Nestled in a corner of Vancouver Island, just on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, is a place where pristine wilderness surrounds luxury canvas tents, and abundant wildlife roams freely along the water's edge. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is experiential travel at its finest — just on the edge of luxury and wilderness in a way that is endlessly alluring without taking you out of your comfort zone.
Welcome to British Columbia, on the very western edge of Canada. Often used as a gateway to the Canadian Rockies, or the start of a train across Canada, British Columbia is a world-class destination in its own right.
Vancouver Island in British Columbia | Credit: Destination BC / Yuri Choufour
Why Visit British Columbia
British Columbia is home to nature like no other. Mountains, lush temperate rainforests, and coastline all meet at one point — Vancouver. And, off the coast, the scattered Gulf Island litter the horizon. Between the world-renowned scenery are wildlife lodges and luxury retreats. They are hidden away from urban life, giving guests insight into nature at its most natural.
On the other hand, you can find a number of stylish and welcoming cities across British Columbia. From the sleek Vancouver, perched between mountains and ocean, to the charming Victoria, holding onto its small-town atmosphere, city stays offer a similar range
Where to Go in British Columbia
Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains | Credit: Anastasiya
Vancouver
Vancouver is a combination of outdoorsy spirit and urban draw.
Here, you can stay at luxury hotels, dine at world-class restaurants, and visit numerous art galleries. But, all the while, you are steps away from sandy beaches, mountain-top gondolas, and the 400-hectare Stanley Park.
The city is best experienced through a blend of the two. Join locals on a walk along the Seawall — the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path — wrapping around both downtown and Stanley Park. Or, visit one of the many trendy cafes, MICHELIN-star restaurants, and speakeasy-style bars in the city.
There are so many things to do in Vancouver whatever the season that we regularly recommend visitors spend an extra day here to explore it all.
Left: The city of Victoria on Vancouver Island | Credit: Destination BC / Tanya Goehring
Right: The town of Tofino from above | Credit: Destination BC / Yuri Choufour
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island has a little bit of everything. The charming city of Victoria — the capital of British Columbia — is located in the south, and heading north is a rainforest, rugged coastline, small surf towns, and luxury retreats hidden among the inlets.
In Victoria, enjoy wandering through the local stores along Government Street, down to the charming Inner Harbour. And, just past that, find the Parliament Building, which holds the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The city has held onto its welcoming small-town atmosphere, and local spots line the streets. Explore tea shops like Murchie's Fine Tea & Coffee to see why Victoria is called the 'most English city in Canada.'
Or, head up-island to small surf towns like Tofino and Uclulet. In the summer, find stunning ocean-side trails leading to hidden beaches. And, in fall and winter, experience Vancouver Island's famous storm season.
And here, boats can take you further on to the Island's many hidden corners...
Clayoquot Sound area | Credit: Destination BC / Graeme Owsianski
Clayoquot Sound
Clayoquot Sound is one of these hidden gems on Vancouver Island's west coast.
Accessible only by seaplane or boat — that being the one from Tofino — it offers an unparalleled connection to the earth.
The sound is home to gray and humpback whales, orca, sea lions, sea otters, black bears, wolves, bald eagles, and marine birds. Here, you will find natural habitat thriving as it should.
It's location is exclusive, and its scenery luxurious. This hidden gem, tucked between the Vancouver Island mountains, is the epitome of what a trip to British Columbia should be.
Why Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is One of the Best Places to Visit in British Columbia
It is here, in Clayoquot Sound, that you will find Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. Home to adventure and relaxation in equal parts, this is why you should visit.
View across the water to the tents at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Award-Winning Luxury
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is a multi-award winning retreat stationed on 600-acres of pristine wilderness. It is a seamless balance of remote adventure and high-end luxury.
While a stay in the Canadian wilderness is a luxury in and of itself, the lodge has won numerous awards highlighting its place in that category, and its dedication to the comfort and hospitality of its guests.
The property is a part of the Baillie Lodges Collection, a collection of luxury lodges pushing the boundaries of high-end experiential travel. It was named in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List in 2023, featured in Fodor’s Finest list for 2025, and awarded three MICHELIN Keys — one of just two hotels in Canada to hold their highest accolade.
Mountaintop picnic on a bespoke helicopter excursion | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Gloriously Remote yet Easily Accessible
Located in Clayoquot Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, you find yourself removed from the hustle of modern-day life. The lodge is remote, and that is much of its allure. There is no cell service, and while Wi-Fi connection is available, it is often spotty. This is a place to be apart from the world.
That being said, the lodge is only a 45-minute seaplane from Vancouver, making it easily accessible to travelers. And, as the flight takes you over the rugged outline of Vancouver Island, the little luxuries begin with the journey there.
Rainforest Deluxe tent nestled in the trees | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
An Eco-Friendly Wilderness Retreat
This is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The lodge showcases the awe-inspiring Canadian wilderness and embodies its ethos — a strong and sustainable connection to the land.
