Ride into the Wild Heart of Chilko Country
Just an hour’s flight from Vancouver lands you at a family-owned mountain lodge on the wild Chilko River, where brilliant horses, cosy cabins and jaw-dropping alpine wilderness set the stage for seven nights of pulse-quickening adventures. With each season turning up its own brand of magic – wildflowers, salmon runs, grizzlies and all – every day brings a fresh hit of excitement, both in the saddle and out, from long canters to hot-tub soaks beneath glacier peaks.
Trip Highlights
-
Summiting a mountain on your surefooted horse for a picnic lunch with 360-degree views
-
Drifting downstream on Chilko Lake as shimmering salmon glide beneath your kayak
-
Sinking into the hot tub after seven blissful hours in the saddle
-
Being totally awestruck when you eyeball your first grizzly bear
-
Loping along narrow mountain tracks with the heady smell of pine and horse sweat in the air
-
Falling in love with the sweet-as-maple-syrup Canadian family who welcome you into their home
-
Trotting through wide-open fields blooming with wildflowers
Details
-
Riding levels
Suitable for intermediate to advanced riders. All riders should be comfortable to walk, trot, canter, and be able to mount and dismount their horse without assistance. Some downhill sections will require you to walk on foot.
Not sure what your riding ability is? See the definitions below.
- Type of tack
Western saddles.
- Horse breed
A mixture of many breeds (Quarter Horse, Paint, Arabian, Appaloosa, Thoroughbred and draft horse).
- Accommodation
Western-style lodge rooms.
A single supplement charge of 25% of the ride price is available for guests not wishing to twin share a room. However please note, this does not guarantee your own bathroom, you may still need to share one with guests of the same gender.
- Pace
Variable depending on the terrain, with opportunities to trot and canter.
- Weight limit
A maximum of 90kg / 200lbs.
It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
- Group size
A minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 guests.
- Minimum age
16 years of age
- Time in Saddle
Approximately 4 to 6 hours, with a 1 hour lunch. Lunch is packed each morning and carried in your saddlebag.
- When to go
June to October.
- Languages
Instructions spoken in English
What’s included (and what’s not)
Included
- A 2.5% GST tax and $77 USD (per person per week) room and MRDT tax
- Round trip private charter flight from Vancouver to/from the lodge
- All meals
- Wine with dinner
- Twin share accommodation
- All riding activities
- Use of canoes and kayaks
- One-day late trip by boat for hiking and sightseeing
Excluded
- International or domestic flights
- Travel insurance (compulsory)
- Staff tips (please budget for around $500 USD)
- Alcoholic beverages from the bar
- Fishing licenses
- Extra activities not outlined in the itinerary
Departure dates and prices
Ride length
8 days, 7 nights (6 riding days)
Riding level
Intermediate • Strong Intermediate • Advanced
Booking fee
A fixed Booking Fee of $1,474 USD
Payment plans
Lock in your ride with a 10% deposit and pay the rest over time – interest-free in 10 easy payments. Learn more.
Accommodation types
Single
Private accommodation for one guest (room, tent, or similar). A supplement may apply on departures where a sharing option is available.
Share
Willing to room share with the same gender or travelling with a companion.
Couple share
Sharing a bed with companion.
Non-rider
Sharing a room with a riding companion.
Per person
2026
2026 Season
All lodge rides are from Sunday to Sunday, starting June 28, 2026 and ending October 4, 2026.
*Bear viewing season is from late August to early October.
The fun bits
Payment details
- A fixed Booking Fee of $1,474 USD
- All bookings are charged in the local currency of the ride destination.
- Accepted payment method is by credit or debit card only.
Cancellation policy
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your ride, please let us know as soon as possible. Cancellation fees apply based on how close your departure date is, and deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your booking. Read our full cancellation policy.
International fees
If you're paying in a currency different from your own, your bank may charge a conversion or international transaction fee.
Please note
Paying the single supplement does not guarantee your own bathroom, you may still need to share one with guests of the same gender.
