High Light Set-up Pratical info More info
Krasnaya-Poliana
Skiing on the Russian Riviera -
steep
and deep in the powder house of the Caucasus
High Lights
This is the place for powder skiing. The proximity of the Black sea gives the snow that unique texture, which sticks to the steepest slops without being affected by the wind, and the broadleaf forest allows excellent tree skiing. The shape of the mountains provides a playground made for riding. When flying is not possible, the ski resort provides exceptional off-piste skiing, and guests will benefit from the radical preparations being instigated for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Set-up
Accommodation:
Private **** Chalet "Raiski Domik" with double rooms.
The chalet is situated right in the centre of the village. It takes a couple of minutes to reach the heliport and 10 minutes to get you to the ski station by bus. The rooms are spacious, tranquil and all are equipped with a bathroom. Our cook, Natalia, prepares breakfast and dinner in the chalet. Natalia prepares delicious dishes which allow you to explore the local taste and flavour.
In addition, you will also find the following facilities in the hotel:
- Russian Banja (sauna) with a great relax area
- Living room with an open fire place and a multimedia facility with
a big screen
- WIFI Internet connection
Program:
1st day - Sunday:
. arrival Sochi-Adler airport
. welcome and transfer from airport to chalet
. getting settled
. welcome drink and dinner in the chalet
2nd day - Monday:
. safety training in the morning
. heliskiing
3rd - 6th day - Tuesday to Saturday
. heliskiing
7th day - Sunday
. transfer to airport
. departure
In case of bad weather conditions we can propose the following activities:
. Off-piste skiing. The ski resort of Krasnaya Poliana is continuously developing due to the 2014 Winter Olympics. The resort offers an amazing number of excellent off-piste possibilities.
. Ski touring
. City tour of Sochi with its market and Russian Riviera
. Spa / Wellness program
Guiding:
. Discovery Heliski & Off-Piste: Group of max. 12 guests guided by 2 experienced High Mountain
Guides (UIAGM) and 1 Russian heliski guide.
. Half-Private: Group of max. 6 guests guided by 1 experienced High Mountain Guide (UIAGM)
and 1 Russian heliski guide. 2 groups share the helicopter.
For both packages we use an MI8-MTV helicopter, which operates on a 3-group-maximum basis.
. Private package: Group of max. 4 guests guided by 1 experienced High Mountain guide (UIAGM).
For this package we use a Eurocopter B3 helicopter, which operates on a 3-group-maximum basis.
Security and material:
Security is our first priority
Safety training:
Each guest will be given the required information concerning safety and the practical aspects of heliskiing. This will be followed by hands-on exercises for guests to test the distributed safety equipment, including: ABS back pack use and avalanche victim search training.
Safety equipment:
Each guest will be equipped with an avalanche air back (ABS backpack), avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
Guides:
Our guides are experienced UIAGM guides and Russian heliski guides, both complementary in their function and highly experienced in heliskiing. Some of our guides are also trained as ski patrol professionals, UIAGM guide / rescue instructors, or ski instructors. The guides are linked via radio to each other and to the helicopter.
Rescue material:
. Guides: avalanche rescue equipment, first aid kit, rope, harness and satellite telephone.
. Helicopter: evacuation rescue kit, immobilization equipment, special pharmacy for first aid
and additional avalanche rescue equipment.
Helicopter:
We are using a MI8-MTV helicopter for our Discovery Heliskiing & Off-Piste and Half-Private packages and a Eurocopter B3 for our Private packages.
MI8-MTV:
The World's most produced helicopter, known to be robust and extremely powerful. We use the
strongest model of the MI8 and charter this helicopter from the ministry of civil protection MchS.
These helicopters are checked and maintained following precise protocols. These protocols are carried
out in conformity with the international standards and fulfil the required safety standards.
Our Russian pilots are familiar with the specific atmospheric conditions of the Caucasus and
experienced in the stationary flight mode needed for mountain rescues.
