Lake Tahoe Ski Safari

Touch down in Reno early evening, collect your SUV and hit the open road on a stunning hour-long drive through the desert to Truckee, ten minutes from Northstar. Check-in at the 4* Gravity Haus. After a quick dinner, take the time to familiarise yourself with the town or catch an early night.

Enjoy a sublime breakfast at the Stella Truckee (a Ski Safari favourite) and then drive 10 minutes to Northstar for your first ski day. Warm up with long greens like Lumberjack before heading up the Comstock Express and skiing down Mt Pluto’s East Ridge and dropping into Powder Bowl, The Chute or Dutchman for some fast, well-pitched blue runs. Don't forget to grab your complimentary glass of champagne at Toast at 1.30pm before grabbing some lunch at the Summit Smokehouse for BBQ dishes with more magnificent views of Lake Tahoe. Finish the day with toasted marshmallows at the firepits before heading to Truckee to drink with the locals in one of the authentic bars along Donner Pass Road. Old Street Tap or Bar of America are both great choices.

Check out of your hotel and then head to Northstar for a second day of skiing. Now you've found your ski legs, it's time to ski every black run off the backside. Iron Horse, Polaris, The Rapids and Burn Out are quiet, long, exhilarating and immaculately groomed. Once the lifts shut, leave North Lake Tahoe and drive south along the eastern shore to Heavenly. The drive would take just over an hour, but the scenery and beaches (especially Sand Harbor) are worth stopping for, so grant yourself more time. Check in at the 3* Hotel Becket.

Spend a week in Heavenly and experience the contrasting views of the Nevada desert and Lake Tahoe whilst you enjoy world-class skiing. There are dozens of intermediate runs to enjoy; take the Sky Express or Canyon Express for smooth blues like Liz’s, Canyonland and High Five or take the Tamarack, Dipper or Comet Express for wider, rolling runs. Prime powder terrain includes Ellie’s black run or the huge area of Ski Ways Glades, and for steep terrain, we suggest the Milky Way Bowl. The signature run - Gunbarrel - is long, mogully and challenging. Master this and your lakeside après cocktail will taste even sweeter. Off the mountain in Heavenly Village, we recommend catching a show at the new Tahoe Blue Event Center or paying a visit to the areas iconic casinos. For more skiing, Northstar, Kirkwood, Diamond Peak and Sierra-at-Tahoe are all within an hour's drive. You'll need a day pass for the latter two.

It’s onward from Heavenly, checking out early and continuing south to the more remote Kirkwood for two nights at the 3* Mountain Club. Get to grips with some exhilarating freeride skiing by tackling runs one at a time, starting on the Snowkirk and Solitude lifts, before deciding whether to take on the experts-only The Wall. There are several alpine freeride routes to weave through, such as the well-pitched terrain of Fawn Ridge and in-bounds semi-off-piste runs like Upper Devils Draw. Advanced skiers would benefit from Expedition Kirkwood which utilises Kirkwood's varied terrain to take your skiing and riding to the next level.

After a final breakfast, it's time to head home. Hop back in your SUV and drive 1 hour 25 minutes to Reno. Once you’ve returned the car, you’ll take an internal flight to San Francisco for your return flight back to the UK.