering new trails and terrain this season to help adventurous skiers make the most of the snow.
Steamboat Springs
Ski enthusiasts from across the globe come to Steamboat Springs to experience its world-famous “Champagne powder”; its snow is made up of just 6 percent water content rather than the average 15 percent, which makes it ultra fluffy. While in town, enjoy a stay at the 1,200-acre luxury Alpine Mountain Ranch community, which offers ski-in, ski-out access to the private Alpine Mountain Summit Club. There, members enjoy underground valet parking, private ski lockers, a daily breakfast, a spa, a fitness center, and more.
Crested Butte
Scarp Ridge Lodge is a European-style chalet that offers authentic Rocky Mountain experiences. Those staying in the home located in Crested Butte also gain access to private cat skiing at the nearby town of Irwin, Colorado, which averages nearly 450 inches of snow per season. During cat skiing, guests can make up to 10 runs through more than 1,000 acres of exclusive terrain.
Utah
Park City
This season, The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection has partnered with Inspired Summit Adventures to provide everyone the chance to experience bespoke backcountry skiing. The menu includes snowmobile-access skiing with a certified backcountry guide who will lead guests into the Uinta Mountains on snowmobiles. Then, the guide will help guests transition to backcountry skis or splitboards, so they can ride down the mountain in total privacy.
Deer Valley
Montage Deer Valley has teamed up with Adventure IO to offer exclusive adventures alongside professional athletes and local experts. Guests looking to experience the best can choose from an array of activities like electric hydrofoil flights, skimboarding, heli-skiing, off-roading, and much more.
Powder Mountain
Powder Mountain is one of the few mountains on Earth that promises to never get too overcrowded. The mountain caps lift tickets at 1,500 per day, giving this private mountain a genuinely exclusive atmosphere. Every skier and snowboarder has, on average, five acres to themselves, and lift lines are so short you may need to come up with an excuse to take a break.
Wyoming
Jackson Hole
This year, guests who can score a coveted ski-season stay at Amangani have the opportunity to experience the nearby Jackson Hole ski resort at its very best. This lodge provides ski-in, ski-out access, along with an expert ski concierge service and refreshments. Those looking for more fun can book heli-skiing, snowcat powder skiing, or guided cross-country skiing through the resort. Looking to fly private to the mountain? Up-and-coming aviation company Aero is offering seasonal service to Jackson Hole this season.
Montana
Big Sky
The new Montage Big Sky is here to elevate the mountain experience via its Compass Sports programming. Each morning, guests are greeted by pre-warmed ski boots, freshly tuned skis, and ski valets to handle equipment and assist them to the mountain. Guests will have the opportunity to take private lessons with Compass Sports professionals. The resort’s recent partnership with SnoGo ski bikes also gives visitors a fun, alternative way to experience all Big Sky has to offer. Guests can even fly private to the resort with Jet Edge, thanks to the aviation company’s partnership with Montage Hotels & Resorts.
Rock Creek
The Ranch at Rock Creek now offers all-inclusive ski packages that allow guests to experience the nearby Discovery ski area — one of the nation’s best mountains that has somehow remained off the radar. “Disco,” as the locals call it, is an uncrowded, family-owned, off-the-beaten-path resort that feels comfortably stuck in a bygone era.
Alaska
Tordrillo
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is Alaska’s longest-operating heli-ski lodge. Starting at $15,000 per guest, the resort’s heli-ski adventure packages are extreme, making it ideal for experienced, off-piste skiers. Don’t miss the “Kings and Corn” event (King Salmon fishing and Corn skiing) every June and July, when Alaska enjoys up to 22-hours of daylight.
Canada
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
This season, Whistler Blackcomb’s “Ski with an Olympian” program is one of the most coveted lessons on the market. Guests of the resort can ride with its resident Olympians, hear their untold stories from the games, and learn techniques from the best.
Lake Louise, Alberta
For those ambitious enough to leave electricity, running water, and Wi-Fi behind, Skoki Lodge offers an immersive outdoor experience. Guests first must tackle a “modest” seven-mile ski tour with their gear to reach this off-the-grid oasis. There, they will find a cozy fireplace and gourmet meals.
Golden, British Columbia
This winter, CMH Heli-Skiing is expanding its legendary portfolio of remote heli-lodges. Thanks to the acquisition of Purcell Heli-Skiing, intrepid skiers can access nearly 500,000 acres of additional backcountry terrain. Located less than two hours from Banff National Park, this property specializes in small-group trips for an exclusive skiing experience.
Austria
Lech Zürs
The Hotel Aurelio, located in the ski region Lech Zürs, offers unique experiences such as alpaca meet-and-greets, heli-skiing, bespoke sommelier services, and an immersive 10,000-square-foot spa. If the property’s meticulously appointed 18 rooms feel too public, the private club and chalet might suit your preferences better.
Italy
The Dolomites
Why settle for just one resort and hotel on a ski holiday? The five-day “Ski Safari” from Dolomite Mountains is one of the most exclusive ski experiences. Guests ski from town to town across the Dolomites. Each night, guests stay at a new five-star hotel.
France
Le Miroir
The Eleven Experience team offers the ultimate French alpine adventure at Chalet Pelerin. There, guests enjoy a heli-skiing trip where they can “expect long, untracked runs and varied terrain,” according to the team. At day’s end, guests can ski directly to their chalet for a chef-prepared meal and wine pairing.
Switzerland
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is home to Switzerland’s longest floodlit slope, making it the premier European night skiing destination. Guests can rent the run for an exclusive “VIP Snow Night” experience. Available Saturday–Thursday nights, guests can make their turns down the run and lap the aerial cableway in complete solitude.
Antarctica
Pelorus, an outdoor adventure company, has developed a heli-ski trip via a private yacht in Antarctica for an awe-inspiring vacation. The journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, where guests spend time on the glaciers before boarding a private charter flight to the yacht that will take them to Antarctica. There, guests can explore from easy slopes to steep descents.