Eurocopter B3:
Fast and powerful with very good mountain performance. We charter this helicopter from the aviation
company "Abakan Avia".
Pratical info
Your equipment:
. Dress for similar climate to the Alps
The helicopters are heated but in the case of bad weather we may use the ski resort, and chair lift journey
times are quite lengthy. Therefore we recommend multi layer out-fits and spare gloves and goggles.
Due to tree skiing we recommend the use of a helmet.
. Skis
should be selected for deep non-tracked powder and tree skiing (possibly equipped with ski touring
bindings and skins).
Your ability:
. Comfortable in deep powder which can sometimes be heavier in the lower sections.
Good control, since some starts are steeper and parts of the runs are in trees.
Fit, since in general the skiing is quite technical due to the shape of the mountains.
Jet-lag:
. Krasnaya Poliana: +3 hours from the Greenwich (UK) Prime Meridian.
Cash:
. 1 € is about 34,50 Roubles
. 1 US $ is about 27,10 Roubles
. You can change money at Moscow airport or withdraw it at available cash machines in Krasnaya Poliana.
Prices are pretty similar to ski stations in the Alps.
Visa:
. Passport validity: +6 months after trip-end date
. Russian Visa request form
. photo (passport style)
. proof of medical insurance valid for Russia, or dedicated travel insurance
. Invitation (supplied by “Les Voyageurs”)
. Hotel voucher (supplied by “Les Voyageurs”)
More info
Skiing and boarding
The great proximity of the sea produces a characteristic snow that sticks to the steepest angles. Skiing and boarding here is reminiscent of Whistler or Alaska! It is an incredible playground with some unique tree-skiing areas. As the trees have deciduous leaves, the snow is evenly spread and riding visibility is excellent. The summits are around 2500 meters high and some of the runs end up all the way down in the valley at around 800 meters. Our powerful helicopter easily drops people on the ridges and on the summits. Runs between 800 and 1500 vertical meters give us plenty of scope to find the best powder. It is only after the introduction of helicopter skiing, more than 15 years ago, that a lift system was built. The ski resort has a lot of interesting slopes, both above and in the trees, and is being developed at a tremendous rate in preparation of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Program
From Europe, your flight takes around four hours to Moscow and a connecting flight to Sochi lasts another two hours. Once there, we will meet you at the airport and a final 30 minutes taxi ride will take you straight to our private chalet in the valley of Krasnaya Poliana. After the mandatory safety instructions to tell you how to behave around the helicopter, on the terrain, and in case of an avalanche, the following days will only be about enjoying wide slopes or steep couloirs. Should the weather conditions prohibit flying, we can use the resort lift systems which give us access to stunning runs with almost 1500 meters of vertical drop, both above and in the trees. For Après-Ski we meet in Bar "Münchhausen", an excellent place to pick up some Russian habits such as drinking vodka together with eating the delicious local food.
Country and Culture
The Caucasus stretches for more than 1000 km from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. It is on the border between Europe and Asia and also between Russia and Georgia. This mountain range has many summits above 5000 m, like Mt. Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe (5642m). Where the Caucasus Mountains meet the Black Sea, there are still imposing summits above 3000 meters. Tucked into this wild alpine environment we find the legendary skiing area of Krasnaya Poliana, the "nice valley"… Historically, the Western part of the region has always been politically different, more international than other areas of Caucasus. It started with the Greeks in search of the “Zolotoe runo” - maybe just a great legend - then came Armenian and Caucasian people like the Adygi, Ubykhi and Cherkessy who lived in this coastal area. From the 18th century, Russians came to explore this area and progressively became more and more influential. Today, it is the only Caucasian region in the Russian Federation. From an economical point of view, the Krasnodar region is the most developed area of the Russian Federation. Most of the money is invested in tourism. The sea resort of Sochi is the most famous in Russia but the neighbouring mountain valley of Krasnaya Poliana has also become very popular. Today there are lots of hotels, chalets and restaurants that compare favourably to modern western standards.
PRICES & DATES
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