t’s the peak of perfection, regularly voted North America’s best – as well as biggest – ski resort. And with good reason. In Canada’s Coastal Mountains, Whistler wows with its magnificent summits, world-class snow sports, beautiful pedestrian-friendly villages, superb places to eat and stay, and an unparalleled community spirit that make it a special place indeed.
And when you break it down, Whistler is loved by snow sports enthusiasts or just travellers looking for an incredible adventure. For one thing, you can rely on the snow – and lots of it. With an average annual snowfall of 11m, Whistler’s season is long, from November until April, and spring skiing is often on offer until the end of May. It’s user friendly, too: take the airport shuttle when you land at Vancouver airport and you won’t even need a car (though the Sea to Sky Highway is a dazzling road trip drenched in scenery).
If you’ve given up on hopes for a cool getaway this winter, stand by... Whistler is coming to the rescue
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Ski and snowboard heaven
Yet to peak
With its long season, Whistler is a good bet for great snow from November to April
Visit whistler.com/winter to learn more and start planning your adventure
holiday hero
Go on an ice cave adventure like no other. After an hour-long helicopter ride over an ancient glacier, you’ll enter the awe-inspiring vaulted ceilings of remote ice caves.
Dining takes on a different dimension as you’re whisked by snowmobile to Mount Sproatt for a gourmet steak dinner in a rustic cabin.
Once in a lifetime
Powder power
More than 200 pistes await for every level of skier
Between the linked mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb, there are 3,300 hectares of snowy terrain to explore, with more than 200 pistes, several snow parks, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers – not to mention extensive off-piste and backcountry. Super speedy lifts make getting around both mountains very easy, including the Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express connecting Creekside Village to Whistler Mountain, and the new high-speed Fitzsimmons Express connecting with Whistler Village. Then there’s the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, offering stupendous views along the way.
Every level of skier is more than amply catered for. Over a third of the runs are classified as green for beginners, and that includes the very gentle runs in the Olympic zone. More advanced skiers will want to tackle the thigh-burning Peak to Creek run, which, at 11km, is one of the longest in North America.
Why this Canadian dazzler might just be your
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Photography Destination BC Reuben Krabbe; Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre Logan Swayze; The Adventure Group; Tourism Whistler Justa Jeskova, Claire Lang, Ben Geradi, Guy Fatal.
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Ski or snowboard on untouched backcountry terrain on an unforgettable heli-skiing experience. Confident skiers will glide through powder on an open glacier.
Take backcountry ski touring to a new level by staying in the new AlpX Yurt, which sleeps up to six people in a remote spot outside Whistler.
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You don’t need to be a skier or snowboarder to get active in Whistler. There’s a dizzying choice of activities that will give you just as much of an adrenalin rush. Take an exhilarating snowmobile tour through Whistler’s backcountry, or fly along snowy trails while being pulled on a dogsled. Bomb down the tracks in a giant rubber ring at the Tube Park in Blackcomb, or rent a toboggan at Whistler Olympic Park.
Want something even more exciting? Try one of Whistler’s fantastic zipline experiences. Or, if you’ve always wanted to try ice climbing but didn’t know where to start, a professional guide will (literally) show you the ropes on Blackcomb.
Outdoor amazing
Snow for it
From ziplines to snowmobiles, Whistler has plenty of other thrills
Whether you want a luxury hotel, a budget-friendly hostel or a family-friendly slopeside private lodge, you’ll find a huge range of accommodation across the resort, including plenty with ski-in/ski-out access. As the proud host of the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival, as well as the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the resort goes out of its way to promote diversity and inclusivity. And if you want to use Whistler as a wintertime base for work, you can find private rentals for a workcation in beautiful surroundings.
Stay a while
Pacific plate
Fine dining is a Whistler mainstay at the likes of Bearfoot Bistro
Discover Whistler’s community and cultural spirit on one of the free self-guided Go Whistler Tours. One of the most fascinating is the Art & Storytelling tour, which introduces you to the cultures of the First Nations – an apt prelude to a visit to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and its exhibitions on indigenous heritage in British Columbia. If you buy a Whistler Cultural Pass, it’s more cost-effective to visit both the cultural centre and Audain Art Museum, which features a large permanent collection of works by the pioneering Canadian artist Emily Carr.
