Thinking of glamping in BC with your kids? Or maybe you’d love to go on a glamping getaway, but you’re not sure if it’s suitable for families? We’ve been hosted by REO Rafting, which offers family all-inclusive vacations near Vancouver, BC. Here is our experience of our 2-night and 3-day glamping stay at REO Rafting.
If you’re like our family, you’ve probably been intrigued by glamping with your kids. It’s a great way to enjoy the great outdoors while having more amenities than regular camping. In fact, online searches about glamping grew 143% in just three years.
After glamping with my boys at Mount Engadine in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, we decided to go glamping in British Columbia. We were hosted by REO Rafting, who offers ALL-INCLUSIVE adventure stays in Canva tents, making it a unique and relaxing glamping experience.
✅ No need to cool
✅ No need to clean
✅ No need to plan anything
✅ Just need to show up and enjoy your stay!
In this article, I’m sharing with you:
- What is REO Rafting: how to get there, what is included
- The highlight of our experience glamping in BC
- What to expect on your all-inclusive vacation near Vancouver, BC at REO Rafting
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What is REO Rafting: How to Get There, What is Included?
REO Rafting was started by Bryan Fogelman in 1982. He loved rafting on the Nahatlatch River so much that he built a resort by the river rapids.
Bryan worked hard to make his dream come true. His family helps him run the whole resort today. They make sure every guest has an amazing outdoor adventure. Sadly, in 2023, the entire resort was hit by the forest fire in the Nahatlatch Valley. You can take a look at the damage here. For an entire year, they poured their hearts and energy into rebuilding this little piece of heaven and were able to reopen in May 2024.
⛺ What is glamping? And what to expect at REO Rafting
Glamping, short for glamorous camping, combines the charm of being in nature with the comfort of a less rustic experience (some even offer a luxurious experience). There’s no need to bring your own tent, sleeping bag, or camping supplies, as everything is thoughtfully provided and meticulously chosen by the facility owners. At REO Rafting, they positioned themselves as a rustic wilderness resort with home-style meals, comfortable accommodations, and amenities.
How to Get to REO Rafting
REO Rafting is located in the Fraser Valley on the Nahatlatch River. It’s 84 km north of Hope, near Boston Bar. We arrived from Salmon Arm (after a stay near Fairmont Hot Springs) when we visited, so we took the Gold Rush Trail on Highway 1 and drove south.
From Boston Bar, you’ll drive for about 18 km on a small road, with a long section being a dirt road. It’s dusty but easy to drive through. Once you see the sign to REO Rafting, you’ll have to turn left on a steep dirt road (that was a little scary, not knowing if we could drive back up).
If you’re flying from Vancouver or Kelowna, get a rental car that can handle mountain roads. While I could drive down the resort with my small Nissan Kicks, it was nerve-racking not knowing if we could drive back up to the main road. We were successful, and the resort assured us that any car could make it!
But a higher and more powerful car would have been nice.
What is Included in a Glamping Stay at REO Rafting
REO Rafting offers one of the only all-inclusive vacations near Vancouver, BC. You can choose from different options, with stays ranging from one night to five nights. All stays include:
- One or two major activities (per person): Whitewater rafting, scenic floats, viewpoint guided hikes, one-hour massages, lake paddle boarding, Kids’ camp, and Lake kayaking.
- Yoga and archery classes
- Three (3) meals per day
- A guided canyon hike
- Access to all amenities of the resort (private beach, volleyball court, playground, hammock garden, ….)
Here is an example of what your schedule could look like for a 2-night stay at REO Rafting Resort (3-Day Club REO Bronze Package):
Day 1:
4:00 pm – Check-in
4:00 pm-7:00 pm – Settle in & explore the resort (lawn games, private beach, beach volleyball court, hammock gardens)
7:15 pm – Dinner
8:30 pm – Evening Yoga
Day 2:
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:15 am – Free time & enjoy the resort activities (lawn games, private beach, beach volleyball court, hammock gardens)
11:00 am: Yoga session (kids welcome)
12:00 pm: Archery
1:15 pm – Lunch
2:00 pm-5:00 pm – Massages and REO Kids Camp (or rafting)
6:15 pm – Complimentary social hour with wine, craft beer and cider, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks
7:15 pm – Dinner
8:30 pm – Hot tub, Campfires and s’mores
Day 3:
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:15 am – Guided Canyon Hike (45-60min return)
11:00 am – Yoga session (kids welcome)
12:00 pm – Check-out
Our Experience Glamping in BC at REO Resort
Our 2-night stay at REO Rafting was part of a two-week road trip through British Columbia. We were all really looking forward to this stay, where we had nothing to think about: no planning, no cooking, just enjoying the resort and its activities.
When we first arrived at the REO Rafting Resort sign and saw the steep dirt road we had to drive down, we were getting a little nervous…
We were thinking, “Will we be able to drive back up in a couple of days?”