Itinerary
Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.
With so many trails and places to visit, it is impossible to list them all. This is just a sample itinerary of what it is possible to experience on this lodge riding vacation. There are many variations and possibilities.
-
Day 1: Arrival
Approximately 2 hours in the saddleOn Sunday morning your adventure begins with a flight from Vancouver over the Coast Mountains and British Columbia. You’ll arrive at Chilko Lake and this exclusive lodge in time for a tasty lunch and a cold drink. Afterwards, you’ll gather on the deck to go over the week ahead. Your hosts, will show you your cabin, then lead you to the barn to meet your horse and receive safety tips for the trail, saddling techniques, and western riding instructions. After this, guests head out for an afternoon ride. This ride ensures that you, your horse and your saddle are a great fit for the week ahead. You’ll then return to the lodge in time for a cold drink and a delicious dinner.
-
Day 2: Ts’yl-os Provincial Park
4 to 6 hours in the saddleAfter a filling breakfast – think bacon, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, fruit, cereals and yoghurt – you’ll head straight to the stables. Today is a full day’s ride out from the lodge to explore Ts’yl-os Provincial Park – roughly 233,000 hectares of rugged mountains, clear blue lakes, glaciers, alpine meadows and waterfalls! You’ll return to the lodge in time for another tasty communal dinner and a glass of wine as you wind down for the night.
-
Day 3: Chilko River
4 to 6 hours in the saddleToday, after you emerge from your log cabin, soak up your spectacular surrounds and tuck into another hearty breakfast, you’ll head out for another unmistakably Canadian adventure. As you gain confidence in your horse and become more familiar with the terrain, the riding starts to speed up, with more canters along the open meadows and Chilko River.
-
Day 4: Mount Tulin
4 to 6 hours in the saddleAnother beautiful day’s ride awaits today, as you journey to the summit of Mount Tulin. After the long climb, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views of the Coast Mountains and Chilcotin Plateau – and a picnic lunch! Photo opportunities abound, so be sure to pack your camera in your saddlebag. Returning from the mountain, you’ll have some time to relax in your cabin or wander around the grounds before regrouping with your fellow riders and guides to share stories, laughter and a hot meal.
-
Day 5: Chilko Lake
Non-riding dayToday is a rest day for the horses after their long summit up Mount Tulin. It’s also an amazing opportunity to see Chilko Lake from the water! After breakfast you’ll hop aboard a boat to take a scenic tour up the lake, witnessing its untouched beauty up close. Chilko Lake is surrounded by magnificent mountain peaks, pristine forests and ice fields. It’s fed by dozens of pure, icy glacial streams, which give the lake its vibrant turquoise colour. A day on Chilko Lake is not to be missed!
-
Day 6: Roller Coaster
4 to 6 hours in the saddleYou will be back in the saddle after breakfast this morning, enjoying long, winding canters through the pristine wilderness as you ride along one of the most memorable trails, the ‘Roller Coaster’. We don’t want to give away too much, but this is a ride that will give you a serious confidence boost AND a thrill to remember!
-
Day 7: Chilko Valley
4 to 6 hours in the saddleOn day seven you’ll enjoy more long canters along the picturesque ridge of Chilko River, with spectacular views of Chilko Valley. At the end of the ride you’ll un-tack your horses on the banks of Chilko River and release them for a refreshing swim across the river back to the lodge. You’ll then be transferred back to the lodge by boat for your final farewell dinner with your riding companions.
-
Day 8: Departure
Non-riding dayEnjoy one last hearty breakfast at the lodge, then pack your bags, bid a fond farewell to the lodge and horses, and board the flight back to Vancouver (departs around 9:00am and arrives around 1.00pm).
