Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellation and Refund Policy

COVID-19 UPDATE

We recognize that you might be keen to join us for some epic heli-skiing, however, you are hesitant in these uncertain times. We want to allay your fears and to make booking a trip with us RISK FREE.

Deposits - 25% and FULLY REFUNDABLE until 90 days prior to trip start date.
Balance - Due 90 days prior to the trip if it is certain to go ahead (i.e. there are not any travel restrictions). If, within 90 days, you are unable to reach us due to COVID related circumstances such as; a governmental travel ban, provincial guidelines recommending you not to travel, or other situations outside your control, we will not require payment until it looks certain your trip will happen.

This means if you are thinking about a trip next winter, you should book NOW to make sure there's availability, and you will have peace of mind knowing you can get your whole deposit back if you cancel 90 days before the trip commences.

Cancelling within 90 days - In the case where you are prohibited from: leaving your home country; entering Canada; or travelling within Canada due to a COVID-19 governmental ban, we will fully credit your trip with the equivalent trip in the next 3 winters, and you will not need to pay the yearly rate increase! If you would like to cancel within 90 days, but not due to COVID-19, then our standard policy takes effect (see below).

While we wish we could control the weather, we do not. Occasionally we cannot ski and often those times are for your safety. We hope you recognize that we want to be out there skiing as much as you do!

Instances when we might not be able to ski include; snow stability issues, unfavourable weather, mechanical issues or an unforeseen emergency.

We have strict payment and refund policies. For this reason we ask all our clients to thoroughly read the information supplied on our website before registering for a heliskiing tour.

The reservation and cancellation policies outlined are more or less standard in the heli-skiing industry.

Cancellation Insurance

We strongly recommend purchasing cancellation insurance. Once a booking is made significant expenses and long term commitments are incurred on your behalf. For this reason we are not prepared to offer refunds if you are later forced to cancel.

In addition, we recommend buying medical evacuation insurance. If you are injured while skiing and need to be flown to the hospital or back to the lodge, the cost of the flight will be billed to your account.

For both your protection and ours, we strongly recommend that you to book cancellation and evacuation insurance online with Lifestyle Financial. Their policy covers both Canadians and Non-Canadians (Note - if you are Non-Canadian, the information pertaining to you in their policy is after the information for Canadians).

Cancellations

Deposits are non-refundable.

If you need to cancel your trip after having paid the deposit, but before the balance payment, you have the following options;

You can re-schedule to a later date within the season in which you are booked (plus pay if there's a season pricing difference)
You can find someone new to take over your booking and reimburse you privately

If your substitute takes up your seat with Bella Coola Heli Sports, we will credit any money that you have paid to us toward the balance owing on your substitute's seat. We will leave it to you and your substitute to determine how you recoup the payments credited to the substitute's benefit. While we cannot revise our cancellation policy, we hope that our acceptance of your substitute will offset the effects of our policy.

If you need to cancel your trip after the balance has become due, you have the following options;

We can try and sell your seat on your behalf. If we are able to sell it, we will credit your account for the amount we sold it for, minus an administration fee, which you can use towards a new trip within the same season
You can find someone new to take over your booking and reimburse you privately

Other considerations;

If you cancel your seat after you have paid the deposit, we will not refund the deposit and will open up your space to another person
We will consider that you have cancelled your seat if we do not receive the balance payment 90 days before your trip start date

Please note that Bella Coola Heli Sports reserves the right to cancel your reservation. If this happens, you will be able to reschedule your trip for a future date.

Special note on all flight changes: If you are unable to arrive/depart on our scheduled flights for the start or end date of your package, the cost to re-book you on another flight is $400.

Refund Policies

*** IMPORTANT info for those booking Vertical programs

The helicopter costs of operating your heli-skiing week are by far the most expensive part of your package. We cannot afford to fly with an empty seat. This necessitates a strict policy: EACH GUEST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF THEIR SEAT.

If you decide to sit out a run in order to rest, or get injured and are unable to continue skiing/boarding, your vertical account will register the amount skied by the group you were assigned to, not the vertical you actually skied. We sympathize with those that miss out on skiing, but this policy insures that we are able to continue flying and are able to fulfill our obligations to the other guests.

By way of further explanation, imagine that your helicopter is a taxi and you are four friends taking a ride. If one or two people ask to be dropped off half way to the destination, the overall cost of the taxi ride does not change.

Similarly, if for whatever reason you request to fly back to the lodge or your guide deems it necessary for you to be flown out; you will be billed for the costs of the extra flying time incurred by the company in returning you to the valley before the heliski day is finished. The costs will vary depending on the amount of flight time required. If it does become necessary for you to be flown out because of an injury, we suggest that you submit the costs of the evacuation to your insurance company.

There is also no refund for down days per se; however, if bad weather or mechanical breakdown prevents us from providing you with the total vertical or the flying time included in the program, we will refund according to the formulas listed below.

