Canadian Mountain Holidays

While western Canada enjoys the last days of summer, our thoughts are already turning to the coming winter! Sun Peaks has several new things to offer visitors this snow season - here are some of them:

The Kookaburra Lodge has been under construction since May 2008, and is on schedule to welcome its first guests during winter 08/09. Located across from the Sun Peaks Sports Centre, with easy pedestrian access to the main village with its lift bases, restaurants, activities, and shopping, this building offers comfortable apartment-style accommodation for visitors in one-, two-, three-, four-bedroom units, some with lock-off studios, above ground level commercial space.

The Delta Residences wing of the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, which opened last winter, will again welcome guests to its lovely one- and two-bedroom suites. High-end finishing, like plasma screen tv’s and hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the full kitchens, make this a favourite place to stay!

On the ground floor of the Residences building, the Bluebird Market has 3500 square feet of grocery essentials stocked for the convenience of Sun Peaks visitors.

There will be some news stores and services, too: Elevation high performance rental shop, 5 Forty deli and cafe, Subculture bistro, Studio 578 (a hair salon), Alpine Blossoms (florist - pre-bookings only), Alpine Images (in a new location with a larger gallery), and the liquor store at its new location in the Delta Residences building.

Also to be introduced this winter are two new Piston Bully Snow Cats, for precision grooming on the slopes!

Compass Tours is proud to offer reasonably-priced custom Sun Peaks holiday packages - read what our clients have to say!

Ask us to create a quote for your next Sun Peaks vacation - its free, and there’s no obligation!

Don’t forget, we also work in Whistler and Panorama!

Today’s the official start of summer in Panorama: The first day of operations at Greywolf Golf Course! Although the course opening was delayed a week due to the cool spring and late snowmelt, its been worth the wait! The first long weekend of summer promises increased temperatures, up to as much as 30C, and sunshine right through to Monday!

Whistler’s summer has kicked in, too, with the golf courses all having opened in the past couple of weeks. Canada’s leading golf destination has five championship courses that’ll delight the most discerning golfer!

After an epic winter of huge snowfalls, and a long, chilly spring, Sun Peaks‘ Graham Cooke design golf course is scheduled to open for the season on May 24th.

Compass Tours specializes in creating reasonably-priced summer and winter holiday packages to Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama resorts. Experience, local knowledge, and great service!

Contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote!

Yes, its that time of year already! The freezing levels are starting to rise and the daffodils, tulips, bluebells and snowdrops are starting to pop up.

Panorama Mountain Village closed last Sunday, seeing the end of an epic season which boasted super snow conditions throughout the winter! Now the golf season’s on the way, with Greywolf Golf Course set to open on May 9th, with the mountain bike park soon to follow!

This coming Sunday will see the last weekend of winter operations in Sun Peaks for 2008, with several end-of-season events scheduled to celebrate what has been a great snow year. The Sun Peaks Golf Course will open on May 17th, and the mountain bike park opens June 28th.

Whistler still has almost two weeks of skiing and boarding left with Whistler Mountain closing on April 20th, while Blackcomb remains open as conditions permit until June 8th. Summer sliding on Blackcomb Glacier will open on June 9th. The much-anticipated Whistler golf season will start on April 18th with the opening of Big Sky Golf & Country Club. The other courses, Fairmont Chateau, Nicklaus North, and Whistler Golf Club, will be coming online as soon as conditions permit. The world-class mountain bike park on Whistler Mountain opens on May 17th.

If you’re thinking of planning a Canadian mountain holiday this summer, ask Compass Tours to help you make the arrangements! We operate in Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama, and would love to help you get the most out of your vacation! Contact us today for your free quote - and to benefit from our local knowledge and vacation planning experience!

What a great snow year all the mountain resorts in B.C. are having this season!

Things are going ahead at the new Whistler nordic centre in the Callaghan Valley - now officially known as Whistler Olympic Park. The facilities have been open for some weeks and have proved to be a hit with nordic fans! Added to the popular Lost Lake complex in the village, Whistler has grown into a world class nordic destination - there’s plenty here to keep everyone entertained!

More great news is that the issue of dual-passes with Lost Lake cross country trails has been resolved … users can now choose from a pass that gives them access to the Callaghan Valley network of trails alone, or just to the Lost Lake trails … or a dual pass that covers both! For more information on the new facilities and trail passes in the Callaghan, visit the official Whistler Olympic Park website.

Sun Peaks offers skinny skiers a total of 40km of trails - 28km are trackset for both classic and skate skiing, and 12km are ungroomed backcountry trails. An added bonus is that the nordic pass in Sun Peaks includes access to the Mt Morrisey Express alpine lift, which opens up a great tour all the way down to the McGillivray Lake warming hut.

This winter Panorama has a little less to offer in the way of cross country skiing than usual, due to logging in the area that has closed access to some outlying trails. There’s still access to over 10km of groomed and trackset trails, though, via the Greywolf Nordic Centre. You can also stop at Carrick’s Restaurant, which offers casual light dining with a licenced bar, and a retail outlet, too, for those items you may have forgotten to bring along!

