Most remote luxury lodges in Canada and Alaska have Wi-Fi or internet access, but speed, reliability, and availability of cell service vary by property and location. Many lodges offer Wi-Fi but no cell service, while a small number – including Sheldon Chalet in Alaska – are deliberately off-grid.
And sometimes, that matters. It’s a classic tale: you’ve finally made time for a well-earned holiday, but a major project is in the works and you need to be available. You might have to fire off a few emails, or join a quick Zoom call (at least you won’t need to blur your background). Or maybe it’s as simple as wanting to check in with your kiddos.
When travelling into the vast landscapes of the north, staying connected is one consideration. Another is how to get there. For many wilderness lodges, particularly in Alaska, you’ll need to take a floatplane, helicopter, or boat transfer from the regional airport – even if you’re flying private, your jet can only get you partway to your destination.
That’s where working with a luxury travel advisor like Entrée Destinations comes in handy. With someone managing the many moving parts (ideally not you) and ready to step in if weather or transportation abruptly changes the plan, you can focus on what’s really important – like kayaking beside a glacier.
Credit: Nimmo Bay
Staying connected in the middle of nowhere
What do those little bars actually mean when you’re deep in the Canadian or Alaskan wilderness? If you need to transfer massive files or you’re trying to tap into Netflix, don’t expect the lightning-fast connection you’re used to. You’ll likely find the strongest connection in the main lodge, close to the router.
Once you venture outside the lodge, all bets are off. If you’re in the middle of the Great Bear Rainforest watching bears scrounge for salmon, or straddling a glacier surrounded by jagged mountains, expect – and embrace – zero coverage.
If steady, reliable Wi-Fi is critical, tell your travel advisor during the initial planning conversation. Entrée Destinations will happily consider connectivity alongside your preferred destination, activities, and budget when recommending the best wilderness lodge for your travels. To learn more about planning a Canada or Alaska trip with a luxury travel advisor, read How a Canadian Travel Advisor Plans Your Trip.
Remote luxury lodges in Canada and Alaska: Wi-Fi and cell service
So where can you check in with the outside world – and where can you disappear from it entirely? Here’s the connectivity landscape at some of Entrée Destinations’ preferred wilderness lodges:
| Lodge | Location | Wi-Fi | Cell Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort | Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia | Yes; limited to specific communal areas around the resort | No |
| Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge | Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia | Yes; connection can sometimes be slow or intermittent | No |
| Sonora Resort | Discovery Islands, British Columbia | Yes; available in guestrooms, lodges, and common areas | Yes |
| Spirit Bear Lodge | Klemtu, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia | Yes; available throughout the main property | Very limited |
| Tordrillo Mountain Lodge | Judd Lake, Alaska | Yes; speeds may be slow | Limited or unavailable |
| The Lodge at Whale Pass | Whale Pass, Alaska | Yes; speeds may be slow | No |
| Sheldon Chalet | Denali National Park, Alaska | None | None |
Here’s a closer look at where you might stay – and what might tempt you to ditch the laptop:
- Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort: Yoga, floating saunas, and activities geared toward coastal beachcombing, waterfall tours, and whale-watching pair perfectly with a forested retreat at the edge of Mackenzie Sound. Yes, you can work in the main lodge – but with the sprawling Pacific coastline as your oyster, why would you want to?
- Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge: Cozy up in a canvas safari tent, sip cocktails at the guest outpost, or slide into a steaming cedar tub – it’s basically summer camp for adults. Set within a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve, daily activities are very camp-like: horseback riding, archery, or boating to a float camp in the middle of nowhere.
- Sonora Resort: Sitting pretty in the Discovery Islands archipelago, Sonora Resort is accessible only by sea or air. It’s also a great office-away-from-the-office with reliable internet coverage. Rest assured you can work if you need to – but with adventure excursions in ancient rainforests, five-course organic feasts, virtual golf, mineral pools, and every amenity you could ask for, you probably won’t.
- Spirit Bear Lodge: Deep in the Great Bear Rainforest, you’re in the homelands of the Kitasoo Xai’xais People. The lodge offers exclusive bear-viewing, including the possibility of seeing the elusive spirit bear, along with cultural experiences led by Kitasoo Xai’xais guides. The lodge directly funds local rainforest conservation and research, so take the opportunity to get to know the landscapes and wildlife your trip is helping to support.