Connection like this is a rare privilege, one that Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge works hard to uphold. From its partnerships with local First Nations peoples to its conservation efforts, restoring native salmon stocks to the rivers, preservation is at the heart of everything they do.
The eco-conscious mindset at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge comes at no cost to the guest — who enjoys the added luxuries of reusable containers and fresh and local produce as a result. But this love is felt throughout your immersive stay in the very lands the lodge protects.
What to Expect at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
This is luxury in the wild. Across the lodge's buildings and amenities, each moment feels true to their mission to elegantly connect human and natural as one.
The Outpost, as seen on one of our Travel Designers' recent trips to the lodge
The Main Buildings
The Outpost
This is the lodge's hub of activity. It is made up of the, on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and dining and games tents found nearby.
The games tent has an old-world charm reminiscent of a luxury safari. Here you can find plush furnishings — all artfully mismatched — an upright piano, pool table, and classic wooden board games. It makes for a perfect spot to spend the quiet moments, and slow down to an analogue pace.
And, just beside them, private dining tents are available for guests to enjoy.
Left: The Cookhouse's rooftop terrace | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Right: Inside The Cookhouse on our Travel Designer's recent visit
The Cookhouse
The Cookhouse is where you will find your meals during your stay. Across breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you'll be enjoying daily changing menus that highlight locally sourced ingredients and seasonal offerings.
From The Cookhouse, guests can make their way to the surrounding deck or rooftop terrace, where the sun warms the wood in the morning, and the warm fires call for s'mores each night.
Our Travel Designers' view from The Ivanhoe
The Ivanhoe
The bar — the Ivanhoe — is perched between the Bedwell River and the Pacific Ocean. It is outfitted with a marble-counter bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, and plush suede armchairs lining them, soaking in the view.
Guests here enjoy lavish cocktails, extensive top-line wine list, and elegant canapés included in the stay. This, all while overlooking wildlife wandering through the sound.
Healing Grounds Spa's waterfront massage tent | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Healing Grounds Spa
Tucked just away from the bustle of The Outpost is the Healing Grounds Spa. Here, find treatment rooms overlooking the water. The menu of spa massages and treatments are designed with care, each to assist you as you unwind from modern life and slow down to nature's pace.
Left: The waterfront tents at the lodge | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Right: Our Travel Designer's Rainforest Tent for his stay
The Tents
Your home at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is an opulent safari-style tent, flush with modern comforts. Just a short distance from The Outpost, they line the river and are speckled through the trees.
This isn't camping as you know it.
Each of the 25 lavish canvas tents is outfitted with heated stoves, plush linen bedding atop a king bed, and private decks. And they are generous with thoughtful details — furnishings are custom-made by local designers and First Nations artists.
Inside the luxury tents | Credits: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
The rustic charm of each tent never comes at the sacrifice of comfort or luxury.
You will choose between Deluxe or Ensuite tents, either along the waterfront or tucked just into the rainforest.
The Deluxe tents are fit with a private bathroom just steps away from their entrance — never leaving your deck — with heated floors.
The tent bathroom and outdoor shower | Credits: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
And the Ensuite tents, instead, have an adjoined bathroom. It is fit with all the modern luxuries plus a private outdoor cedar-clad shower — your stay, immersed in nature, never ceases its luxurious edge.
The Setting
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is set among truly unparalleled natural beauty.
Nestled between old-growth rainforest, glacier-fed rivers, and the Pacific Ocean, you are entirely immersed in British Columbia's heart. You won't find cars here — you are even brought from your floatplane to the lodge by horse-drawn carriage.
The lodge's setting on the end of the sound | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
And this is the lodge's true draw. From the wildlife wandering along the river bed to the miles upon miles of surrounding mountains and forest, the biggest luxury is the access to unspoiled wilderness — nature's playground reserved just for you.
A luxury stay in Clayoquot Sound is an escape from modern distractions, a re-centering of the self, and a return to nature as it should be experienced.
What to Do at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
At Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, your days are dedicated to the Vancouver Island wilderness. While here, you can do as much or as little as you would like.
Left: A half-day marine safari out on the water | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Right: One of our Travel Designers' sightings of a black bear from their own marine safari
Guided Wilderness Excursions
Explore the Great Bear Rainforest while on guided excursions led by experts. Explore the temperate rainforest by foot on guided hikes or while horseback riding. These can be as adventurous or as leisurely as you request. Everything from waterproof jackets to hiking boots is provided, so you can just arrive ready for an outdoor adventure.
Or, explore the waterways. Canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding take you down Bedwell River and along the sound. Or, take off on a voyage aboard a fully equipped fishing boat to cast off into the ocean.
But the start of the show might be a half-day marine safari, led by experts.
Cruise the Pacific Ocean whale-watching, spotting porpoises, sea lions, and orca in the waters. Bears can be found wandering the coast, and your position on the water can allow you to get closer than on land. And bald eagles soaring the skies only adds to the experience.
