We had an absolutely incredible experience at the Freeride Camp with Sherpa’s Ride! My husband and I chose this trip as a belated honeymoon adventure in Japan, and it exceeded all of our expectations. We debated between exploring on our own or joining a group, and we’re so glad we chose the latter. The Sherpa’s Ride team’s intimate knowledge of the best ski spots—hidden resort stashes, backcountry locations protected from the wind, and even non-skiing recommendations like local onsens and restaurants—made the trip seamless and unforgettable. Plus, having van rides everywhere and easy access to ski and avalanche gear rentals made travel logistics a breeze (I brought my own beacon and boots, but they have a great selection of skis to choose from).

In terms of skiing ability, our group had a wide range—from someone who had never skinned before to someone throwing backflips. Comfort with powder is definitely helpful, as we experienced some wild and beautiful deep snow! If you’re planning to tour, I highly recommend locking in your personal touring prep beforehand. Some of our group members ended up with gnarly blisters from the wrong boots or inadequate foot care (I swear by double-layer socks and lots of blister cream). The right layering for uphill travel and variable conditions is also crucial.

The balance between resort and backcountry days was about 50-50, though this depends on the weather. While the website provides a sample itinerary, the team makes real-time decisions based on avalanche reports and lift/gate openings to ensure the best conditions. This flexibility was another reason we were thrilled to go with Sherpa’s Ride—they truly prioritize the best snow and safest locations for the group.

The camp operates with three small groups at a time: one Road Trip group and two Freeride groups, each with up to six participants, a guide, and either a second guide or a professional photographer. Most guests stay in a shared house in Kutchan, which has a great common area for relaxing and socializing (Powerhounds has more info about the different Niseko neighborhoods if you’re curious about the vibe). Our group was a mix of couples, friends, family, and solo travelers, primarily from Europe. English was the main language spoken, though some guests spoke German, and the guides are also fluent in Czech.

Beyond skiing, Sherpa’s Ride includes fantastic bonus activities like a local presentation on Hokkaido, an avalanche safety refresher, frequent onsen visits, group sushi dinners, and even karaoke! Breakfast every morning was a highlight—delicious homemade food that fueled us for long days in the mountains. The owner of the accommodation also speaks Japanese and was incredibly helpful for things like communicating with a pharmacist when needed.

Another great perk: if you have a pass (like Ikon) that covers a resort, Sherpa’s Ride provides a refund for that day. That said, they take you off the beaten path, so there’s generally no more than one day at Niseko.

A huge shoutout to our guide, Miro—aka Hero Miro! He consistently found us perfect, untracked lines, kept us sheltered from the wind on blustery days, and even broke trail for us. Sometimes he even sacrificed his own turns to capture amazing photos and videos! He did an incredible job managing different skiing abilities and expectations, even allowing some guests to take an unguided resort day if they preferred. His balance of fun, knowledge, and serious avalanche safety awareness made our experience truly exceptional. I’ll definitely be looking out for other Sherpa’s Ride tours that he guides!

This is a lengthy review, but I hope it provides insight into what makes Sherpa’s Ride Freeride Camp so special. We had an unforgettable experience and would absolutely do it again!
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This has my first time ever travelling outside of Europe for a ski trip and I couldn't have made a better choice. I got to learn ski touring and skied on the best snow I've ever had the chance to experience. The place we stayed at was great and everyone involved was very welcome and professional. 10/10 would do it again.
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Really fun trip where the purpose is to find those fresh lines and deep snow! Entire booking process went smoothly and they answered all my questions via email. Just a FYI it is a Czech company, and you can find more reviews if you look at the reviews of their company in Czechia. I requested and was put in the Japanese pension vs the hotel after reading some reviews - but turns out the hotel for the 2025 season is a lot better than previous years. The descriptions they have related to lodging is spot on.

Equipment was ok with Nitro splitboards/snowboards. The fact they provide ski/snowboard/avalanche gear for free is a great and unheard of perk! Still it's better to bring your own for the best experience though, it took me a little bit to get used to their splitboard.

The itinerary listed is more of an example of places you may visit? The guides really do try to get the best snow - so if there's new snow at the resort, you'll go there. But if there is not new snow, we went touring. In my trip, we split it 50/50 due to having fresh snow at the start of the trip and minimal freshies at the end.

Overall trip was really fun! Rode in deep powder and discovered terrain in Japan for next time I visit! Would recommend and join again!
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This has my first time ever travelling outside of Europe for a ski trip and I couldn't have made a better choice. I got to learn ski touring and skied on the best snow I've ever had the chance to experience. The place we stayed at was great and everyone involved was very welcome and professional. 10/10 would do it again.
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Pretty awesome trip with awesome crew. The guides are competent and know all the good spots. The main lodge is very good, but given not all people fit in it, you can get a bit more cramped option, but that's Japan, not exactly known for spacious houses.

Overall I would definitely recommend. Eastern Europeans will feel at home with this crew. Oh, and cool photos from a dedicated photographer is a great addition to have something to remember the trip by.
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