Dream Vacations: A Private Backcountry Bike Trip in British Columbia

But if I were to plan a dream bike trip where money, time, and logistics were of no concern, I’d head north to British Columbia — not to the usual destinations like Squamish and Whistler, but further north to Tyax Lodge. It’s known across North America for its epic heli-ski trips — it owns its own helicopters and assigns only one group per helicopter, eliminating waits between laps — but also runs luxury backcountry bike trips in the summer in partnership with Tyax Adventures. For 2026, Tyax Lodge has two new super-modern private chalets on property and introduced a “summer platinum” package that sounds irresistible to outdoorsy types like myself.

It includes a private heli transfer from Vancouver, full use of the Wolverine Chalet or Spirit Bear Chalet, a private chef (with gourmet meals and house wine and spirits), plus whatever activity you want to do each day via floatplane. That can include sightseeing by floatplane over mountains and glaciers, hiking in wildflower-covered remote fields and valleys, or mountain biking on epic singletrack. It’d be tempting to spend every day mountain biking wherever my gang feels like going, but I’d probably set aside at least one off day for something like a floatplane-assist backcountry picnic or wild plant foraging.

Photo: Tyax Lodge and Heliskiing

Personally, I’d opt for the Wolverine Chalet, with mountain-modern design elements and a sunken private hot tub overlooking Tyaughton Lake. If it turns out my share of the lottery winnings doesn’t quite cover that whole stay, a good alternate option would be a three- or four-day backcountry bike trip that starts and ends at Tyax Lodge, rather than staying there the whole time.

One of the best things about the lodge seems to be its location, roughly three hours north of Whistler. That gives it access to massive mountains dotted with cross-country trails, freeride sections, and epic vistas where you will very literally be the only bikers for miles and miles. Activities are guided but at the discretion of your private group, so you can decide each day if you want a gentle cruiser with photo opportunities or a point-to-point pro line that’ll have your legs working overtime on the climbs and downhills.

Normally, to get that type of access, you’d have to camp. But at Tyax, you can stay in standard hotel rooms (a more budget-friendly option) or private cabins where your après-bike routine is less about cooking dinner at camp and more about massages, relaxing in the on-site sauna, cold plunges, paddling, yoga, and more. It isn’t cheap, but you’re getting a private luxury cabin and a floatplane at your service each day. Maybe I’ll be able to afford it one day — and I can work on improving my mountain bike skills in the meantime.

• Day 1: Arrive Vancouver, British Columbia
• Day 2: Fly to Tyax Lodge
• Day 3: All-day backcountry biking
• Day 4: All-day backcountry biking
• Day 5: Rest day/spa/other activity
• Day 6: All-day backcountry biking
• Day 7: All-day backcountry biking
• Day 8: Rest day/spa/other activity
• Days 9-11: Backcountry bike tour with Tyax Adventures
• Day 12: Return to Tyax Lodge
• Day 13: Return to Vancouver, depart for home