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

$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

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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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!

Meyer Smolen

TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews

TrustScore 4.8 of 5

Based on 174 reviews on

1 day ago

The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent. Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio. In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day. Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took. Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.

Kenneth Dropek

2 days ago

Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.

Tina

3 days ago

Rapid response.

kym

3 days ago

Jess and her non pushy salesmanship!!!!!

Cristen Crawford

3 days ago

Mary Curry. And AL’s discount policy.

Customer

Chilko Experience Wilderness Resort

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Itineraries

Chilko Experience Wilderness Lodge

The Chilko Experience

Guided Activities Offered

Inquire

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