From vibrant Vancouver to the rugged beauty of the rearing Rocky Mountains, British Columbia is a land of contrasts. Here, luxury meets untamed nature, with remote wilderness lodges, world-class rail journeys and spectacular national parks waiting to be explored.
Vancouver and Victoria pair west coast style with heritage charm and easy access to the wilderness.
Grizzly bear encounters await at remote lodges deep in the Great Bear Rainforest.
On Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park is all wild surf, rainforest and raw coastal beauty.
Just 90 minutes from Vancouver, Whistler delivers alpine adventure and mountain luxury year-round.
The Okanagan Valley offers lakeside vineyards, sunshine and some of Canada’s finest wines.
Framed by the Pacific and the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver has a setting to rival that of Sydney or Rio, not to mention a renowned restaurant scene and expansive green spaces like vast Stanley Park, with its ancient cedars and First Nations totem poles.
Across the water lies Victoria, the provincial capital, known for its gardens and heritage charm. But it’s the wilderness of Vancouver Island that truly captivates, from orca sightings on the ferry crossing over to the pristine beauty of the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, one of the planet’s last remaining tracts of temperate rainforest, home to wolves, bears and the luxurious Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. Other remote lodges in the wilds of BC include Knight Inlet Lodge and Sonora Resort in the fjords that furrow the province’s west coast, both wonderful places to spot grizzlies in the wild.
Back on the mainland, the scenic Sea to Sky Highway connects Vancouver to Whistler for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Alternatively, board the Rocky Mountaineer for a luxury rail journey into the Rockies, overnighting in Kamloops before ending either in Banff or Jasper.
The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve on Vancouver Island is one of the planet’s last remaining tracts of temperate rainforest, home to black bears, wolves, cougars, bald eagles, seals, orcas and huge pods of grey whales. Treading lightly upon this fragile environment is one of Canada’s finest off-grid retreats, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, accessible only via seaplane from Vancouver or by boat from Tofino.
Located at the foot of the Whistler Blackcomb mountains, this fabulous resort is the perfect setting for a rustic adventure year-round. Guests are treated to chic accommodations, fine dining and a lavish spa, and all just a short stroll away from Whistler Village and ski lifts up the mountain.
Set on Vancouver’s waterfront, this iconic five-star hotel offers refined luxury and flawless service. Elegant rooms, exceptional dining and attentive staff create a serene retreat in the heart of the city, framed by sweeping harbour and mountain views.
Knight Inlet Lodge lies 60 kilometres from the mouth of British Columbia’s longest fjord in the southern stretches of one of the last intact temperate rainforests on earth, the Great Bear Rainforest. Indigenous-owned, the floating lodge offers some of the best grizzly bear watching on the planet and is at the forefront of conservation and environmental stewardship.
Set on the edge of the Pacific, this Relais & Châteaux retreat in Tofino is immersed in wild coastal scenery. Panoramic windows frame ocean views, the acclaimed restaurant delivers true wow factor and the Ancient Cedars Spa offers treatments amid towering spruce.
Nestled amid the majestic peaks of British Columbia's Whistler Blackcomb mountains, the award-winning Fairmont Chateau Whistler fuses luxury and natural beauty to create an unforgettable mountain retreat, making it one of the world’s leading alpine destinations.