The Ultimate Backcountry Ski trip is Gulmarg India in the Himalayas and it's on sale!
Forget Europe, forget South America and even forget Japan. If you're looking for the next big backcountry skiing destination that's oozing with culture, adventure, altitude and just happens to get a heap of snow then Galmarg India should be top of your list.
Gulmarg is a small town in northern India in the Pir Panjal range, one of 6 mountain ranges that make up the Himalayas. This is the first mountain ranges to be hit by the storms that sweep across the Indus Plains and needless to say, Gulmarg receives a ton of snow, on average 15m per year. Skiing Magazine recently called Gulmarg one of the top 10 snowiest resorts in the world.
Luckily though, there is a gondola to access all this snow and huge amounts of terrain; one of the highest in the world (topping out at 13054ft or 3,890m). From there, 4,260 ft vertical powder runs (1,300m vertical) await! A busy day on the mountain is maybe 200 to 300 people, so if you know where to go, you can always find untracked snow. Our job is to show you the most suitable terrain and best snow in Gulmarg, for nearly 2 weeks.
(Click photos for larger view of images. All photos courtesy of Jerrod Fast of The Adventure Project)
Discounts
When you book your trip be sure to use the following code to get your discounted rate: BCSC2016
1. Early Bird Special (best for individuals) – Expires June 30th 2015.
We will be offering a special, $300 discount for people willing to book before June 30th. You must submit a booking form (from our website, the new 2015/16 online booking form will be available soon) and have your $1,000 (non-refundable deposit) down before then, to be able to claim your discount. If you are coming by yourself or with a friend, then this is the easiest way of saving some money.
2. Ambassador Program (best for groups) – no expiry date.
If you have a group of people that want to go and you are the group leader, then we will give you a $300 credit, per person, towards the cost of your trip. This program is ONLY available after the 30th of June (when the Early Bird special has expired). You cannot get a double discount (ie. you cannot get the Early Bird special price AND credit for a person under the Ambassador Program): you have to choose which discount stream you want to go with. You must email us at matt@theadventureproject.net to confirm your participation in this program.
It is up to you if you want to take the full $300 per person discount for yourself or if you want to apportion some of it amongst the group (eg. You take $200 off per person for yourself and give your friend a $100 discount off his/her trip). You MUST have all your guests stay together in the one hotel as it makes the logistics a lot easier, but there is no time limit to make your bookings. Please bear in mind that the hotels we deal with are the better hotels in Gulmarg and therefore are more popular, so they fill up early. The sooner you book, the better the chance of availability as we do not have rooms blocked. After October, it becomes a lot harder to find the availability. Please avoid the last minute rush if you can!
Please also try and put together compatible groups. It’s a lot easier for all involved if all of the members of the group ski or ride at the same ability level (expert level), have the same motivations and similar levels of fitness. All participants must have uphill capability with their gear and be willing to hike (if necessary) to be able to consistently reach untracked snow.
What to do Next
Regardless of if you want to be an ambassador or not (and save further money by recruiting further guests), please ensure you at least have your $1,000 USD deposit down before June 30th 2015 so you can qualify for the Early Bird Special discount ($300 USD discount).
Gulmarg Powder Sessions – 2015/16 Session Dates & Costs
You need to be an expert skier or boarder who is comfortable riding double black terrain in variable snow conditions. We ride slopes typically in the 30 to 40 degree range in the backcountry which is potential avalanche terrain. All guests need to have avalanche safety gear (shovel, probe, transceiver, airbag or avalung) and have uphill capability (fat skis/touring bindings for skiers, splitboards or powder boards and snow shoes/ascension skis for snowboarders).
We operate in small groups, with a maximum of 6 guests to 2 guides (1 Western and 1 local guide), in each group. We have a comprehensive avalanche safety training program that we put all our guests through, it’s fun and you will learn a lot. We ensure that all guests are at a high level of preparedness before we take them into the backcountry for the first time. We have 12 days to ride as much untouched snow as possible, before heading back to Srinagar for the last night’s relaxing stay on the houseboats on Dal Lake (where the Beatles used to hang out). This will be a trip like no other!
