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Heli Skiing & Cat Skiing

Thousands of meters of untracked powder, and not a single minute spent in a lift line. From BC to the Caucasus, the mountain is all yours.
This is skiing with the brakes off.
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heli skiing and cat skiing
Heli Skiing & Cat Skiing
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The fast way to the top

Helicopter, snowcat, or your own two legs?

Heli skiing is the headline act. A helicopter lands you on a ridge or summit, you ski a long untouched run, and it picks you up at the bottom for another. It’s the fastest way to stack vertical and reach the most remote terrain.

Cat skiing swaps the rotor for a heated snowcat that crawls up the mountain between runs. It’s slower and covers less ground, but it keeps running in low cloud and storms that ground helicopters, and it usually costs a fraction of the price.

Heli-accessed ski touring uses the helicopter as a one-way taxi. It flies you to a backcountry lodge, then you skin up and ski down for the rest of the week.

Same goal, three ways up.

heli above skiers

From BC’s interior to the edge of the Arctic

British Columbia is the heartland of heli skiing, but some of the best powder trips here are in places you might not expect.

    • British Columbia: Open bowls and tree runs in the Cariboo Mountains, Alaska-style lines near the Juneau Icefield in Atlin, and fly-in touring lodges in the Purcells, Selkirks, and Valhallas.
    • Georgia: Heli skiing in Svaneti, where runs start as high as 4,000 m and medieval stone towers watch from the valley. Cat skiing in Goderdzi comes with khinkali and Georgian wine.
    • North Macedonia: Cat skiing in the Shar Mountains, with open faces, couloirs, and natural pipes far from Europe’s crowds.
    • Iceland: The Troll Peninsula, where some descents end at the ocean.
    • East Greenland: Big summits above iceberg-filled fjords, flown from a base in Tasiilaq.
pick up heli skiing

Who’s leading

Out here, there’s no ski patrol and no groomed safety net. Guides decide where the group skis, based on the snowpack, weather, and how everyone’s skiing that day. Most trips are led by ACMG or IFMGA-certified guides, often with a 4:1 ratio on heli days. Expect a safety briefing on arrival, avalanche gear on every skier (included on many trips), and a guide who’ll steer you toward the best snow on the mountain.

three friends heli skiing

Better than average, but probably not as good as you fear. Here’s how it breaks down:

    • Confident intermediate: Iceland, Svaneti, and North Macedonia welcome intermediate off-piste skiers in good shape, and guides choose terrain to match the group.
    • Strong all-mountain skier: Most BC heli trips and cat skiing in Goderdzi expect you to handle deep powder, tight trees, and 5 to 6 hours of skiing a day.
    • Advanced only: East Greenland asks for steep skiing in variable snow and at least five descents of 1,200 m under your belt.
    • Touring lodges: Add uphill fitness and prior backcountry experience. You’ll skin for several hours with a loaded pack to ski 1,100–1,500 m a day.
skier cat skiing
What do people think of Heli Skiing & Cat Skiing?
debbie m
 • February 2024
about Ski Touring Near Golden, BC: Stay at Heli-Accessed Purcell Lodge

For an older person who has skied at many of the backcountry lodges in complex terrain in BC, Purcell Lodge is a fabulous step down. It offers rolling terrain for mellow days where you can ski alone (with a radio to keep you safe) and absorb the views across to the Selkirks, great tree skiing, and terrain that will satisfy your needs of steep and deep when you feel more energetic. There is an added bonus offered at no other lodge I know, of a heli-bump to a nearby peak to access the beautiful powder bowls. The Lodge itself is deluxe and rivals any new Lodge. Treat yourself and you won’t regret it.

Brett Tippie
about Heli-Skiing at Silvertip Lodge: Unlimited Vertical

Incredible terrain! Friendly professional staff & the unlimited vertical blew my mind…and my quads ha! The lodge on the lake was gorgeous, & 5 star food, and the best dessert I’ve ever had. I’ve been to quite a few Heli outfits but Silver Tip is top of the list!

Nik Mi
about Guided Backcountry Cat Skiing in North Macedonia

The best Crew! The best experience in the mountain I’ve ever had! The area is more than wonderful and playful.

Elżbieta Sabaturska-Polok
about Heli Ski Holidays in Svaneti, Georgia

Professional and passionate, true mountain lovers, know about the Caucasus more than anyone else. If you are ready for a lifetime adventure, that’s the correct address. Misha and Aleksei, thanks for the emotions.

