Ski Resorts in Canada

Our most popular ski resorts in Canada are Whistler, Banff and Fernie.

However with the winter Olympics being held in Whistler in 2010 virtually all ski operators have dropped their chalets for the season as prices are so high. Don’t let this put you off though as Banff has skiing for all abilities with spectacular high-mountain scenery. Fernie delivers great terrain for those who like it ‘steep and deep’, plus lots to do for confident intermediates.

Whistler Ski Resort

Arguably the most iconic ski area in the world. If you like skiing, you have to ski Whistler before you take the long chair lift into the sky. World beating off piste and incredible service, combined with pistes that cater for every ability, make this a resort that attracts skiers from all over the world in droves. Whistler now has the Peak2Peak lift which connects the two mountains (Whistler and Blackcomb) together and makes one large ski area.
Nearest Airport: Vancouver (approx. 2.5 hours transfer).

Banff Ski Resort

Banff is a small town in British Columbia that has 3 ski resorts to choose from, Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. Only Norquay is close, Sunshine Village is 25 minutes coach ride away and Lake Louise is 45 minutes away. The resort provides a regular coach service to each resort. The main attraction is the skiing, which is vast, varied and incredibly well maintained. The town itself does lack the sort of ski resort atmosphere that many Europeans generally take for granted, large groups of friends will find the many bars and restaurants great fun, but for a small groups, the town tends to feel a little soulless
Nearest Airport: Calgary (approx. 2 hours transfer).

Fernie Ski Resort

The most impressive fact about Fernie is that it has NO artificial snow making facilities at all. This is because they don’t need any! The snow record is unparalleled and offers a vast array of powder runs. Fernie is a great resort for those looking for plenty of ‘steep and deep’ and also works well for novices. For intermediates and others looking for motorway cruising, avoid Fernie as it is somewhat limited.
Nearest Airport: Calgary (approx. 3.5 hours transfer).

Ski Holidays in Canada

From Newfoundland to British Columbia, Canada is blessed with hundreds of great ski areas… too many to list here.

They all feature fast lifts and quality grooming, as well as modern accommodation, great amenities, plus plenty of off-slope entertainment. The ski season is typically longer than in Europe, starting from around mid-November and finishing around late-April (resort depending).

There are major differences in the way North American resorts operate when compared with their European counter-parts. The lift queues are very small in comparison, and when they do occur, the in-resort staff are there to make sure they are run in the smoothest way possible. The other major difference that first-timers tend to notice is the quality of the pistes and the terrain-parks. The pistes are generally groomed to a much higher quality than in Europe and the parks blow their European partners out of the water!