- Tordrillo Mountain Lodge: Melt into your seat on a cedar deck and gaze at a horizon marked by a glassy lake, two 11,000-foot volcanoes, and North America’s tallest peak. Yes, you can access the internet, but this view is so much better than anything you could find there.
- The Lodge at Whale Pass: You’ll be so busy saltwater fishing, bear-viewing, caving, and kayaking that you’ll forget the internet even exists. However, if you need to respond to a quick email, the option is there, though it’s best to wait ‘til you get home to transfer those photos.
- Sheldon Chalet: Sitting atop a nunatuk – an exposed peak rising above a literal ice sheet – and surrounded by glaciers and mountain peaks, this is the most untouched, off-grid territory you could imagine. It also comes with a personal concierge, chef, and guides. There’s no internet, and you absolutely will not notice.
Credit: Sonora Resort
Getting to a remote luxury lodge in Canada or Alaska
Many remote luxury lodges in Canada and Alaska require a second transfer from the nearest airport by floatplane, helicopter, water taxi, or ground shuttle.
Each property’s journey is different. Some are only reachable by air or ocean, while others are a short drive from a gateway airport. If you’re flying to Alaska on a private or chartered aircraft, you can land at a local airport, but you’ll need to take another form of transportation to reach your final destination.
If Entrée Destinations plans your trip, the team will coordinate these transfers as part of your itinerary.
Flying private? Here’s how close your jet can get to an Alaska lodge
First, a quick geography lesson: more than 80 percent of Alaska’s communities aren’t accessible by the road system. In many parts of the state, getting from point A to point B means taking to the air or water.
So, if you’re travelling in your own aircraft, the question isn’t whether your jet can land at the lodge. It’s how close you can get, and what comes after. Here are three examples from Entrée Destinations:
King Salmon Airport → Crystal Creek Lodge
- Private aircraft can fly into King Salmon Airport, followed by a 20-minute ground transfer to Crystal Creek Lodge.
Homer Airport → Tutka Bay Lodge
- Fly into Homer Airport, then take a private helicopter or public water taxi to Tutka Bay Lodge.
Gustavus Airport → Bear Track Inn
- Fly into Gustavus Airport, then drive less than 20 minutes to Bear Track Inn.
Entrée Destinations can identify the closest airport to your lodge of choice and book the onward transfer.
When Mother Nature changes the plan
Remote wilderness, floatplanes, and minimal connectivity are prime ingredients for a standout trip. However, weather, missed connections, and no service when you need it can send even a meticulously planned itinerary sideways.
Let’s look at what happens if something doesn’t go according to plan:
If your floatplane or helicopter is grounded
If weather prevents your floatplane or helicopter from operating safely, the transfer might be delayed or rescheduled.
Entrée Destinations can work with the lodge and transportation provider to adjust transfers and, where necessary, rebook any impacted areas of your itinerary.
If you need to change plans while off-grid
If you’re staying at a lodge with little or no service, the property and Entrée Destinations will be your main points of contact if any part of your itinerary needs to change.
Entrée can communicate with transportation providers, guides, and other travel partners on your behalf, rather than leaving you to juggle the moving parts in an unfamiliar destination.
If the disruption costs you money
Sometimes a weather or transportation disruption can lead to a missed experience or floatplane ride whose cost can’t be recovered. That’s why it’s vital to carry travel insurance, including trip cancellation and interruption, particularly when you’re travelling in remote areas. To learn more, read How a Canadian Travel Advisor Plans Your Trip: Process, Payments, and What Happens if Plans Change.
Credit: Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Planning a remote lodge stay in Canada or Alaska
If you’re planning a remote lodge stay in Canada or Alaska, consider two factors from the outset: how connected you need to be and how you want to get there.
You can heed the call of the wild and still respond to emails. If that’s your beat, Entrée Destinations can recommend lodges with the level of connectivity you require. If you’re arriving by private aircraft, the team can identify where you should land and arrange the final leg. And should poor weather switch up the plan, you’ll have someone on the ground with destination expertise to put the pieces back together.
Going off-grid is so much more relaxing when it’s on your terms.
