Unfortunately we cannot refund Cat or Heli skiing tours. However, our dedicated staff will try there best to reschedule your day if sufficient time is provided and there is availability.

Exceptions – In the event of a natural or man made disaster, including but not limited to an earthquake, tsunami, volcano, pandemic, nuclear meltdown or war that causes us to cease our entire operations or means you are unable to make your tour due to flight cancellations and travel restrictions, tour dates will be transferable to another date.

Hokkaido is famous for its huge quantities of snowfall each year - it’s why we love it here! However, with this often comes snowy, cloudy, sometimes windy and low visibility conditions. Luckily, this does not mean your tour needs to be cancelled. Our experienced guides keep a close eye on the weather and snow conditions and know the best spots to go on any given day. We are confident that they’ll find an appropriate place for you and your crew. That said, if the conditions are deemed too dangerous to keep you safe by your guide, the tour will be cancelled prior to commencement. If this does occur, we will endeavour to reschedule your tour - weather changes quickly here, making this an easy solution. If this is not possible, we will provide you with a full refund.

With an annual average of 15 metres, Niseko is considered one of the snowiest international ski resorts in the world. Snow generally starts falling in Hokkaido in early December and can go right through until April. However, if it’s the famous Niseko powder you’re chasing, January and February are the months that historically experience the most snowfall.That said, we’ve seen epic dumps in March over the years. And with the start of spring often comes clearer skies and warmer days - meaning you get some epic views.

Our guides will generally collect you right from your accommodation, unless other plans have been made (eg. meeting at a specific point).

Guest safety is our number one priority at Stay North. We have a number of procedures in place to ensure our tours are as safe as can be and only work with companies that meet our safety prerequisites.

• Employment of highly qualified guides.

• Daily guide meetings to review the conditions and trips planned before commencement.

• Ongoing assessment of weather, conditions and hazards in and around the Niseko area.

• Guest information overview including skill level, medical information and trip expectations.

• Operating under the rules of the mountain and ski patrol (eg. not entering terrain that is closed).

It is important to understand that heading out into an Alpine environment inevitably brings with it risks. However, by using a professional guiding company you can feel confident that these risks are consistently monitored and all reasonable measures are taken to keep you safe and having fun.

While we encourage people to take risks and step outside their comfort zone, guest safety and fun is paramount for us. To safely ski the terrain accessed by the cat and helicopter, you will need to be an advanced skier (intermediate to advanced is ok for cat skiing). This is because the terrain is steep, there can be hidden hazards and conditions change rapidly.

If you’re unsure whether you will be able to safely participate on one of these tours, contact us directly before booking and we can help. Also, our guided touring days are another great option, as these are private and your guide can easily assess your ability and take you to an appropriate spot.

For both cat and heli skiing you are required to carry an avalanche pack at all times. This includes shovel, probe and beacon. We hire these out if you don’t have your own.