Explore the far reaches of Northern British Columbia
The region of Northern BC has long been known as a crazy snow belt where the warm, moist Pacific air collides with the cold, dry air from the interior creating huge dumps of perfect powder snow. If it’s snowing anywhere in British Columbia, it will be dumping here.
We’ll road trip along the Skeena River from Terrace to Prince George where you’ll get to ride some of the province’s secret ski areas including; Hudson Bay, Powder King and Shames Mountain. The highlight of the tour will be spending 2 days cat-skiing with Skeena Cats who’s tenure is roughly 200km from the Alaskan border
We meet in Terrace then before heading out to Shames Mountain Co-Op which consistently scores one of the largest snowfalls in North America. Here you can explore in-bounds with us or hire a backcountry guide for the day. Then, prepare for your mind to be blown. We spend two days at Skeena Cats which is the best skiing and snowboarding you’re likely to do without getting into a helicopter.
From here we then head to Smithers for an optional backcountry snowmobile session before hitting our guide’s home mountain of Hudson Bay. On a busy day there will only be a couple hundred folk on the hill so you get to know everyone pretty quick. We’ll show you our secret powder stashes and explore some incredible slack country.
Our road trip takes us further east to check-out the ‘locals only’ Powder King. Here you’ll experience unbeatable snow and seriously good après. We finish our tour at Prince George where after an incredible 12 days discovering the secret resorts of Northern BC, we say farewell with plans to meet up again real soon.
Dates
10 March - 20 March, 2022
Duration
10 nights I 8 days on-mountain
Price
CAD $6,990 per person
Tour Type
Freeride - advanced skiers and snowboarders
Why Travel With Mint
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
Secret Canada Road Trip
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
ABOUT NORTHERN BC
Northern BC takes in almost half of all British Columbia but with fewer than 500,000 residents it makes the region one of the least densely populated places in North America. The locals are fiercely passionate about their environment, its culture and of course their undiscovered and underestimated ski and snowboard areas. Prince George is Northern BC’s largest city and is our starting point for the road trip. Regular daily flights link Vancouver to Prince George and return from Terrace.
ABOUT SKEENA CAT-SKIING
The Skeena area has long been known by local loggers and backcountry skiers for scoring colossal snow storms and It's here that the only cat-skiing operation in Northern BC operates from the only Backcountry Base Camp in Canada. Hosting just one cat per day on one of the largest tenures in the region, means your chances of getting a first descent are pretty good! Expect to ski and ride terrain ranging from open alpine bowls to naturally gladded treed runs and everything in between.
SNOW & CONDITIONS
Early March is the best time of year to ski and snowboard in Northern BC. This is when the warm, moist Pacific air collides with the cold, dry air from the interior creating big storms of powder snow. If it’s snowing anywhere in BC, it’s most likely snowing in Northern BC. Expect to ride new snow that’s anywhere from boot to knee deep. Even if we don’t get fresh snow overnight, our local knowledge will ensure you’ll ride the best snow conditions on that day.
ACCOMMODATION
All our accomodation throughout the tour is based on warm and comfortable twin share hotel and hostel rooms including towels and bedding. When staying at Skeena Backcountry Camp, the guest tents each have two single beds with comfy mattresses, warm bedding, pillows and all meals are provided at the camp.
SMALL GROUPS
We offer one of the smallest client to guide ratio’s in the industry which ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best areas a destination can offer. When we are on mountain, our guest to guide ratio is maximum 6 people per guide. This also makes for a more personal experience between our guests and guides.
