Surrounded by soaring snowcapped peaks against a cerulean sky, you climb onto a pair of fat skis and tackle dry, calf-deep powder for heart-stopping, high-powered skiing. If you fancy the idea of being whisked onto pristine Himalayan slopes by helicopter to ski slopes with names like Nasty Nick and Powderbox, where good conditions mean runs of up to a kilometer or more, Manali, in central Himachal Pradesh, is where you should head. You'll need to fork out big bucks for this ultimate adrenaline rush adventure, but the helicopter ride saves you valuable time. From Manali, the snow-covered slopes are a mere 4 minutes away by chopper, a trip that otherwise would involve a grueling 4-day climb. Roddy McKenzie's Himachal Helicopter Skiing (tel. 00 61 3/9593-9853; www.himachal.com) is an Australian outfit with over a decade's experience. Be warned, however: Avalanches are an ever-present risk, and general bad weather, or even low cloud cover, can undo any plans for a chopper's takeoff -- and sorry, no refunds for ski time lost because of poor conditions. McKenzie's operation includes experienced guides who spend considerable time each morning testing the snow for safety prior to drops. Himachal Helicopter Skiing offers weeklong heli-skiing trips for upwards of $6,500 per person, based on two people sharing.
