Manali

Manali in Himachal Pradesh is no ordinary ski resort with a lift system. This is where you go for heli skiing in the Himalayas. The base is located in and around Manali, and the setup is simple: the helicopter takes you up on high alpine ridges and peaks, then the day is about long runs in large mountain terrain.

The season is short and usually lies in the middle of winter, often with weekly programs from the end of January to the beginning of April. The terrain is best suited for strong intermediate skiers and up, and it is not uncommon for the runs to be really long. In the region, they often talk about vertical droper of about 1,000 to 3,0 feet of altitude per run, depending on the weather and where you drop.

The snow can be fantastic when everything is clicking, cold, dry and deep. At the same time, the weather window is part of the game in the Himalayas, so flexibility is important. Manali is therefore more of a freeride destination than a classic ski resort, with a focus on lines, snow and vertical drop rather than piste maps and lift queues.