10 Sustainable Ecolodges And Retreats In British Columbia
British Columbia has long been a leader in ecotourism. With its mix of rugged coastline, temperate rainforest, alpine peaks, and Indigenous stewardship, it’s a natural fit for travellers who want to explore without leaving a heavy footprint.
From off-grid digital detox cabins on remote islands to glamping domes tucked into old-growth forests, BC offers some of the best places in Canada to fully unplug and rewild your senses. There’s no need for cellular service when you’ve got whales breaching offshore or bears wandering the shoreline.
Many of these ecolodges are locally owned, solar-powered, and built with deep respect for the land. They support wildlife conservation, low-impact travel, and cultural connection so your stay gives back as much as it gives you.
Whether you’re kayaking through quiet inlets, hiking in alpine meadows, or soaking in a wood-fired sauna under the stars, this list of BC ecolodges will help you slow down, tune in, and remember what it feels like to live with the land.
And the best part? These kinds of experiences are shaping the future of travel. They’re proving that you don’t have to choose between comfort and conscience. You can have both if you know where to look.
1. Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort (Great Bear Rainforest, BC)
Nimmo Bay is a luxe wilderness retreat where adventure meets respect for the land. Meals include fresh seafood caught each day and organic regional produce. Tour guides take you deep into pristine fjords, and the ecolodge is built to leave no trace.
The property runs primarily on renewable energy and operates a no-plastic policy. Guests can relax in cedar hot tubs under the northern lights or spend the day on glacial hikes in the spectacular Coastal Mountains.
This is high-end ecotourism in a still very wild part of BC, which makes it ideal for those craving nature without compromise and who don’t mind paying a premium for luxury.
- Location: Remote fjord on BC’s central coast
- Price: Typically USD 600–900/night (all-inclusive)
- Sustainability: Solar and hydro power, zero single-use plastic, waste repurposed for wildlife habitat
- Activities: Heli-explore fjords, forage sea kelp, kayak, bear/wildlife viewing
2. Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch (Cariboo, BC)
Siwash Lake mixes Interior British Columbian ranch charm with ecological wilderness stewardship. It’s an off-grid ranch lodge, eco-certified for its energy efficiency and with a staff dedicated to restoring burned landscapes after a major wildfire.
You can ride through open range, fish on private lakes, or hike in magical old-growth forests. Your meals feature local, ranch-raised meats and regional produce from BC’s rich interior farmland.
This lodge blends cowboy culture with ecological renewal and personal luxury. It’s also been featured as one of the unique lodges of the world by National Geographic.
- Location: 10,000-acre private nature reserve in interior BC
- Price: All-inclusive USD 850–1,200/night
- Sustainability: Platinum-certified green lodge, post-wildfire reforestation program
- Activities: Horse riding, guided hikes, wildlife viewing, fly-fishing, ranch life
3. Klahoose Wilderness Resort (Desolation Sound, BC)
Run by the Klahoose First Nation, this award-winning resort offers cultural immersion and eco-guided adventures. The lodges are solar-powered and built with cedar in the indigenous artistic traditions of the British Columbia coast.
Each day at Klahoose Wilderness Resort includes cultural storytelling, wildlife tours, or quiet reflection on the water. It’s an intimate, respectful entry into Indigenous-led ecotourism.
Ideal for mindful travellers who are seeking authentic connection, exploration of indigenous traditions and deep wilderness intimacy.
- Location: Indigenous-owned lodge in Desolation Sound
- Price: USD 250–400/night
- Sustainability: Off-grid cabins, Indigenous cultural guiding, small guest group size
- Activities: Bear viewing, paddle tours, cultural storytelling, fishing, wildlife photography
4. Hollyhock Retreat (Cortes Island, BC)
Hollyhock is a community-minded retreat center offering seasonal programs in wellness and arts. They’ve built with reclaimed materials and grow most of their own food in a spectacular garden that surrounds one side of the property.
Retreat sessions vary and many world’s leading teachers who are fusing science and spiritual come here to host retreats. You can expect yoga, writing, cooking, hiking and quietude. It’s a place for deep learning and nature reconnection.
Great for small groups seeking a creative reset in nature or anyone who wants to learn from leading ecological teachers like Paul Stamets, Merlin Sheldrake and Suzanne Simard.
- Location: Cortes Island in the Desolation Sound region
- Price: USD 100–200/night (program fees separate)
- Sustainability: Organic gardens, reclaimed building, educational retreat center
- Activities: Yoga, creativity workshops, meditation, beach walks, organic gardening
5. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge (Vancouver Island, BC)
This luxury eco-resort is tucked deep in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You stay in safari-style canvas tents along a beautiful river, which offer comfort without compromising the wilderness setting. It’s remote, off-grid, and spectacularly scenic.
The lodge runs on renewable energy, avoids single-use plastics, and uses composting and local sourcing to reduce waste. A portion of all stays supports local conservation and First Nations partnerships.
Guests spend days sea kayaking, heli-hiking, and foraging with guides. Evenings are for gourmet dinners, stargazing, and soaking in cedar hot tubs. It’s high-end, deeply intentional, and rooted in place.
- Location: Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island
- Price: USD 2,000–2,200/night (all-inclusive)
- Sustainability: Solar farm, composting, local sourcing, no single-use plastic
- Top Activities: Kayaking, heli-hiking, wildlife watching, foraging, hot tubs
6. Chilko Experience Wilderness Resort (Chilko Lake, BC)
Surrounded by mountains and lakefront wilderness, this remote lodge offers hand-built log homes in one of BC’s most beautiful and untouched regions. It’s elegant, but never flashy.
