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CHILE Rio Palena Lodge
SKIING DETAILS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Eleven guides will always have you on the mountains and in the zones that are skiing best at the time of your trip. Our guides can be flexible during your trip and will customize each day to provide the skiing experiences you enjoy most. Whether you like low aspect powder fields or cliffs and couloirs, we’ve got you covered.
DO YOU NEED TO BE AN EXPERT SKIER TO HELI-SKI AT RIO PALENA?
With nearly endless terrain, our guide and experience management teams can customize the perfect itinerary to appease your ultimate alpine objectives. Everyone from hard chargers to laid-back cruisers will find their new favorite lines.
WHAT IS THE TERRAIN LIKE IN RIO PALENA?
The lodge is surrounded by the towering, snowcovered peaks of the Andes Mountains. Steep couloirs will get even the most experienced skier’s adrenaline pumping, while powdercovered glaciers offer more approachable terrain for less ambitious skiers in your group. Skiing in this part of the world is truly unforgettable, and our guides are just the folks to show you around.
IF WE WANT TO TAKE A DAY OFF FROM SKIING, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
Rio Palena Lodge’s location allows for easy access to waterfall hikes, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, stand up paddleboarding, and world-class fly fishing during appropriate seasons. If you are looking for a bit of downtime, our fully renovated lodge offers the ultimate in comfortable accommodations and is fully equipped with two wood-fired hot tubs and a wood-fired sauna.
RIO PALENA LODGE
DAY 1
ARRIVAL AT RIO PALENA
• Arrive in Santiago and change planes to fly to Puerto Montt • Fly to Rio Palena Lodge after breakfast • Greeting and transfer to the Lodge from either Alto Palena or Chaiten. • Settle in at the lodge, enjoy an afternoon apres, and receive a briefing from your
Guide about the week’s itinerary • Enjoy a chef-prepared dinner at the Lodge
DAY 2-6
5 FULL DAYS OF HELI-SKIING
• Homemade breakfast each morning with flexible skiing start times • Depart in the morning on the helicopter to ski the towering peaks surrounding Rio
Palena Lodge • Enjoy chef-prepared lunches in the mountains or at the Lodge • Afternoon of heli-skiing • Alternate activities include: fly fishing, whitewater rafting, hiking, stand up paddle boarding, and mountain biking • End each day with a chef-prepared dinner and a soak in the wood-fired hot tub • Depart the Lodge for Puerto Montt and then
Santiago for your flight back home
DAY 7
DEPARTURE
GETTING
HERE
BY PLANE
• Fly to Santiago Expect an 8-10 hour flight from the US
• Catch a flight to Puerto Montt 1 hour, 45 minute flight — Commercial or Charter
• Charter Cessna Grand Caravan to Palena airfield 1 hour, 15 minute flight — *Required due to skis/equipment
• 20 minute drive to Rio Palena Lodge
PUERTO VARAS
PUERTO MONTT
CHAITEN
LAGO YELCHO FUTALEUFU
RIO PALENA LODGE
CHILE
CHALET PELERIN
FRANCE
CHALET HIBOU
FRANCE
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE
Skiing in the Tarentaise Valley, especially the Sainte Foy area, is unlike skiing anywhere else in the world. There are diverse outdoor playgrounds for on-slope resort skiing and off-piste runs are easily accessible by cable car, not to mention authentic, local après ski bars, and incredible French cuisine. Our location on the Italian border means customized heli-skiing from the chalet. This is rare in France, and even more unique because we can ski down to the chalet at 1,250 meters, after starting our descent from 3,400 meters. Every day we pick and choose terrain, skiing on glaciers, slaloming between trees, or carving huge turns in open fields.
Heli Skiing:
Chalet Pelerin and Chalet Hibou are located near three different heli-ski bases which access more than 40 descents that average 1,000 meters. A rarity in Europe, our heli-ski operation allows guests to depart from the comfort of their lodge to enjoy a privately guided heli-skiing day filled with 360-degree views, cold smoke powder, and wide, open runs. The vertical relief is giant, snaking through high-alpine terrain, tree runs, and finally to the valley bottom.