Celebrate local
Community spirit
First Nations ambassadors, above, are on hand at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, below
Whistler locals like to eat and drink well, which explains the sheer variety of the local culinary scene. If you want to splash out on a sublime gourmet meal showcasing the best of the Pacific Northwest’s produce and seafood, book a table at Neil Henderson’s Wild Blue restaurant. Don’t forget to save some space for its famous seafood towers. There’s more fine dining in store at Bearfoot Bistro, which serves ice-cold vodka aperitifs in the Ketel One Ice Room.
When the ski lifts shut, that’s your cue to jump into Whistler’s fabulous après-ski. In Whistler Village, the party’s at the Garibaldi Lift Company, better known as GLC. Over in Blackcomb, dance to live bands at Merlin’s Bar & Grill, while Dusty’s Bar & BBQ is the place to kick off the après if you’re in Creekside.
Get a taste for it
Wellness Whistler-style is a chance to revive and rejuvenate amid absolutely spectacular scenery. Disconnect from the world in an open-air spa, and be mesmerised by mountain views as you wallow in the warm waters. Many of the hotels have top-class spas that are open to non-guests, offering treatments in addition to the usual spa and fitness facilities.
Try some of the other activities that allow you to relax and recharge. Feel your senses heighten when you take an icy plunge in one of Whistler’s lakes. Go for a slow snowshoe walk in the wintry woods and revel in the silence. Or glide smoothly on ice skates at Whistler Olympic Plaza, surrounded by twinkling lights.
Whistlerness
‘Luxury hotel, budget hostel or private lodge – you’ll find them all here’
t’s the peak of perfection, regularly voted North America’s best – as well as biggest – ski resort. And with good reason. In Canada’s Coastal Mountains, Whistler wows with its magnificent summits, world-class snow sports, beautiful pedestrian-friendly villages, superb places to eat and stay, and an unparalleled community spirit that make it a special place indeed.
And when you break it down, Whistler is loved by snow sports enthusiasts or just travellers looking for an incredible adventure. For one thing, you can rely on the snow – and lots of it. With an average annual snowfall of 11m, Whistler’s season is long, from November until April, and spring skiing is often on offer until the end of May. It’s user friendly, too: take the airport shuttle when you land at Vancouver airport and you won’t even need a car (though the Sea to Sky Highway is a dazzling road trip drenched in scenery).
Visit whistler.com/winter to learn more and start planning your adventure
If you’ve given up on hopes for a cool getaway this winter, stand by... Whistler is coming to the rescue
Yet to peak
With its long season, Whistler is a good bet for great snow from November to April
Between the linked mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb, there are 3,300 hectares of snowy terrain to explore, with more than 200 pistes, several snow parks, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers – not to mention extensive off-piste and backcountry. Super speedy lifts make getting around both mountains very easy, including the Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express connecting Creekside Village to Whistler Mountain, and the new high-speed Fitzsimmons Express connecting with Whistler Village. Then there’s the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, offering stupendous views along the way.
Every level of skier is more than amply catered for. Over a third of the runs are classified as green for beginners, and that includes the very gentle runs in the Olympic zone. More advanced skiers will want to tackle the thigh-burning Peak to Creek run, which, at 11km, is one of the longest in North America.
Ski and snowboard heaven
Go on an ice cave adventure like no other. After an hour-long helicopter ride over an ancient glacier, you’ll enter the awe-inspiring vaulted ceilings of remote ice caves.
Dining takes on a different dimension as you’re whisked by snowmobile to Mount Sproatt for a gourmet steak dinner in a rustic cabin.
Once in a lifetime
Powder power
More than 200 pistes await, for every level of skier
t’s the peak of perfection, regularly voted North America’s best – as well as biggest – ski resort. And with good reason. In Canada’s Coastal Mountains, Whistler wows with its magnificent summits, world-class snow sports, beautiful pedestrian-friendly villages, superb places to eat and stay, and an unparalleled community spirit that make it a special place indeed.
And when you break it down, Whistler is loved by snow sports enthusiasts or just travellers looking for an incredible adventure. For one thing, you can rely on the snow – and lots of it. With an average annual snowfall of 11m, Whistler’s season is long, from November until April, and spring skiing is often on offer until the end of May. It’s user friendly, too: take the airport shuttle when you land at Vancouver airport and you won’t even need a car (though the Sea to Sky Highway is a dazzling road trip drenched in scenery).
Why this Canadian dazzler might just be your holiday hero