-
Non-Riders
If you’re not riding, this lodge is a dream spot to spend your days on the water while your partner explores the mountains on horseback. The lodge offers fully guided fly-fishing on the pristine Chilko River and Chilko Lake, home to wild rainbow trout and bull trout, with expert guides, quality gear and a maximum of two anglers per guide. You can drift the river in jet sleds, wade quiet gravel shelves or head onto the lake when conditions are right, all against a backdrop of glacier-fed waters and soaring peaks. With a long season from June to October and superb dry-fly fishing through the height of summer, it’s an unforgettable way to experience this remarkable wilderness.
Please contact us for information on pricing.
Transfer information
We recommend arriving in Vancouver one to two days prior to your ride to recover from any jet lag and ensure you are on time for your private charter flight the morning of day 1 of the ride. The ride price includes a regional flight in and out of Chilko. This is booked by your host, and as such, tickets are not required as the airline will have guest names.
FLIGHT INFORMATION:
Address: IAS (Interdel Aviation Services) – Air Elite, 5360 Airport Road South, Richmond BC.
Vancouver to Chilko – Check in at 8:50am, plane starts loading at 9:00am, departure at 9:30am.
Chilko to Vancouver – Depart lodge at 8:30am, arrive in Vancouver by 1:00pm.
*Please book your connecting flights home from Vancouver after 3:30pm to account for any unexpected travel delays.
There is a vehicle transfer between the lodge and airport that takes approximately 1.5 hours, unless an alternate airport is needed due to bad weather, and then the transfer can take longer.
Please note
There is a strict luggage limit of 18kg/40lbs maximum per person on the regional flight to the lodge. Soft luggage only – no hard suitcases please.
Accommodation
This property offers warm, rustic lodge-style accommodation in hand-built log cabins and suite-style rooms, each with cosy fireplaces, private bathrooms and comfortable beds. The main lodge is the heart of the property, with a stone fireplace, river-view deck, hot tub and a welcoming bar where guests gather for family-style meals prepared by the in-house chef.
Reviews
Maria E.
Neil U.
Carrie E.
Sarah B
4 rides with Globetrotting 
Amanda S.
Jenny P.
Clare T
An H
Anne Sheen
Emma Tomlin
Kyrsten Olson
Vicki Norman
Francie Wilson
Ashley Marr
3 rides with Globetrotting What's my riding level?
Not sure what your riding level is? Watch our videos to see all our levels.
Beginner
Reasonably confident riding a horse at a walk, a rising trot, and learning to canter.
Intermediate
Confident and in control riding at all paces outside an arena, but not riding regularly. Comfortable and competent using aids {the language of your leg, seat and hands} to communicate with your horse.
Strong Intermediate
An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly outside of an arena and is fit enough to ride for at least six hours per day. Strong intermediate riders are comfortable and competent in all three gaits; able to post or sit to the trot; have an independent seat while cantering (don’t hold onto the saddle); and can pick up the correct canter lead. They can also navigate more complex terrain, including asking a horse to sidestep and jump over a small obstacle.
Advanced
A frequent rider who is very fit, comfortable in the saddle for at least six hours per day, and has an independent seat and soft hands. Advanced riders are confident on a forward-moving horse at all paces over rough and variable ground on open terrain. They can ride over small jumps and know the techniques used to collect a horse
Not sure? Contact our team to help you figure out your riding ability.
Stories from the saddle
The Chilko Lake Ride in Pictures
Caution! Enter blog post at your own risk! These images are very likely to cause you to spontaneously book a saddle seat on our Chilko Lake horse riding holiday in British Columbia, Canada! Globetrotter Emma Tomlin has kindly offered to
Feedback on the Chilko Lake Ride, BC
Kyrsten Olson was one of the first globetrotters to experience our horse riding holiday in British Columbia, Canada post-COVID, and her feedback from this unforgettable Canada horse riding adventure had us ready to jump on the next flight. Read
Things to Do in Vancouver | Short Stay Guide for Globetrotting Horseback Vacationers
Whether you’re arriving before or after one of our horseback vacations, Vancouver offers a vibrant, nature-rich city stop. This guide provides flexible options for biking, walking, dining, and accommodation, allowing globetrotters to tailor a relaxed and rewarding 24-hour visit. Bike
