Overseas Specials

- Japan
- Gulmarg

European Specials

- The Quest!
- Verbier Xtreme!
- 4x4

Overseas Specials

Hokkaido Japan

The Adventure Project is back with an improved tour for 2017. Hokkaido is an amazing place. If you want to experience some of the best powder in the world, then this is the trip for you. Throw in a healthy dose of Japanese culture, then you have an epic trip in the making. What does that look like, then read on…

We will be exploring 2 distinctive zones in Hokkaido that are renowned for their abundant powder. Our first zone is around Otaru, an old town and port on the west coast of Hokkaido, is an old port on Ishikari Bay. There are several resorts in close proximity to Otaru that get a ton of snow and are relatively unheard of. If you want deep, untouched powder, then this is the place to look. Our final zone is further north in middle of the Hokkaido powder triangle. Furano is one of the largest ski areas in Hokkaido, but it is still relatively quiet and gets plenty of snow which is even lighter than the snow found at the resorts near the coast. Furano has great skiing, with some great hike-to terrain, but makes a great base to explore other resorts close by. We have our own private transportation and so we can choose the best resort to ride at each day. That gives us the flexibility to ride only the best snow on offer. This is a unique opportunity! You get to explore up to 9 resorts during the trip and expect immerse yourself in the amazing local Japanese culture. This will be a trip like no other!

Date:

Monday 6th February to Friday 17th February 2017 (max 18 guests).

Price:

Prices are based on the number of people in the group. The more people in the group, the lower the price.

Around € 2.890,-- ($3,250 USD) per person – based on 6 people in the group.
Around € 2.980,-- ($3,350 USD) per person – based on 5 people in the group.
Around € 3.120,-- ($3,510 USD) per person – based on 4 people in the group.

Early Bird Discount

Take $400 off the above prices, if you are able to book before the Early Bird Discount expires on July 15th, 2016. You must complete the booking form and submit your $500 deposit before the deadline to qualify for the discount.

Deposit

$500 USD non-refundable deposit is required per person.

Program Focus

The main goal is to explore the island of Hokkaido for 12 days, trying to ride as many resorts as we can and riding as much deep powder as possible. We will also be immersing ourselves in local Japanese culture and enjoying the many culinary delights Japanese cuisine has to offer.

Availability

There is a maximum of 6 guests per group, led by 1 guide from The Adventure Project. We can have a maximum of 3 groups per session. It is strongly encouraged to book early, if you want to go on one of our Japan Powder Sessions trips. We face a lot of competition for accommodation and the good hotels get booked up early. The Japanese schools send their kids on an annual ski trip to Hokkaido and they book a year in advance. Already (this article went to press May 15th, 2016), several hotels are already booked and there are blackout dates in already effect. Hokkaido will also be hosting the Asian Winter Games this winter, so we will also see an increase in visitor numbers during February. If you try and book after the Early Bird Special period is over (July 15th), then you may be too late. It is never too early book your accommodation in Hokkaido!

Minimum Ability Level

Advanced to expert skiers and boarders. You should be comfortable riding in tighter trees and in deep powder (the powder is nice and light though, with an average water content of only 8%). You should be comfortable riding double diamond terrain in variable snow conditions.

How does this Program Compare to our other Programs?

If you are unsure of whether you want to go to Japan or India, then please read the following information. Both trips feature amazing local culture, you will get a similar experience on both trips, in that regard. The food is great in both places too, so you should probably choose where you go based more on the ski or snowboard experience you are after. The skiing in Hokkaido in general, is mellower than in India. Think of skiing in Hokkaido as being somewhat similar to New England for example, with plenty of trees and rolling terrain, but unlike New England, they get copious amounts of powder. It is really quite impressive how much snow they get in Hokkaido. The snow quality in Japan is exceptional; the powder is light and dry and they get a lot of it. The runs are much shorter than in India and the potential avalanche exposure is less too. The snowfalls are more consistent in Hokkaido; it sees to snow most days but the trade-off is you won’t see the sun too much. Japan gets good snow in January, it’s one of the best times to be there, so we consider that an early start to the season.

Go to India if you want to experience more, big mountain style skiing and riding. The terrain is much bigger in Gulmarg and the potential avalanche danger is higher therefore. They get nearly as much snow in Gulmarg as they do in Hokkaido, but the manner of the snowfalls are different. In Japan, the snow falls pretty consistently, you get snow most days in January and February. In Gulmarg, then you will get a big storm that comes through and it could dump a couple of meters of snow in a few days. Typically after that, a high pressure system will come through and you will have a period of fine weather for a week or so. That means that you could be skiing lower down in the trees during the storm and then gradually move up higher, as the stability improves. Then we can get back into the alpine zone and ski some of those long, open pitches that Gulmarg is famous for. So hopefully that gives you a decent idea of the difference of skiing and riding in Japan, compared to Gulmarg, India.

