What are some quirky alternatives to tent camping in British Columbia?
Leave the gear at home and try one of these alternatives to tenting instead.
This post by Amy Watkins was originally published on the Hello BC blog.
Not everyone wants to wrestle with tent poles at the end of a long hiking day. Luckily, British Columbia has a secret: some of the best camping experiences in the province don't require any gear at all.
Stay in teepees, yurts, glamping tents or safari-style wilderness tents across British Columbia, from Fraser Canyon and the Sunshine Coast to Clayoquot Sound and the British Columbia interior. Most of these alternatives come with proper beds, heat and views you won’t find in any regular campsite! Explore First Nations cultural heritage from teepees in Tuckkwiowhum Village near Boston Bar. Or stay at Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch, which has earned Platinum certification for sustainability and a spot on Condé Nast Johansens' list of world-class eco-luxury resorts.
The common thread is simple: the experience is ready when you arrive.
Quick facts
Teepees
Inspired by/origin: Conical shelters long used by First Nations Peoples as shelter
Best for: Rustic stays rooted in cultural heritage
Featured properties: Fraser Canyon Teepee Escape (handcrafted luxury teepees); Tuckkwiowhum Village, Boston Bar (authentic stays in Nlaka’pamux territory); YD Guest Ranch, Northern Okanagan (adults-only luxury teepees)
Yurts
Inspired by/origin: Circular tents of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia, Siberia and Turkey
Best for: Added luxury with hotel-style comforts
Featured properties: Wya Point Resort, Ucluelet (waterfront yurts, LEED Platinum lodges); Barefoot Beach Resort, Penticton (dome skylights, pet-friendly beach)
Glamping tents
Inspired by/origin: Canvas freedom combined with cabin comfort
Best for: Upscale nature stays, from simple to romantic
Featured properties: REO Rafting Resort, Nahatlatch River (riverside glamping); Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, Sunshine Coast (tenthouse suites with jetted tubs and fireplaces)
Safari-style tents
Inspired by/origin: World-class wilderness retreats in remote settings
Best for: All-inclusive luxury escapes in the wild
Featured properties: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, near Tofino (riverside tents, 600 acres in Clayoquot Sound); Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch, BC Interior (Condé Nast-recognized, Platinum-certified sustainability)
Teepees
Fraser Canyon Teepee Escape sits in Yale First Nations territory, where forested campsites open onto the Fraser River. Credit: Destination BC, Hubert Kang
To be close to nature and keep the rustic vibe, stay in a conical tent that has long been used by First Nations Peoples, also known as a teepee. Located in the Yale First Nations territory, Fraser Canyon Teepee Escape offers two luxury teepees right on the Fraser River, with the largest one featuring a wood-fired hot tub. Here, you can also go for guided sturgeon fishing adventures.
At Tuckkwiowhum Village located in Nlaka'pamux territory just south of Boston Bar, you can experience an authentic teepee stay. Bring sleeping mats and cooking gear and get comfy. Workshops and cultural classes are also available if you want to learn about the Nlaka'pamux village lifestyle prior to European contact.
In Northern Okanagan's Monashee Mountains, YD Guest Ranch offers private experiences including a luxury teepee on a raised platform, complete with rustic wood stoves and a fully made bed to help you get a good night's sleep.
Yurts
Inspired by the circular tents of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia, Siberia and Turkey, yurts are a popular choice for campers looking for added luxury.
Among the beauty of the coast and the old-growth forests on Vancouver Island, Wya Point Resort is located about a mile outside of the Ucluelet First Nations territory and offers luxury lodges, waterfront yurts and beachfront camping. All yurts are pet-friendly, so there's no need to leave your furry friends at home. The resort also features nine LEED Platinum lodges crafted from local red cedar.
At Penticton's Skaha Lake, Barefoot Beach Resort offers luxurious, climate-controlled yurts with large dome skylights centered above vaulted ceilings. There are plenty of activities to do here, including hiking or biking the famous Kettle Valley Rail Trail, which wraps the scenic Skaha Lake. Or take a walk to the golf course next door!