The resort uses hydro and solar energy, recycles everything it can, and sources food locally. It also prioritizes environmental education and habitat protection through guest experiences.
Canoeing, hiking, and wildlife watching are the main attractions. At night, it’s all about stargazing, hot tea by the fire, and soaking in the silence. It’s a serene retreat for true nature lovers.
- Location: Chilko Lake, BC
- Price: USD 1,900 for 3-night all-inclusive package
- Sustainability: Off-grid energy, habitat protection, local food
- Top Activities: Canoeing, mountain hikes, wildlife viewing, stargazing
7. Haida House at Tllaal (Haida Gwaii, BC)
This oceanfront ecolodge is run by the Haida Nation and offers immersive experiences in Haida culture and the wild beauty of Haida Gwaii. The cedar lodge is both elegant and understated, honouring the land it rests on.
Guests stay in handcrafted rooms and are invited into cultural learning such as canoe journeys, Haida carving workshops, and storytelling with Elders. Meals are made with locally harvested seafood and wild ingredients.
The ecolodge is part of a broader Indigenous-led effort to reclaim culture and protect ancestral land. It’s as much a cultural retreat as it is a nature escape.
- Location: Tllaal, Haida Gwaii, BC
- Price: USD 300–500/night
- Sustainability: Indigenous-run, local materials, cultural preservation
- Top Activities: Canoeing, carving workshops, spirit walks, beach walks
8. Wickaninnish Inn (Tofino, Vancouver Island)
Set on the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Tofino, the Wickaninnish Inn is a coastal sanctuary that combines modern design with rugged nature. Rooms overlook the ocean and come with binoculars for storm watching.
The inn is Green Key certified and uses solar water heating, local and seasonal food, and reclaimed wood in its construction. Its restaurant is Ocean Wise certified and works with Indigenous harvesters and farmers.
Come for storm season in the winter or in the summer surf, fish and hike. Guests can walk the beach, hike rainforest trails, take Indigenous-led nature tours, and indulge in a full-service spa experience.
- Location: Tofino, Vancouver Island
- Price: USD 350–450/night
- Sustainability: Solar water heating, reclaimed wood, Ocean Wise menu
- Top Activities: Surfing, spa, storm watching, forest hikes
9. Mount Assiniboine Lodge (BC Rockies, near Banff)
Perched at the base of Mount Assiniboine, this historic backcountry lodge dates to 1928 and feels like a living museum of mountain adventure. It’s accessible only via a long hike, ski, or helicopter, and sits 26 km from any road in pristine alpine terrain.
The lodge is rustic yet welcoming. Beds are cozy, common areas offer a wood fireplace, and there are solar-heated showers and a sauna. Lighting and power are provided by solar and propane, and supplies are delivered by mule or helicopter, keeping roads and impact away.
Guests spend days skiing, hiking, or exploring guided tours. Evenings are about shared meals, starry skies, and deep stillness. Expect heart-warming stories and peaceful mornings in one of Canada’s most iconic mountain escapes.
Another great backcountry lodge in the BC Rockies is Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park and both of these lodges tend to have long waiting lists so make sure you book a couple of years early.
- Location: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, BC
- Price: USD 969–1,699 for 2–3 day packages
- Sustainability: Solar power, mule/heli supply, wood heat
- Top Activities: Alpine hiking, ski touring, sauna, stargazing
10. Ocean House at Sonora Resort (Sonora Island, BC)
A high-end eco-resort tucked in a protected cove, Ocean House blends Indigenous luxury with environmental respect. It’s only accessible by boat or floatplane and is run in collaboration with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people.
The lodge features low-impact design, local food, and a marine stewardship ethic. Whale and orca conservation is woven into the guest experience, along with community-focused programming.
Activities include whale watching, kayaking, and cultural presentations. It’s a remote, wellness-focused nature retreat that balances modern comfort with ecological awareness.
- Location: Sonora Island, BC
- Price: USD 600–800/night (all-inclusive)
- Sustainability: Indigenous-guided, marine conservation, off-grid systems
- Top Activities: Whale tours, kayaking, cultural storytelling, forest spa
The Future of Travel Is Rooted in Nature
As more people wake up to the environmental cost of traditional mass tourism, the future of travel is shifting. It’s no longer about checking off destinations or rushing through experiences. It’s about slowing down, going deeper, and choosing places that care for the land and the people.
Ecolodges are leading the way. These aren’t just places to sleep. They are built with purpose. Many run on solar power, collect rainwater, use composting systems, and support local communities. Some are Indigenous-owned. Others are family-run with a focus on preserving nature rather than paving over it.
Today’s travellers are looking for more than just comfort. They want meaning. They want to feel something. Ecolodges offer that through quiet mornings, shared meals, guided walks, and a deep sense of place. You’re not just observing nature. You’re a part of it.
When you stay at an ecolodge, you’re supporting more than a business. You’re helping preserve wildlife habitats. You’re creating jobs for local guides and chefs. You’re helping fund reforestation projects, native plant gardens, and cultural programs that would not exist without mindful tourism.
As climate change and overcrowded destinations continue to challenge the travel industry, ecolodges offer a different path forward. One that is slower, simpler, and more connected. One where the luxury comes from space, silence, and the feeling of doing something good.
British Columbia’s ecolodges show us what travel can become. Honest. Grounded. Regenerative. If the future of travel looks like this, we’re heading in the right direction.
I have been running mindful hiking retreats for the last 7 years that integrate mindful awareness, experiential learning and community building practices.
I love exploring new places, flying my drone and sharing my adventures on my Instagram.
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