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The Chilko Experience

Chilko Experience Wilderness Resort

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Stays a the Chilko Experience are all inclusive and include lodging in a log or timber frame home, chef prepared meals, an open bar and all guided activities.

The Chilko Experience Wilderness Resort began as a single renovation and grew into a retreat composed of 14 buildings including 4 log homes and 3 timber frame homes. Practicality paired with passion brought the original homestead to life and continued throughout construction of the entire estate. Each building is thoughtfully placed on 25 acres for privacy and natural vistas. The final result offers a luxurious home designed with artful charm and privacy. The architecture at the Chilko Experience is stunning for many small reasons that combined to create something special. 

The Resort's houses include: Main House, Tower House, Carl's House, Annie's house, Bunk House, Bryan's house

Facilities:
  • Ceiling fan
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Separate dining area
  • Separate living room
  • Separate sitting area
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower only
  • Free toiletries
  • Satellite TV channels
  • Free WiFi
  • Refrigerator
  • Kitchen
  • Daily housekeeping
Activities:
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • ATV Tours
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Photography
  • Horseback Riding
  • Kayaking/Canoeing
  • Hiking

Getting There
There are several options of how to get to the Chilko Experience Wilderness Lodge:
The easiest option is to take a commercial flight into Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and take a 60 minute charter flight directly to Chilko (additional cost). Land transportation to Chilko Experience provided. 
The next option is to take a commercial flight into Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Then fly commercial into Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada.  Then drive the 3 hours to Chilko Experience.  
The longer, but arguably more scenic would be to drive to The Chilko Experience Wilderness Resort. The Lodge is a 3 hour drive from Williams Lake, 10 hour drive from Vancouver, or a 5 hour drive from Bella Coola, BC, Canada. The journey from Vancouver goes through the Fraser River Valley, a scenic basin following the longest river in British Columbia.
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Itineraries

The Chilko Experience
$6,008
EXPLORE

Chilko Experience Wilderness Lodge

4-8 Day Itinerary
  • Relax in your wilderness hideaway
  • Cruise the Chilko River by jet boat
  • Explore backwoods trails by ATV
  • Horseback ride to mountain tops
Activities:
Biking, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Wilderness Lodge Exploration, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Relaxed
Tour Details
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The Chilko Experience

Guided Activities Offered

The Chilko Experience does not force its guests a fixed activity itinerary but rather lets them build their own from the dozen possible activities offered. This allows each guest flexibility of schedule. This can only be done due to the high guide/guest ratio.  Only 12 guests per week makes the experience more personal.  The location of the Chilko Experience was carefully chosen to be a multi-sport destination as activities define the experience.  Doing cool things in the middle of spectacular nature with friends and family is a good as it gets.
 
ATV trail riding
 
Perhaps the favorite repeatable activity is ATV backwoods trail tours.  Chilko is blessed with an abundance of off road trails that take you to places few have been.  Riders must be 16 years old.  Younger may ride with an adult. 
 
Lake tours in cabin cruiser
 
Chilko Lake is North America’s largest alpine lake. It’s 50 miles in length, 1,100 ft deep and ringed by mountains and glaciers.  This 33M year old geologic feature has been seen by few as its accessible only by larger boat.  It is so special it was turned into an undeveloped provincial park for its protection in 1994.  The day includes a picnic lunch and shore stops at points of interest.  Easily the top rated event of all guests.
 
Horseback trail riding
 
A trail ride that rises 4,000 ft from the valley floor to a bed of sea fossils at the crest of the Potato Mountain range at 7,000 ft is remarkable.  It’s a full day event with wine and a picnic lunch served at the top.  Trail is covered with wild flowers most of the summer.  A photographer’s dream.
 
White water rafting
 
The snow and glacier melt of the mountains surrounding Chilko lake in the summer causes water levels to rise and rush to the lake’s spillway which is Chilko river.  In 2014 Outside Magazine named the Chilko River the top white water river in the world.  The river has an 18 mile stretch of continuous class IV water that is the longest in North America.

This run is known as the Lava Canyon run will be available on a one day basis for the first time ever in 2017.  Normally it's only available as part of a five day float package.  The river run is offered by ROAM who are our friends and have been operating safely on the Chilko for over 25 years.  Rafting season is June though later August and this trip is only offered on an “as available basis”.  Probably once a week.
 
Hiking
 
Guided hiking available.  The trail up Tulin Mountain that overlooks Chilko Lake is one of the best hikes in BC.  There are numerous other trails.
 
Fishing

 
Lake fishing at Chilko and surrounding lakes is top notch.  Rainbow and bull trout are the only species available.  Guided Lake fishing is included in services offered under the all-inclusive package. The Chilko river offers fly fishing on classified waters on a catch and release basis only.  This requires special licensing, boats and guides which are available.  One boat, two fishermen and guide is a $400 per day upcharge.
 
Kayaks & Canoes
 
Both are available for lake use on a guided basis.  Silently glide along the shore and enjoy the vistas and wildlife.
 
Photography
 
Chilko is a photographer’s dream with its amazing vistas and wildlife.  The fall salmon run and resultant Grizzly bear viewing opportunities bring photographers from around the world.
 
River tours
 
A Chilko river tour by jet boat is a delight as the scenery changes at every bend.  Lots of bald eagles on the river as fish is their primary food source.  Jet refers to the type of boat motors used on the shallow draft rivers. 
 
Bear Viewing
 
Fall (Sept –Oct) bear viewing at Chilko is some of the best in the world.  The Chilko River has the second largest Sockeye spawn in Canada and is usual because of deep interior location.  This brings bears in from great distances to feed.  Hair samples collected for DNA analysis show 90+ bears in the valley and this is only a partial count.  In 2016 it was not uncommon is see as many as 40 bears feeding at dusk on the river.
 
Viking Axe Competition 
 
The Chilko Experience has a “target range” where guests can learn to throw Viking replica axes at wooden targets.  This is a skill easily learned and can provide hours of fun and allows everyone to seek their inner Viking.
 
Custom adventures
 
Guest often come with one off requests that we can usually grant.  One wanted to learn how to run a chainsaw and fall a tree (it was dead already) like a lumberjack.   Others have wanted to shoot a rifle like Annie Oakley.  Whatever your request, if it’s legal and in good taste, we will try and accommodate .
 

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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin

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