Glamping tents
Tenthouse suite decks at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort sit on a forested bluff above Halfmoon Bay. Credit: Sunshine Coast Tourism/Shayd Johnson
For an upscale way to enjoy nature, combine the comfort of a cabin with the freedom of canvas in a glamping tent. Like yurts, glamping tents include "proper" beds and can range from a simple sleeping area to upscale romantic options. Adventurous souls can experience glamping on the edge of Nahatlatch River with REO Rafting Resort. The resort is located in the Nahatlatch Valley, showcasing British Columbia’s wilderness with a glacier-capped mountain, a tall forest and a majestic river. REO Rafting also offers numerous rafting adventures through the Thompson and Nahatlatch rivers, as well as all-inclusive yoga retreats for those who need a wellness weekend.
On the Sunshine Coast, the tenthouse suites at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort take hotel amenities like jetted bathtubs, fine linens and fireplaces, and turn them into luxurious tents set in the forest. This resort is also home to TuBird, a Mediterranean dining experience that uses local ingredients from the Sunshine Coast. Need a day to explore the waters in Halfmoon Bay? Kayak rentals are complimentary with your stay!
Safari-style tents
The lodge's riverside deck looks out over the estuary at dusk, with guest tents visible along the far shore. Credit: George Apostolidis
British Columbia is also home to world-class wilderness retreats where nature meets luxury in remote locations. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, near Tofino in the UNESCO-protected Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, has tents that line the banks of the river and are styled with contemporary interiors that complement period furnishings and locally artisan-designed pieces. Surrounded by 600 acres of wild nature, there are plenty of opportunities to see bears, whales and bald eagles.
In British Columbia’s interior, there’s an all-inclusive dude ranch that overlooks Siwash Lake. This is Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch, which has tented structures made of handcrafted spruce logs as well as traditional white-canvas tents. These are nestled amid Douglas firs and all offer lake views. The ranch even offers a world-class horseback riding program along with privately guided wilderness adventures including fly fishing, biking and birding. Surrounded by 10,000 acres of rugged rangeland, you’ll experience a vibrant landscape in active renewal.
This multi-award-winning ranch resort has been celebrated globally for over two decades. It’s certified Platinum for sustainability and is also recognized by Condé Nast Johansens among world-class eco-luxury hotels and resorts.
Whether you sleep under the stars in a traditional teepee or take the trip of a lifetime to a safari-style wilderness resort, British Columbia has camping options that combine wildlife spotting with creature comforts to create an unforgettable trip.
Frequently asked questions
What is glamping?
Glamping (glamorous camping) combines the comfort of a cabin with the freedom of canvas. In British Columbia, glamping tents range from simple sleeping setups, like those on the edge of the Nahatlatch River at REO Rafting Resort, to romantic, fully appointed options such as the tenthouse suites at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, which include jetted bathtubs, fine linens and a fireplace.
Can you stay in a traditional teepee in British Columbia?
Yes. But what are teepees? They are conical tents long used by First Nations Peoples as shelter. You can experience handcrafted luxury teepees at Fraser Canyon Teepee Escape, authentic stays at Tuckkwiowhum Village in Nlaka’pamux territory or an adults-only luxury teepee on a raised platform, complete with a wood stove and bed, at YD Guest Ranch in the Northern Okanagan’s Monashee Mountains.
What is the difference between a yurt and a glamping tent?
Yurts are circular structures inspired by the tents of the nomadic peoples of Mongolia, Siberia and Turkey. They often have solid walls, skylights and hotel-style comforts. Glamping tents are canvas-walled and blend cabin amenities with a more traditional tent feel. Both typically include proper beds, but yurts tend to feel more permanent and weatherproof.
Is glamping in British Columbia family-friendly?
It can be. Tuckkwiowhum Village offers serviced and unserviced RV sites and scenic tent sites alongside its teepees, making it a good fit for families. Barefoot Beach Resort sits on a large pet-friendly beach, with hiking, biking on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and a golf course nearby. Some properties, such as YD Guest Ranch’s teepee, are designed as adults-only experiences, so check before booking.
Are British Columbia’s glamping and wilderness resorts eco-friendly?
Several emphasize sustainability. Wya Point Resort features nine LEED Platinum lodges crafted from local red cedar. Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch is certified Platinum for sustainability and has been recognized among world-class eco-luxury resorts by Condé Nast Johansens.
Sources
Barefoot Beach Resort – barefootresort.ca
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort – clayoquotwildernesslodge.com
REO Rafting Resort – reorafting.com
Rockwater Secret Cove Resort – rockwatersecretcoveresort.com
Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort – siwashlake.com
Tuckkwiowhum Village – tuckkwiowhum.ca
Wya Point Resort – wyapoint.com
YD Guest Ranch – ydguestranch.com