Booking Policies & Guidelines

Our off-grid luxury wilderness lodge and tented camp at Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch was established 25+ years ago. During this time, we've fine-tuned our terms and conditions in keeping with the other top wilderness lodges in Canada, the top guest ranches in the USA, and while adhering to world standards. We have very well-seasoned policies and procedures. At our intimate-sized resort, space is in high demand. We encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.



ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE DAYS
Guests may arrive and depart any day of the week when self-driving to the ranch. Ground transfers from the regional airport are available any day of the week at an extra cost when guests book our signature 'Find Your Wild' package.

MINIMUM STAY
Three nights is the minimum stay May 21 through May 31. Four nights is the minimum stay June 1 through September 27.

CHECK IN & CHECK OUT TIMES
Check in between 3-5pm
Check out by 11am

INCLUSIONS
All of our packages include accommodation, food and beverages, alcohol, and full use of facilities and amenities between dawn and dusk for self guided activities. For our signature, fully all-inclusive 'Find Your Wild' package, a party of guests is assigned one private guide for one half-day activity each morning, and one half day activity each afternoon. Guests may book additional guides for additional activities, when available, for an extra cost. For all of our limited time Special Offers please refer to the specific inclusion details listed for each individual package.

EXCLUSIONS
For all packages, there are no guided activities offered on arrival and departure days, however a wide selection of self-guided activities is available on these days. Full-day adventures, taxes, resort fee, gratuities, and transportation to and from the resort, are excluded.

ACCOMMODATION PREFERENCES
Accommodations are assigned upon request at time of booking based on availability. Accommodations have differing minimum occupancy rates, with the base being minimum two adults.

PAYMENT TERMS
A 25% deposit is payable by international bank wire transfer or Canadian bank to bank transfer at time of booking to secure your stay at Siwash Lake. For group bookings, the amount of deposit payment required is 35% at time of booking. The balance for your stay is due not less than 90 days prior to the arrival date, by bank wire transfer or bank to bank transfer. Rates are billed in Canadian dollars. All payment details are handled securely. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for information regarding data protection.

TAXES
Total taxes are 13%, comprised of a Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST), Provincial Sales Tax (PST), Provincial Hotel Accommodation Tax (MRDT), and an on-site Conservation Levy (ECO). The conservation and environmental levy is guests' contribution towards SLWR's commitment to fair trade, ethical farming practices, growing food at the ranch and purchasing from local suppliers whenever possible. It helps the ranch maintain a minimal environmental footprint and supports sustainability initiatives, land stewardship and conservation projects. Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort is Platinum certified for sustainability based on a rigorous third party audit, every two years.

RESORT FEE
A 5% resort fee is calculated on the pre-tax bill and is applied toward the extraordinary costs of natural resource management, operating in a remote location, and BC provincial regulatory fees, including but not limited to backcountry recreation permits and activity licenses for guests.

TRIP ENHANCEMENTS, INCIDENTALS AND GRATUITIES
Cash, VISA, or MasterCard at the end of guest stay may pay for incidental charges and trip enhancements (i.e. full day adventures), and gratuities for the team.



Cancellations and Booking Amendments


We understand that occasionally unexpected events occur that prevent guests from joining us for their vacation. Illness or injury, family emergencies, missed or cancelled transportation, employment changes, weather events and other unforeseen circumstances can all affect travel plans. Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance is designed to protect travellers against many of these risks.

Due to the small size, remote location and highly seasonal nature of Siwash Lake, cancellations have a significant impact on our business. We do not provide refunds for guest cancellations and our cancellation policy is strictly enforced. Travel insurance should be an integral part of your trip planning.

We strongly recommend that all guests purchase comprehensive Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance at the time of booking, sufficient to protect the full value of their trip. Guests should ensure that their chosen coverage is appropriate for their individual circumstances and anticipated travel risks, including, where available, illness or injury, family emergencies, transportation disruption, wildfire, evacuation orders, government restrictions and other events beyond either the Guest’s or SLWR’s control.

Our suggested provider, Acera Insurance, can provide a quote for Emergency Medical insurance and/or Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance. Guests are responsible for understanding the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of any insurance they purchase. Failure to obtain insurance, insufficient insurance coverage, or the denial of an insurance claim does not alter the terms of this cancellation policy.

  1. GUEST CANCELLATIONS AND BOOKING CHANGES
    a) If written notice of cancellation or a requested change of travel dates is received by Siwash Lake more than 90 days prior to the scheduled arrival date, Siwash Lake will issue the guest a Voucher equal to payments received to date, less a cancellation/change fee of $800.00 CAD per person. The Voucher may be applied toward one future stay which must be completed no later than the final day of Siwash Lake's following guest season, subject to availability and Siwash Lake rates in effect for the new travel dates. Any increase in rates or other applicable charges will be payable by the guest. Vouchers have no cash value, are non-refundable, and are fully transferable; however, transfer of a Voucher does not extend its validity or alter any of its terms.

    b) Cancellations or requested changes of travel dates received within 90 days of the scheduled arrival date result in full forfeiture of all payments received. Siwash Lake will not provide a refund, Voucher, credit, postponement or rescheduling of the booking, regardless of the guest’s circumstances.

    c) A guest’s inability or decision not to travel because of illness or injury, family emergency, transportation delay or cancellation, employment circumstances, weather, wildfire, wildfire smoke, air-quality conditions, government travel advisories or restrictions, or any other circumstance affecting the guest’s ability or willingness to travel does not alter the cancellation terms above. Guests are responsible for protecting their trip investment against such circumstances through appropriate and protective travel insurance.

