SASS Argentina is an experience unlike any other. We have spent the past 15 seasons in Argentina developing the best big mountain backcountry camp in the world. Perfect for the solo traveler, groups, couples, adults or aspiring freeriders, this trip was designed to bring like-minded travelers to the Andes during the North American summer to provide the platform to take your skiing or riding where you never thought possible.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
SASS Argentina is an experience unlike any other. We have spent the past 15 seasons in Argentina developing the best big mountain backcountry camp in the world. Perfect for the solo traveler, groups, couples, adults or aspiring freeriders, this trip was designed to bring like-minded travelers to the Andes during the North American summer to provide the platform to take your skiing or riding where you never thought possible.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
ARGENTINA PACKAGES
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UNDER 18 PROGRAM
SASS Argentina is for skiers and riders of all ages. We also welcome minors traveling independently (ages 14-17) during Session 1, 2 & 3. Young adults learn about backcountry safety while exploring a new language and culture in a more structured environment.
PACKAGE DETAILS HERE
starting at $3695
ADULT PROGRAM
SASS Argentina has been welcoming adults to camp for over a decade. With pro guides, nightlife and on-mountain amenities, it’s easy to see why SASS’ unique program hosts nearly 100 “grown ups” every year. Its not the summer camp you remember… its better.
PACKAGE DETAILS HERE
starting at $3495
ADULT ZEAL WEEK SESSION
ZEAL Week at SASS Argentina Session 4 Come and visit us for an adult experience with Zeal. Contests and activities for that extra special experience. Our same experience just turned up to 11 for people adventurous enough to make it.
ZEAL WEEK DETAILS HERE
starting at $3495
UNDER 18 PROGRAMstarting at $3695 |
SASS Argentina is for skiers and riders of all ages. We also welcome minors traveling independently (ages 14-17) during Session 1, 2 & 3. Young adults learn about backcountry safety while exploring a new language and culture in a more structured environment.PACKAGE DETAILS HERE |
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ADULT PROGRAMstarting at $3495 |
SASS Argentina has been welcoming adults to camp for over a decade. With pro guides, nightlife and on-mountain amenities, its easy to see why SASS’ unique program hosts nearly 100 “grown ups” every year. Its not the summer camp you remember… its better.PACKAGE DETAILS HERE |
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ZEAL WEEK SESSIONstarting at $3495 |
ZEAL Week at SASS Argentina Session 4 Come and visit us for an adult experience with Zeal. Contests and activities for that extra special experience. Our same experience just turned up to 11 for people adventurous enough to make it.PACKAGE DETAILS HERE |
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SESSION 1starting at $3695INQUIRE
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July 27 ~ August 3
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SESSION 2starting at $3495
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August 3 ~ August 10Cerro Catedral – Base41 Lodgeall ages |
SESSION 3starting at $3495
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August 10 ~ August 17Cerro Catedral – Base41 Lodgeall ages |
SESSION 4starting at $3495
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August 17 ~ August 24Cerro Catedral – Base41 Lodgeadults only |
SESSION 1
July 27 ~ August 3
2024
starting at $3495
Base41 Apartments
Limited Capacity
*Inquire for Custom
Lodging/Guiding
Packages Available
BOOK MULTIPLE SESSIONS
We highly recommend coming for more than one session.
Not only do you get to experience SASS Argentina for more time, you also maximize your chances of unforgettable conditions, make the most of the lengthy travel time, get discounts for each additional session booked and progress your skiing or riding even further.
book any number of sessions with a 30% deposit and pay the rest up to 30 days before your trip
*ALL PRICES ARE EXPRESSED IN USD (UNITED STATES DOLLARS), ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND DO NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE.
*EACH SESSION INCLUDES 7 DAY LIFT PASS AND UP TO 6 FULLY-GUIDED DAYS, SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.
ABOUT THE SASS EXPERIENCE
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THE SASS ARGENTINA EXPERIENCE
THE EXPERIENCE
SASS Argentina is an experience unlike any other. Throw your preconceived notions out the window…
This is a full service, big mountain, backcountry, skiing and snowboarding experience throughout August that integrates backcountry education into every step of the way while leaving plenty of room for a seemingly unrealistic amount of fun. Great for solo travelers, couples or groups, we create a camp-like vibe based out of our own lodge right at the base of South America’s largest ski resort known for its unparalleled backcountry access and freeride terrain. You won’t waste your time figuring out the mountain for yourself and instead will be shown straight to the goods starting day one by our professional guides. We make sure to introduce you and the crew of like-minded travelers to Argentina and its unique culture through additional activities off the mountain and our local knowledge of the surrounding area. JOIN US.
