10 Great Places To Go Glamping In Canada
Pitching your own tent is so passé! Join Canada’s latest vacation craze – glamping. Mixing glamorous amenities with camping out in the wild, these vacation alternatives come pre-assembled and accessorized with lavish features. Here are our top 10 picks across the country.
1. Luxury Tents
Leave your sleeping bag and beverage cooler at home, because camping in Canada just got an extravagant upgrade. King, or queen-sized beds, en suite bathrooms with heated floors, antique dressers, heirloom china, thermostat-controlled heating, chef-created cuisine, complimentary wireless internet access – welcome to the sumptuous world of tent living at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort on Vancouver Island. Here, pampered guests experience hospitality with an exclusive touch. Whether you choose to relax with a personal massage, learn to surf on a private beach, or explore hidden inlets by kayak, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is the perfect getaway for families, and couples of all ages.
(Photo: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort)
2. Tree Spheres
This creative option takes wilderness camping to a whole new level – literally. Setting up camp in a Free Spirit Sphere, you can sleep among the trees and stretch your wings in Qualicum Bay, Vancouver Island. Part tree house, part space capsule, founder Tom Chudleigh’s handcrafted wooden spheres gently dangle and sway in the breeze thanks to a series of ropes tethered to the forest’s canopy. Suspended at 3.1, 4.3 and 4.6 meters off the ground, each of the three spheres offers comfortable and unique lodging for adults age 16 and over. Whether you desire a breathtaking getaway for one, two or three people, each sphere offers something special to its guests. Amenities, which depend on the sphere chosen, include electric heat, double duvet-covered beds, skylights, a sink, small fridge, wired speakers and purified water.
(Photo: Tom Chudleigh)
3. Wilderness Suites
Did you think that private flushable toilets and showers, hot and cold running water, and electrical outlets were perks reserved for cottage renters? Think again. Long Point Eco-Adventures in Ontario offers a new glamorous take on tent camping. Their 15 Wilderness Suites offer luxury, comfort and stress-free relaxation in the picturesque setting of Long Point Bay. Equipped with king or queen size beds, bath towels, bed linens, hardwood floors, private decks, and lockable sliding glass doors, these suites have much more in common with hotel rooms than the average tent. Book just the suites, or choose from a variety of vacation packages featuring wine tastings, romantic dinners, zip-line outings, and Big Creek paddling excursions.
(Photo: Goh Iromoto)
4. EXPs
Bring the beauty of outdoors inside with EXPs. A new addition to Parcs Québec during summer 2013, EXPs provide a modern, open concept twist to the cabin camping experience. Wall-to-ceiling windows and blonde wood roofing and walls create a structure that’s almost Scandinavian in appearance, allowing the majesty of Québec’s wilderness to take centre stage. EXPs provide a clean, uncluttered getaway for two, and feature two single beds, a full kitchen, a bathroom with shower, dishes, and heating. All you need to bring is your own bed linens, towels and food. Open year-round, EXPs are currently available for rent in Jacques-Cartier National Park, and Mont-Tremblant National Park.
(Photo: Courtesy of Sepaq/Mathieu Dupuis)
5. Huttopia
Direct from France comes the ingenious Huttopia tent. Created in Europe, but tailored to perfection in Québec, Huttopia tents provide convenient, comfortable accommodation in 16 of Québec’s 23 national parks. Built atop a 4 by 7 metre wooden platform, the dwelling’s canvas walls, and roof enclose a roomy space that can sleep up to 5 people. Beds, lighting, heating, a small fridge, dishes, and an outdoor two-burner stove provide comforts rarely found in a typical camping site. Open summer through fall, Huttopia tents can be booked for as little as $99 per night.
(Photo: Courtesy of Sepaq)
6. Tipis
Sleep in the shadows of Alberta’s majestic Rocky Mountains in your very own tipi. Sundance Lodges rents twelve hand-painted Sioux canvas tipis on the grounds of their beautiful, private hideaway on the Kananaskis River. Each tipi features wood-frame beds with foam mattresses (either doubles or singles), kerosene heaters, lanterns and a permanent wooden floor – so no more snoozing on the cold, damp forest floor! Bedding, towels, cooking utensils and camp stoves can all be rented from Sundance’s Trading Post.
(Photo: Sheryl Green)
7. oTENTik
Is it a tent? Is it an A-frame cabin? No, it’s an oTENTik! Blending the best of both worlds, Parks Canada’s rentable oTENTiks give campers the luxury of sleeping under the stars without the uncomfortable nuisances (hello, lumpy ground) of traditional camping. Built on an elevated wooden platform, oTENTiks are furnished with rustic wooden furniture including several beds, chairs and a dining table. Just bring along your own bedding, towels and cooking gear and you’re all set. Parks Canada boasts 100 oTENTiks across the country for spring, summer and autumn camping.
(Photo: Courtesy of Parks Canada)
8. Four-Season Tents
If your camping excursion isn’t complete without wind chills and snow banks, Gatineau Park’s Philippe Lake has the perfect winter accommodation for you. Standing above the frigid ground on wooden platforms, two four-season tents beckon with amenities that will keep you comfy and cozy. With sleeping space for up to four people, the park’s four-season tents feature double-sized bunk beds, a fridge and a propane stove for cooking meals. After an invigorating outdoor adventure of cross-country skiing, or winter hiking, curl up under the toasty glow of your tent’s wood-burning stove and relive the day’s exploits. Not a fan of winter? Four-Season Tents are available year-round.
(Photo: Courtesy of National Capital Commission)
9. Yurts
Used for centuries as the traditional dwelling of nomads in Central Asia, yurts are quickly becoming a favourite respite for modern Canadian campers. Nestled among the secluded trees and peaceful coastline of Saskatchewan’s Tuddle’s Lake, Flora Bora Forest Lodging welcomes guests to their two well-appointed yurts. Boasting a circular shape, soaring roof beams, and all the conveniences of home (full kitchen, full bathroom, queen size beds, fridge, cook top, plush towels, down duvets), Flora Bora’s deluxe yurts make roughing it in the wild a distant memory.
(Photo: Karen Wasylyk)
10. Houseboats
Why limit your camping adventures to dry land? Lakeway Houseboat Vacations in New Brunswick offer opulent accommodation in their “cottages on the water.” Choose from three luxurious floating vacation homes with full kitchens, full bathrooms, multiple bedrooms (one boat sleeps 14!), TVs, deck BBQs, hot tubs, fireplaces and even waterslides. Sail along the St. John River, sunbathe on the upper deck, or dock at picturesque Mactaquac Provincial Park for a round of golf. Do as little or as much as you desire.
(Photo: Lakeway Houseboats)
