The Top 7 Heli-Skiing Adventures

Photo Credit: Himalayan Heli Adventures

Had enough of being trapped indoors this winter? Get outside with our DIY Winter Adventure series.

There’s a reason they call it “ski porn.” The following seven heli-skiing adventures, in no particular order, provide some of the biggest thrills on snow.

1. Manali, Greater Himalaya, India

With a base altitude of 6,561 feet near Manali at the head of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh (pictured at top), Himalayan Heli Adventures is out there. The company uses Swiss pilots who fly Eurocopter B3 helis that log seven to ten runs a day. That means a potential of 32,808 feet of vertical —more than a descent of Mount Everest—for your quads. $114,810 for four to eight skiers for 6.5 days of heliskiing; himachal.com.

2. North Gulf Coast, Alaska

Photo Credit: EpicQuest

Warren Miller Entertainment’s pro skiers explored this region back in 2005 for the film Higher Ground. Seven years later it’s open to mere mortals. The area’s proximity to the Gulf of Alaska produces legendary snowfalls and the view from the untouched terrain along the coast of the Kenai Peninsula could be mistaken for the fjords of Norway.  Seven-day trip for a group of eight, $84,000; epicquest.com.

3. Ruby Mountains, Nevada

Photo Credit: Ruby Mountains Heli Experience

Starting from a heli-pad in a cow pasture near the cowboy town of Lamoille, Nevada, you’ll ski one of the best-kept secrets in the Lower 48 with Ruby Mountains Heli Experience. The Rubies, comprising ten peaks higher than 11,000 feet, get pounded with 350 inches of snow per year. Three-day, all-inclusive, $4,350. Helicopterskiing.com.

4. Western Slope, Canadian Rockies

Photo Credit: Mica Heliskiing

Boutique operator Mica Heliskiing maxes out with 16 guests in two A-Star helicopters (split into four groups) at any one time. That means 178,000 acres of steep trees, pillow lines, endless bowls and glacier runs— between 1,900 and 5,900 vertical feet—almost to yourself. $1,500 to $1,800 per day; Micaheli.com.

5. Valdez, Alaska

Photo Credit: Valdez Heli-Ski Guides

And then there’s Valdez. Ski the Chugach with the oldest heli-ski operators in Alaska. But stay at their brand-new Tsaina Lodge. Their seven-day package includes 36 runs and more for $8,340. valdezheliskiguides.com.

6. Silverton Mountain, Colorado

Photo Credit: Silverton Mountain

With the highest skiable peak elevation in North America (13,514 feet), southern Colorado’s Silverton offers big lines and high-quality snow on 22,000 acres of terrain—and if the weather’s bad, which it rarely is, you can still ride the lifts. $159 per ride or $999 per six-run day; silvertonmountain.com.

7. Kalaallit Island, Greenland

Photo Credit: Wasatch Powderbird Guides

For the heli-aficionado who’s skied it all, fjord-fringed Kalaallit Island gives you bragging rights. Scout the island’s untracked slopes and chutes from the Kisaq, a 90-foot family-run ship. Week-long trips start at $12,500 per person; powderbird.com.