The Ultimate Canadian Sun Peaks Ski Guide

A near-flawless village, activities galore and sensational sunny slopes make this three-mountain destination a complete ski package.

Why it’s legendary

You know a ski resort caters to families when there’s a public school upon its slopes. Such is the case with Sun Peaks which, in 2015, became Canada’s second-largest ski and snowboard destination after a 200-hectare expansion on two of its three mountains. The 1728 hectares of terrain and 122 runs will keep the whole family happy, with help from a much-awarded ski school, a wealth of alternative wintry activities including sleigh rides, ice-skating and a (literally) loopy tube park, and a picturesque village where accommodations, restaurants, shops and more are just steps from the slopes. Last but not least, 2000 hours of sunshine and nearly six metres of snow annually mean that even Mother Nature is on your side.

Who will love it

Perfectionists will appreciate the elegant layout, handy services and extensive amenities of Sun Peak’s award-winning village. Nestled in a picturesque alpine valley, the 7000-bed incorporated community evokes a traditional alpine hamlet, with edelweiss carved into snow-covered Swiss dormers and fairy lights lending a festive air all winter. The icing on this picturesque cake is ski-in/ski-out access to all three of Sun Peak’s mountains and most of its 11 lifts.

Three things you must do

1. Riding the Sunburst Express chairlift at 8am, a full hour before everyone else, has three principal benefits: you’ll blaze a trail through any pristine powder that fell overnight; you’ll get the first crack at Sun Peak’s renowned groomed runs; and after all that, you’re served a hearty breakfast at the Sunburst Mid-Mountain Restaurant. Plus, you’ve still got most of the day ahead of you!

2. Bookend your day of schussing and dining by boarding the Sunburst Express yet again for a fondue dinner with live music. After the meal you’ll don a headlamp and, with the starry sky as your backdrop, you’ll glide down the gentle five-mile run with a guide at your side.

3. Nordic skiers can take a high-speed chairlift up Mount Morrisey for a glorious glide down the winding Holy Cow trail – part of the resort’s 34-kilometre network – followed by a scenic rest-stop at the rustic McGillivray Lake Outpost warming hut.

Local secrets you should know

The new Gil’s terrain atop 2152-metre Mount Tod is the ideal place to pop off your skis or snowboard and ‘boot-pack’ up as locals do. These pristine slopes are now patrolled and avalanche-controlled just like the rest of the resort, the only differences being the lack of a lift and the extra helping of untouched powder.

Sun Peaks’ friendly Sun Hosts won’t take you up Gil’s – they generally stick to intermediate and beginner runs – but their free daily tours deliver superb local insights on when and where to find the best conditions.

Off the slopes

No genuine Canadian experience is complete without a little ice hockey, and Sun Peaks’ shuttle service to the Kamloops Blazers’ home games will give you a pro-level taste. A private charter picks guests up two hours before game time at the Sandman Centre arena – giving you time to dine at one of Kamloops’ downtown restaurants – and then returns you to the resort after the score has been settled.

Best après-ski hotspots

A lively mix of locals and visitors come to Bottoms Bar & Grill for drink specials and pub-style comfort food, while nearby Morrisey’s Public House adds an Irish twist to après, along with plenty of screens for sports fans. The Club, meanwhile, kicks the party up several notches with live music and DJs.

Skiers will love

Skiing with Nancy Greene

The 1968 Olympic Champion, a Canadian senator and director of skiing at Sun Peaks takes part in the Sun Hosts program on many weekend and holiday afternoons. If you dream of skiing with a gold-medallist –and getting technique tips from one too – this is your chance!

Nancy Greene Sun Peaks — Skiing with an Olympic Champion is surely on your bucket list.

Snowboarders will love

Sunny afternoons on the Burfield Chair

All alone on the west side of Mt. Tod, the Burfield climbs a stunning assortment of black-diamond terrain, bathed in glowing alpine sunlight more often than not. If your legs are burning after a stellar ride down, it’s nice to know that the ride up will take a leisurely 23 minutes.

Recommended places to stay

Budget

The Burfield

Ski-in/ski-out dorms and private rooms with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge area and free wi-fi. Choose between the Hostel or the Boutique Hotel. Either one and you’ll be treated well.

Address: 1140 Sun Peaks Road

Midrange

Coast Sundance Lodge

This well-equipped chain property combines a ski-in/ski-out location with in-room kitchenettes or full kitchens, fireplaces and free wi-fi.

Address: 3160 Creekside Way

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Family

The Residences at Sun Peaks Grand

Spacious, fully equipped apartments come with full kitchens, fireplaces and balconies.

Address: 3240 Village Way

Sun Peaks Grand Hotel — It truly is grand alright.

Luxury

Bear Country Sun Peaks Resort

Manages a wide variety of high-end condos, townhouses, and chalets, either slopeside or in the village.

Address: 3220 Village Way

Canada is that snow-white escape you’ve been searching for. Make a list of things to do by heading to our travel guide.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The Ultimate Sun Peaks Ski Guide