This is a vacation for people who like to pack as much into their vacations as physically possible. This is an experience that might leave you in need of a vacation to relax your sore legs from the shred and sore cheeks from the constant smiles.
IS THIS TRIP RIGHT FOR YOU SKILL LEVEL?
SASS Argentina is right for you if:
You are an advanced to expert level skier or snowboarder who is capable of making consistent confident turns in steep terrain, variable snow and powder conditions.
You want to experience the Andes with pro guides, coaches and clients of all ages.
You have a desire to build backcountry skills.
You have a desire to step out of your comfort zone and push your limits with guidance.
You want to experience the Argentinian culture with respect and patience.
You are in good physical and mental health and can enjoy skiing or riding in a group.
OUR PHILOSOPHY - EDUCATION AT SASS ARGENTINA
Our goal is not just to show you to the goods, but also seamlessly integrate the education necessary to find those goods on your own upon your return home. We want every single person leaving SASS Argentina a better backcountry skier or snowboarder. Whether you are a seasoned veteran of the backcountry already or someone looking to push into bigger off-piste terrain for the first time, this experience will teach you new things, help you to explore new terrain, and guide you through the Andes. All of our clients go through an Orientation process in which we provide and avalanche awareness seminar as well as on-hill emergency scenarios that not only give you the opportunity to practice with your beacon, shovel and probe, but also helps build trust among the members of your group so that we can spend our days on the same page, pushing into new and challenging terrain. Our philosophy is to create an experience that includes an insane amount of fun and progression in a group environment.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Life at SASS Argentina resembles a backcountry summer camp — clients eat together, ride together and work as a team to travel safely through the backcountry. Our sessions start and end on Saturdays, this itinerary gives you an idea of what you could expect during a “typical” SASS Argentina session:
SAMPLE 8-DAY ITINERARY
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Day 0 (Friday) – Depart North America
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Day 1 (Saturday) – You arrive in Buenos Aires, SASS’ logistics rep meets you outside customs and helps you to check in for a short, 2-hour connecting flight to Bariloche. SASS picks you up in Bariloche and transfers you to the base of Cerro Catedral Alta Patagonia for your first night, including Orientation and Dinner.
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Day 2 (Sunday) – Your first day on-mountain starts with breakfast and a backcountry safety and avalanche orientation. After reviewing safety protocol, you shred the rest of the day. After your day on the mountain, you have Tea Time and review the day with your guides before Dinner.
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Day 3 (Monday) – Now that our team has seen you ski or ride, we work to place you in the best group fitting your goals, ability, and desire to be “pushed” beyond your comfort zone. You return to the lodge to find a Ping Pong tournament in full swing, with prizes from SASS sponsors.
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Day 4 (Tuesday) – Your crew advances further into the backcountry, exploring the Playground and the “close lap” potential of runs just outside the resort. After shredding, you enjoy SASS’ exclusive indoor/outdoor pool.
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Day 5 (Wednesday) – You learn more about touring options and try out demo equipment from JONES or FOLSOM SKIS. After touring with your new crew, you sign up for SASS’ famous Brewery Tour after your on-mountain day, exploring many of the local breweries surrounding Bariloche.
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Day 6 (Thursday) – Sunshine prevails and your group splits up, with some members bringing freestyle skills into the backcountry with a jump sesh, while other crews go for a short hiking mission earlier in the day. You return to the Lodge and discover an authentic Argentine asado bbq in the making, with over 80lbs. of prime, free-range lomo cuts.
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Day 7 (Friday) – For single week clients, this your last full day. After a snowfall, you explore the incredible tree skiing in the lower-half of Catedral, hitting stashes in Princesa and Segundo Lomo before making your way back up into Laguna to finish up the day.
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Day 8 (Saturday) – Your flight home doesn’t depart until 3PM, so you take advantage of your unguided day to get some morning laps and hit the gift shop for souvenirs before boarding your SASS transfer to the airport at 1PM.
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WHY SASS ARGENTINA?
SASS Argentina was designed to cost the same as the price would be for you to spend a week skiing or snowboarding in Bariloche on your own. We provide everything you need and so much more. Here are the top five reasons to choose SASS Argentina…
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Don’t waste your days figuring out the mountain – You made it all the way to Argentina, don’t waste your first few days figuring out the mountain searching for good terrain. Let us show you to the best conditions available and the terrain you are looking for starting day one.