Mandatory Equipment

Guests must have an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe (plus pack) and uphill capability (skis with touring bindings/skins or a splitboard/skins/collapsible touring poles or powder board with snowshoes/collapsible poles). If you’ve not used any of this gear before, then no problem, you will be given comprehensive training in their use.

Avalanche Safety Training Program

Any group operating in the backcountry needs to be responsible for self-rescue. We put all of our groups through our comprehensive avalanche safety training program. That will include: initial indoor theory session and equipment familiarization; basic transceiver usage; probing; strategic shoveling; advanced single and multiple rescuer practice; snow pits and stability tests. When we are riding in potential avalanche terrain, we follow protocols to limit group exposure to potential avalanche risk.

How to get there:

Your ultimate destination is to get to Sapporo for the start of each session. Your international carrier will fly you to either Tokyo Haneda (HND) or Tokyo Narita (NRT). From there, you will take a flight to Sapporo, New Chitose Airport (CTS).

Now, here are a couple of important points to consider when organizing your flights. Be careful when booking your domestic flight. Please be aware that Haneda and Narita airports are not close to each other, they are more than an hour apart, on different sides of the city. So, if your international flight arrives in Haneda, but your flight to Sapporo flies out of Narita, then allow yourself plenty of time to get across the city. It is recommended to find a flight that departs for Sapporo in the same place that it arrives from overseas, unless you are planning on staying overnight in Tokyo.

Relatively few international carriers outside of Asia fly direct to Sapporo. Please check with your travel agent if you have any questions on this. Transfer from Otaru or Furano to Sapporo New Chitose Airport will be in our own private transportation. Guests will need to coordinate their flight times with us, so that they arrive or depart at a similar time to their rest of their group members.

Also know that the Sapporo airport (CTS) is not actually in Sapporo, it’s in a town called Chitose, 55 minutes outside of Sapporo. Anyone not able to make it to our suggested pick up time at the start of the trip or at end of the trip, will need to make their own way to or from the New Chitose Airport (not included in the trip price).

Gulmarg India

The Indian Himalayas of Gulmarg, Kashmir

This land is home to slopes unlike any other…and in the best of ways. It has the worlds 2nd highest gondola and accesses some of the most amazing free-ride terrain in the world. It truly is unique and one of our favorites. The mountain is massive, with a 5 km ridge-line that gives access to over 33 named bowls and ridges which can be easily reached from the gondola. There’s even more great news – that’s just the frontside of the mountain. We make sure that you get to explore the whole thing. What does a trip to Gulmarg look like?

Skiing and Snowboarding in Gulmarg

The gondola rises from 2,700m at its base to over 3,980m (13,054ft) giving a vertical rise of nearly 1,300 vertical metres (4,265 vertical feet). The mountain can receive up to 15 metres of annual snowfall and you can share that with only 200 people, on a busy day. Lift tickets are approximately 5 USD per run.

Gulmarg is situated in the Pir Panjal mountain range, one of the 6 mountain ranges that make up the Himalayas, about 400 miles (640km) north of Delhi. It is 56km by road from Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. The town sits at an elevation of around 2700m (8850ft) in a beautiful plateau, surrounded by the 5km ridgeline and summit of Mt. Apharwat (4124m or 13526ft). Gulmarg is on the western tip of the Himalayas and is the first mountain range to get hit by the prevailing South Westerly and Westerly storms that bring vast amounts of moisture from the Indus River floodplains.

Rest assured Gulmarg gets a lot of snow, up to 14 meters (45ft) of snow in a good season. It has been our experience that when the storms roll in, it can snow several meters in a few days, before the blue skies return. The moisture content in the snow can vary, especially with the massive elevation gains in Gulmarg. Lower down, it is not uncommon for the snow to be a little heavier, but as you ride up the gondola, you can ski in really light and dry powder that will make you feel like a hero.

Dates:

Session 1: Monday 20th February – Thursday 2nd March 2017.
Session 2: Friday 3rd March – Monday 13th March 2017.

Package Prices (all prices are in $USD, per person):

Hotel Hilltop
Single Occupancy – around € 2.565,-- ($2,885)
Twin-Share – around € 2.465,-- ($2,775)

Nedous Hotel
Single Occupancy – around € 3.755,-- ($4,225)
Twin-Share – around € 3.140,-- ($3,535)

Hotel Highlands Park
Single Occupancy – around € 3.755,-- ($4,225)
Twin–Share – around € 3.345,-- ($3,765)

Availability

We can cater to 3 groups per session. The maximum group size is 6 people, with 2 guides per group, so we can cater for 18 guests per session. If you have 6 people then you can have your own private group. If you have a full group, then we will not add any extra people to it.

