3 & 4 Night Itinerary Schedules

Whether you transfer with us in our SUV from Williams Lake or come in on your own, watch out for the wild horses of Nemiah on your journey.

Once you arrive enjoy a traditional Tŝilhqot’in welcome and blessing ceremony. We take care of your your luggage while you relax on your private cabin deck with a complimentary non-alcoholic afternoon beverage.

Guests in our SUV transfer or those who self-drive can route through Tl’esqox for a visit to the traditional fishing rocks and Farwell Canyon en route to Nemiah Valley Lodge. Guests will view the dipnets which are still used today to capture salmon.

Wander over to the Lodge’s Great Room and take in the views of Tŝ'il?oŝ  Mountain while you enjoy an aperitif on the deck. Our Indigenous inspired dinners feature locally sourced ingredients with an accent on fresh and healthy.

Dinner is served at 7:00 pm and over dinner, a Xeni Cultural Ambassador will provide you with a overview of the next day’s activities.

You are invited to meet with a Xeni Gwet’in Cultural Ambassador who will share the history of the land and waters and the Tŝilhqot’in journey from the War of 1864 to the Supreme Court decision awarding Title in 2014. 

This is a rare interactive opportunity to learn first-hand from those who have called Nemiah Valley home since time immemorial.

Awaken refreshed after a night spent in the glorious silence of true ‘off the grid’ living, powered by our own solar field. Enjoy the first coffee or tea of the day on your cabin deck, featuring the Indigenous-owned Spirit Bear Coffee to start your morning at leisure. Breakfast is at the Lodge.

Your choice of activities include a guided hike to spectacular Cardiff Mountain, a local geological wonder with incredible 360 degree views (hiking poles are provided for this moderately difficult hike).

Or take part in a guided hike along the shores of Vedan Lake where your Tŝilhqot’in guide, well-versed in the local flora and fauna, will be happy to identify and explain the uses of medicinal plants spotted along the way.

Return to the Lodge for a full service lunch on the deck or dining room. For those on the Cardiff Mountain hike, we offer a gourmet picnic lunch for you to enjoy at the summit.

Salves and ointments have been used by Indigenous people for time immemorial. The salves can heal a range of skin ailments and infections, as well as muscle pain.

Traditionally comprised of animal fats or beeswax and the boiling of medicinal plants gathered locally. Guests will enjoy the opportunity to take their salve home with them after their stay.

Return from Cardiff Mountain or head out from the Lodge to enjoy a swim in Vedan Lake and relax on the lakside dock. If you’re still feeling adventurous, kayak down Elkins Creek, or try your hand at fishing from our angling kayaks or at the dock.

Try your hand at beading with your Cultural Amabassador Benice to teach you in the traditional ways of this Indigenous craft.

Dinner is served in the Great lodge.

Not quite ready for sleep? Join your hosts around the outdoor fire pit where the ancient laws of the Tŝilhqot’in people, still in use today, will be shared. The Elders’ deep connection to these lands, waters, wildlife, and their oral traditions as guardians of this earth will leave you inspired and perhaps even reflective as you head to the comfort of your cabin and a peaceful night’s sleep.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Lodge. Today is the day we tour the Xeni Gwet’in’s traditional ‘winter house’ on the shores of Chilko Lake, Canada’s largest high-alpine lake with the snow-covered Coast Mountains to the west.

Transfer by SUV to Chilko Lake, where we will tour locally-known grazing areas where the wild horses roam in summer. Once we arrive at Chilko Lake (depending on weather conditions) some may choose to take part in kayaking along the shoreline. Or there are a variety of hiking trails beside the lake.

Guests will enjoy a gourmet pack lunch at the Xeni’s traditional winter house. After lunch, our Cultural Ambassador will give guests a tour inside, present the history and culture of the winter house and perform a smudging ceremony for guests.

Guests who would like to experience a traditional smudging ceremony will take part with an Xeni Gwet’in Elder on the shores of Chilko Lake. The Smudging Ceremony is a tradition past down for centuries, used for both medicinal, spiritual and community ceremonies. There is drumming and prayer while your Xeni Ambassador leads you in a meditative process to clense one’s body and hands with the smoke from burning of native plants, invoking positive thoughts and mindset.

After lunch, we will drive back to Chilko Lake to spend some more time at the lake. Depending on weather conditions, guests can find a quiet spot to take in the amazing views of the Coast Mountains, or take part in a kayak trip or hike at the lake.

The cleansing sweat house ritual is rarely shared outside of Indigenous communities. Cost is $499 per person with a minumim of 2 people sharing. The ceremony will include prayers and drumming, followed by a plunge into the pristine waters of Vedan Lake.

A traditional Indigenous-inspired dinner is truly a highlight of your stay.

You will reminisce with new friends and your families about your last three day fun-packed adventures around the Great Lodge stone fireplace. Beverages are available from the bar with often local entertainment in the evening.

Breakfast in the morning at the Lodge and pack up for the journey home this morning!

We will help sort out any SUV transfers you may need to Williams Lake. On the way home, don’t forget to look out for the Wild Horses of Nemiah.