'Glamping' fuses luxury with the outdoors outdoors, industry, holidays, camping, appeal

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'Glamping' fuses luxury with the outdoors
When camping loses its appeal, the well-heeled go "glamping."

Glamorous camping holidays are among the hottest niches in the tourist industry, and one of the top Canadian spots for visitors looking for luxury in the great outdoors is the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort.

Located on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island in an inlet off the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort is a choice destination for the traveller who truly wants to get away from it all. No roads link it to the highway system. Visitors arrive by boat from the picturesque resort town of Tofino or by float plane. The flight from Vancouver takes about an hour and is an experience in itself as it passes over the snow-capped mountains of Vancouver Island at low altitude.

The resort is spectacularly situated in a valley leading out to the Pacific Ocean. The Bedwell River runs through the 500acre property in an area of temperate rainforest dominated by old growth cedar trees of gigantic proportions. Guests stay in the 20 furnished, timberframed tents which have floorboards and gas heating stoves. Some tents have an ensuite shower and toilet, while others have a shower, wash basins and toilet just a few steps away. This is life in the wild with an almost hotel-like degree of comfort and warmth.

The tents are connected by an extensive system of boardwalks to a central lodge where all meals are served; food cannot be kept in tents because there are black bears in the valley that might be attracted by the smell. A team of chefs serve up gourmet meals from breakfast to dinner. The kitchen favours a "modern natural cuisine" dominated by local ingredients of the region, including the abundant seafood. At evening meals a sommelier is on hand to advise about wine selections for each course, with an emphasis on top-quality wines from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The dress is casual but the dining is refined.

The activities at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort are numerous and suited to different skill levels. A favourite is the daylong "ride on the wild side" that whisks guests from site to site in a high-speed Zodiac boat. Black bears, bald eagles and whales can be viewed up-close on this adventure, which also includes a hike across a coastal island and along a remote sandy beach. The sound of the eagles in full cry is something you'll never forget.

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There's much more on offer including kayaking, horseback riding, fishing, biking, rockclimbing and even skeet-shooting. The resort has a stable of horses and an equipment building with all the gear needed for a safe adventure - helmets, life jackets, rain gear, cowboy boots and a special "space suit" for ripping over the ocean swells in the Zodiac. The resort welcomes families with children: ziplining, mountain biking and paintballing are on offer to entertain the younger set.

Such high-energy activities can take a toll and there are masseuses in the resort spa to soothe any tired muscles. Alternatively, you can take a painting lesson from the artistin-residence. No matter what activity you choose, it will bring you in closer contact with the beauty of the Pacific Rim.

High-end tourism is only as good as the level of service it provides. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort accommodates a maximum of about 50 guests whose needs are taken care of by an on-site staff of 50, including guides, cooks, waiters and cleaning staff. Personal service is the watchword: one guide will take out just one, two or three people on an adventure outing, for instance, and each guide is knowledgeable about the region, its history and wildlife.

This is an eco-friendly resort that tries to minimize its environmental impact and preserve its pristine wilderness site. A new sustainable waste water treatment system has been developed to help minimize the effect of development on the area.

Luxury in such a secluded location comes at a price, of course. The minimum threenight package rate per adult including accommodation, food, guided outings, lessons and other services is $4,750, not including taxes and gratuities.

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Excess is the buzzword at hotels today. At Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in B.C., for example, campers enjoy tents outfitted with antique furnishings, down duvets and queen-size beds.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is one of the country's top spots for pampered travellers who still want a spectacular landscape

fibbi

Check at Trip Advisor that it has very good rating.
But once I look at the price...the 3-day all-inclusive rate is $5000/person.
For that $ I think I'd rather visit Europe again... (or one day if I win the 649 I would try this one)