In 2006 I spent two weeks Heli assisted skiing in the Himalayas while working as a guide for Himachal Heliski in the Kullu valley of Northern India. Alison Gannet had brought over two consecutive groups of backcountry enthusiasts to check out the area. Over the course of each weeks tour we’d fly into different regions to explore, ski, and gradually get acclimatized so we could ski zones with higher elevations on following days. We spent nights at the riverside resort in Manali where we could rest easy, eat great food, and enjoyed the culture of this “valley of the Gods” with over 30 temples in the area. We’d fly each day into new areas, sometimes starting with a short heli-ski run, and then tour to a new ridge or summit. Some times we’d catch another lift if the helicopter was nearby! Some days we’d fly back to the resort, and others we’d ski as far down as possible, and walk through the rhododendron forests and Pines to a road accessible villages where our jeep support could pick us up. it was such an amazing way to experience the Himalayas and if you want an incredible ski touring experience in the Himalayas, this is the way to do it !

P.S. * Combining a trip like this with a tour of Rajistan is a great way to see the area.

If you are a do it yourselfer, you can pick up a guide book for the kullu valley at  (https://www.amazon.ca/Ski-Touring-Indias-Kullu-Valley/dp/0958108609) and get a sense of the area. Any time from February to May will have some opportunities for ski touring, and there are lots of places to stay in the valley to be comfortable and have your own adventure. If you are interested in a guided trip we will be back there in 2024 for a month of trips, so please contact us if you would like to express interest!

info@whitesideguiding.com