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Planning A Family Ski Vacation? 5 Reasons Why You Should Choose Big White Ski Resort
Located in the heart of super, natural British Columbia, Big White Ski Resort is Canada’s Favourite Family Resort, and was voted one of the top resorts in Canada in the Conde Nast Traveller’s Reader's Choice Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024!
Big White is known for a few things: its short lift lines, its ski-in, ski-out village and its family friendly vibes. But, above all, at Big White, “it’s the snow.” While the reasons to visit Big White Ski Resort are endless, we nailed down our Top 5 to help you plan your Canadian ski holiday!
1. Ski-In, Ski-Out – Everywhere!
Home to Canada’s largest totally ski-in, ski-out village, you can ski, snowboard or walk to nearly every restaurant, accommodation, and activity – making it super smooth to get around when you have kids in tow. And, seeing as it hosts Canada’s second largest lifting system, shuttling 28,700 skiers uphill every hour, you’ll spend more time on the slopes and less time waiting in line.
2. Epic Snow Conditions
Each winter, the resort sees an annual average snowfall of 750cm of what the locals refer to as “Okanagan Champagne Powder.” Due to the climate in the Okanagan, the snow that layers Big White is dry, light and oh so good – like a glass of crisp Okanagan bubbly. It’s also what’s responsible for Big White’s world-famous snow ghosts, the snow covered trees that dot the alpine and provide the perfect photo backdrop to make all your friends back home jealous.
From bunny hills to beginner greens, cruisy blues, steep blacks, moguled double blacks, powder gulches and glades, Big White Ski Resort has something for every level of skier and snowboarder. Plus, with a green run from every lift, families with different skill levels can still explore different areas of the mountain together.
3. Apres at Home with Private Hot Tubs
What better way to relax than soaking those sore ski muscles in your own private hot tub? Give the team at Big White Central Reservations a call or email, and have them find you the perfect home away from home during your stay. From condos to private chalets, Central Reservations has accommodation to suit every budget and style.
4. Arrive With Ease
Located just 55 minutes from the Kelowna International Airport – Canada’s 10th largest airport, with 45-minute direct flights from Vancouver – getting to Big White Ski Resort has never been easier. Once you arrive, rent a car or grab a ride on the Big White Central Reservations airport shuttle (must be booked in advance!), and enjoy the scenic drive through the mountains to your home away from home.
The resort is entirely walkable, so there’s no need for a car once you arrive. If you do rent a car, there are plenty of free parking options around the resort, as well as the inclusion of parking space in your accommodation package.
Stock up the kitchen with snacks and ingredients before you arrive with Vacation Food Services, and, if you’re in need of a top-up, there’s a Market in the Village and a shopping shuttle that visits Kelowna once a week.
5. On-Mountain, Off-Slope Fun!
With nearly 20 on-mountain restaurants, cafes, and food trucks at the resort, there are plenty of options for every palette and every budget. Craving sushi at 2,300 metres above sea level? Find Sasquatch Sushi in the Stonebridge Lodge. Have a hankering for Mexican? Cantina del Centro serves up delicious tacos and margaritas at the Inn at Big White, not to mention its unrivaled mountain views from the patio. Snowshoe Sam’s is renowned for its busy nightlight, live music and DJs, not to mention its delicious pub food. Fine dining can be found at The Woods, Black Diamond Bar & Grill, Six Degrees Bistro, and at the brand-new, on-mountain smokehouse: The Fourth Ace. For a full list of our on-mountain eateries, click here.
Looking for something to do after the lifts shut down or need to give the ski legs a break? Happy Valley, just a free, short ride from the Village on Lara’s Gondola, is home to an array of non-skiing activities. Grab a pair of rental skates from the Happy Valley Day Lodge and test out the ice at Canada’s Highest Elevation Skating Rink. Pick up a tube and whiz down one of the five lanes at the Tube Park. Take the family on an adventure of a lifetime with an iconic Canadian experience and whiz through the forest on a dog sled. Snowshoeing, cross country skiing, a packed events calendar – it’ll be tempting to spend your entire vacation exploring the non-skiing activities at the resort.
Channel Nine News Amber Sherlock visits Big White Ski Resort
My family of four recently travelled to Big White in BC, Canada for the first time. As well as being regulars on the NSW ski fields, we have also skied at other resorts in Canada, the US and Japan. I was curious as to why so many Australians have a love affair with Big White and after ten days, it’s safe to say, I worked it out!
