Niseko Backcountry Tours
Get away from the busy parts of Niseko and nearby ski areas, where your guide can show you the serene powder zones. You can choose from a day or more of guiding of the lift-accessed backcountry (sidecountry) of Niseko or nearby ski resorts (see options below), or use your ski touring or splitboarding equipment to get a little further afield, or if you want the maximum rewards you can do a full day of backcountry touring.
Niseko Backcountry Tours are tailored for your
private group of up to 5 people.
Niseko Backcountry Tours is a very small guiding outfit, so you'll receive attentive service and not just feel like you're being guided by a cog in a big wheel. NBT is led by Phil who has called Niseko Hokkaido home for more than a decade and has honed his guiding and instructing skills over that time. He teaches avalanche safety courses, and enjoys sharing his passions for the mountains with others.
Locations
The guided day/s includes transportation between your lodging and the ski area or trail head, with pick-ups from any of the
Niseko villages or
Kutchan. If you're staying in Otaru or Sapporo, please
get in contact to discuss options and pricing.
For lift-accessed and lift-assisted terrain options, ski areas that could be visited include
Niseko United,
Moiwa,
Rusutsu,
Kiroro,
Sapporo Teine or
Sapporo Kokusai. Your guide will discuss options to optimise the snow and weather conditions.
For backcountry touring, there are plenty of options including mellow protected trees, steep trees, and big mountain objectives, pending weather and snow conditions.
1. Lift-Accessed & Lift-Assisted Backcountry
If you prefer to save your energy for going downhill rather than hiking up, you have the option of a lift-accessed backcountry trip. Utilising the lifts, your guide will show you to powder in the off-piste zones and out the resort gates to the backcountry that feeds back into the resort.
For more fresh turns, just short skins will take you a little further afield and open up a lot more terrain options. So whilst touring skis or a splitboard set up are not essential, they are recommended to enable lift-assisted backcountry and increase the likelihood of fresh powder turns.
2. Full Backcountry
Niseko Backcountry offers a thrilling backcountry experience, starting with a detailed plan discussed with your guide the day before. High alpine terrain objectives such as Mt Yotei will be weather dependent. The experienced guides will ensure your safety with an avalanche safety briefing before embarking on a full day of hiking and riding the best snow on offer. Transportation to and from your accommodation is included. Touring skis or split boards, skins, touring poles and avalanche safety gear are required.
3. Intro to Backcountry
Perfect for first timers, your guide will cover all the skills you need to know to travel safely in simple backcountry terrain. Pre-tour, your guide will contact you to discuss the weather forecast and venue options for the day. At the trailhead you will complete a gear check and the guide will show you how to setup your touring skis or splitboard before moving to an open area where you can practise avalanche rescue as a team. Your group will start hiking to the first run of the day, discussing efficient climbing techniques and safe route finding along the way. This tour is aimed at skiers/riders who are already comfortable riding ungroomed terrain in variable snow conditions.
If you want to check availability or have any other questions
please get in contact.