Eskimo Freeride Cat Skiing
Eskimo Freeride is
Europe's longest established and best
cat skiing operation. Located in the Sar Mountain (Shar-planina)range in north western Macedonia, the 12m annual snowfall combine with great terrain to create a powder skiing and snowboarding nirvana the envy of any Eskimo!
Operating out of
Macedonia's premier ski resort,
Popova Sapka, Eskimo Freeride has 7 snowcats to prowl the expansive terrain and enough seats to ensure groups are well matched to ability and terrain.
When you cat ski or ride with Eskimo Freeride, you are in one of the last European wildernesses. There are no mountain huts serving beer and soup, no lift stations, villages or groomed pistes in sight anywhere when out skiing. The land still has bears, wolves, and the ghosts of the forest ..... lynx. Despite this, you can still expect great culinary and local cultural experiences.
Family Friendly
Eskimo Freeride sets itself apart from most other cat ski operations in the world by providing family friendly opportunities. Children and families are welcome and perfectly provided for. Expansive terrain for lower intermediates, expert guides plus fat powder skis allow adults with children to experience the thrill of cat skiing powder together....,.... or separately - you choose! The large number of snowcats at Eskimo Freeride allows for specific groups with lower abilities to have their own guide and snowcat to learn to ski powder with no pressure from other guests.
Lodging & Food
Meals and accommodation are included in all Eskimo Freeride packages. The operation is based at the Hotel Bora, making a convenient staging point for all guests. Meals, particularly dinner, are a real treat. A wide range of traditional local vegetarian and meat based dishes will tantalise your taste buds. Local wines and beer complement the meals perfectly. Lodging includes access to a classic wine barrel hot tub - a great place to get to know your fellow skiers or snowboarders.
Get a taste of the cat skiing experience from this video........
Eskimo Freeride Cat Skiing Packages
Eskimo Freeride provides amazing cat skiing holiday packages that will create ever lasting memories. Choose whatever dates suit you best and come toenjoy the thrill of cat skiing powder in a beautiful part of Europe. Cat ski trips with Eskimo Freeride can be for one day or as many as you want - they are fully customisable.
In Spring you can also experience the Eskimo Freeride cat ski camping, where unlike anywhere else in western Europe, the night sky can be seen in its true brilliance. Cat ski camping also includes night riding sessions with illumination from the snowcats and powerful headlamps - unique in the world!
ESKIMO FREERIDE CAT SKIING PACKAGES
4 or 8 Days | 3 or 7 Nights | 3 or 7 Days Cat Skiing
From price based on 4-day package which includes 3 days cat skiing & 3 nights lodging in high season(Jan 20 to Mar 20)
Base/invoice currency is in EUR inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
From price based on 4-day package which includes 3 days cat skiing & 3 nights lodging in high season(Jan 20 to Mar 20)
Base/invoice currency is in EUR inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 848
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Eskimo Freeride offers 4 or 8 day cat ski packages with 3 or 7 full days of cat skiing and snowboarding powder inclusive of accommodation and all meals. Choose your own dates. Fully customised options to suite your own dates and duration are also available. All packages are family friendly!
More
Inclusions
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3 days guided cat skiing (4,000 vert.m./day)(4 day package)
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3 nights accommodation (twin-share)(4 day package)
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All meals
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Use of avalanche safety equipment (including airbag)
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Use of wine barrel hot tub
Add-ons
Location:
Europe
|
Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry
Click here for rates, dates & availability
Future rates & dates are currently not yet available for this operator. Click here to enquire.
Dec 15 - Apr 27, 2019
From 3
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Where is Eskimo Freeride, Macedonia?
Eskimo Freeride is located near the premier Macedonia ski resort of
Popova Sapka.
Popova Sapka is situated in the north west of
Macedonia (or FYROM - former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia), 21km by road west of Tetovo and 70km west of the capital, Skopje.
Eskimo Freeride can organise transfers for all of their guests. Alternatively you can arrange your own transport from Skopje to Popova Sapka.