The first thing that struck was the relative ease to get there. After a flight from Sydney to Vancouver, it was short domestic flight to Kelowna before a Big White Shuttle greeted us. They have recently revamped their visitor’s centre and the staff that greeted us were friendly, efficient and went above and beyond, despite it being late at night.
When we woke up and looked out the window, we were awestruck. The town centre was literally a snowball throw away and we could see visitors make their way to their morning coffee and ski lesson from our accommodation. This was ski in, ski out in the true sense of the word.
The first morning, we made our way to hire centre and were greeted by knowledgeable staff who fitted us out with impressively high-quality equipment. It’s also worth noting we didn’t even have to queue – there’s always a first for everything! This became a theme of the holiday. We skied on to nearly every lift without having to queue.
The mountain is very user friendly, in that all runs lead back to the village. When you are skiing with kids, it is very reassuring that they unlikely to get lost. But let’s talk about the snow! Although Canada has had an interesting season this year, we managed to time our arrival with a snowstorm – and it continued to snow nearly every day we were there. While this made visibility challenging at times, the trees became our friends and the quality of snow more than made up for it. I can honestly say I skied some of the best powder I’ve ever seen. It was light, deep and untracked and the terrain was varied and challenging.
In terms of accommodation, our reasonably-priced two bedroom apartment not only had great views of the village, but a hot tub on the deck. Perfect for apres-ski! This was such a luxury and we used the spa every single afternoon. We had access to ski lockers and we had the option of two different chairlifts just metres away.
While both my kids are proficient skiers, they had a couple of days of lessons to brush up on their skills. My 13 year old daughter wanted to concentrate on her technique, while my 9 year old son wanted to try snowboarding for the first time. The lesson size was very small, both children only had three other people, which allowed them to get the maximum out of the time. The instructors were a good combination of knowledgeable but fun. The kids centre was also efficient and well organised.
Being in an apartment gave us the choice of eating in or out. We chose to eat out every second night and there were several kid friendly restaurants to chose from. There was also a small supermarket for the basics (although I would advise to do a big shop in Kelowna before you get there). There were day lodges on the hill for lunch which all offered different food, and again, not too busy either.
But we didn’t just ski. We also took the opportunity to check out the tubing park which the kids loved. There were two runs to choose from, varying in steepness, and a travelator to take you back up the hill. We also tried our hand at ice hockey – which is much harder than it looks! Big White has its own ice rink and you can rent skates and a hockey stick to give it a go.
As a family, Big White ticked all the boxes. Number one, the snow was excellent closely followed by fabulous ski in/ski out accommodation. Despite being Australian school holidays, we rarely had to queue to get on a chairlift and restaurant bookings were easy.
While it is a smaller resort, there was easily enough terrain to keep us entertained for the duration of our trip. We were always finding new runs to try or different trees to ski ranging from easy intermediate to advanced. My son also found the beginners slope easy to navigate when he tried snowboarding for the first time.
Would I go back? Most definitely. It was an easy to navigate resort for a family, with great snow, reasonable prices and plenty of accommodation to choose from. It has a smaller resort vibe with friendly staff, a beautiful village, a great ski school and epic snow.
Aussie Adventures at Big White Ski Resort: Don't Miss These Reviews & Exclusive Travel Deals!
Australia Air Travel
For flights, contact our partners at Travel Utopia, they offer highly competitive airfares for Big White customers, along with unparalleled levels of service.
Many reasons to book your air with Travel Utopia
- Travel Utopia provides the most competitive fares to Canada in the marketplace, due to our decades of specialization and strong ties with the airlines that service the region: Air Canada, Qantas, Air NZ, Fiji Airways, United Airlines, Delta and American Airlines
- We pride ourselves on the highest level of attention to detail and care
- We take the time to understand our customers needs and will search multiple airlines, routes, and dates to tailor the best solutions every time
- We ensure that travelers are comprehensively insured for medical, COVID-19 (including unforeseen cancellation/amendment), snow sports (including off-piste), luggage delays, liability and more
Note: Flight availability can be limited, contact Travel Utopia for an obligation free airfare quote prior to locking in lodging dates.
Hot Deals
Check out all our Hot Deals and save!
Free nights, accommodation discounts and more!
