Whistler skiing vacations provide the penultimate resort experience. Consistently voted the best ski resort in North America, Whistler lies just a two-hour drive north of internationally accessible Vancouver and is on the wish list of aspiring skiers and professional snowsports athletes alike. Whistler is also home to some of the most lavish vacation rentals in the world, and a visit here can be bathed in both luxury and adventure. Read on to find out what a day in the life on a luxury ski vacation to Whistler is all about.
Luxury Skiing in Whistler starts with the chalet:
After a short drive from the airport last night you arrived with plenty of time to unpack and ease into your ski vacation. You’re staying in Kaedenwood Lodge, a lavish mountain retreat located in Whistler’s highest neighborhood, Kaedenwood. The villa has everything you need for a great night’s sleep and waking up in the morning you feel refreshed and full of anticipation for your first day of skiing in Whistler!
Kaedenwood Lodge is located in the highest neighborhood in Whistler.
Let’s get to the slopes:
For breakfast, have a browse of the fully-stocked fridge, or we will arrange the villa chef to whisk you something up, life here is effortless and how you like it. After breakfast, you’ll get suited and booted before heading outside into the crisp mountain air. There are clear skies – it’s the perfect bluebird day! Kaedenwood Lodge is a ski-in ski-out property, so it’s just a short and leisurely amble to the nearest blue slope. Your first run of the day is Kaedenwood, a gentle blue run down to the bottom of Creekside, where the main gondola is located. The neighborhood has its own private piste-basher, and it shows. The snow is consistent and perfectly groomed, ideal conditions for an intermediate warm-up run. If you’re a beginner, no problem! You can take Kaedenwood’s private gondola to the base to access some terrain that’s more your speed. Whistler skiing vacations are perfect for all kinds of skiers, no matter your level.
There’s terrain for all ages and abilities! Credit: Destination BC/Blake Jorgenson
A Whistler holiday in luxury featuring fine-dining at altitude:
Whether you’ve been learning with an experienced instructor on the nursery slopes or you’ve been lapping the famous Peak Chair, as you get to know the resort, you’ll begin to appreciate why people love Whistler skiing vacations so much. The terrain is fantastically varied and expansive, the instructors world-class, the lifts swift and the vibe of the resort is second to none. After an exhilarating first morning on the slopes, it’s time to get lunch, you’ve earnt it! You head to the Roundhouse Lodge, an easily accessible location in the center of Whistler, the perfect meeting point. There are numerous food options here, but you go for Steeps, a delightful restaurant that takes fine dining to dizzying new heights! You can expect panoramic views of the surrounding peaks through the restaurant’s expansive windows. Not only that, but the food and drink are exquisite, think charcuteries and fine wines. These mountaintop restaurants also are particularly accommodating for luxury group tours.
Fine-dining at the peak! Credit: Destination BC/Rick Collins
Take Whistler’s famous PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola:
After lunch, it’s time to find some fresh terrain. Now you’ve become acquainted with Whistler, you can explore a whole other mountain, Blackcomb! To get there, you’ll take the PEAK 2 PEAK, the world’s largest unsuspended gondola. Views from the Peak2Peak are nothing short of jaw-dropping, and you’ll revel in the panoramic views as you journey from one mountaintop to the next. If you’re feeling courageous, take a gondola with a glass-bottom that offers you unencumbered views of the forest floor 436 meters below. It’s quite the sight, and not for the faint-hearted.
The record-breaking Peak 2 Peak gondola offers panoramic views of Whistler. Credit: Destination BC/Andrew Strain
Ski Whistler’s legendary Blackcomb Mountain:
This afternoon you’re exploring Blackcomb mountain, and there’s a lot to see and do! If you’re a beginner skier, there are a number of green runs that will be just your style, and they run all the way to the bottom of the mountain. Lapping Blackcomb is effortless, the 10-person New Blackcomb Gondola can whisk you back up to the top in under 15 minutes. If you’re a freestyler who enjoys jumps and tricks, lap the new Catskinner Chair to enjoy sub-five-minute laps of one of the best parks in the world. Alternatively, if you’re looking to try some classic alpine racing, the GMC Racecourse is a safe and fundamentally fun place to start. Race a friend down the slalom course and see who will come out on top. The course is timed, so stay on your edges! For families with children, the Magic Castle is a winter wonderland play area that will transport your little ones through joyful turrets and slides. It’s also maintained by trusted snow school staff, there’s no need for worry here! On a powder day, we recommend lapping 7th Heaven chair for tree runs-galore or check out Secret Bowl for some of the best, and often the most untouched, snow on the mountain. There’s so much terrain on offer that you could spend a whole winter season skiing Whistler Blackcomb and still not explore every run, take a look at their piste map to see what we mean!
Blackcomb Mountain is home to some of the best gladed skiing in the world! Credit: Destination BC/Andrew Strain.
Sip hot chocolate at Crystal Hut:
You don’t want to get too worn out on the first day so it’s always good to take an afternoon hot chocolate break, Baileys optional but recommended! Crystal Hut at the top of Crystal lift is a small and cozy timber-framed café that overlooks the valley from an elevation of 1845 meters. You’ll enjoy outstanding service and an authentic alpine experience. Top tip! A local’s favorite for breakfast, they also serve great waffles, so remember the location to come back to later in the week. This is what Whistler skiing vacations are all about!
Skiers of all ages need a hot chocolate break sometimes. Credit: Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe.
Ski vacations in Whistler featuring a famous après:
After some more exploring, it’s time to head to après! Garibaldi Lift Co (GLC) is a bar hosted in Whistler’s main gondola building, and it has one of the best patios in the village! Think fire pits, red wine, and live music, all overlooking the lower ski area. We recommend grabbing some complimentary blankets and sitting outside to watch the fiery hues of golden hour setting over Blackcomb mountain. Alternatively, for something a little livelier, we can book you a table at Longhorn Saloon, a lively après spot. Here, you’ll be right in the thick of it, and you can expect rowdy champagne popping and thumping bass.
Caesars and a fire pit at GLC, what more could you want at the end of a ski day? Credit: Destination BC/Rick Collins.
Relax and indulge:
No full day in ski boots is complete without a visit to the hot tub. When you get back to your villa, indulge in all the amenities that Kaedenwood Lodge has to offer, you deserve it! When you’re well-rested and have recovered from the day’s activities, it’s time to nip back to the village for your evening meal. After a short ten-minute drive, you’ll arrive at Araxi, one of the many fine-dining restaurants in Whistler. Here, the food remains front and center. There’s an expansive wine list, a sumptuous menu and even an oyster bar!
A visit to the Scandinave Spa is another relaxing way to unwind in Whistler. Photo Credit: Scandinave Spa / Whistler.
After your evening meal, head back to your villa for a great night’s sleep. This was just day one, there’s a lot left to explore on Whistler skiing vacations and who knows what the rest of your time might hold! Interested in reading a full itinerary? Take a look at our Ski Whistler journey.
Whistler Skiing Vacations:
To read more about Kaedenwood Lodge, and other luxury vacation rentals in Whistler, have a read of our Winter A-list summarizing Whistler’s best luxury vacation rentals. Alternatively, if you’re more of a summer traveler, you may enjoy our Best Things to do in Whistler in the summer blog. If you’d like to find out more about Entrée Destinations’ Whistler skiing vacations, fill out our short Plan Your Trip Form, or call us toll-free on: 1-888-999-6556
The new Blackcomb Gondola can take guests to the top of the mountain in less than 15minutes, and there’s an incredible view! Credit: Destination BC/Rick Collins.
