Big White

Powder paradise with ski-in/ski-out village

Big White Mountain rises in British Columbia with rugged peaks and wide valleys covered by evergreen forests. The area features clear alpine lakes, rocky ridges and open meadows where wildlife like deer and bears can be seen. Trails lead to high viewpoints that show sweeping mountain views across the region. In summer, wildflowers bloom along paths while winter brings snow for skiing or snowshoeing. Local parks provide space for camping and hiking with minimal crowds and fresh air. The landscape remains quiet and open, making it a practical spot for outdoor activities year-round.

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Mountain in Canada

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.1

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	10

Read details

5/5

English is the primary language spoken at Big White. All staff members, from instructors to service personnel, are fluent English speakers, making communication extremely easy for English-speaking tourists.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Big White Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Outstanding for skiing and winter sports. Enjoy deep powder slopes, snowboarding parks, snowshoe trails and lively mountain village après-ski.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Snow

Spotless

Mountains

Natural sites

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 9

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🌈 9

LGBTQ+

Canada – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Canadian Dollar (CAD) £1 ≈ CA$1.87
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted, especially in urban areas. Most businesses accept credit and debit cards, and mobile payment options like Apple Pay are popular. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Canada, with a typical tip of 10-20% in restaurants. Tipping is also expected in taxis and for hotel staff, usually 1-2 CAD for bellhops and housekeepers.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by province, but it's often allowed in designated areas such as festivals or certain parks.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public spaces and in most outdoor spaces in urban areas. Some provinces have stricter laws than others.

Canada Day (July)	The country celebrates with fireworks and festivals. Expect crowded tourist spots and high demand for accommodations.
Thanksgiving (October)	A major family holiday with many businesses closed, especially in rural areas.
Christmas (December)	Festive markets and winter activities are popular, but expect higher accommodation prices and busy cities.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Other:	Canada is vast, so be prepared for long distances between cities and varying weather conditions depending on the region.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Big White, Canada

❄️

Jan

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Feb

⛅

Mar

⛅

Apr

⛅

May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

❄️

Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Nov.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Ski season runs late November to mid April, Christmas to New Year and mid-February long weekends are busiest

Resort village mostly closed May to October, lifts and most lodging run only in ski season

Don't miss

🎿 Ski or snowboard the powdery slopes of Big White Resort
🚡 Ride the Bullet Express and enjoy sweeping alpine views
🌙 Go night skiing under the starlit mountain sky
❄️ Snowshoe through peaceful forest trails after fresh snowfall
🔥 Relax by the fire with hot chocolate in the village

You've been here?

Why travel to Big White?

Big White is a perfectly balances world-class skiing area with genuine accessibility for all skill levels. The mountain truly lives up to its name with terrain that suits everyone - from gentle learning areas for beginners to challenging powder bowls and unique Snow Ghost trees for advanced riders. What makes it special is the seamless village experience where you can literally step outside your accommodation and onto the slopes, eliminating the usual hassles of ski vacations. The family-friendly atmosphere is what really sets Big White apart. The resort goes above and beyond with activities like tubing, dogsledding, snowmobiling, sleigh rides and weekly events like fireworks and the family 'Moose Cruz' treasure hunt. Even if you're visiting outside winter, the nearby Okanagan Valley offers winery tours, hiking and mountain biking. Just be aware that weather can be unpredictable - some seasons have less-than-ideal snowfall and fog can sometimes roll in, creating challenging visibility conditions. The roads to the resort can also be tricky in winter with snow and occasional wildlife like elk, moose and even bears near season's end.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Village Centre Mall

🎡Places for activities

1 Happy Valley Road
2 Lara's Gondola
3 Kettle Graystokes Snowmobile Trails

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Gem Lake Express

🛍️Shopping

1 The Market at Big White

🎈Events

Weekly Fireworks
Family Moose Cruz
TELUS Park Jam Sessions
Christmas Light Up Celebration
New Year's Eve Celebrations
Big White Winter Carnival
Ski Racing Competitions
Spring Splash
Easter Celebrations
Canada Day Festivities

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Book lift tickets early. Peak season sells out fast.
Join free daily mountain tours at 10:15 AM from Village Centre to learn best runs for your skill level.
Drive from Kelowna airport or shuttle up; once at ski-in/ski-out village, no car needed for accommodations and lifts.
Explore glades off groomed trails for powder stashes, especially Cliff Bowl and Gem Lake areas popular with locals.

How to travel to Big White

The most convenient way to reach Big White is to fly into Kelowna International Airport, which is about 56 km (35 miles) or a one-hour drive from the resort. From Vancouver, it's just a 45-minute flight to Kelowna, making it accessible for international travelers. Once in Kelowna, you have two main options: rent a car from one of the six rental companies at the airport (National, Budget, Avis, ACE, Enterprise or Hertz) or take a shuttle bus operated by Big White Central Reservations, which will meet you at the arrival lounge and transport you to the resort in under an hour.

Access summary

From Kelowna International Airport (YLW): Resort shuttle or car, about 1 hour.
From Kelowna city: Drive or taxi via Highway 33, roughly 1 hour.
From Vancouver: Scenic highway drive or bus plus shuttle, usually 5–7 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Big White

Big White offers a range of excellent ski-in/ski-out accommodations that blend seamlessly into the mountain, from luxury condos and chalets to more budget-friendly options. The Inn at Big White is popular for its central location, while many visitors opt for spacious condominiums that can accommodate families or groups. Most properties feature cozy amenities like fireplaces and hot tubs, perfect after a day on the slopes. Booking through Central Reservations is recommended for the best options and service, especially during peak winter season.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

We couldn't find any nearby hotels for now.

How to get around Big White

Once you've arrived at Big White, you'll find the main village is wonderfully car-free with snow-packed, groomed paths for easy walking. The resort offers a free shuttle bus that circulates around the property from 7-11 am and 4-10 pm daily, making it easy to access different areas. For quick transportation between Happy Valley and the mid-mountain village, the Lara Gondola is free for pedestrians, offering a scenic way to move between these key areas.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-15 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 15% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-10 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CAD) is 10% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Kelowna, Canada - 41 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£87	£173	£426
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£53	£105	£225
🍝 Food per day	£29	£61	£175
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£7	£25

Notable additional fees: Day tickets run roughly CA$110 – 160 (£58.86 – 85.62) depending on the date. Ski, boot and pole hire is about CA$55 – 70 (£29.43 – 37.46) a day.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12
🍟 Fast food combo	£8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.40
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.90

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£8.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£55
🤧 Cold medication	£10.50
💇 Basic haircut	£12

Safety information overview

General safety

Big White is generally very safe with excellent ski patrol services. The main safety concerns are related to winter driving conditions on the access road and occasional wildlife encounters. Always check weather forecasts and road conditions before traveling to the resort.

Health & Medical

The resort has on-mountain first aid and medical services for skiing-related injuries. For more serious medical issues, you'll need to travel to Kelowna, which has full-service hospitals. Altitude adjustment may affect some visitors initially.

Accessibility

Big White has made efforts to accommodate visitors with mobility challenges. The resort offers adaptive skiing programs and some accessible accommodations. A wheelchair user mentioned in reviews that staff were very accommodating, though the snowy environment presents natural challenges.

Tap water

Tap water at Big White is safe to drink and of good quality. Most accommodations provide clean drinking water and there are water facilities throughout the resort. Staying hydrated is important, especially at higher elevations.