Baillie Lodges is delighted to share the news that its remote outpost Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island celebrates a quarter-century of operations this year. To celebrate, the ‘luxury summer camp’ has announced a range of new helicopter (heli) experiences in time for the 2025 season, taking Canadian wilderness adventures to new heights.
The 2025 season kicks off on May 22 this year, promising five months of generously inclusive luxury and incredible adventures for guests in nature’s own playground where black bears forage shoreside, whales, seals and sea otters enjoy the region’s network of waterways and bald eagles soar overhead.
The Experiences Guide has been updated to time with the 2025 season and offers a full introduction to the range of signature, optional and bespoke experiences on offer for guests at Clayoquot.
The cold-water immersion mindfulness experience, which takes place in the Bedwell River, has been reformatted as a one-hour sunrise ‘glacial plunge’ due to popular demand, and is included on guest itineraries as a signature wellbeing experience.
New on the heli experiences menu (at an additional cost) are two new alpine adventures, plus four new coastal-themed itineraries, while a 15-minute one-way heli pickup from the Ursus Valley hike is called the River Run.
The new Alpine Scenic heli tour is a 30-minute taster flight, offering a wonderful aerial perspective of the Vancouver Island wilderness. Best enjoyed at sunset, the tour lifts off for an exhilarating flight through valleys and soaring over the Mount Mariner Glacier with views spanning across Strathcona Provincial Park.
Also in the mountains, the new Lake Day heli experience whisks guests away to a remote lake deep in the wilderness. Guests enjoy the ultimate picnic spread, plus hiking and aquatic sports to be tailored to preference. The Lake Day adventure is ideal for a family or friends travelling together.
Heading to the coast and a chance for incredible encounters with the marine landscape and its wildlife, the new heli itineraries include:
- Coastal Scenic – a 30-minute taster exploring Vancouver Island’s ruggedly beautiful ocean coastlines
- Island Picnic – a half day tour exploring the wild islands dotted around the ocean and spotting wildlife
- Sea Caves – Fly north via heli to discover remote sea caves, explore inside the caves, finding sheer rockfaces, tidal pools and cool pebbled beaches.
- Walk the Wild Side – fly to the wild Vargas Island and follow an 11km trail along a cultural route of the First Nations Ahousaht people who have gathered medicinal plants and seasonal foods over centuries.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge General Manager Sarah Cruse said she was delighted to present the new experiences of the incredible Vancouver Island wilderness just in time for the celebratory 2025 season.
“We’re so incredibly fortunate to be in the heart of Mother Nature’s playground here at Clayoquot, and we’re always looking to innovate our experiences program to offer guests more unforgettable ways to encounter our magnificent wildlife and landscapes,” Ms Cruse said.
“We’re riding the wave of our Three MICHELIN Keys award late last year, and we’re so excited to be celebrating our silver anniversary in 2025! It’s going to be a special season ahead,” she said.
