Baillie Lodges has announced that it is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge with a range of new helicopter experiences for the 2025 season.
Kicking off on 22 May, the 2025 season promises five months of generously inclusive luxury adventures for guests in nature’s own playground where black bears forage shoreside, whales, seals, and sea otters enjoy the regions network of waterways, and bald eagles sear overhead.
The Experience Guide has been updated to time with the 2025 season and offers a full introduction to the range of signature, optional, wellbeing and bespoke experiences on offer for guests at Clayoquot.
The Bedwell River cold-water mindfulness experience has been reformatted as a one-hour sunrise ‘glacial plunge’ as part of the included wellbeing experiences on offer, due to popular demand. It may also be taken as a private experience (at an additional cost).
New on the helicopter experiences menu are two new alpine adventures, plus four new coastal-themed itineraries, while a 15-minute one-way helicopter pickup from the Ursus Valley hike is called the River Run (at an additional cost).
The new Alpine Scenic heli tour is a 30-minute taster flight, offering a wonderful aerial perspective of the Vancouver Island wilderness. Best enjoyed at sunset, the tour lifts off for an exhilarating flight through valleys and soaring over the Mount Mariner Glacier with views spanning across Strathcona Provincial Park.
Also in the mountains, the new Lake Day heli experience whisks guests away to a remote lake deep in the wilderness. Guests enjoy the ultimate picnic spread, plus hiking and aquatic sports to be tailored to preference. The Lake Day adventure is ideal for a family or friends travelling together.
Heading to the coast and a chance for incredible encounters with the marine landscape and its wildlife, the new helicopter itineraries include:
- Coastal Scenic – a 30-minute taster exploring Vancouver Island’s ruggedly beautiful ocean coastlines
- Island Picnic – a half day tour exploring the wild islands dotted around the ocean and spotting wildlife
- Sea Caves – discover remote sea caves, explore inside the caves, finding sheer rockfaces, tidal pools and cool pebbled beaches via helicopter
- Walk the Wild Side – helicopter ride to the wild Vargas Island following an 11km trail along a cultural route of the First Nations Ahousaht people who have gathered medicinal plants and seasonal foods over centuries
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge general manager, Sarah Cruse, said she was delighted to present the new experiences of the incredible Vancouver Island wilderness just in time for the celebratory 2025 season.
“We’re so incredibly fortunate to be in the heart of Mother Nature’s playground here at Clayoquot, and we’re always looking to innovate our experiences program to offer guests more unforgettable ways to encounter our magnificent wildlife and landscapes,” Cruse said.
“We’re riding the wave of our Three MICHELIN Keys award late last year, and we’re so excited to be celebrating our silver anniversary in 2025! It’s going to be a spectacular season ahead.”