  2. FORCE MAJEURE – EVENTS BEYOND SLWR’S CONTROL
    If Siwash Lake is prevented, delayed or materially restricted from providing the booked stay or any portion of it as a result of an act of God, wildfire, evacuation order, government order or prohibition, war, civil disturbance, flood, pandemic, severe weather event, closure or disruption of access routes, interruption of essential services, or any other event or circumstance beyond Siwash Lake's reasonable control, Siwash Lake will not be liable for such non-performance, delay or interruption. In any such circumstance, there will be no refund, credit, Voucher, postponement or rescheduling of the booking, and all amounts paid will remain non-refundable. Guests are responsible for protecting their trip investment against such circumstances through appropriate Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption insurance.

  3. PAYMENT TERMS
    Failure to comply with payment terms, including late payment, may result in Siwash Lake cancelling the booking without notice and without refund, Voucher or credit.

  4. WILDFIRE SMOKE AND AIR QUALITY
    Wildfire smoke and air-quality conditions are inherently unpredictable and can change rapidly. The presence or forecast of wildfire smoke, haze, reduced visibility, air-quality advisories or changing air-quality conditions does not constitute grounds for cancellation, postponement, rescheduling, refund, Voucher or credit while Siwash Lake remains open and able to provide the booked stay.

  5. EARLY DEPARTURES AND UNUSED SERVICES
    Siwash Lake will not provide a refund, adjustment, Voucher or credit for an early Guest departure or for any unused portion of an all-inclusive package, accommodation, activity, service or other component of the booked stay.

  6. DISPUTES AND VENUE
    Should any action be filed in Court arising from or relating to this Agreement, venue for any such action is proper only in Kamloops, British Columbia.

    SLWR STRONGLY ENCOURAGES ALL GUESTS TO PURCHASE COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL INSURANCE TO PROTECT THEIR TRIP INVESTMENT.


General Resort Terms & Conditions

  1. Each party of up to five guests is allocated one private guide for one activity each morning and one activity each afternoon per day. Subject to availability, guests may engage an additional guide for an additional activity at extra cost, with a minimum of two guests required to do so. Self-guided activities are available between dawn and dusk.
  2. All activities and experiences are subject to weather and other outdoor conditions at discretion of management.
  3. If for any reason SLWR cannot deliver a specified component of the facilities, activities and/or services during guests' stay, SLWR reserves the right to offer a reasonable alternative without liability.
  4. Each guest will follow all rules of conduct and other health and safety policies for Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort as these are established by SLWR from time to time and as posted in guest room information books.
  5. Physical distancing and mask wearing guidelines will apply during times of active pandemic as dictated by the BC Centre for disease control and the World Health Organization.
  6. While at the Resort all children between the ages of 2 and 7 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times, except when participating in SLWR's 'Free-Range Kids' childcare program. Children under the age of 2 must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
  7. Guests are advised that disrespectful, offensive or abusive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in refusal of service and/or ejection from the Resort property without refund, adjustment or credit by SLWR.
  8. Siwash Lake authorizes the use of its name in association with quality images taken by guests while at the property. Guests may share their photos and reels on public social media channels provided they tag @siwashlake. In turn, guests may be photographed or recorded on video while at the property. Prior to utilizing any such imagery on SLWR social media channels, management will seek guest approval. DRONE use by guests is strictly forbidden, due to guest privacy, respect for the ranch livestock, and sensitive wildlife habitat.
  9. Guests are advised that pets of any kind are not permitted at the Resort.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter "the Release Agreement")
When signing their Booking Agreement, guests must acknowledge that they have read and understood this Release Agreement in favour of SLWR

PRE-ARRIVAL DOCUMENTATION
  1. Prior to arrival each Guest will be required to complete, sign, and return to SLWR within the time required a guest profile in respect of requested resort activities, dietary restrictions, medical conditions etc. and the Release Agreement
  2. A pre-trip Declaration of Health (during times of pandemic only)
SLWR will provide all relevant forms and signing instructions at 90 days in advance of arrival.

GUEST RESPONSIBILITIES
Guests are solely responsible for:
  1. Compliance with Canadian entry and customs requirements;
  2. Appropriate clothing and footwear;
  3. Travel arrangements to and from SLWR;
  4. Travel and medical insurance coverage.

2017 WILDFIRE
Guests acknowledge that the landscape in and around the resort was altered due to a significant wildfire event in 2017. SLWR operates within a post-wildfire regenerating eco-system. 

PRIVACY & DATA COLLECTION
For information about how we collect, use and protect your personal information, please review our Privacy Policy.