The best First Nation accommodation in Canada

There are 634 different First Nations in Canada and one of the best ways to learn more about them is with a cultural stay in Aboriginal-owned accommodation.

Spirit Bear, British Columbia

It’s all about the three bears: spirit, grizzly and black at the world’s only Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy on the pristine ancestral lands of the Kitasoo/Xai’xais First Nation.

spirit bear lodge tour british columbia bear watching — Although not a spirit bear, this bathing grizzly is one of the bears that can be spotted on a guided tour with Spirit Bear Lodge in British Columbia (photo: Spirit Bear Lodge).

Sleep in style after a day exploring the Great Bear Rainforest, in the traditional longhouse-inspired lodge with king-size beds and en-suite bathrooms for each room.

Need to know: Spirit Bear Lodge is located in the Heart of the Great Bear Rainforest on Swindle Island in the small remote First Nations Village of Klemtu, accessible by seaplane and water taxi, and children over the age of 12 are welcome. Guests should be physically active, since good mobility is essential for travel on the trails and for getting in and out of boats. Also check out our Search for the elusive Canadian Spirit Bear.

Bear Cave Mountain, Yukon

This extraordinary partnership between the Vuntut Gwitchin Nation and nature tour company Nakina Adventures opens up a secret world of grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolverines for intrepid travellers to discover.

Perfect for photographers, artists and nature-lovers, you’ll benefit from the years of knowledge of on-site guides and learn about the eco-system of the Ni’Inlii Njik Wilderness Preserve along the Arctic Circle.

Need to know: You’ll helicopter over some of North America’s most wild and remote wilderness to reach camp, just under two hours from Dawson City. Cabins are heated, and there are hot showers. Bear Cave Mountain Camp

Manawan, Quebec

Leave the modern world behind and join the Atikamekw nation for an authentic back-to-basics cultural teepee camp in the vast wilderness of Kempt Lake.

In camp you’ll spend time with your guide and discover more about the Atikamekw’s history and living culture.

In winter this is a frozen wonderland to enjoy snowshoeing, snowmobiling and traditional ice fishing with nets. In summer, learn to paddle the large ‘rabaska’ traditional canoe and enjoy dinner by the campfire.

Need to know: Pick up is from Montreal, a three-hour drive from Manawan. The teepees are on an island that’s only accessible by boat in summer or snowmobile in winter. voyageamerindiens.com

Buffalo Rock Tipi Camp, Alberta

Dive into the world of the Blackfoot/Plains People at this rustic site in south-western Alberta.

Choose your own adventure: head into the wilderness with a First Nations guide to learn about Old Man River Valley and its wildlife and medicinal herbs, learn to play traditional games with songs and hand-drumming, or experience a spiritual sweat lodge guided by a Blackfoot elder.

Need to know: This is basic camping in a teepee, so visitors need to bring their own bedding. There are non-flush toilets on site and camp showers. The campsite runs on solar power. buffalorocktipicamp.com

Shakat Tun Adventures, Yukon

Shakat Tun James Allen Yukon traditional adventures — Shakat Tun host, James Allen will teach you how to tan a moose hide amongst other traditional skills in the Yukon wilderness (photo: Shakat Tun Adventures).

Get back to the land staying off-grid in cosy wooden cabins hand-built by James Allen, former chief of the Champagne Ashihik band and owner of Shakat Tun Adventures.

Join a small group of adventurers and learn traditional skills such as moose hide tanning, toolmaking, fishing with nets and drying and smoking your catch. Hear stories by the campfire in breathtaking Yukon wilderness.

Need to know: This is basic, rustic accommodation with outhouse facilities and battery-operated lighting. Pick up from Whitehorse, the camp is around three hours’ drive away.

Haida House, BC

Make your pilgrimage to Haida Gwaii, the Galapagos of the North, to discover an age-old culture.

Be dazzled by soaring old-growth forests, ancient Haida villages, the thriving contemporary Haida art scene and its beautiful wildlife from black bears and eagles to grey and humpback whales.

One of the most celebrated Aboriginal places to stay, your accommodation is in luxury at Haida House, near to Tlell village, with its gourmet restaurant, and cosy rooms.

Explore the archipelago with a Haida House cultural ambassador to hear traditional stories and uncover the secrets of the islands.

Need to Know: The 10-room Haida House lodge offers free wi-fi, and all rooms have a private bathroom.

Moose Factory Cree Eco Village, Ontario

Moose Factory Cree Eco Village lodge Ontario cultural holiday — Not a lot of lodges can boast about an almost 100-per-cent eco-friendly interior, but Moose Factory Cree Eco Village lodge in Ontario can.

Soak up the contemporary culture of the Cree Eeyou Nation in environmentally-friendly luxury on Moose Factory, an isolated island at the mouth of the Moose River just south of Hudson Bay.

Head out on a boat trip to spot beluga whales, pelicans, eagles and – if you’re lucky – bears fishing for their lunch.

Accommodation-wise, the lodge boasts an almost 100-per-cent eco-friendly interior complete with nail-free furniture, clay-tiled floors and earth toilets. creevillage.co m

Feast on First Nations-inspired food in the cedar and pine ‘shaapuhtuwaan’ – a modern take on the traditional Cree dining hall – before snuggling under an all-wool Cree-designed blanket at night.

Need to Know: Travel on the Polar Bear Express train from Cochrane to Moosonee after taking the bus from Toronto and spending the night in Cochrane, and enjoy the impressive views over the vast Abitibi River, or fly Air Creebec from Timmins or Montreal. ontarionorthland.ca

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Great Spirit Circle Trail, Ontario

Find an Aboriginal-inspired adventure to suit everyone on the Great Spirit Circle Trail on Manitoulin Island, the world’s largest freshwater-lake island.

Delve into native plants on a culinary and medicinal foraging experience, learn traditional tea blending, paddle a canoe on the lake, or learn how to make and play a traditional drum.

From serious eco-adventure to shopping for crafts from Anishinaabe artists, the Great Spirit Circle Trail has you covered.

Need to know: Go glamping with 500-thread-count sheets in Spirit Island Adventure’s teepees, or stay at the band-owned and operated Mantoulin Inn and Conference Centre for an indoors stay with First Nations-inspired decor and dining.

Wanuskewin, Saskatchewan

Experience life as it was lived for 6000 years on the Prairies with the Northern Plains First Nations.

Step back in time at Canada’s longest ongoing archeological excavation, discover the thrill of the bison hunt by learning how to shoot with a bow and arrows, and to use the traditional atlatl spear.

Hear the story of the Ojibway People’s dreamcatchers then make your own, then sleep soundly in a traditional teepee.

Need to know: Teepee camping is rough sleeping on the ground, although with notice, bespoke breaks with camp beds, bedding and a First Nations-inspired traditional ‘Three Sisters’ dinner with bison on the menu can be arranged. There are no showers on site, but bathrooms are in the park building. wanuskewin.com

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The best of First Nation accommodation in Canada