Program Focus

This program is ideal for adventurous and experienced skiers/boarders who want to experience lift-accessible backcountry in the Himalayas. Gulmarg is a ski resort like no other; it is a massive mountain, it gets a ton of snow, a busy day is maybe 200 people (during peak season) and they have one of the highest gondolas in the world that gives access of all this. Think Silverton on steroids, but with bigger terrain and better amenities.

Guidance

You’ll be guided by our team for 11 days and you will see a lot of the mountain. This is a unique adventure. You’ll get to ride some of the best terrain and snow in the world, plus you get to immerse yourself in the local Kashmiri culture, meet the locals and eat some amazing food. You’ll see plenty of wildlife and overall, you’ll come away with a far more rewarding experience than a typical ski or snowboard holiday. As they say, there is your life before Kashmir and then after Kashmir. We’ve been running trips to Gulmarg for more than 7 seasons now, so you’ll be in experienced hands.

Avalanche Safety Training Program

Suitability

Guests must be upper-advanced or expert skiers or boarders, confident in off-piste conditions that are rated double-black diamond in difficulty. You should be confident in deep snow and powder and able to ride variable snow conditions. 95% of Gulmarg’s terrain is backcountry, that is unpatrolled and uncontrolled and you will likely be riding in potential avalanche terrain. Guests need to carry full avalanche equipment (beacon, shovel, probe, 1st aid kit) and be proficient in its use. All guests will be put through our in-house, comprehensive avalanche safety training program before entering the backcountry.

Equipment

Our regular program includes skiing and boarding in the backcountry or sidecountry outside of the ski area boundaries. All guests must carry avalanche safety gear (beacon, shovel, probe, backpack) and know how to use them (see avalanche safety training program above). All guests must have uphill capability so that we have the ability to be able to reach better quality snow.For skiers, that means fat skis (110mm wide or greater), with touring bindings and skins. For snowboarders, that could be either split boards/skins/collapsible trekking poles or board/snowshoes/trekking poles. Participants should also have an airbag or an Avalung backpack or harness.
Conventional airbag cylinder refills are obtainable in Gulmarg. ABS style refills are not always available.

Inclusions:

11 days fully hosted by The Adventure Project Staff.
10 nights’ accommodation, single occupancy or twin-share.
All dinners and breakfasts at your Gulmarg hotel.
Daily guiding by Adventure Project staff, including 2 guides per group; 1 Western guide and 1 Kashmiri guide per group, which will enable you to explore as much of Gulmarg as possible, during your stay.
Comprehensive avalanche safety training at the start of the program.
Greeting by Adventure Project representative at Srinagar airport.
Srinagar airport pickup and drop off.
1 night on the houseboats, includes dinner and breakfast and return Shikara ride.

Exclusions:

Lift tickets (budget approximately $200 USD for 10 days).
Lunches (budget approximately $5 USD per day), snacks, bottled water and alcoholic beverages.
Travel insurance (make sure you are covered for off-piste skiing and for travel to Kashmir).
Additional taxi services, such as getting picked up in Drung, Baba Reshi or Lienmarg or around town. Price varies on location but taxis are pretty inexpensive in Gulmarg, compared to Western taxi rates.
Additional tours or services, such as water skiing on Dal Lake, Shikara tours on Dal Lake.
Indian Tourist visa (e-TV is a fast and convenient service, for eligible nationals and cost is approximately $48 – $60 USD, depending on nationality).
Gratuity for Adventure Project staff is not included.

How to Get to Gulmarg

You’ll need to take an international flight to Delhi, India. Most flights arrive late in the evening so you will probably need to stay overnight in Delhi. Then the next day (the morning of Day 1), you can take a short domestic flight to Srinagar, where we will pick you up and take you by jeep the final 56km’s to Gulmarg. Please be aware that security at the airports is very tight and we recommend leaving as much time as possible to get through the frequent security checks.

Itinerary

Depart Home Country for Delhi (DEL), India. You will likely need to overnight in Delhi. We recommend the Red Fox Hotel in the Aerocity complex near International Airport and Terminal 3.

Day 1 – Depart Delhi for Srinagar International Airport (SXR) in the morning. Choose a flight that guarantees arrival at Srinagar Airport around noon. Greeting by Adventure Project staff at airport. Transfer via private transportation to Gulmarg, approximate 2 hour journey. Check in to hotel, settle in and then indoor avalanche safety presentation after dinner.