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Slopeside Lodging – No need to take the 30 minute bus from Bariloche up to the mountain. Our lodge is a couple hundred meters from the gondola, with an indoor/outdoor pool heated to the level of a hottub with a view of the lines you skied that day.
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Travel Logistics Support – Lost baggage assistance, airport transfers, years of experience; we have dealt with it all and know exactly how to take the headache out of getting to Argentina.
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Local Knowledge – We know the restaurants with the best steak, the aprés spots with the drink deals, the nightclubs that are actually worth going to, the chocolate shops that you will become addicted to, the breweries with the best beers on tap and the shops with the best gifts to bring home.
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New Friends – As soon as you land in Argentina you will have a whole crew of like-minded travelers to share this experience with. The SASS Family is real and you will be welcomed with open arms. JOIN US.
Additional benefits include: Demo fleets from our partners, our experienced guides, the food, ping pong, avalanche awareness training, photo packages, video packages, jump building instruction, brewery tours, and much more…
TERRAIN
WHAT'S THE DAY-TO-DAY RIDING LIKE?
It is our goal at SASS Argentina to give you as many options as possible every day with the main objective of putting you in the best terrain and snow conditions available. Every morning we put together groups at a maximum of a 5 to 1 client to guide ratio taking into consideration personal goals and desires as well as skill level. We make sure groups are consistent and on the same page. Options may include lapping the trees on a pow day, hiking for open lines or couloirs, building a backcountry jump, skinning/touring farther into the backcountry, avalanche awareness courses, line selection/terrain management practice, hitting cliffs or simply cruising the whole mountain with a fun crew. All you have to do is be sure to discuss your goals and desires with The Mountain Operations Director, jump into the right group and follow your guide.
We shred from open to close every day (conditions depending). Our guides’ knowledge of the terrain and understanding of the mountains allow you to know that you will be taking advantage of every minute. Our great pleasure at the end of the day is hearing stories of the camaraderie gained, smiles grinned and tired legs made.
CATEDRAL ALTA PATAGONIA
Cerro Catedral is the largest ski resort in South America and boasts in insane diversity of terrain. The resort is home to many standard amenities, a modern ski patrol and medical center, over thirty lifts, a terrain park and a variety of groomed runs that stretch from the peak to the base. But it is the access to the limitless backcountry that is the reason we set up our lodge right at the base only a couple hundred meters from the gondola.
From the massive granite spires of the high alpine to the perfectly spaced old-growth hardwood trees below, Catedral is a freeride playground. After hiking to the top of Laguna or even dropping in off of the Nubes Lift, narrow chutes, and open bowls are perfect for line selection practice or inducing the butterflies achieved through conquering steeps. The rocky outcroppings of the Andes provide natural features, cliffs and pillows of all sizes great for pushing your limits whether getting air under your feet for the first time or sending for the boys. The unreal trees dressed in moss below lend themselves to epic pow days bouncing between the trees and over logs under towering canopies all the way to the base.
AVALANCHE SAFETY
Everyone at SASS Argentina wears an avalanche beacon and backpack containing a shovel and probe every day. Everyone is required to participate in an avalanche awareness orientation as well as on-hill avalanche scenarios on the first day. We pride ourselves in our seamless integration of avalanche awareness education into our guided experience. We want to make sure that every single person leaves SASS Argentina a better backcountry skier or snowboarder no matter what your level was coming in. It is this commitment to proper backcountry protocol that allows us to push further into the Andes and build the trust within our group to know that we are all on the same page and willing to work as a team to accomplish our goals on the mountain.
Avalanche Training Courses are available as add-ons to the program and can be a great way to take that next step toward becoming a stronger backcountry skier or snowboarder. Our courses differ from those typically taught in classrooms with minimal on-hill components. Instead, we make sure that course participants are not missing out on skiing and using the mountain as an opportunity to practice the skills learned and move through the backcountry with your instructor giving you a much more experiential education.
WINTER IS OUR SUMMER - WHEN ARE CONDITIONS BEST?
For those of us coming from the Northern Hemisphere, we leave the dead heat of the summer and arrive in Bariloche to full-on winter conditions. This escape is a truly unique experience and should be on the bucket-list of any skier or snowboarder. Conditions in Patagonia are best from the end of July through the beginning of September. Our sessions are designed to capitalize on this peak of the season to increase the chances of the best possible conditions for our clients.
For more on the best time of year to ski or ride in South America: READ THIS.
