Following on from Bighorn being named ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’ at the World Ski Awards recently, Best In Travel magazine has released special ski edition profiling all the winners. Winning for the second year running, the magazine describes how Bighorn has “re-written the definition of luxury”. The only super-luxury chalet to offer world-famous heliskiing direct from its helipad, Bighorn offers adventure and decadence in equal measure.
To read more and see all the winners click here
Bighorn has been named the World’s Best Ski Chalet for the second year running at the World Ski Awards. Beating off competition from hyper-chalets in Aspen, Courchevel, Verbier and Lech, Bighorn was named best of the best once again. Accepting the award at a gala ceremony in Kitzbuhel, Austria, Bighorn’s owners put the secret of their success down to an extremely hard working team and Revelstoke’s incredible powder snow!
Bighorn was named winner after receiving accolades from the world’s press and guests alike. It was named winner not only for the stunning accommodation, but the unique combination of five star service and world renowned heliskiing direct from the house helipad. The dedicated team at the lodge work tirelessly to make each guest’s stay a memorable one.
Other winners on the night included The Vale in Niseko, Japan, for World’s Best Boutique Ski Hotel and The Intercontinental Davos in Switzerland for World’s Best New Ski Hotel.
Our Executive Chef Peter Hughes has been busy sourcing some wonderful ingredients and designing new menus for this winter at Bighorn. With an emphasis on local provenance, Peter has even foraged chanterelle mushrooms from the grounds! He will also be using BC seafood (including smoked sablefish, Qualicum Bay scallops and Pacific halibut), Okanagan cherries, Boulder Mountain huckleberries and organic Penticton chicken.
Our menus are designed to delight the tastebuds but also fuel a day’s epic heliskiing in epic mountains around Revelstoke. Peter works hard to create healthy, balanced meals with a touch of luxury and maximum taste. After all, every night is a celebration when you have been skiing perfect powder all day long!
Check out a sample dinner menu:
Starter
Smoked sablefish Cullen Skink with leeks and parmesan
Main course
Roast ‘Tomahawk’ rib of beef steak served table side with 10 hour smoked beef brisket and shin of beef cottage pie
Dessert
Naramata peach Melba with berries and raspberry sable biscuits
In Revelstoke, both private and shared group heliskiing is available. Here we explain the difference between the two, along with some pro’s and con’s.
Private heliskiing means chartering your own helicopter for the day or week, for exclusive use by your group. You’ll have your own guide(s) and they will tailor the experience to your group’s needs. So whether you want to ski hard and fast all day long, or take a more leisurely pace to enjoy the scenery, your wish is their command. Guests staying at Bighorn normally go for this option, as they can fly straight from the house helipad and do all their safety training from the comfort of the lodge.
Pros:
1) No waiting for other people
2) Dedicated service – the heli will be at your beck and call all day
3) Bespoke experience – fly when you want, ski where you want and at your pace
4) Ultimate ease – fly direct from the lodge, no transfers to staging posts
Cons:
1) Price
2) Prohibitive for individuals or groups smaller than 4 people
Group heliskiing means buying a seat on a helicopter for a day, or multi day program. You’ll share the heli with other people, but guides will try and match guests with similar abilities and speed. The helicopter will normally fly 3 or 4 groups each day, so there is some flying back and forth as the pilot shuttles groups out to the heliski terrain and from run to run. This may mean you are driven out to a staging post to reduce flight time.
Pro’s:
1) Cost-effective
2) Sociable
3) Sustainable pace – groups tend to ski a little slower which is a blessing if you are helsikking for several days and are less than Olympic fit!
4) A great way to try heliskiing and get a feel for the incredible snow and terrain around Revelstoke
Cons:
1) There will be some waiting around for other groups, other members of your group and at the start of the day while all the groups are taken out to the tenure.
2) You will be required to meet at a set time and ski for a certain duration (though you can sit out a run in the heli if you are tired).
3) The helicopter will fly from a central meeting point which may require a vehicle transfer from your accommodation.
4) The pace will be dictated by the slowest member of your group.