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Meet the guides in the area

Angela
Angela’s enthusiasm for sharing new experiences with her guests is ever-present. She has been guiding water-based expeditions for over 15 years, and she’s guided sea kayaking expeditions in Iceland, Greenland, Palawan, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Antarctica, South Georgia, The Falkland Islands, Alaska, Svalbard, Myanmar, Kamchatka… She has also led ski touring trips throughout British Columbia. Angela has a passion for multi-day expeditions around the globe.
Monte
Monte is an ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide based in Squamish, BC, leading clients through skiing, mountaineering, and climbing year-round. With an engineering degree in his back pocket, he traded the desk life for the mountains full-time — and never looked back. Beyond guiding, he works in avalanche forecasting and film safety, bringing deep technical expertise to everything he does. Monte has explored peaks and slopes across six continents, from Patagonia and Japan to Kenya, Oman, and the Canadian Rockies, with India, Russia, and China already on the horizon. A self-confessed gear junkie, he genuinely loves pushing equipment to its limits and sharing honest, hard-won opinions on what works in the real world.
Matt
Finding out what’s around the corner or at the top of the next mountain has taken Matt to some of the remotest places on the planet. He’s been organizing and guiding custom adventures for guests all over the world, for over a decade. Matt has been to Antarctica, Fiji, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Greenland, Iceland, Kamchatka, Alaska, and Northern Canada. He has a genuine passion for adventure, a wicked sense of humor and a love of life.
Leifur
Leifur is one of Iceland’s most experienced guides, with 35 years of experience. During his mountain guide career he has guided Mt Everest, as well as all other 7 continental peaks and ski expeditions to both the North- and the South pole. Leifur is the first person in the world to finish a double Adventure Grand Slam—climbing the 7 summits and reaching both poles twice! Leifur has been a key figure in Icelandic tourism and guiding, pioneering ski tours on the Troll Peninsula and helping establish guide training systems. A geologist by degree, he is the former director of Iceland’s National Avalanche Forecast Center and a past instructor for the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Ólafur
Ólafur or “Óli” is an experienced ski guide that has been leading groups all over Iceland and Greenland for decades. Óli is a man of many talents—between running the luxury hotel Kleif and operating “Inside the Volcano”, he always makes sure to reserve some time for his passions of heliskiing and rock climbing. Óli is just a good companion to have around!
Tom
Tom is an ACMG/IFMGA-certified mountain guide who’s been guiding since moving to Canmore in 1995, the place he calls home. His winters consist of a mix of ski guiding at lodges, heli-ski operations, and remote backcountry destinations throughout western Canada. During the warmer months, Tom spends his days on water. He is a certified Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor and Wilderness Canoe Guide.
57hours is committed to supporting local guides around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heli Skiing & Cat Skiing

  • Heli skiing uses a helicopter instead of a ski lift. It drops you on top of untracked backcountry terrain, you ski down with a guide, and it picks you up at the bottom for the next run. Cat skiing works the same way, but with a snowcat, a tracked vehicle with a heated cabin that drives you uphill. Here’s how they compare:

      • Heli skiing: More vertical, bigger and more remote terrain, and higher prices. Bad visibility can keep helicopters on the ground.
      • Cat skiing: Fewer runs per day and a smaller area, but it runs in most weather and costs much less.
      • Heli-accessed ski touring: The helicopter only flies you to and from a backcountry lodge. Every run after that, you climb on skins.

  • A confident intermediate who’s comfortable off-piste is the usual minimum. On most trips, you should be able to ski black runs at a resort and keep going in deep or variable snow, often for 5 to 6 hours a day. Some trips, like Iceland and Svaneti, suit intermediate off-piste skiers, while East Greenland is for advanced skiers only. Fitness matters as much as technique, so the fitter you are, the more of the vertical you’ll enjoy. Be honest with yourself, check the difficulty rating on each trip page, and get in touch if you’re unsure.

  • Yes. Every trip is led by a professional guide with extensive knowledge of the area. On most trips, that’s an ACMG or IFMGA-certified ski or mountain guide. Guides choose the terrain, assess avalanche conditions, and manage helicopter or cat logistics, and groups are kept small, often four skiers per guide on heli days. You’ll get a safety briefing before your first run.

  • It depends on the trip. The basics (your guide, lodging, and most or all meals) are usually included. Many trips also include helicopter or snowcat time, transfers, and avalanche safety gear, and some add powder skis. Typically not included:

      • Flights to the starting point
      • Travel insurance, which is often mandatory (some trips require heli evacuation cover)
      • Alcohol and gratuities
      • Personal ski gear on some trips

    Check the individual trip page for the exact list.

  • No backcountry skiing is risk-free, but guided heli and cat skiing is built around managing that risk. Certified guides check snow and weather every day, choose terrain to match conditions, and keep groups small. You’ll carry avalanche safety gear, and many trips include it in the price. You’ll also get a safety briefing on arrival that covers the helicopter or cat, avalanche transceivers, and what to do in the terrain.

  • Mid-winter for powder, spring for long days. By region:

      • British Columbia: December to April, depending on the operation, with Atlin running into May
      • Georgia and North Macedonia: January to March for the deepest snow
      • Iceland: April and May, when the days are long
      • East Greenland: March to May
Get in touch
We’re happy to answer any of your questions. Send us an inquiry or talk to one of our adventure planners free of charge.
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