Plus, we arrived in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures reaching 40C. The first thought was “How will we entertain the kids until breakfast – served at 8h15 – if they wake up at dawn, after a not-so great sleep?”
But, let me assure you that our thoughts quickly changed as the stay went by, and the kids even begged us to stay an extra night “because – and I quote “I love this campsite! I slept so well!”
We checked in the first day at around 4 PM and explored the property. It was so hot that we needed shade and a way to cool down. We walked down a little forest hiking path to the hidden private beach. There, we all played in the cold water and chilled in the hammock for a few hours until it was time to get ready for dinner.
Dinner is served every evening at 7:15 PM, so if you are young kids, pack some snacks until then. After dinner, the oldest played board games in the glamping tent while my youngest and I attended the 8:30 PM yoga class.
It was a great way to relax and enjoy the sounds of the river before heading to bed.
To our surprise, the kids slept well, and we had to wake them up for breakfast. After our breakfast, we took advantage of the early morning cooler temperatures for the playground and hammock garden.
By 11:00 AM, the kids were ready for a late morning yoga class before our archery class. Lucie, the yoga instructor, was amazing with the kids. We were lucky that no other guests participated in the late morning yoga season, so the kids had a special kids’ version. Otherwise, they would have had to be a little more calm 😉
Archery was the kids’ highlight of the trip. We went together once, and then they asked to go back during the kids’ camp. On our last morning, we were supposed to go on a canyon hike, but the kids asked if we could do archery instead… which we did.
Lunch was served at 13h15, and then it was time for our main activity of the stay, which we could choose between:
- Whitewater rafting,
- scenic floats,
- viewpoint guided hikes,
- one-hour massage,
- lake paddle boarding,
- Kids’ camp, and
- Lake kayaking.
We decided to get a massage during our stay while the kids went to the kids’ camp. The kids were too small to go on the whitewater rafting adventure. We could have done the scenic float, but we don’t often have access to a babysitter, so we took advantage of the kids’ camp for a relaxing afternoon.
It feels so good to have an entire afternoon of self-care. After an hour-long Thai massage, I enjoyed a good book and returned to our Canva tent.
We enjoyed a charcuterie board and some drinks for the social hour before dinner.
When we visited, it was so hot that we didn’t take advantage of the fireplace (and s’mores) or the hot tub.
On our last morning, after breakfast, we were supposed to go on a guided canyon hike, but the kids asked if we could do archery again, which we ended up doing.
A few things to keep in mind for your all-inclusive vacation near Vancouver, BC, at REO Rafting
Glamping with a baby and young children at REO Rafting
If you’re thinking of glamping with a baby or young children, REO Rafting might not be your best option. It’s more targeted to outdoor adventures (including rafting and archery), and not so suitable for babies.
Plus, the glamping tents are located near the river, which can be stressful for little ones. There is no guarding between the tents and the river, and when we visited, the water flow was super strong.
Our 5— and 7-year-olds could not stay alone in the tent. We wanted to ensure an adult was present with them at all times.
They were too little to participate in the whitewater rafting adventure. My boys love adventure, are pretty good at nature, and are coordinated. They’ve been hiking since they were toddlers and had a blast. But I think the best would have been to go when the kids were 8 and 10.
Electricity and Wifi
The REO Resort is a wilderness adventure retreat. It is an all-inclusive vacation-style resort, but it is off-grid.
It’s important to know that there is NO electricity in the Canva tents and that the generator closes at night (or when it’s too hot). That means you can charge your electronics at the charging station near the dinner area during the day (but not overnight).
If you have many electronics that need to be charged, I recommend bringing a portable power station like a Bluetti or Jackery station. A small portable battery could also be good for charging phones.
Also, Wi-Fi is mostly available near the main lodge and dining area, but it is spotty elsewhere. I did have a few important meetings I needed to attend, and it was a bit hard. I had to turn off the camera of my Zoom calls.
But it’s a great place to unplug.
Snacks and Food
One of the good things about a glamping getaway at REO Rafting is that all meals are provided, but no snacks are provided. The meal schedule may not be ideal for your children (8:15 am breakfast, 1:15 pm lunch, and 7:15 pm dinner), so I highly recommend packing some snacks for in-between meals.
The meals provided are all home-cooked and healthy.
Final Thoughts: Is REO Rafting Resort the Ultimate Glamping in BC Experience with Kids?
As I mentioned in the article, our first impression of the REO Rafting Resort was mitigated, but we fell in love with the place. The staff was so friendly, good, and patient with the kids. The food was good, and the location was wow!
REO Rafting Resort is the perfect place to visit with kids who love adventures. I am not a big fan of Mexico-style all-inclusive resorts, but sometimes it’s great not to have anything to plan or think about, so our REO Rafting all-inclusive vacation near Vancouver, BC, was the perfect find.