The summit view of a helicopter adventure | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Bespoke Helicopter Adventures
A wide array of helicopter experiences are arranged for guests looking for a little something more from their stay.
From luxury mountaintop picnics to heli-hiking through the backcountry and heli-fishing in alpine lakes. Or, venture across the coastline to hidden bays, remote sea caves, or one of many small wild islands dotted throughout the ocean.
While these trips come at an additional cost, they elevate your time in the Clayoquot Sound area well above the imaginary.
Waterfront views during a massage | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Relaxation & Wellness
Relaxation comes naturally when surrounded by old-growth forest and still waters. Cedar hot tubs overlook the sound, a sauna is nestled among the trees, and glacial immersion is available in the Bedwell River. And, while all optional, these experiences will leave you a changed person.
The lodge welcomes each day with sunrise yoga on the waterfront deck. By joining in, you can ease into the morning by slowing down to the flow of nature, led by an expert instructor.
A variety of spa therapies are available in the waterfront massage tent, and two treatment rooms offer a wide menu of options. Advance reservations for treatments and massages are recommended and come at an additional cost. Everything else is included with your stay.
Some of the appetizers and drinks from our team's trip to the lodge
Fine Dining
At Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, gourmet meals are just another part of the daily routine.
From your amuse-bouche upon arrival to each multi-course dinner and every post-meal cocktail in The Ivanhoe, you'd be forgiven for assuming you'd dined in a major city. The lodge does not let its remote location hold back its bold flavors and artistic approach to dining.
Your meals are made to adapt to your days — breakfast and lunch both having options that fluctuate from casual and quick to more leisurely affairs.
Each evening, though, is a celebration of flavor.
A sample of the dinner offerings at The Cookhouse | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
You are treated to a three-course meal designed by the restaurant's Executive Chef, Ben Godin. The dinner menu changes each day, but you can expect hyper-local and seasonal ingredients to take center stage. And each night ends with a dessert, the same artistry applies here too.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge partners with local producers — from farms to local First Nations— to source their ingredients, so you can enjoy knowing that everything you eat is sustainably sourced and ocean-friendly.
With all meals and the majority of drinks included, you are free to enjoy the fine dining — every fresh piece of seafood, rich cut of meat, and crisp vegetable — served with equally fine views.
How to Plan Your Trip to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
As travel specialists and Canada experts, we've planned countless trips through British Columbia's wilderness.
The deck by The Outpost on a summer morning | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Best Time to Visit
The lodge is open seasonally, welcoming guests from May to September each year.
We recommend visiting in the summer months — from July until August — for long sunny days and warm weather that call you to wilderness adventures.
But traveling during shoulder seasons offers a more intimate experience of the lodge. During these times, salmon run up the river, bears return inland to hibernate, and clouds often hang between peaks, cloaking it in a new sense of mystique. The moody weather in the British Columbia rainforest is a sight to behold, and shouldn't be overlooked by visitors seeking the quiet days at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge.
Views from above on a trip to the lodge | Credit: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Arriving at Your Private Retreat
Your trip begins in Vancouver, as you explore city life on the edge of the mountains and ocean. We recommend spending a night here before transferring to the lodge to ensure your connection is stress-free.
From the city, there are two ways to get to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge.
Seaplane flights leave from the city, taking you on a 40-minute flight over the Great Bear Rainforest directly to the lodge.
Or, you can take the more leisurely route.
Journey to Vancouver Island, driving north to Tofino. Spend a night in either Victoria in the south or Tofino upon arrival. From there, a 40-minute boat transfer provides a scenic coastal journey. While this route takes much longer, it gives you the chance to explore Vancouver Island as you venture up to the lodge. And, you still have the option of a direct flight back upon your return.
Two of the Canada Rail Vacations team members on their trip to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
Let Us Take Care of the Rest
At Canada Rail Vacations, we expand this bespoke service from beginning to end.
We can arrange everything you need, be it hotel transfers in Vancouver or your journey to the lodge by way of a custom tour across Vancouver Island.
Let us help you unwind from your train across Canada or rail tour of the Canadian Rockies on our Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge & the Canadian Rockies package. We recommend ending either train trip in Vancouver and then making the easy transfer to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge for the ultimate wind-down from your rail adventure.
Your personal Travel Designer will take care of the details to let you simply relax into the experience.
They will advise you on the best way to arrive, tailored to your personal travel style — whether by air or by boat. And, if you wish to spend more time in British Columbia, perhaps taking an extra day to explore Vancouver or the Island, they can help you with that too.
Design Your British Columbia Trip with Canada Rail Vacations
Whether a luxury lodge on Vancouver Island, a classic sleeper train to the Canadian Rockies, or a trans-Canada adventure, Canada Rail Vacations is ready to introduce you to Canada your way.
Reach out to a travel designer to begin planning your trip today. Or, if you're not quite ready, subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch, receiving inspiration, deals and recommendations right to your inbox. We look forward to hearing from you soon.