Whistler Heli Biking with AlpX is an unforgettable adventure that offers a unique and thrilling experience for advanced and expert mountain bikers. This heli-biking tour takes riders to the high alpine in a remote area between Whistler and Pemberton, where they can explore Whistler’s only heli-biking trail. With two trail options for different skill levels, there is a wide variety for all riders to experience some of Whistler’s best biking. Avoid the crowds at the bike park and book a heli drop.
The tour includes a shuttle to the staging area, a helicopter safety briefing, and a flight to the top of the remote alpine single-track. Riders can choose to be transported to the staging area by shuttle or drive their own vehicle. The tour also includes a quick bathroom break and a snack to keep riders fueled up for the ride. You can also hire a guide to go with your group. It will eliminate one of the spots, dropping it from 5 riders to 4, but it’s highly recommended. At Heli, we only book guests on the guided option but can set you up to book an unguided experience as well. The package does not include bike rentals, insurance, or tips.
The Advanced trail is designed for intermediate to advanced riders and offers a mix of technical and flow trail sections. The trail is 9km (5.5 miles) long and drops 1300 meters in elevation. It is a fully downhill trail and is recommended for advanced riders. It’s definitely not for beginners. The length of the trail requires good endurance.
The Expert trail is designed for advanced to expert riders and offers a more challenging experience with steeper descents and more technical terrain. The trail is 13km long and drops 1600 meters in elevation. There is a slight climb involved in the Expert trail, where you connect back to the Advanced trail. On both trails, E-bikes are not allowed.
To secure your spot on the Whistler Heli Biking tour, riders must have a good level of fitness and be comfortable riding downhill for a longer duration. The run takes about 1.5 hours from top to bottom. Riders should also have good technical skills and be confident riding on steep and challenging terrain. AlpX recommends being able to ride a black diamond trail at the Whistler Bike Park (eg. Original Sin & Angry Pirate). There are NO mandatory drops, bridges, or gap jumps. There are some mandatory rock rolls, berms, and steep sections. And just worth noting, your local black trail might be more of a blue. Whistler bike trails are usually more challenging than trails you’ll find in the Northeast or Southwest.
Booking requires a 25% deposit, completing the rider information, and all guests are required to sign a Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks, and Indemnity Agreement before being allowed to ride. A refund on your deposit is available if you are more than 14 days out from the ride. You’ll be charged the final amount on-site after you fly. If the weather makes for a no-fly day, they do have the ability to refund guests or reschedule them, so you can book with confidence. Be sure the review the cancellation policy in detail before booking.
The season runs from July to October and is dependent on snow and weather. It’s the perfect option for late summer/early fall once you have some riding under your belt in your local area. If you are interested, we can also help source lodging for your group with one of our partners in the Whistler area. Make it a full package with a mountainside chalet, a couple days at the bike park or checking out local trails, and then the experience of a lifetime for any serious rider. Then, do it again next season.
