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Luxurious myoko powder and japanese cultural tour

Ride the best powder available and experience traditional Japanese culture in our luxurious Myoko powder tour. Rated by The Telegraph as the world’s 6th best resort, undiscovered Myoko is a hidden gem of deep powder, tree lined runs and real Japanese atmosphere.

Flights and Transfers: Fly into Tokyo, Narita airport, and then get the bullet train across to Nagano. From Nagano it’s a simple local train ride to Myoko Kogen station where you will be picked up and transported to your hotel. Total transfer time is around 2 hours.

The Lodge: Established in 1937, this was one of the first European-style ski resort hotels in Japan. Today it combines that old-world tradition with modern amenities and a unique Japanese touch in one of the most remarkable hotel settings anywhere. From its 1,000-meter perch are views of the mountains all around, Lake Nojiri sparkling to the east, and, on a clear day, all the way to Sado Island across the Sea of Japan. The hotel has 52 comfortable, spacious guest rooms, both Western and Japanese, each with panoramic mountain views. Two different mineral hot springs provide unique properties to sooth and invigorate. Swim in the indoor pool, whilst enjoying spectacular views of the ski slopes. The entire hotel was recently extensively renovated, keeping its special style while ensuring the highest levels of quality and service.

Itinerary:  Myoko offers the ultimate Japanese cultural experience across 4 fantastic ski resorts with ample terrain for all levels. You are allowed to ski through the trees – a rarity on mainland Japan – providing access to some great off-piste! When you’re ready take our English speaking guide for a day or two of backcountry touring, you can choose a simple half day or if you fancy getting further into the terrain a full day option. Enjoy lunch perched on top of the hill, surrounded by nature, deep dry powder and total silence before dropping in and riding back through the birch tress all the way to resort. For non-skiing days head down the valley at see the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys, or over to Nagano for a site seeing tour of the majestic Zenkoji Temple. This is a truly cultural Japanese experience in every way.

Guide price: Prices based on 2 people are around from £2,223 per person and includes:

• 6 day Lift Tickets
• Ski and boot hire for 6 days
• 7 nights accommodation on bed and breakfast in a 5 star hotel
• 1 guided backcountry day tour
• JR Rail Pass for unlimited rail travel throughout your stay
• Day tour to Snow Monkeys
• Rail trip to Zenkoji Temple

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

Ultimate Hokkaido Backcountry Tour

If you’re looking to truly get off the beaten path, into Hokkaido’s legendary backcountry and to the top of the island’s most spectacular volcanoes, this is the trip for you. More backcountry powder than any other of our Japanese tours, this si aimed at those of you who are really looking for backcountry, not sidecountry, but true authentic backcountry! Having said that, we’ve still got a few resort based days to make sure we lap up our fill of lift accessed powder (particularly for stormy, low visibility days) but as soon as the sun creeps out we’ll be headed for the nearest summit!

Flights and Transfers: Fly into Chitose airport, these generally go via a quick stopover in Narita, Tokyo. From Chitose airport you will be collected and via bus and transferred up to Niseko where your hosts will receive you. Transfer time – 2hrs 30mins roughly

The Lodge: Throughout the trip you will stay in a combination of different lodges, all of them comfortable and full of stoke for powder touring. The accommodation will mainly be westernised and of a 3 star standard. There are options to tweak this element or try out Japanese style accommodation as well.

Itinerary: For the following 4 days your wasabi guide will treat you to some of the best shredding possible. Get ready to test your ski and snowboard skills to the max as you explore the Niseko back bowls and Mount Shiribetsu backcountry. You will then get to enjoy an unguided days in Rusutsu before being transferred to Sapporo. From here you will explore the plentiful Sapporo Kokusai off-piste and Yoichi-dake backcountry. The next few days will take you across Hokkaido to Kurodake, Asahidake and Tokachidake. The actual itinerary will depend on the weather, your guide will keep you updated on conditions daily on these! As an added bonus, if a bluebird day comes along, you may even make an attempt on the Fuji of the of the North – Mount Yotei!

N.B. Although prior backcountry experience is not necessary for this trip, reasonable physhical fitness and a desire to earn your turns is essential!

