Everything You Need To Know About Skiing In Canada

Get out those mittens and start doing your stretches, as I lay out everything you need to know for a swish down the Canadian slopes next winter. Here’s everything you’ll need to know for skiing in Canada.

Why is a snow holiday in Canada a bucket-list experience?

Not only could Canadian mountain scenery bring a tear to the most seasoned eye, but the country is also famed for the quality and quantity of its snow.

Apart from snow reliability, Canada is the go-to place for powder. There is a saying that when Canadians clear snow off their driveways, they use a broom instead of a shovel because it is so dry and light. Canada is also easier on the Aussie hip pocket: the exchange rate is good, compared with what we get with the US dollar, yen and euro.

Throw in some stunning luxury accommodation (the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise spring to mind), indulgent day spas, great food and a laid-back Canadian vibe, and you have the makings of a dream winter.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta.

Where are Canada’s major snowfields?

Most of the resorts favoured by Australians are in the west, in British Columbia and Alberta.

One way to think of the geography of Canada’s snowfields is to put them into four zones:

1. Whistler Blackcomb standing alone in British Columbia

2. The interior resorts of British Columbia such as Big White, Sun Peaks, SilverStar, Fernie, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Panorama

Revelstoke Runs — Revelstoke runs are groomed for speed (Photo by Ian Houghton).

3. The Banff and Jasper resorts of Lake Louise-Sunshine, Mount Norquay and Marmot Basin in Alberta

4. The east.

Only about 2 per cent of Australian skiers travelling to Canada go east, but resorts such as Mont-Tremblant, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Le Massif de Charlevoix in Québec are worthy of consideration, especially if you want a dose of French culture.

How do I get there?

Most Australians arrive via Vancouver.

Air Canada flies daily from Sydney, and from June will also have daily flights from Brisbane. Qantas flies direct on select dates in December and January.

Virgin, Delta and United have some of the most affordable airfares; however, they all go via the US.

Air New Zealand flies direct from Auckland to Vancouver, which is a popular route for Australians who want to avoid the mayhem at Los Angeles.

What about transfers?

Once you land in Vancouver, the choice is to take a road transfer or a second flight to your resort of choice.

Whistler Blackcomb is about two hours by road from Vancouver or, for a money-doesn’t-matter extravagance, jump on a chopper. The 30-minute London Air or Helijet helicopter flight goes along the spectacular coastline before climbing into the mountains.

The interior resorts can be reached by plane from Vancouver to regional airports such as Kamloops, Kelowna and Cranbrook, followed by road transfers.

If you’re going to the Banff and Jasper resorts, you’ll need to take a flight to Calgary and then a road transfer by coach or private vehicle with a driver.

Car hire is another possibility, but be prepared for snow driving, and you won’t need the car once at the resort.

How do I choose a resort?

Key considerations include your budget, whether you are travelling as a family, whether you want ski in/ski out convenience, and skier/snowboarder ability. Some resorts are more suited to families than others (Whistler Blackcomb, Big White, SilverStar and Sun Peaks among them), while others are best for seasoned skiers (Revelstoke, Fernie and Kicking Horse). If you want the biggest selection of non-snow activities, shopping and restaurants, consider Banff, Jasper and Whistler.

On the other hand, if you’d like to visit more than one resort, the most popular combinations for ease of transfer are Whistler/Sun Peaks; Lake Louise/Sunshine/Mount Norquay; Big White/SilverStar/Sun Peaks. Typically, Aussies stay for 10 to 21 days.

It truly is grand alright at Sun Peaks Grand Hotel.

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What else is there to do other than ski?

Put on your winter woollies and get out there. Dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides (often to a lunch or dinner in a mountain cabin), wildlife tours to see moose and wolf, and ice climbing are on offer.

Warmer pursuits include day spas, shopping and dining, or just curl up with a good book and a glass of red wine in front of an open fire as snowflakes drift to earth outside.

How should I budget for a Canadian ski holiday?

Australia is blessed with a number of very good snow specialists who package up ski holidays. Packages may include airfares, accommodation, ski tickets, equipment hire, transfers, national park entry and some meals. Usually, you get better prices in a package than if you try to piece together the individual components on your own.

As a rough guide, a coffee at the resorts might set you back about $C4, and a burger lunch $C15. Allow $C25+ for dinner and about $C7 for a beer (the legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19, or 18 in Alberta). A daily lift pass from the ticket window at Whistler last season was $C129 plus taxes, but this is the least economical way to buy them.

It’s best to get your tickets in a package in Australia, as a multi-day pass or an early-bird pass. As a ballpark figure, a family of four (with children under 12) will need to budget an average $AUS600 a day, not including airfares. A couple will need to budget $AUS500 a day. Don’t forget to allow for ski insurance.

Should I take my own gear or hire/buy over there?

Skiing in Canada — Prepare before you head off to the slopes.

If you have your own boots, take them – comfortable feet can make or break a snow holiday. Otherwise, high-quality gear can be hired at all resorts, and sometimes that equipment may be more suited to the local conditions than the hardware you have at home. Prices for skis/boot/pole hire start at around $C40 a day, or cheaper for multi-day hire.

If you take the full kit across, it may be best to fly with Air Canada or Qantas. Each airline allows a ski or board bag as the second piece of luggage, up to 23 kilograms.

When is the Canada snow season?

The Canadian snow season is generally from late November until April, although resorts will extend it into May if conditions are good. The coldest months of January and February usually have the best powder, but keep in mind that airfares are lowest in February and March.

One of the most affordable times for accommodation is from December 15–25, whereas the Christmas week from December 26 to January 1 is expensive and crowded. The second and third weekends in February are busy, while low-season rates apply from late March.

Who are the Australian tour specialists?

Skimax and Travelplan are the big guns, but also consider the fast-growing Sno’n’Ski, the new-to-Canada Liquid Snow Tours and niche agency Blue Powder Travel.

Experience Canada in ways you didn’t know. Hit up our curated guide to explore the Canadian Rockies.

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.