Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada · Outpost Tent · Rainforest Wilderness
Three MICHELIN Keys. The only luxury wilderness lodge accessible solely by seaplane or boat on Vancouver Island — Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge sits inside the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve among 600 acres of ancient temperate rainforest. Twenty-five safari tents on heated cedar platforms, all-inclusive gourmet wilderness dining, and an all-season calendar of guided expeditions: bear watching, ocean kayaking, horseback riding, fly fishing, and heli-hiking.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge sits in a bend of the Bedwell River where it meets Clayoquot Sound, deep inside the UNESCO-designated Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The reserve covers 864,738 acres of ancient temperate rainforest, glacial rivers, protected marine habitats, and one of the last intact old-growth forest ecosystems on the continent. There is no road to the lodge. Guests arrive by 45-minute seaplane from Vancouver, landing on the dock. The final stage is by horse-drawn wagon along the cedar boardwalk. In 2024, Clayoquot became one of only two lodges in Canada to receive Three MICHELIN Keys.
The Outpost Tent sits on a raised cedar platform overlooking the sound or the rainforest. Inside: a king-size bed dressed in fine linen, antique furnishings, locally crafted textiles and First Nations artworks, a wood-burning cast-iron stove, heated cedar floors, and a private outdoor deck. The Waterfront Ensuite tents face the estuary directly, offering sunrise views and the best chance of spotting black bears, sea otters, bald eagles, and harbour seals from the deck. A private cedar hot tub is available to all guests.
The lodge operates on a fully all-inclusive model: all gourmet meals, all guided wilderness activities, a complimentary 60-minute Healing Grounds Spa massage, and a 15-minute scenic helicopter flight are included in the Bedwell Safari package. The season runs May to September. Activities available on every stay include ocean kayaking, horseback riding, rainforest hiking, fly fishing, wildlife safari by Zodiac, and canyoning. Bear watching expeditions are available during the salmon run season from July through September.
The Outpost Tent is a white canvas safari tent mounted on a raised cedar platform with a private outdoor deck. Inside, a king-size bed with organic fine linen faces the rainforest or the sound. Antique furnishings, locally commissioned First Nations artworks, and a wood-burning cast-iron stove recall the prospector-chic aesthetic of the lodge. The floor is heated cedar. Outside, traditional Adirondack chairs on the deck provide the best vantage point for wildlife encounters. Fresh coffee is delivered in an insulated Yeti mug to the tent flap each morning before the dining tent opens.
The Healing Grounds Spa is perched on the ocean foreshore at the edge of the new and old-growth forest. Treatment rooms use Canadian glacial clay and Pacific seaweed. A waterfront massage tent, cedar hot tubs, sauna, and yoga studio are available throughout the day. The spa includes a wraparound sun deck overlooking the sound. One 60-minute relaxation massage per person is included in the all-inclusive package.
The Cookhouse Restaurant is a log-cabin dining hall at the heart of the lodge. All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the package rate, along with a full selection of wines, beers, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. The kitchen produces Pacific Northwest gourmet cuisine using ingredients either foraged from the surrounding forest, harvested from the adjacent kitchen garden, or delivered daily by boat from the local fishing fleet. Dinner is prepared fresh each evening with a different menu, and the camp bar serves handcrafted cocktails.
The lodge follows a zero-waste, sustainability-first approach. The Ivanhoe Lounge opens onto the sound with floor-to-ceiling windows and a waterfront terrace — the best spot for spotting sea life from a cocktail chair. Weekly gala dinners showcase the region finest wild Pacific salmon, Dungeness crab, and forest-foraged ingredients. Wine pairings are guided by the house sommelier. After dinner, the games tent has a full billiard table, vintage board games, and a fireplace.
Four nights in the Outpost Tent — inside the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, accessible only by seaplane. Bear watching along salmon rivers, ocean kayaking through the fjords, horseback riding in ancient rainforest, and cedar hot tub forest bathing under the stars.
Open seasonally May to September. All activities are weather-dependent and guided by the lodge activity director. Contact your Richseen specialist to confirm seasonal availability.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is not accessible by road. The lodge is not a hotel that happens to have nature nearby. It is a camp inside one of the last intact ancient temperate rainforests on Earth, where the food is foraged from the forest and delivered by boat, where the bears walk along the waterline at breakfast, where the helicopter is included. Three MICHELIN Keys. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The season is short — May to September. The lodge has 25 tents for a reason.
A 4-night all-inclusive stay in the Outpost Tent — inside the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve on Vancouver Island, accessible only by seaplane. All gourmet meals, all guided activities, a scenic helicopter flight, and a Healing Grounds Spa massage are included. Bear watching along salmon rivers. Ocean kayaking through the fjords. Horseback riding in ancient rainforest. Cedar hot tub forest bathing beside the Bedwell River.
Forty-five minutes from Vancouver by seaplane. Horse-drawn wagon to the tent. Three MICHELIN Keys. Bears at breakfast.
All components are fully flexible — refined with your Richseen specialist prior to confirmation.