Recent travel trend research has shown travellers are staying in their own backyard, seeking staycations, supporting local businesses, and finding meaningful experiences and outdoor adventures close to home. For those wanting a little culture, adventure, and to understand their surroundings further, Indigenous-led tourism in BC offers a unique way to connect, learn, and support local communities.
From guided wildlife tours to cultural stays, now is the perfect time to explore the rainforest to the rockies. The Indigenous businesses below provide a unique perspective to travellers looking for an adventure-filled visit to BC’s west coast.
Shearwater Resort – Denny Island, BC
Approximately 450km north of Vancouver in the Great Bear Rainforest on Denny Island, Shearwater Resort & Marina is the ideal destination for those seeking a secluded, nature-filled lodge adventure. Offering guests a culturally diverse experience through history, food, and storytelling, visitors can delve into the vast wildlife calling this place home. In addition to fishing packages, guests have the opportunity to see seals, eagles, whales, and wolves, on marine-based wildlife and cultural tours, relax in comfortable accommodations, and dine at the resort’s forage-to-table style restaurant.
Sea Wolf Adventures – Port McNeill, BC
Sea Wolf Adventures in Port McNeill is known as the gateway to the scenic islands, protected spaces and mazy waterways of the Broughton Archipelago. Guests can experience the Great Bear Rainforest in a unique and authentic way, through the eyes of local Indigenous people. Specialising in grizzly bear viewing and whale watching tours, guests can experience First Nations cultural tours from guides who provide deep insights into the culture and heritage of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation.
Big Bar Guest Ranch – Clinton, BC
The historic Big Bar Guest Ranch in Clinton, BC, spans 102 acres at the base of the Marble Mountain Range and offers thrilling outdoor adventure paired with tranquil surroundings. Whether it’s watching an abundance of wildlife like deer, moose, eagles, and coyotes in their natural habitat, paddle boarding on the serene waters, mountain biking and horseback riding through scenic trails or enjoying a game on the lawn, there’s an activity for everyone.
The Raven’s Nest Resort & Campground – Fairmont Hot Springs, BC
The Raven’s Nest Resort & Campground is located 4km north of Fairmont Hot Springs. The remote resort offers unique accommodation options such as tipi sites, along with familiar campsites and log cabins well equipped with views of the valley and wetlands. Guests can enjoy the Raven’s Nest disc golf course, and challenge themselves to outdoor activities such as tubing, kayaking, and paddle boarding in the Columbia River or hitting the local trails for hiking, biking, ATV tours and more. It’s the perfect spot for a fun-filled family outdoor adventure!
Coastal Rainforest Safaris – Port Hardy, BC
Coastal Rainforest Safaris provides nature-driven wilderness experiences in the pristine Great Bear Rainforest. Hosted by local guides with knowledge of the waters, guests embark on a multi-hour tour exploring BC’s coast, witnessing humpback whales, orcas, Dall’s porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and more. Guides focus on the diverse wildlife of the coast and share stories of local history and culture from an Indigenous perspective.