2015/16 Gulmarg Powder Session Dates
Session 1: Sunday 31st January – Sunday 14th February 2016 Session 2: Sunday 14th February – Sunday 28th February 2016 Session 3: Sunday 28th February – Sunday 13th March 2016
Accomodation Options
2015/16 Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa Packages
We have been partnered with the Khyber for 2 seasons now and it has become our most popular hotel package. The Khyber has an extensive list of amenities and is ideally situated on the side of Monkey Hill, close to the bottom of the gondola. It is truly a 5 star property and definitely adds a whole new level of comfort, for our guests looking for the highest standard of accommodation. All the details about the Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa can be found at http://khyberhotels.com/ or see The Adventure Project’s video of the Khyber at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV34VrP0BgM.
Prices are as follows (per person, in $USD): Single occupancy – $5,235.00
Double occupancy* – $4,225.00
Triple occupancy* – $3,965.00
Highlands Park
We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Highlands Park Hotel for 2015/16. The Highlands is one of the premier hotels in Gulmarg and has an esteemed history as the longest running hotel in Gulmarg. The Highlands Park is noted for its character and charm and has the best bar in Gulmarg with commanding views of the whole of Mt. Apharwat. Please note that there are only 5 rooms left at the Highlands during February, so if you want to stay at the Highland Park, then you should make your reservation immediately. All the details about Highlands Park Hotel can be found at http://highlandspark.in/
Single occupancy – $5,035.00 Double occupancy* – $4,165.00 Triple occupancy* – $3,965.00
Hotel Heevan Retreat
We have been working with the Hotel Heevan for the last 5 years and have always enjoyed their hospitality and warmth. At the Heevan, you are treated like family. This is a smaller hotel with 30 rooms but they enjoy all the essential conveniences that you would look for: reliable hot water; central heating, internet and a central location. For the official Heevan website, please see http://ahadhotelsandresorts.ne.....page_id=57. For video of the hotel, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKMwKmGKNXI.
Single occupancy – $4,950.00
Double occupancy* – $3,985.00 Triple occupancy* – $3,875.00
* means “only if available” – we can only sell you a double or triple room IF there are guests available to share with you. Double and triple room rates are therefore NOT guaranteed.
$1,000 USD per person, non-refundable deposit is required to secure accommodation. Participation in the program cannot be guaranteed until total payment has been made.
Inclusions:
- 13 night’s accommodation in Gulmarg.
- All breakfasts and dinners in Gulmarg.
- Greeting at Srinagar Airport by Adventure Project representative.
- Transfers to and from Srinagar Airport to Gulmarg.
- 12 full days of instruction and guiding by The Adventure Project team.
- Comprehensive avalanche safety training and pre-departure Gulmarg weather/snowpack updates.
- 2 guides per group; 1 Adventure Project guide and 1 local Kashmiri guide per group. Max 6 guests
per group.
- Final night’s accommodation on the houseboats on Dal Lake, including dinner and breakfast.
- Access to deep discounts on equipment from our partners with The Adventure Project.
Exclusions:
- Airfares (you need to fly to Delhi and then Srinagar).
- Indian Tourist Visa.
- Comprehensive travel insurance (Approx $150 USD).
- Taxi rides back to Gulmarg when skiing outside of the resort (Max $10).
- Lunches, snacks or beverages (lunches approx. $5 USD per day).
- Weekly lift tickets (2014/15 prices were approx $150 USD per week).
- Rental equipment.
- Additional tours in Srinagar or Delhi.
- Overnight accommodation in Delhi.
- Gratuities for The Adventure Project guides and staff.
If you have any questions, then please contact the owner (Matt Appleford) at matt@theadventureproject.net. For more information, please see http://www.theadventureproject.net. We hope to see you in the Himalayas this winter.
