Wellness is more than a trend – it’s a way of life. In British Columbia, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to wellness experiences, be it relaxing on a floating sanctuary in the Pacific Ocean, an enlightening nature walk narrated by Indigenous storytellers, or an invigorating plunge into a mountain lake.
NEW wellness experiences
Stay ahead of the curve by indulging in these BC wellness experiences, introduced in the last year:
- New trend: Seaweed bathing for antioxidants and wellness – Opened in early 2024, Moon Jelly Bathhouse is located in Clayoquot Sound, in Canada’s first Tribal Park. Offering a private floating sanctuary with seaweed at its helm, this six-hour experience starts with a 15-minute boat ride from the harbour in Tofino . At Moon Jelly, you’ll find two spacious saltwater seaweed hot tubs; a rinse shower; a covered gazebo lounge with day beds and warm blankets; a sky hammock swaying over open water; and fleece-lined, waterproof robes. Soak, sweat, plunge, and rinse-the wellness journey is completely driven by you. Moon Jelly is an ally of the Tribal Parks Alliance, a stewardship program that collects 1% from local businesses to fund guardians who tend the intergenerational gardens of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation.
How to get here: From Vancouver, Tofino is a six-hour ferry and car ride. You can also fly direct on a 45-minute scheduled or charter flight from downtown Vancouver.
- Nordic Cycle Therapy for healing and mental health – Plunge Wellness, which opened in spring 2024 in Squamish, invites relaxation-seekers to heal and connect in a serene space outfitted with a sauna, cold plunge tubs, and lounge area. Based on the popularity of Nordic Cycle Therapy (cycling between cold, hot, and rest), Plunge Wellness is a community-focused space where everyone starts at their own level. The business was founded by a local 20-year-old who experienced a devastating event and sought an effective way to heal her own, and others’, traumas and physical ailments.
How to get here: Squamish is a one-hour drive north of Vancouver.
- Private Hydro-therapy – Circle Wellness Spa, located on Granville Island in Vancouver, beckons spa-goers with a private, clothing-optional wellness experience that combines ancient rituals with modern technology. Guests can soak in a cedar tub, relax on heated riverstones, awaken their senses in the cold plunge pools, and detox in an open-concept sauna.
How to get here: Granville Island is a 35-minute drive or taxi-ride from Vancouver International Airport.
Serene spa sessions
The crown jewel of any wellness getaway is a muscle-melting spa experience that banishes stress and instils deep relaxation. Here’s where to spa in BC this season:
- Wellness Meets Wilderness: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge Earns MICHELIN Top Honour
Amidst the rugged beauty of Clayoquot Sound, the Healing Grounds Spa offers a holistic retreat, blending luxurious treatments with the healing powers of nature. Recently, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, home to this spa, earned the prestigious three-key rating from the MICHELIN Guide, marking it as one of only two hotels in Canada to receive this honour. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the lodge’s signature offerings, from cedar hot tubs and waterfront massage tents to therapeutic treatments using locally sourced ingredients like Canadian glacial clay and Pacific seaweed. Michelin praised the lodge’s harmonious balance of rustic elegance and modern indulgence, cementing its place as an extraordinary wellness escape.
How to get here: Get to the lodge via a flight to Vancouver, British Columbia (YVR) followed by a scenic 45-minute chartered seaplane flight directly to the lodge dock. This flight is booked for you by the lodge.
- *Limited time* Pop-up floating sauna on Okanagan Lake – Löyly Floating Sauna in Kelowna reopens for the season October 15, offering a seasonal wellness experience on Okanagan Lake that embraces the benefits of hot-cold therapy. Visitors are invited to sweat in a Finnish-style sauna, dive into an icy plunge pool, then rest and enjoy the lake views before starting the cycle again.
How to get here: Kelowna is a four-hour drive from Vancouver, BC or take a one-hour flight from YVR with a short drive to Okanagan Lake.
- Signature “Vinotherapy” Spa Treatment in the Heart of Wine Country – In tune with the Okanagan’s thriving winery culture, Beyond Wrapture Spa in Kelowna has updated two signature Vinotherapy treatments that harness the powerful antioxidants found in grape by-products. Using resveratrol-rich grape pips, stems, and skins—by-products from local wineries—the treatments are designed to reduce free radical damage, promote skin health, and offer a unique connection to the region’s celebrated wine heritage. Spa-goers with a love for wine and wellness can enjoy a luxurious escape deeply rooted in the essence of the Okanagan.
How to get here: Kelowna is a four-hour drive from Vancouver, BC or take a one-hour flight from YVR.
- New elevated Spa Experience at The Fairmont Empress – Visit the Fairmont Empress in Victoria on Wednesdays this fall and winter for a midweek escape. “Wellness Wednesday” invites visitors to explore Willow Stream Spa’s suite of treatments, including the new Fire & Ice Body Treatment – head-to-toe revitalization encompassing a warm eucalyptus-lavender body scrub, hot stone massage, and a DerMed facial with cooling cryoglobes. After your treatment, you’re welcome to unwind in the mineral pools and saunas. Wellness Wednesday runs until December 18, 2024.
How to get here: Victoria is a two-hour ferry ride from Vancouver, or a 30-minute floatplane journey.
- Group Finnish Spa Experience – The Spot at Paul Lake near Kamloops melts away stress with a remote getaway beside a mountain lake. Here, visitors can indulge in a self-guided hydrotherapy circuit with a Finnish wet sauna, cold plunge pools, and energizing activities like mountain biking and fishing from a private dock. There are also fire bowls, group gathering spaces, and catering options. The Spot is currently taking bookings for 2025.
How to get here: The Spot at Paul Lake is a 30-minute drive from Kamloops and a four-hour drive (or 45-minute flight) from Vancouver.
Unique cultural healing experiences
Thought-provoking cultural experiences can reboot and recharge your brain, supporting learning and creativity, boosted energy levels, and better mental health. Here’s where to get a dose of culture in BC this fall:
- Interactive Initiative by BC Parks & Squamish First Nations – Along The Story Trail in the forests of Alice Lake Provincial Park in Squamish – which is built on the traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People – there are 10 signs with QR codes that visitors can scan to hear diverse perspectives. Each marker shares stories from the students of Aya7Auylh Chet (Cultural Journeys – St’a7mes School) related to traditional medicinal pants, including teachings from Leigh Joseph, an ethnobotanist and member of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation who founded skincare line Sḵwálwen Botanicals. The Story Trail is an initiative by BC Parks Foundation and First Nations to advance reconciliation through outdoor adventure.
How to get here: Squamish is a 1.5-hour drive north of Vancouver.
- Immersive Indigenous Storytelling – Inspired by the theme “Everyone has a story to tell,” Whistler Writers Festival (October 17-20) in Whistler hosts 12 reading events and eight workshops, providing bookworms with plenty of opportunities to swap stories and explore diverse perspectives. Among many fascinating sessions is The Sound of Story: Oral Storytelling & Spoken Word (October 17) with Lil’wat author and oral storyteller Holly Bikadi, Squamish storyteller Tsawaysia Spukwus Dominique Nahanee, spoken word artist and slam poetry champ Nisha Patel, and award-winning poet Bradley Peters.
How to get here: Whistler is a two-hour drive north of Vancouver.
