The Ultimate Whistler Ski Guide

With a massive 3300 hectares of terrain, there’s room for everyone here. Hotshots, novices, families, couples and the party crowd rub shoulders in alpine harmony.

Why it’s a secret gem

Whistler rocks, on and off the snow. The host resort of the 2010 Winter Olympics has just celebrated its 50th year and has 200 trails spread over Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

Off the slopes, the village is vibrant and cosmopolitan. It is one of the best snow towns in the world, renowned for its shopping, nightlife, dining and accommodation.

Who will love it

Adventurers will find challenging terrain, heliskiing, cat skiing and backcountry experiences, while outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of blue and green runs, lots of lesson options and softer adventures like ziplining and snowshoeing.

After the sun goes down, party in a raucous bar, or enjoy fine dining in a romantic setting.

Three things you must do

1. Ride the Peak 2 Peak gondola, the highest and longest lift in the world that connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

2. Visit the Audain Art Museum, which showcases the art of British Columbia.

3. Spend a few hours at the Scandinave Spa, where hot tubs, refreshing waterfalls, eucalyptus steam rooms, wood-burning saunas and hammocks are set in a spruce and cedar forest.

Local secrets you should know about

Pick up a copy of Pique when in town. It’s a good source of restaurant specials and weekly events.

Gone Village Eatery is a local favourite, serving coffee and healthy meals. The Camp Lifestyle + Coffee Co. is a beautifully designed space for coffee and outdoor equipment and lifestyle goods, from tents to handmade blankets. There’s a ‘secret’ garden out the back, complete with fire pit.

Off the slopes

Pull up a blanket and sit back for a horse-drawn sleigh ride with bells along snowy forest trails. You can take just the ride or a ride to a three-course fondue dinner. Romantics can hire their own private sleigh, ideal for wedding proposals.

The private sessions, in water loaded with Epsom salts, last for 90 minutes and create a feeling of weightlessness. If you want a gourmet experience, try a guided four-course dinner tour that takes you to four restaurants.

Snowshoeing jaunts will place you in a snowy wonderland, or go on an eagle-watching excursion. You’ll float along a river and see bald eagles flying, perching and eating salmon.

Whistler is also crammed with galleries, museums and shops. In fact, any urban pursuit you find in the cities is probably available at Whistler. If you want action, try ziplining, snowmobiling, a piloted bobsleigh ride, or a skeleton run. Families will love the tube park, which has lanes of varying difficulty.

Best après-ski hotspot

Happening spots when the clock turns over to 4 PM, include The Garibaldi Lift Company Bar and Grill, Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub, The Longhorn Saloon and Grill and Merlin’s Bar and Grill. Nachos, buffalo wings and pulled pork tacos are standard après plates at all of them. Expect shoulder-to-shoulder revelry.

Set your board or skis outside and head in for a steaming plate of fries at the Longhorn Saloon and Grill.

Skiers will love

First-time skiers and boarders to Whistler can get to know the slopes on a free guided tour. Families should check out the Tree Fort at Whistler and Magic Castle at Blackcomb. Burnt Stew Trials is an easy, meandering green run, but not suitable for snowboarders because of a flat section at the end.

If you’re into cruising, consider the Dave Murray Downhill. It’s fine if you put on the brakes every now and again, but when they’re racing on it in World Cup and Winter Olympics the speed is at a breakneck level. It’s a great run to bag for bragging rights. If you want some black runs, go to Bagel Bowl or Secret Bowl. Not many people go in there (hence the name).

Snowboarders will love

The natural hits all over Whistler and bowls that are magic when the powder has come down.

Peak to Creek is the resort’s longest run at 11 kilometres, and perfect for snowboarders because there are no flat sections. You can rip down the groomed, go into the trees at the side and find plenty of hits. Check out Blackcomb Glacier and Seventh Heaven for glades and bowls. If you want to tackle the really tough stuff, Extremely Canadian has backcountry tours and clinics in the steeps.

Recommended places to stay

Budget to midrange

AAVA Whistler Hotel

Pet-friendly, free wi-fi, and even free use of GoPro video cameras.

Address: 4005 Whistler Way

Whistler Peak Lodge

The former Holiday Inn – free wi-fi and most rooms have jetted tubs.

Address: 4295 Blackcomb Way

Delta Whistler Village Suites

Recently renovated and family-friendly.

Address: 4308 Main Street

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Family

Lodging Ovations

Choose any of the lodging options here from Legends, Evolution and First Tracks. Each having a variety of suites and condos. Offering one, two and three-bedroom areas. Other amenities include outdoor heated pools, hot tubs, a sauna and a steam room. If you’re keen on the designer side of life, First Tracks is the choice for you.

Address: 2036 London Lane

Luxury

Westin Resort and Spa

Deals often include free ski valet and wi-fi.

Address: 4090 Whistler Way

Nita Lake Lodge

The only lakeside property in Whistler.

Address: 2131 Lake Placid Road

Planning a trip to Canada? Check out our curated travel guide to learn about what to do, where to stay and what to eat.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.