PRE-TOUR SUPPORT
After you sign up for a tour, you will receive pre-trip emails with specific information about your tour, the arrival and departure day process, information about the destination, packing suggestions, and other relevant information to help you prepare for your trip. In addition to this, you have access to our customer care team who are just a phone-call away. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
ESSENTIAL INFO
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- Fully-escorted 11 day tour, guides on hand throughout the tour
- 10 nights twin share accommodation; Skeena Cat-Ski, Powder King, Hudson Bay & Terrace
- 2 night / 2 day Cat-ski package at Skeena Cats
- 2 days of guiding cat-skiing at Skeena Cat-ski
- All meals at Skeena Cat-Ski Backcountry Camp
- 2 days Guiding and 2 days Lift tickets, Powder King
- 2 days Guiding and 2 days Lift tickets, Hudson Bay
- 2 days Guiding and 2 days Lift tickets, Shames Mountain Co-Op
- Breakfasts in Hudson Bay
- Private transport throughout the tour
- Arrival and departure day airport transfers (Prince George & Terrace)
The Secret Canada Road Trip is for 10 nights. If you want to spend more time in Canada please ask us about tour combo ideas and multi-tour discounts.
DATES 10 March – 20 March, 2022
PRO-TIP – GO PRIVATE!
Book this tour as a private departure – with your own guide and all the benefits of a Mint group tour – for any group, big or small (even just one traveller). Get in touch to discuss.
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHAT HAPPENS IF BORDERS ARE CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)?
The global health crisis has impacted everyone enormously, so we want to make sure your future travel plans are safe and reassure you that we are committed to supporting our customers in the best way that we can. You can view our latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates HERE
WHAT IS A ROAD TRIP TOUR?
Our Road Trip offers you the best chance to experience a variety of different ski areas in the one tour. Our experienced guides have an in-depth knowledge of the resorts we visit, which gives you the ultimate advantage when your chasing deep, un-tracked snow. We’ll aim to ride and ski a lot of powder, glades and trees so please be prepared to ride and ski in the trees for multiple days straight. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that Canada has to offer. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 beds per room. Single rooms are available on this tour at an additional cost.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to ski or snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. We have a maximum of 8 people on this tour.
IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
This tour is best suited for advanced skiers and snowboarders wanting to ski and ride deep powder snow. Weather and ski conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything. If you have never ridden in powder or shy away from it at your local resort, this is not the tour to learn. Canadian terrain has lots of glades and trees – please be prepared to ride and ski in the trees. If you’re not sure of your ability, simply give us a call.
WHICH RESORTS WILL WE VISIT?
This is a set itinerary that includes Powder King, Hudson Bay Mountain Resort, Shames Mountain Co-Op, plus a 2 day / 2 night package at Skeena Cat-Ski.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.
WHO ARE THE GUIDES?
All of our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides who are passionate about the mountains. This tour is led by Jarred Dowson and supported by our local guides.
CAN YOU BOOK FLIGHTS?
Yes. Let us take the hassle out of selecting the right flights for the tour. We can book you the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can book you the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered by comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We offer all of our tour guests discounted snow specific travel insurance.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing we will invite you to a group chat which is managed by your tour manager and guides.
CAN I BRING MY PARTNER WHO DOESN’T SKI OR SNOWBOARD?
The Secret Canada Tour is not recommended for non-ski or snowboard partners.
HOW DO I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL?
The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment.
DO YOU TAKE SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS?
Yes! We are ski and snowboard friendly. Please note that the majority of our tours are led by snowboard guides.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT?
We recommend bringing your own equipment. We do recommend bringing powder boards or ski’s for all our tours.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
Canada can be a cold place in winter, with temperatures typically ranging from 0 to -10. We strongly recommend that guests dress in clothing specific for traveling in backcountry areas. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own ski or snowboarding equipment for the tour (board, boots, bindings & outerwear). Powder boards and ski’s are recommended.
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that the tour has to offer.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
Yes. You’ll get 6 days of lift tickets in total per person. These are pre-paid as part of the tour inclusions and cannot be excluded from the tour price.
PRICE PER PERSON
The Secret Canada Road Trip is CAD $6,990 per person (twin share)
Single room supplement CAD $1,750 per person.
RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT
Bookings close November 30, unless sold out prior. To secure your spot on tour, a 25% deposit is payable within 3 days of booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to tour departure. You can view our terms and conditions HERE and COVID-19 policy HERE
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
1. ONLINE
Enquire below. Once we receive your request one of our Canada Tour Specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
2. OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our Canada Tour specialists.
Within Australia (03) 5296 0314
International +61 (03) 5296 0314