Travel from Skopje to
Popova Sapka can be achieved by taxi, bus or train via Tetovo. Buses from Skopje are regular and take an hour to Tetovo for the cost of around €2. Train travel from Skopje to Tetovo is possible once a day for around €3. From Tetovo, a taxi ride is necessary to Popova Sapka and will cost about €10. Using a taxi for the entire journey from Skopje is the most efficient mode of travel.
Eskimo Freeride can organise direct private transfers from the airport to their cat skiing operation base at Hotel Bora by taxi or van for
€20/person.
Flights into Skopje Alexander the Great Airport
The Skopje Alexander the Great airport is a modern facility 23km by road east of Skopje in Macedonia. During winter, flight destinations include all major cities in western Europe, England and Scandinavia plus Dubai and Doha in the Middle East and Istanbul, Turkey.
Daily flights to Skopje from any one origin city are limited. Daily flights exist from Vienna, Austria and offer the most convenience if travelling to Macedonia whilst already in Europe. Other useful airports include Zurich, Doha and Dubai if travelling from other international origins. See flight map
here for Skopje origins and destinations.
To search for a great deal on a flight to Skopje, use one of our recommended
flight search engines.
Bus and taxi transport from the airport into Skopje is excellent. Vardar Ekspres runs regular bus services direct to the centre of Skopje for a princely sum equivalent to less than €3. Taxi services from the airport are provided by the Airport taxi company and are heavily regulated with fixed prices to most destinations to avoid any issues for passengers. A taxi journey to Skopje will cost around €20.
The Skopje airport is well served by 14 car rental and hire companies. Vehicles should be checked to ensure they are set up for winter driving (i.e. 4WD/AWD, snow tyres, chains).
To search for and book a rental car use our recommended
rental car search engine.
Eskimo Freeride Cat Ski Terrain
The Eskimo Freeride terrain is mainly high alpine meadows with few base obstructions, meaning even in poor snow seasons (lets face it - it happens everywhere in the world!) the skiing is excellent. But with a annual snowfall of around 12m, there is little chance of that. The terrain includes beautiful mellow terrain for intermediates through to steeps and chutes for experts, plus tree skiing in the lower reaches.
There's a whole spectrum of options available - wide open terrains, tree riding, couloirs, cliffs, banks, natural pipe canyons placed on total of 32 square kilometers. From adrenaline rides down the 50° bowls, or chilling in a safe fluffy 30° slope, there is terrain for everyone.
Locally called Shar-planina or Shar (Sar) mountain, the cat ski area spreads for an amazing 1600 square km, raising up to 2747 m at Tito's peak. Pine wood forest extents from below 1700m and above that lie approximately 550 square km
of high pastures. This is the largest compact area covered with pasture on the European continent making it a perfect playground for backcountry addicts! Shar Mountain is by evolution considered "old mountain" as opposed to the European Alps which are "young mountains". Because of this, Shar Mountain is the perfect shape for safe, fun and unlimited freeriding.
Eskimo Freeride's operation extends onto the best part of the mountain range from
Tito's peak to Jelak and Popova Sapka base at 1687 m.
The average daily vertical covered is 4000m per day, which can be dependent on conditions, daylight hours and the speed and ability of the group.
Skiers and snowboarders must be at least an intermediate level skier or snowbaorder. Lower intermediates can be easily catered for and are encouraged if part of a larger family group.
Cat Ski Camping & Night Riding
In Spring you can also experience the Eskimo Freeride cat ski camping, where unlike anywhere else in western Europe, the night sky can be seen in its true brilliance.
Cat ski camping also includes night riding sessions with illumination from the snowcats and powerful headlamps - unique in the world! check out the video below for a taste!
The Powderhounds will be reviewing Eskimo Freeride in January 2019. Yay!
Follow us on
Facebook or
Instagram to see where we are in winter 2018/19 & to get our impressions of Eskimo as it happens!
Safety at Eskimo Freeride
The operators of Eskimo Freeride take the safety of their guests and staff so seriously that they became and associate member of HeliCat Canada - the world's finest associations mechanized freeride operations.
Eskimo follow the high standards and procedures of the HeliCat Canada Association. The guides are professional and experts in the local terrain and snow conditions.
Terrain options exist for every type of snow and avalanche risk condition. Packages include full avalanche gear (with airbag).
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