Backcountry Ski Touring and Splitboarding

Country: Argentina, South America
Style: Backcountry Touring with Lift Access
Difficulty: Challenging
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Limited to: 6 guests
From: $5795 USD
Dates: SEP 5-12

Welcome to Argentina’s big mountain Mecca—the Las Leñas backcountry. Home to some of the best lift-accessed backcountry touring on Earth, we’ll spend a week skinning, climbing, and exploring the steeps and famous terrain that has put Las Leñas in the spotlight for decades. Here the lifts do one job: getting you up high, fast, so you can spend the day touring deep into the terrain that matters. September is prime season for ski touring and splitboarding in Las Leñas—you’ll earn every turn alongside our local guide team, then unwind through relaxing afternoons at the hotel’s heated pool and spa. Your day doesn’t end there. Dinners are hosted each night featuring local fare and savory desserts, and for night owls, the lively Las Leñas Village has a casino, bars, and discos.

Trip Highlights

  • Earn your turns via the ultimate lift access backcountry touring in South America – lifts for access, skinning for the rest
  • Skip the lift lines with our lift line priority pass
  • Spicy couloirs, alpine ramps, super spines
  • Stay in the comfortable ski-in/ski-out Piscis Hotel
  • Recharge at the hotel’s spa and heated pool

Trip Highlights

Itinerary

Click on the + for more details

  • Fly into San Rafael airport (AFA), private transfer to Las Leñas
  • Check in and meet your PowderQuest guides at the Piscis Hotel and Spa
  • Trip intro and prep for tomorrow’s safety review and 1st day on the mountain
  • Group welcome dinner with your friendly ski guides
  • Daily breakfast at our hotel
  • 6 days lift assisted ski touring between dramatic granite spires and steep powder filled chutes - ride up, then skin and climb to the day's lines
  • Unwind after skiing at our hotel's pool and spa
  • Nightly hosted dinners by your guides
  • Apres-ski and nightlife? The village of Las Leñas is famous for parties. Just be sure to get home in time to ski!
  • Breakfast included at the hotel
  • Say farewell to your guides and new amigos
  • Return private transfer to San Rafael Airport to begin your travels home
  • Want to extend your trip? No problemo. Check-out suggestions in the “FAQs” below

Is This Trip For Me?

powderquest

You should be in very good shape and confident skiing steep and varied terrain and snow conditions, including powder and hard pack. Participants must ski ungroomed black diamond runs without hesitation and have moderate ski touring or splitboarding experience, including efficient transitions, skinning steep terrain, and executing kick turns. Snowboarders should maintain speed on flats, hold a solid traverse line, and maneuver smoothly to keep the group moving, sometimes using ski poles for assistance. You should be comfortable climbing 800-1,000 meters (2,600-3,300 feet) per day in multiple ascents, with the ability to handle 1,200-1,500 meters (4,000-4,900 feet) at high altitude. More on ability levels

Trip Essentials

Expert Support
  • 2 full-time, bilingual guides. Lead guide is a Ski Guide certified by the ACMG or IFMGA. Assistant guide is a Las Lenas local since 2005, certified by the Canadian Ski Guides Association
  • Dedicated bilingual support office, ensuring seamless logistics and extra peace of mind throughout your adventure
Skiing
    • Lift tickets
    • Priority lift line access
  • Avalanche and mountain safety course
Seemless Travel
  • Private round trip airport pick up / drop off San Rafael Airport
Accommodations
  • Ski-in/ski-out hotel with twin share rooms/private bath (single room upgrades available)
  • Spa and pool
Meals and Wine
  • Daily breakfast
  • Hosted dinners each evening
  • Mineral water
  • Wine, carefully selected by our guides to enhance every dinner
  • Travel insurance
  • Flights
  • Lunch
  • Personal expenses such as beverages outside of included dinner wine, discretionary gratuities for your guides

View or download the packing list

FAQs:

  • Is this "sidecountry"? What does backcountry touring with lift access actually mean? No, this is true backcountry touring, and the difference matters. Sidecountry (or "slackcountry") usually means riding a lift up and skiing out of bounds back toward the resort, with little to no climbing. On our trips, the lift does one thing: it saves you the long, low-elevation approach and drops you up high so the real touring can start sooner. From there you'll skin, climb, and earn your descents under your own power—expect 500–1,000m (1,500′–3,000′) of climbing on a typical day. Ski touring or splitboard gear and the fitness to match are required. In short: the lift buys you time and terrain; the turns are still yours to earn.
  • What will a typical day look like while we are skiing? We use ski lifts for vertical gain, then ski tour and splitboard to explore the backcountry for most of the day. While the ski resorts provide easy access to the mountains, this trip is focused on backcountry skiing and riding rather than resort or sidecountry laps. On occasion, conditions may allow for a few quality inbounds powder runs as we move through the day, but our primary goal is always to maximize time in the backcountry. Each day, our guides use the lifts as a starting point to access larger and more remote terrain. One of the advantages of this format is flexibility. If weather, visibility, or mountain conditions temporarily limit access to the backcountry, we can still enjoy excellent skiing within the resort as a backup plan while waiting for conditions to improve.
  • When is the best time to come for the best conditions? August through September offers the most consistent powder, typically delivering peak snow and fewer crowds.
  • Where are the other guests from and what is their backcountry experience? Guests join us from around the world, mostly from North America, Europe, and Australia. Expect a mix of advanced to expert skiers and riders who are comfortable on varied terrain and up for the daily touring adventures as described in the Is This Trip For Me section on this page.
  • Is there Wi-Fi in the lodge? Yes, the hotel offers reliable Wi-Fi so you can stay connected.
  • How much currency should I bring for extras like lunch etc.? While most of your expenses are covered, plan on around USD $30–$50 per day for lunches, snacks, and après-ski. Credit cards are accepted in most places, but having some Argentine pesos is handy for smaller stops.
  • Can you help me extend my stay? Yes. We specialize in ski resort bookings and other unique excursions such as vineyard tours, Easter Island, Santiago, Buenos Aires and more.

Accommodations

Hotel Piscis Las Lenas

Las Lenas Hotels

Ski-in/ski-out, Piscis Hotel and Spa is located in the heart of the Las Leñas village. Features a modern health club with spa, sauna, jacuzzi, massage therapists, and an indoor and outdoor pool to unwind after a day of backcountry touring in Las Leñas.

Book Trip Now

This is a once in a lifetime backcountry trip to Las Leñas. Let our expert guides take you to the mind blowing Andes terrain you’ve only dreamed about.

Pricing Details: (in USD)

  • $5795 per person, shared twin room with private bath
  • Solo travelers are comfortably paired with another guest of the same gender whenever possible
  • Optional private room: $1095 (limited availability)
  • Deposit: 25% to confirm your reservation
  • Final balance due 90 days prior to departure

Questions? Call us at 1-307-213-9094 or contact us via email.

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