Little Leo’s face said it all. Eyes wide with astonishment. Mouth open in wonder. Cheeks flushed with excitement, mixed with a healthy dose of pride. The Italian youngster had just reeled in—with the help of his expert fishing guide—his very first fish. The 30-pound Chinook salmon pulled from the salt waters of Desolation Sound was almost as long as the young boy was tall.

That evening, in the amber glow of the setting sun, Leo dined with other members of his extended family at an exclusive luxury BC resort. He sampled fresh-caught salmon on the seven-course tasting menu while the adults also savoured buttery Nova Scotia lobster and delicious Dungeness crab, each exquisite dish paired with world-class Okanagan wines from the well-stocked cellar.

After a full day of outdoor adventures at this luxury island resort, Leo was soon yawning and sound asleep. Meanwhile, his relatives relived the day’s activities. In addition to the guided fishing trip, several family members had taken a guided kayaking trip to a tranquil nearby cove, where they’d spotted two bald eagles high up in a nest. Others stayed behind for pampering treatments at the spa and relaxing soaks in the hot tubs.

They all looked forward to the next day’s guided eco-tour with an expert naturalist to see orca whales and grizzly bears in their natural habitat. As on all guided tours arranged by Exposure Travel, outdoor adventures were customized to the group, in this case five Italian families planning to visit Canada who wanted a unique wilderness travel experience that showcased the very best of British Columbia.

Waving goodbye to Desolation Sound the next morning, the group boarded a caravan of private seaplanes for a flight high up into the South Chilcotin Mountains. This was travel in true west coast style, to an area far from the usual tourist circuit.

They were thrilled to fly over the snow-capped peaks that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. The drone of the motor reverberated between peaks as each plane touched down on a remote alpine lake, and the silence that followed, when the pilot cut the engine, was profound.

They had landed at the foot of an ancient BC glacier, a vestige of the last ice age and geological history in the making. After glacial exploration and a fascinating lesson in glaciology, they savoured a gourmet picnic lunch as icebergs floated by in the teal-blue glacial water.

In the days to come, there was glamping (luxury camping) in vast, deluxe white canvas tents, and guided hikes through fragrant, flowering alpine meadows to scenic vistas, stopping for “extreme picnic” lunches. Explorers whizzed down mountain bike trails and viewed wildlife (mountain goats, moose and grizzly) from a respectable distance. They learned to paddle canoes, swam in fresh mountain lakes, and relaxed in the wood-fired lakeside sauna.

A private chef specially flown in expertly prepared gourmet west coast cuisine paired with fine BC wines. At night, under western skies filled with countless stars, there were laughs and stories around the campfire.

For the dozen children, especially, this was a trip of firsts. They saw their first bears, viewed their first whales, explored their first glacier. And, of course, caught that miraculous first fish.

To plan your own unique family vacation combining adventure and luxury, contact us today.