Backcountry:
Le Miroir is an off-piste skiing paradise. Take advantage of ski lifts to easily access backcountry routes. Wind through the magic forests of St Foy ski resort and shred huge runs along the glacier in Tignes, or simply enjoy a fun descent in the Lost Valley in Val d’Isère—perfect for offpiste beginner skiing. The nearby Vanoise National Park has access to many expert runs, too.
Piste Skiing:
With our Chalets’ prime locations and close proximity to seven world-class ski resorts, our guests are sure to experience the best resort skiing in Europe. From intermediate to expertonly runs —the Chalets’ easily accessible terrain is for everyone. Between perfecting your turns, take a lunch break at a traditional French mountain café and end the day with classic après skiing a la French style.
SEASON Early December - Late April SUITABLE FOR Skiers of all abilities, couples, families, friends and corporate groups. BOOKING TIPS With two, different full experience trips available, guests can choose between a unique, European heli-skiing adventure where heli-skiing with a private guide is on tap every day or our choose-your-own-adventure winter vacation allows for you to mix-and-match your skiing activities. Give our reservations team a call to discuss the best option for you. Once your trip is reserved, our Experience Team is here to assist you with any requests you may have and will work with you in creating your own custom itinerary.
ABOUT THE PROPERTY
CHALET PELERIN
Chalet Pelerin is situated in a small, authentic village offering guests a real taste of the local culture, as well as true privacy. Chalet Pelerin is just miles from the Italian border making it a great destination for heli-skiing and hopping over the border for a different cultural experience. The chalet is within a short distance to many famous, world-class ski resorts.
PROPERTY DETAILS
• 4 king bedrooms • 1 bunkroom with 4 twin beds • Children’s playroom with a built-in twin bunk bed • Indoor pool • Outdoor hot tub • Finnish sauna and steam room • Alpage: Eleven’s private off-piste outpost • 3,767 square foot chalet • Heli-Skiing Max Capacity: 8 • Winter Experience Max Capacity: 12
ABOUT THE PROPERTY
ABOUT THE CHALET
Nestled between classic Savoyard farming buildings, Chalet Hibou sits at the top of a historic farming village high up in the Tarentaise Valley, right next door to her smaller sister property, Chalet Pelerin. Chalet Hibou offers easy accessibility to incredible ski terrain — Sainte Foy, Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs and La Rosière, are all located within a 30 minute drive.
PROPERTY DETAILS
• 5 king bedrooms with en suite bathrooms • 1 queen bedroom with a sitting area • 1 bunkroom with 4 bunks • Media room • Outdoor hot tub • Finnish sauna and steam room • Alpage: Eleven’s private off-piste outpost • 6,222 square foot chalet • Heli-Skiing Max Capacity: 16 • Winter Experience Max Capacity: 18
SKIING DETAILS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Think of the Alps, and you think of skiing. The French and Italian Alps have a reputation for easy-access powder skiing and plenty of offpiste runs. Locals have been skiing these “hills” for centuries, and the tradition is part of the fun.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HELI-SKI EXPERIENCE AND THE WINTER EXPERIENCE?
Chalet Hibou and Chalet Pelerin are now offering two winter products. Our bespoke Heli-Skiing Experience is unlike any existing heli-ski operation in Europe. Chalet Pelerin’s proximity to the Italian border allows guests access to three heli-ski bases, with runs averaging 1,000 to 2,200 vertical meters. This is the epitome of epic, big mountain skiing in a private group setting.
The Winter Experience is a choose-yourown-adventure-style vacation that achieves versatility by offering a multitude of activity options. Each day, choose between seven world-class ski resorts, including Tignes and Val d’Isère, or explore the area on cross-country skis or snowshoes. If ski-touring is more your style, our IFMGA certified guide team can take you to legendary off-piste runs with steep and deep lines that you can ski straight to the Chalet door.
HOW DO WE ACCESS THE OFF-PISTE RUNS? IS THIS SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIER TYPES?
Legendary off-piste runs promise endless fresh lines down steep powder fields. Ski lifts provide easy access backcountry routes, and our highly-trained guides will find the perfect offpiste runs for your ability levels. This terrain has “best-day-ever” potential written all over it.
WHAT DOES ON-PISTE SKIING MEAN?