Book Your Stay With Big White Central Reservations
We are your specialist Big White booking agency. We can even book flights from select Australian airports.
With our One Stop Shop you can plan and book your winter vacation all in one call or email, booking has never been easier!
• Discounted Lift Tickets
• Discounted Ski & Board Rentals
Accommodation Directory
Superior Service and Exceptional Value - The Mountain's Largest Selection
Build your bespoke vacation package with the Big White experts.
We have lodging to suit every taste and budget as well as all the extras you need to make your trip seamless and hassle free. Choose between hotels, condominiums, townhomes, vacation homes and luxury cabins to find your perfect home away from home. Complete your package with lift tickets, group ski and board lessons, equipment rentals, airport transfers and select flights.
Boasting Canada's largest totally ski-in ski-out resort village, we like to say: Arrive. Unload. Keep it that way. Nothing is more effortless than staying slope side. This is exactly how great ski vacations are meant to be.
alluraDirect Vacation Rentals
Book your next Big White vacation rental accommodation from one of the oldest and most respected mountain resort booking platforms since 1998. alluraDirect has hosted hundreds of thousands of happy guests to the mountains over the past 25+ years, we hope to see you up there!
Okanagan Premier
Welcome to British Columbia's Okanagan, where international ski resort meets world class wineries and golf courses. Surrounded by pine forests, pristine lakes and expansive mountain views from the valley floor to the top of Big White Mountain. Whether it's world-class skiing or a peaceful vacation experience you're after, our region has it all. At Okanagan Premier, we provide fully-licensed property management services so you can relax and make the most of your stay in our comfortable vacation rentals. Contact us today to start planning an unforgettable trip!
Locations Mountain Management Services
At Locations Mountain Management we have a wide variety of properties to choose from in all the areas of Big White that sleep anywhere from 4 - 18! We also have multiple properties within VERY close proximity of each other to be able to accommodate large groups up to 36!!! Most properties have a Private Hot Tub and Amazing Views with some being Pet Friendly. We’ve already opened a number of calendars for next season so visit our website and enter your dates to see exactly what’s available and get your next ski vacation locked in!
Luxury Mountain Vacation Rentals
We offer some of the most exclusive and highly sought-after properties on the mountain! Most of our properties are located in Happy Valley in buildings such as Timbers, South Point & Edge, Spyglass & Raven developments. The prefect ski in/out locations and close proximity to all the activities in Happy Valley for the family. We also have a few beautiful stand-alone Chalets in the White Forest for larger groups.
All of our accommodations offer private hot tubs, cozy gas fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens for the Chef in your group and much more to ensure you have a memorable care free ski holiday here at Big White! Our unique concentration of condos in theses developments are perfect for larger groups where we can accommodate multiple families in the same building so everyone is close to one another.
Urban Retreat Hostel
The lodge is a 2-minute walk to the village where you can shop, start your ski/snowboard lesson then eat, drink and live it up at night.
The Urban Retreat hostel accommodation at Big White Ski Resort, British Columbia (BC), Canada, offers backpacker accommodations slope-side at one of BC’s premier ski resorts. This is a sociable friendly lodge with hosteling private and dorm accommodations right on a HUGE Canadian mountain! It’s a true ski-in/ski-out hosteling experience. That bit means you can walk to the back door, strap on your board and go down a run. And then ski or ride right back to the door at lunchtime. Now that’s good. We like that bit. You don’t get that at Whistler.
Our backpacker accommodation in BC is newly renovated - clean and bright with great common areas and a kitchen that’s plenty big enough for all your backpacker supplies and cooking escapades. It’s got internet and laundry facilities too!
The lodge is a 2-minute walk to the village where you can shop, start your ski/snowboard lesson then eat, drink and live it up at night.
The Big White Lodge accommodations offers ideal hosteling accommodation if you are looking to work a ski season at a mountain with awesome snow, terrain, nightlife, views, tree-runs...ahhh must we go on? We can hook you up with a dorm shared backpacker hosteling accommodation and you can work and live with your mates! Check out the pics in the hostel photo gallery and click on ‘Virtual Tour - Big White’ to see what we are so excited about.
Amenities
- Dorm and private accommodations
- Private rooms with kitchenettes
- Newly renovated
- Ski-in/Ski-out location
- Social activities
- Large common areas
- TV and entertainment room
- Laundry facilities