Celebrating its 25th season in 2025, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Vancouver Island has welcomed its first guests this week. To mark its quarter-century milestone, the team at British Columbia's wild luxury 'summer camp' has elevated its wellness and dining offerings and announced a range of new 'Rare and Remarkable' helicopter (heli) experiences, taking Canadian wilderness adventures to breathtaking new heights.

The 2025 season promises five months of generously inclusive luxury and incredible outdoor adventures in nature's own playground where picture book wildlife roam and swim in their own, pristine wilderness: black bears forage along the shoreline; whales, seals and sea otters navigate the region's network of waterways; and bald eagles soar overhead.

Sunrise yoga in the Healing Grounds wellbeing sanctuary offers a gentle, grounding start to the day, while the Bedwell River cold-water mindfulness experience has been reimagined as a one-hour sunrise 'glacial plunge' - both part of the included wellbeing experiences designed to reconnect guests with the stillness of nature.

Executive Chef Ben Godin returns to the kitchen this season, driven by passion for place and produce. Drawing inspiration from the awe-inspiring wilderness and supported by a network of sustainable local producers, Ben's menus celebrate ingredients such as Yarrow Meadows Farm duck, Northern Divine Aquafarms white sturgeon, Peace Country Lamb, Britco Pork and Nanoose Bay Albacore Tuna. A keen forager, Ben also introduces guests to the region's rarely sampled, hyperlocal ingredients, offering a real taste of the Vancouver Island wilderness.

The Experiences Guide has been refreshed for the start of the season and now offers a full rundown of Clayoquot's signature, optional, wellbeing and bespoke experiences. Excitingly, a suite of new heli adventures debuts for the 2025 season, with two earning the superlative new Rare and Remarkable (R&R) category.

Among the additions are two alpine heli adventures, three new coastal-themed itineraries, and a convenient 15-minute heli pickup from the Ursus Valley hike, all available at an additional cost.

The new alpine heli experiences include:

• Alpine Scenic - a breathtaking 30-minute taster flight, best enjoyed at sunset, soaring over the Mount Mariner Glacier with panoramic views of Strathcona Provincial Park. A perfect introduction to the drama of the Clayoquot backcountry.
• Lake Day (R&R) - a private heli journey to remote lake where guests enjoy the ultimate picnic, along with hiking and aquatic sports tailored to preference. Ideal for families or friends seeking something extraordinary.

Heading to the coast, these new heli experiences offer guests chance encounters with the marine landscape and its thriving wildlife:

• Coastal Scenic – a 30-minute aerial taster tracing the ruggedly beautiful coastline of Vancouver Island
• Island Picnic – a half day escape to explore the wild islands dotted around the Clayoquot Sound and spotting wildlife.
• Sea Caves (R&R) - fly north to remote sea caves carved into sheer rockfaces. Guests can venture inside, exploring tidal pools, cool pebbled beaches, and cathedral-like chambers shaped by centuries of waves.

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge General Manager Sarah Cruse said she was excited to embark on a new season of unforgettable wilderness adventures and chance wildlife encounters with guests at the remote luxury outpost.

“We're so thrilled to be welcoming our first guests of 2025 to the house of Mother Nature today – especially in what is a truly special 25th season - where there are more, exhilarating ways for guests to experience the destination than ever before,” Ms Cruse said. 

“We're riding a wave of incredible award recognition, including receiving the prestigious Three MICHELIN Keys late last year, along with honours from the Modern Luxury Travel Awards, Oprah Daily's Hotel O-wards, Fodor's Finest Hotels List, and Green Matters' Best Eco-Friendly Wellness Resorts. It's going to be a spectacular season ahead,” she said.

For more information and bookings, visit https://clayoquotwildernesslodge.com/packages/ www.clayoquotwilderneslodge.com, contact reservations at reserve@clayoquotwildernesslodge.com or call +1 250-266-0397

Editors' Notes: Baillie Lodges is a growing portfolio of luxury lodges renowned for setting benchmarks in premium experiential travel. Founded in 2003 by James and Hayley Baillie, the boutique properties are set in exclusive locations of unique natural or cultural significance and appeal to the discerning global traveller seeking a remarkable experience. The Australia-based collection includes Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, Longitude 131° at Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island, Silky Oaks Lodge at the Daintree Rainforest, and The Louise in the Barossa Valley. In 2019, an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners acquired Baillie Lodges with the aim to further expand the unique collection of luxury lodges. The partnership enabled the collection's foray into international waters, adding Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Canada's Vancouver Island and New Zealand's Huka Lodge. In Chile, Tierra Atacama and Tierra Patagonia offer extraordinary experiences of South America.  Baillie Lodges' Australian properties are honoured as members of Luxury Lodges of Australia. For more information, please visit baillielodges.com.au.