Day 2 – On-snow avalanche safety training. The morning begins with a comprehensive outdoor avalanche safety training session, followed by skiing and the formulation of groups. For the next 8 days expect to skiing in one of the most awe-inspiring destinations you will ever see with some of the most renowned powder skiing on earth. From the endless Himalayan vistas off the top of Mount Apharwat, to the skiing the Shark Fin, touring to the Big White or skiing some of the best tree runs to towns like Drang (descending 5800ft of altitude), Tangmarg or skiing to the Baba Reshi Shrine through one of the steeper and longer tree runs available. This trip offers an amazing cultural experience as you get to interact with the friendly people of Kashmir.

Day 3 – 9 Ski/ride Gulmarg.

Day 10 – Depart Gulmarg for Srinagar and overnight on the houseboats on Dal Lake overlooking the Himalayas. Most people choose to leave early for Srinagar, so that they can get some shopping in (not to be missed!) and maximize their time on the houseboats.

Day 11 – Optional 6:30am tour to floating vegetable markets on Dal Lake (not included). AM departure to Srinagar airport in private transportation. Fly to Delhi. Most international flights depart Delhi either late that night or very early in the morning the next day.

European Specials

- The Quest!
- Verbier Xtreme!
- 4x4

The Quest!

In search for Cold Smoke Blower Pow!

We gaan opzoek naar de diepste en droogste pow! We wachten af waar de dump gaat vallen en daar spreken we af! Tijdens deze dagen geef ik feedback op je freeride skills en probeer dit m.b.v. video opnames te onderbouwen. Ook zal ik feedback geven over beslissingsstrategieën m.b.t. de safety. We proberen maximaal te rijden in 4 dagen!

In de laatste week voor de boekingsdatum proberen we een keuze te maken waar we gaan rijden.

We zoeken in overleg overnachtings mogelijkheden.

Met 16 volledige winters onder de riem weet ik altijd de beste afdalingen in deze freeride pareltjes te vinden!

Maximum aantal deelnemers 6, minimaal 4.

WAAR: niet bekend!

WANNEER:

periode....

PRIJS:

€ 375,-- p.p. dit is exclusief overnachting, liftpas, toeristenbelasting.

Heb je nog vragen neem gerust even contact met me op.

de Verbier Xtreme!

Freeriden tussen de grote namen tijdens de Verbier Xtreme

Staat een bezoek aan de XTREME VERBIER, DE grote finale van de FREERIDE WORLD TOUR nog op je bucket list?

Dan is het nu de hoogste tijd om deze trip te boeken!

We verblijven ergens in het schitterende Les 4 Vallées. Nog nader te bepalen!

Vanaf Col des Gentianes (2950m) heb je een schitterend uitzicht op de finale hang van de Bec des Rosses! Natuurlijk gaan we de finale dag naar boven en genieten van dit fantastische spectakel. Deze dag komen we waarschijnlijk maar mondjesmaat aan rijden toe en daarom brengen we deze dag dan ook niet in rekening. Die halen we wel weer in. Tijdens deze dagen skiën we tussen de helden van het extreemskiën en boarden.

Met 15 volledige winters onder de riem in Wallis en Les 4 Vallées, durf ik te zeggen dat ik het gebied door en door ken! Desnoods als de condities een keer niet zo top zijn in les 4 Vallées, wijken we uit en vinden we altijd wel mooie afdalingen in een van de omliggende freeride pareltjes!

Maximum aantal deelnemers 6.

WANNEER: De XTREME VERBIER staat gepland eind maart begin april 2017!

Aanvang: ?

PRIJS:

€ ..... dit is inclusief 5 overnachting met ontbijt en 2 x diner, 4 dagen gidskosten. Exclusief liftpas, toeristenbelasting.

Heb je nog vragen neem gerust even contact met me op.

4 toppen in 4 dagen in de 4 valleien!

Earn Your Turns

In 4 dagen gaan we proberen 4 toppen te toppen in het legendarische “les 4 Vallées”! Onder het mom van “earn your turns” hiken we de toppen omhoog om zo mooie steile afgelegen fantastische flanken te kunnen afdalen. De meeste afdalingen zijn tussen de 800 en 1000 hoogtemeters. Natuurlijk zullen we warm draaien voor het daadwerkelijk omhoog stappen!

Niveau

Wat heb je nodig voor deze trip! Een beren goede conditie, een grote portie doorzettingsvermogen en goede tot zeer goede afdaling skills! Minimaal gevorderd met skiën maar ook in een goede conditie om te kunnen stijgen! Voor jou is het geen probleem om in welke sneeuwsoort dan ook stabiel af te kunnen dalen. Maximaal 5 deelnemers!