Simply spoken, piste means ski trail. There are endless trails and ski lifts, routes, restaurants and multiple ski resort connections in the valley. The Chalet is surrounded by seven world-class ski resorts, all 30 minutes or less away.
CHALET PELERIN & CHALET HIBOU
The below is a sample Heli-Skiing Experience itinerary. Contact our reservations team for a custom Winter Experience itinerary.
DAY 1
WELCOME + SKI FITTING
• Afternoon arrival and property tour • Ski fitting and guide briefing • In-house, chef prepared dinner • After dinner drinks in the outdoor hot tub
DAY 2
HELI-SKIING AT LA THUILE
• Early morning warm-up at the spa • Chef prepared breakfast • Depart for the Chalet helipad for a quick flight to the Italian, off-piste ski area • Discover untracked powder while Heli-Skiing in La Thuile • Take a break for lunch at the local favorite • Spend the afternoon skiing over the border, back to the France • Post ski-day massages* • In-house, chef prepared authentic French dinner
DAY 3
HELI-SKIING AT COURMAYEUR
• Chef prepared breakfast • Depart for the Chalet helipad for a quick flight to the Italian off-piste area • Guided, heli-skiing adventure in Courmayeur • Indulge in a three course pasta meal and treat yourself to the best tiramisu in the valley • Enjoy a sunset ski back to the Chalet via world-class ski slopes • Relax with an apéritif in the outdoor hot tub • In-house, chef prepared dinner
DAY 4
HELI-SKIING AT VALGRISENCHE
• Warm up your ski muscles with a guided group stretch led by Chalet Hibou’s Wellness Team • Chef prepared breakfast • Depart for the Chalet helipad for a quick flight to the Italian off-piste area • Enjoy powder runs and fresh lines in Valgrisenche • Traditional Italian lunch in an authentic family restaurant in Bonne • Catch the last flight to the summit to enjoy the final run down to the Alpage • Chef prepared dinner at the Alpage • Post-dinner ski by the light of the moon back to the Chalet’s doors
DAY 5
DEPARTURE
• Rise early for a morning swim and steam • Chef prepared breakfast • Depart
*Subject to availability and special pricing.
GETTING
HERE
BY PLANE
Commercial flights: • Chambery airport (CMF) and Annecy Airport (NCY) 1.5 hours away from the Chalet
• Lyon airport (LYS) 2.5 hours away from the Chalet We are happy to arrange ground transfers to the Chalet at an additional cost.
Charter & Private flights: • Chambery airport
Private flights can land in Chambery.
• Albertville airport
Private flights can land in Albertville.
BY TRAIN
• Bourg St. Maurice
This is closest train station to Le Miroir – located just 20 minutes away.
• Lyon
Guests can also take the train to Lyon. Lyon is 2.5 hours away.
• Chambery
Guests can take the train to Chambery. Chambery is about a 1.5 hours away
BY HELI
Heli transfers can be arranged from any airports in France, Switzerland or Italy to next door the Chalet. Your Experience Team can help with pricing and availability.
LYON LE MIROIR
CHAMBERY BOURG ST. MAURICE
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE
Skiing in Iceland is an unforgettable experience. Long descents over the North Atlantic Ocean are punctuated by never-ending sunsets. Heli-assisted ascents leading to wide, open bowls and limitless terrain ignites new exploration in even the most seasoned of skiers. Long daylight hours allow us to choose the best time of day to ski given the weather and snow conditions. Early season and stormy periods equal powder skiing in a maritime climate, while long sunny days transition the snow into perfect corn skiing. Skiing, however, is just part of the Icelandic adventure. Sea kayaking in the fjords, riding the famed Icelandic horses, whale watching, surfing, and exploring the unique volcanic terrain of the world’s youngest landmass are also on tap. And the fact that hot springs are around nearly every corner makes Deplar Farm a bucket-list destination.
SEASON Mid March to Early June SUITABLE FOR Skiers of all abilities, couples, families, friends and corporate groups. BOOKING TIPS The key to planning your trip is to book as early as possible. Give our reservations team a call to discuss your next adventure. Once your trip is reserved, our Experience Team is here to assist you with any requests you may have and will work with you in creating your own custom itinerary.