Compass Tours can create your holiday package to any of these outstanding resorts!

Let us put a reasonably-priced custom package together for you, with a free quote, so that you don’t miss out! Read what our clients have to say about us!

Contact us today for more information!

A great alternative to hotel- or condo-style accommodation for your Canadian mountain holiday is a bed & breakfast inn. Just imagine:

You start you day with a good meal that’s catered for (and cleaned up after!), along with the personalized experience of staying in a small property where people will know your name - in a neighbourhood right where the locals live!

Earl Grey Lodge, Panorama Resort

An example of this is the Earl Grey Lodge in Panorama Resort. Located in the main village area, this bnb is just steps from the lift base and within easy walking distance of all the amenities. Your hosts, Phil & Clare Marshall, will make you feel right at home, and there’s also the opportunity to enjoy the service at their intimate award-winning restaurant if you don’t feel like going out in the evening!

Alpine Chalet Whistler

Whistler Resort boasts the purpose-built Alpine Chalet that offers European-style hospitality with afternoon cookies and cake for apres-activities! Nothing has been forgotten at this lovely inn … internet access, spa services …

Sun Lodge, Sun Peaks

In Sun Peaks there’s the Sun Lodge, a true ski in/out b&b that’s great for families, with the added benefit of a Japanese restaurant for those evenings in!

Compass Tours can create reasonably-priced custom packages that include any combination of accommodation with air and/or ground transportation, lift tickets, rentals, lessons, winter and summer activities, golf … even dinner reservations! We can also add on a night or two in Vancouver, host of the 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games!

Contact us today for more information about your next trip to Whistler, Sun Peaks or Panorama!

It was announced recently that the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker program is set to expand over the next weeks and months.

The program has already been broadened to include hospitality and tourism workers, which specifically addresses issues that affect resort destinations such as Whistler, Sun Peaks, and Panorama, and is to be further widened to include other trades. No specifics have been made public yet, though.

The idea is to ensure a better supply of qualified workers not only for the immediate future as the population ages, but also to cover the demands of Vancouver and the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralymic Games.

In addition, Human Resources and Social Development Minister, Monte Solberg, has advised that the Canadian Working Holiday Visa system is also being reassessed with a view to possibly including the UK, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

So, if you’re interested in working in Canada temporarily, be sure to keep an eye on the Immigration Canada website.

Good luck!

With less than 48 hours to go until the slopes at Sun Peaks open for the winter season, mother nature is co-operating and a record early opening is anticipated!

As you can see from this photo taken late on Thursday, there’s a healthy dusting of fresh powder right down to the village already!

On Saturday, the slopes from Cahilty down to Elevation Chair will open. Access will be via Sunburst Express, with downloading if necessary.

With favourable weather forecast, its possible that Crystal Lane to Crystal Chair will also open, giving access to Upper Five Mile, Spillway and Last Chance. Return to Crystal Lane will be by the Elevation Chair.

Village ski-out via Five Mile could open by Monday, Ullr willing!

The lifts will run from 9am to 3.30pm seven days a week.

With limited terrain accessible during the early season, there are discounted ticket prices! Check at the ticket window each day as conditions change!

If you’re planning a visit to Sun Peaks this winter, let Compass Tours help you with the arrangements! We can create reasonably priced custom packages that include accommodation together with any combination of air and/or ground transportation, lift tickets, rental equipment, lessons, activities, etc.

Contact us today for more information!

ITS OFFICIAL:

Opening day at Sun Peaks is November 17th!

Let Compass Tours help with the arrangement of your ski vacation!

We specialize in creating reasonably-priced custom ski holidays - flights, car hire, shuttle service, accommodation, lift tickets/rental equipment/lessons, activities, etc!

Contact us today for more information about Sun Peaks, and your free, personalized quote!

Wow, we’re only just into October and already seeing substantial snow dumps!

Whistler and Blackcomb mountains have a good couple of inches of the white stuff blanketing the slopes to well below the Roundhouse and Christine’s! But the golf courses should be ok until after Canadian Thanksgiving, when they’re scheduled to close for the winter.

Sun Peaks is showing good early coverage, too, with snow all the way down to the village! I guess the Sun Peaks Golf Course might be closing early!

Panorama’s peaks are already showing a nice dusting, too! Greywolf Golf Course should close on schedule at the end of this week.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

How many of us can really leave our work or, for that matter, our connectivity at home, when we go on holiday?

You might have every good intention of having a true break from your everyday stresses … but one of the first things you want to do when you get to your destination is ask:

“Where can I check my email?”

Today, most of us won’t even consider traveling without our laptops! I know I can’t!

Sun Peaks, a mountain holiday destination in British Columbia, Canada, now boasts blanket wireless access available to everyone, including visitors! You can have as little as an hour online, or as much as a month!

The wireless internet service covers most of the resort area, so you can surf the ‘net - or check mail, use voip, or even do some work!

You know you’ll find the time in the evenings … or during a white-out … or on a rest day … in your favourite cafe … even on the slopes themselves!

So if staying connected without any hassle is something you need during your Canadian mountain holiday, get in touch with Whispar and set it up!