LODGING AND FOOD
THE LODGE AT BASE 41 - Included
Base 41 sits a short 200-meter walk from the base of our partner resort, Cerro Catedral. Available at our disposal around the clock is a large dining room, TV area, ping pong table, ski tuning area, and much more. Don’t forget the indoor/outdoor heated pool where you can relax and look up at the resort to pick out your lines for the following day. All this under the eye of 24-hour security.
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Premier location just 200m from the Amancay Gondola
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Amazing views of surrounding mountains
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Indoor/Outdoor heated pool
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Shared rooms; featuring single beds and private (en-suite) bath
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24/7 attendance, daily housekeeping and night security
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Full dining room for breakfast, afternoon tea & dinner
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Jackson Bar located next door
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Fireplace, ping-pong room, lounge areas and DirecTV
THE APARTMENTS AT BASE 41 - Upgrade
Looking for a bit more privacy? Upgrade to any of our semi or full private apartments next door to Base 41. Here you’ll enjoy the full benefits and inclusions of a normal SASS Argentina experience but with a bedroom and living space of your own all on the same compound as our private lodge.
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Located on the same compound as the Base41 Lodge
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Amazing views of the surrounding mountains
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Apartment packages available for individuals, couples, groups and families
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Loft or 2-Bedroom Apartments with kitchen, living room and bath
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Private (entire loft apartment with king bed) or Semi-Private (private bedroom; shared common area)
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Access to pool and all Lodge amenities
LIFE AT SASS ARGENTINA
When you’re not busy progressing on-snow, life at SASS Argentina is full of action. Enjoy ping pong tournaments, brewery tours, traditional Argentine asados, and trips into the beautiful town of Bariloche. After all this you’ll be ready to catch some Zs in your shared room with 2-3 other like-minded skiers and riders. Rooming assignments are made by the SASS staff based on gender and age, but rooming requests can always be made. While we are all in favor of our clients having a good time at the lodge and celebrating their on-snow experiences, quiet hours and under 18 lights out start at 11pm so everyone is guaranteed the opportunity to get a good night’s sleep. Don’t worry, most bars in the village area are open plenty late if that’s the experience you’re looking for. Wake up is provided at 8am via aggressive knocking and loud music chosen by the staff member on duty so that everyone is ready to go on time.
THE FOOD IN ARGENTINA
Regardless of whether you’re staying in the lodge or in an apartment, you’ll enjoy 3 meals every day. Served in our dining room, start by fueling up for the day at our buffet-style breakfast complete with eggs, potatoes, meat, yogurt, granola, and plenty more. Kick back and recap the day with cakes, tea, and coffee at afternoon tea time before prepping for a late 4-course dinner every night. Don’t forget our weekly Argentine asado where we cook up the best and freshest cuts of chorizo, beef, lomo, and more, all around a family style bonfire. Lunch is not included due to the fact that your day on the hill can vary dramatically. Bagged lunches are available at Tage (our favorite stop on the way to the gondola) or check with your guide to see if your day will include a stop at one of the many on-mountain restaurants.
Our staff is always more than happy to recommend local restaurants to check out in town or around the base if you are looking to explore. Jackson Bar is located right next door where all clients are invited for SASS discounts, specials and great deals for aprés drinks. One block away from the lodge is a mini-market perfect for snacks and a variety of groceries as well.
GUIDES and STAFF
Our product is our staff. It is this crew of amazing people that is the reason for so many clients returning year after year. We are true mountain people and world travelers who have devoted our lives to the pursuit of great skiing or snowboarding. Our diverse group of talented guides, coaches and logistics staff not only help you with every aspect of your experience on hill or off, but also hang out in the lodge, eat dinners with the whole crew and are always down to talk about gear, avalanche safety and our philosophy of a life in the mountains. The SASS Family is real and you will be welcomed with open arms.
Our guides have completed a minimum of a Level II Avalanche Safety course and hold a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) Certification. Many are current or past professional skiers or snowboarders, ski patrollers, avalanche control experts, avalanche forecasters or guides elsewhere throughout the year. We work together, play together and want to share our experience, knowledge, and penchant for a good time with every single one of our clients.
Photo and Video Packages Available at SASS
We are lucky to have some of the best media people in the business.
They have taken all the photos and videos on the site. Who knows YOU Might make it into our media for next year
Our Photographer Ben Girardi
RESERVE YOUR PHOTO PACKAGE
Our Videographer Santiago Sarans
Can’t wait? Contact us now!
Email / General Inquiries: info@sassglobaltravel.com
Phone / Customer Service & Sales: 1.800.851.4660
Phone / Puerto Rico Office: 1.787.823.0610
Mailing Address: 340 South Lemon Ave. Ste. 7842
Walnut, California 91789