Onderkomen

Voor een relatief goedkoop onderkomen raad ik je Hotel hotel Edelweiss aan, dit hotel ligt op 20 meter van de gondel en is tegelijkertijd ons trefpunt. Dit hotel wordt gerund door Filip en is erg gezellig.

Voor een wat luxer onderkomen verwijzen we je door naar hotel les Etagnes. Dit hotel wordt gerund door Onno en Mieke van Boxtel en ligt direct aan de piste! Beide hotels liggen op 2 minuten loopafstand van elkaar.

WANNEER:

Maandag 02 januari t/m vrijdag 6 januari 2017 kerstvakantie

Nader te bepalen

Nader te bepalen

PRIJS:

De prijs voor 5 personen 4 dagen CHF 1900,-- voor 5 dagen CHF 2375,--

prijs per persoon voor 5 dagen € 450,--* max 5 personen!
(exclusief liftpas, logies, safety equipment.)

* o.v.: onder voorbehoud koerswijzigingen

Welke beklimmingen met welke prachtige afdalingen

In de bergen ben je natuurlijk altijd afhankelijk van de condities. Gelukkig zijn er in ‘les 4 Vallées’ talloze andere mogelijkheden om mooie bergen te beklimmen en af te dalen mochten de condities deze toppen onmogelijk maken.

Waar moet je aan denken qua toppen? Je moet dan denken aan het besteigen van bijvoorbeeld:

Le Dent de Nendaz (2463m),een afdaling voor kenners.

Een hike van ongeveer 250 hm (+/- 50 min) om daarna af te dalen van de noordhang la Maretse om door het bos uiteindelijk uit te komen in Bleusy (1413m). 1000 hm puur freeride plezier!

Mont Gond (2667m), bekend van de 4* Nendaz freeride.

Een hike van 230 hm (+/- 1 uur) en dan afdalen over de noordhang van de finale berg van de 4 sterren Nendaz freeride tot in Siviez (1730m)! 930hm waarvan 350hm over de freeride finale hang.

Mont Gelé (3023m), le Banane of super Mouche.

Maar dan over de noord-oost graad naar pointe de Chassoure (2973m) met een kleine klim en spannende passage over de kam om daaarna de noord-oost vlank af te dalen via het Banana couloir of super Mouche terug richting Tortin (2045m)! Bijna 900hm steep en deep.

Le Fou (2606m), een spannende instap.

Een lange trip om er te komen maar vol avontuur en meer dan waard! De aanvang van deze noord face is 45° steil! 930hm steep and deep tot aan Bisse de Saxon (1747m) en daarna terug hiken (+/- 1 uur) of vellen naar Prarion (1826m).

Greppon Blanc (2714m), een klassieker.

Middels een kleine klim (+/- 20 min) staan we op de top. Dan kunnen we over de oostzijde afdalen naar l’Eteygeon (1500m). 1200hm puur freeride plezier.

Mont Rouge (2491m), tussen Veysonnaz en Siviez.

Anstieg 200hm (+/- 1 uur) meerdere mogelijkheden. Of 300hm steil over noord en terug naar de lift of over oost 1100hm naar het dorp Mâche (1310m) en dan met de skibus naar Les Masses. Of over de west helling naar le Chity (1414m). 350hm open terrein waarna we steile boscouloirs in duiken tot le Chity, totaal 900hm en daarna een lange prik terug naar de bewoonde wereld! In hele goeie condities is het mogelijk af te dalen tot in Beuson (972m) en dan met de bus terug naar Nendaz (extra betalen). 1500hm puur avontuur.

Dent Rousses (2619m), puur schoonheid.

Een anstieg van een dik uur om daarna door de schitterende noord-oost couloirs terug te skiën naar Siviez (1730m). Bijna 900hm pure schoonheid. Of afdalen in het Champs Verret (hidden valley) tot aan bisse de Saxon (1747m) en daarna terug hiken (+/- 1 uur) of vellen naar Prarion (1826m).

Mont Rogneux (2637m), hoog boven Verbs.

Afdalen naar Verbier (1600m) Wordt veel gedaan door de Verbier zijde.

Les Attelas (2727m), spannend.

Attelas couloirs; moeilijke entrees en steil in aanvang.

Bec de la Montau (2855m).

Lange klim

Bec des Etagnes (3232m).

Lange steile klim (45°), tricky!!

Mont Fort (3330m).

Back side van de top! Of couloir Poubelle!

Of.... zoveel mogelijkheden!