Most Whistler weekends are about doing as much as possible. This one is about doing less, better. It works in any season; swap skiing for hiking or biking in summer.
Before you go
- Book your sauna ahead. A mobile sauna delivered to your rental is the centrepiece of this weekend. Get your host's permission first; here's what to ask.
- Pack for rest. Swimwear, a robe or warm layers, sandals, a water bottle and a sauna hat.
- Check the highway. In winter, the Sea to Sky requires proper winter tires.
Day 1: Mountain morning, sauna night
Morning: a few good runs (or a hike)
Get up the mountain early while it's quiet. The point isn't to ski every run; it's to get a few great ones and come down before you're wrecked. In summer, swap it for a valley trail or a gentle hike.
Afternoon: slow lunch and a forest walk
Have a long lunch in the Village, then take an easy walk around Lost Lake. The trails are a short walk from the Village, flat and peaceful, and in winter some are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Evening: private sauna and cold plunge
Back at your place, light the fire in the wood-fired barrel sauna and give it time to heat up. Then: heat, cold plunge, rest, repeat. With your own sauna for 24 hours, there's no timeslot and no strangers. In winter, the snow is your cooling-off zone. Dinner afterwards, and an early night.
Day 2: Morning sauna, spa and art
Morning: one more round
The best part of a 24-hour booking: a morning sauna. Relight the fire, do a couple of rounds with coffee, and start the day warm and loose.
Midday: a Nordic spa or a gallery
Whistler has a popular Scandinavian-style spa with hot pools, saunas and cold plunges in the forest, if you want even more heat. For something quieter, the Audain Art Museum has a great collection of art from British Columbia, including works by Indigenous artists from the Northwest Coast.
Afternoon: lake or valley stroll, then home
Walk the Valley Trail or sit by Alta Lake before the drive home. Stop in Squamish on the way for a coffee and a view of the Chief.
Make it your own
- Group trip: the barrel sauna fits about 8, so it suits a group of friends or a family.
- Longer stay: a week is $1,500, so you can sauna every night of a ski week.
- Couples: book a midweek weekend to have the mountain, the spa and the sauna to yourselves.
Questions
What is a good relaxing weekend in Whistler?
Mix a little mountain time with a lot of rest: a morning ski or hike, a walk around Lost Lake, a Nordic spa visit, good food in the Village, and a private sauna session where you're staying.
Is there a Nordic spa in Whistler?
Yes, Whistler has a Scandinavian-style spa with hot pools, saunas and cold plunges. It's popular, so check hours and book ahead where possible.
Can I have a sauna at my Whistler rental?
Yes, with your host's permission. Mamquam Sauna delivers a wood-fired barrel sauna and cold plunge to your rental for a private 24-hour session.
More reading: Summer Sauna in Whistler · Sauna in Pemberton: A Private Wood-Fired Sauna, Delivered