Private at Tweedsmuir, Eagle and Mystery Mountain

3-Night Private: includes 4 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 3.2 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 3.2 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 3.2 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

4-Night Private: includes 5 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 4.0 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4.0 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.0 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

5-Night Private: includes 6 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 4.8 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4.8 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.8 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

7-Night Private: includes 8 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 6.4 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 6.4 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 6.4 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

Private PLUS at Tweedsmuir, Eagle and Mystery Mountain

3-Night Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 2 night "Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 3 hours (of which 2.4 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 3rd night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 2.4 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 2.4 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

4-Night Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 3 night "Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 4 hours (of which 3.2 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 4th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 3.2 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 3.2 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

5-Night Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 4 night "Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 5 hours (of which 4 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 5th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

7-Night Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 6 night "Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 7 hours (of which 4.8 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 7th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4.8 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.8 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,780 per hour.

Private at Pantheon and Terra Nostra

4-Night Private: includes 5.5 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 4.4 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4.4 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.4 hour guarantee at a rate of $4,880 per hour.

5-Night Private: includes 6.5 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 5.2 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 5.2 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.8 hour guarantee at a rate of $4,880 per hour.

7-Night Private: includes 9 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 7.2 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 7.2 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 7.2 hour guarantee at a rate of $4,880 per hour.

Semi Private at Tweedsmuir & Eagle

3-Night Semi Private: includes 6 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 4.8 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4.8 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.8 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

4-Night Semi Private: includes 8 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 6.4 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 6.4 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 6.4 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

5-Night Semi Private: includes 10 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 8 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 8 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 8 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

7-Night Semi Private: includes 14 hours of flying time, of which we guarantee 11.2 hours. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 11.2 hours over the course of your package, we will refund all unused hours below the 11.2 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

Semi Private PLUS at Tweedsmuir & Eagle

3-Night Semi Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 2 night "Semi Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 4 hours (of which 3.2 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 3rd night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 3.2 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 3.2 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

4-Night Semi Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 3 night "Semi Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 6 hours (of which 4.8 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 4th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 4.8 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 4.8 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

5-Night Semi Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 4 night "Semi Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 8 hours (of which 6.4 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 5th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 6.4 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 6.4 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

7-Night Semi Private PLUS: the rate for this package is about the same as the regular 6 night "Semi Private program" and includes that packages' flying time of 12 hours (of which 9.6 hours are guaranteed), plus we give you the 7th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent your group achieving the guaranteed 9.6 hours over the course of the package, we will refund all unused hours below the 9.6 hour guarantee at a rate of $3,680 per hour (for the two heli loads).

3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Night Classic Vert and Classic PLUS Programs

3-Night Classic Vert: includes 42,500 vertical feet (12,954m), of which we guarantee 34,000 vertical feet (10,400m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 34,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 34,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

3-Night Classic PLUS: includes the 2 night "Classic Vertical" amount of 28,000ft (of which 22,400ft is guaranteed) and we give you the 3rd night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 22,400 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 22,400 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

4-Night Classic Vert: includes 57,000 vertical feet (17,373m), of which we guarantee 45,600 vertical feet (13,920m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 45,600 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 45,600 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

4-Night Classic PLUS: includes the 3 night "Classic Vertical" amount of 42,500ft (of which 34,000ft is guaranteed) and we give you the 4th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 34,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 34,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

5-Night Classic Vert: includes 70,500 vertical feet (21,488m), of which we guarantee 56,400 vertical feet (17,200m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 56,400 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 56,400 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

5-Night Classic PLUS: includes the 4 night "Classic Vertical" amount of 57,000ft (of which 45,600ft is guaranteed) and we give you the 5th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 45,600 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 45,600 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

6-Night Classic Vert: includes 85,000 vertical feet (25,908m), of which we guarantee 68,000 vertical feet (20,725m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 68,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 68,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

6-Night Classic PLUS: includes the 5 night "Classic Vertical" amount of 70,500ft (of which 56,400ft is guaranteed) and we give you the 6th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 56,400 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 56,400 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

7-Night Classic Vert: includes 100,000 vertical feet (30,500m), of which we guarantee 80,000 vertical feet (24,500m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 80,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 80,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

7-Night Classic PLUS: includes the 6 night "Classic Vertical" amount of 85,000ft (of which 68,000ft is guaranteed) and we give you the 7th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 68,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 68,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

8-Night Classic PLUS: includes the 7 night "Classic Vertical" amount of 100,000ft (of which 80,000ft/24,500m is guaranteed) and we give you the 8th night of accommodation and meals for free. If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 80,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 80,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

Classic XL

5-Night: includes 85,500 vertical feet (26,060m), of which we guarantee 68,400 vertical feet (20,848m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 68,400 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 68,400 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

7-Night: includes 120,000 vertical feet (36,575m), of which we guarantee 96,000 vertical feet (29,260m). If mechanical issues or weather conditions prevent you achieving the guaranteed amount of 96,000 vertical feet over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 96,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

Rod & Ski Club

3-Night: If you do not attain a minimum threshold of 20,000 vertical feet (6,096 vertical metres) skied over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 20,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

4-Night: If you do not attain a minimum threshold of 27,000 vertical feet (8,231 vertical metres) skied over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 27,000 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.

5-Night: If you do not attain a minimum threshold of 33,500 vertical feet (10,213 vertical metres) skied over the course of your package; we will refund all un-skied vertical below this 33,500 vertical foot threshold at a rate of $60 per 1,000 feet.