Guide price: Prices based on 6 people start from £2,395 per person and includes:

• 5 days Lift Tickets (provided on guided days only)
• 10 nights twin share accommodation on bed and breakfast
• 7 guided ski days
• all transfers transportation within Hokkaido
• All avalanche safety gear for the duration
• Trip of a lifetime

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

swiss sidecountry with a swedish twist

Engelberg – a beautiful and historic town, with a grand Alpine setting and a freerider’s dream! “The mountain of the angel” was founded in 1120 by a Benedictine monk who heard an angel telling him to build a monastery where the town now lies. Today the monastery still stands and Engelberg echoes to the calls of skiers here for incredible off-piste skiing and one of the world’s longest vertical descents. We love it and we’re happy to present it to you!

Flights and Transfers: Flights from the UK into Zurich airport. From there it is a short 1 1/2hr transfer up into the resort.

The Lodge: In the heart of the resort is a small and recently renovated hotel. Run by a Swedish pair, it has a distinctly Scandinavian feel on the inside thanks to their keen eye for clean interior design during the refurbishment. Most importantly though is that the lodge epitomises the freeride scene and is well known amongst the powder skiing fraternity. With their laid back friendly atmosphere, fantastic hospitality and food, and a focus on getting the most from the mountain, everything about this lodge helps build the stoke for an awesome week.

Itinerary: Engelberg is situated at an altitude of 1000 metres, with the slopes reaching far above that and even a glacier to enjoy. It is the biggest ski resort in central Switzerland, with 82 km of pistes to make your legs tired.  Riding powder is what it’s all about in Engelberg, and our guides will take you on an unforgettable downhill tour of powder runs. If you’re prepared for a short hike (around 1 hr), you’ll be in untracked fresh all day long. This tour includes 3 days of guiding as part of a shared group (maximum 8 per guide), and they’ll take to you to the best spots in resort and in the near surrounding slopes based on conditions of the day. For a small surcharge why not upgrade one of the days to an offsite trip? Within one hour’s drive from Engelberg, you’ll find another “freeride-mecca” – Andermatt. The steep northern slopes lead down to the 1500 meter lower Urseren-valley. Skins and touring bindings are essential, since the best rides must be deserved.

Guide price:  Based on 4 people for 7 nights start from £1400per person and includes:

• 7 nights lodging
• 3 days guided backcountry riding
• 6 day lift pass
• Return private transfers to Zurich Airport
• Breakfast each morning
• Add around £42 a head for a day tour to Andermatt.

Get in touch to find out more, tweak the concept and book this trip

Still need convincing? Ok, check out this vid below of the freshies to be had in this area. We didn’t make it, but it helps give you an idea of what’s on offer:

Japan Deep Powder skiing and snowboarding

Been wondering what a wasabi Japanese powder ski and snowboard adventure is like?
Watch the below, then check out our custom concepts from Japan…and then book them.

wasabi presents teton gravity research “one for the road” uk premier and tour

wasabi are proud to say that we will be bringing the feature epic One for the Road from Teton Gravity Research to the UK this year.

One For The Road is a ski film following some of the world’s most progressive snow sports athletes, documenting their lives on the road, and capturing some of the most stunning riding to date. Road trips are an integral part of every adventurer’s life and a conduit to define one’s being. Journeys to new lands shed light on every skier’s personal mission. Whether shredding with long time friends, or meeting a seasoned character in some for off country, wisdom is gained through these new experiences. The road trip is a metaphor for every skier’s existence.

Below are the tour dates, locations and booking information. We’ll keep adding to the list as we book more dates so make sure you check back, or watch out on our Facebook and Twitter as we release more details:

LONDON:
20/10/11 – UK Premier at The Ski and Snowboard Show, Earl’s Court, London. Screening included in your ticket price. Screening time 20:30
21/10/11 – The Ski and Snowboard Show, Earl’s Court, London. Screening included in your ticket price. Screening Time 11:30
22/10/11 – UK Premier at The Ski and Snowboard Show, Earl’s Court, London. Screening included in your ticket price. Screening Time 17:30

BIRMINGHAM:
28/10/11 -The Daily Telegraph British Ski & Board Show, NEC Birmingham. Screening included in your ticket price.
29/10/11 - The Daily Telegraph British Ski & Board Show, NEC Birmingham. Screening included in your ticket price.
30/10/11 - The Daily Telegraph British Ski & Board Show, NEC Birmingham. Screening included in your ticket price.

EDINBURGH:
03/11/11 – Presented by the guys from Scottish Backcountry. The Bongo Club, Edinburgh. 7pm doors open, tickets from £5. Check out their website for full details and how to book.

At the events we’ll have some prize giveaways from the following awesome companies:
Planks Clothing
Mad Dog Ski
Basecamp
Hats for the Hill