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Wake up to breathtaking mountain views and fresh pine-scented air without the hassle of lugging tenting equipment and sleeping on rocky earth.
The increasing popularity of glamping in Alberta has allowed thousands to escape to the gorgeous wilderness while enjoying comforts like soft bedding and sturdy, one-of-a-kind shelters like geodomes, tent cabins, and even tipis!
In this guide, learn our top 10 Alberta glamping destination picks and what you’ll still need to make the most of your comfort camping experience.
The 10 Best Glamping Destinations in Alberta
Métis Crossing
Perhaps one of Canada’s most unique (and luxurious) glamping experiences, Métis Crossing transports glampers into the ancient world of the stargazing Métis people.
Owned and operated by the Otipemsiwak, this site offers:
- Sky Watching Domes for single couples or families
- Luxurious bedding
- Running water and bathrooms
- Kitchenettes
- Electricity, heated floors, and a/c
- Transparent ceilings provide breathtaking views of the night sky with almost zero night pollution
If you want to experience the night at its best and learn how the ancient Métis people used it to navigate, track seasons, tell time, and more, then this is a must-do experience.
Pigeon Lake Provincial Park
Along with numerous other Alberta Provincial Parks, Pigeon Lake offers a unique comfort camping loop of yurts.
These yurts provide the convenience of a sturdy structure, furnishings, and electricity while maintaining a simplicity that provides an authentic camping experience.
Amenities include:
- Insulated and well-ventilated to ensure comfortable temperatures year-round
- Electrical outlets, lights, and heater
- Refrigerator, beds with mattresses, tables and chairs
- Private deck, gas barbecue, fire pit, and picnic table
- Close locality to potable water, shared flush toilets, and showers
- Close proximity to beach and trails
If you want an experience that feels like real camping, but without the hassle of setting up a tent and bringing all the gear, Pigeon Lake’s yurts are a good choice.
Elevated Escapes at Bragg Creek
If you’re looking to unplug and truly go off-grid, this family-owned, Indigenous 200-acre glamping site in Alberta is ideal.
Located along the Elbow River, Elevated Escapes offers both luxury geodesic domes and rustic but furnished tents ideally tucked beside the peaceful Elbow River.
The geodomes offer:
- Solar-powered lights and USB ports
- Wood stove heating in winter
- Private firepit, picnic table, porta-lu toilet
- Luxury furnishings inside
Their tents include:
- Comfortable furnishings
- Fire pit and picnic table
- Rain gazebo and propane stove
- Shared washroom and propane shower
While providing comfortable furnishings, these sites offer an authentic, rustic camping experience. There’s no proper electricity, and water and food must be packed.
If you want to stay longer, it may be a good idea to bring your EcoFlow River 3 Solar Generator (PV45W) along. Just be sure you know how much power you need and how to use your solar panels before you go.
Sundance by Basecamp
Tipis, Trappers Tents, and Glamping Tents – try one or all of these unique accommodations at Sundance by Basecamp, tucked into the Alberta Rockies in the Kananaskis.
Ranging from very rugged in their tipis to just a taste of luxury in their official Glamping Tent, all the accommodations include:
- Beds (just frames and basic camping mattress in all but the glamping tent)
- Kerosene heater and a lantern
- Fire pit and picnic table
- Wooden floors
However, all sites, including the glamping tent site, are fully off-grid with no electricity and only a small kerosene heater. If you plan to stay at Basecamp, you’ll probably want to bring your EcoFlow WAVE 2 Portable Air Conditioner and heater so that you’re comfortable no matter what time of year you go.
Glamp Good
Try Glamp Good for a truly secluded, off-grid retreat that Cityline has rated among the top five most unique places to stay in Canada.
Tucked away in the heart of an old-growth Boreal forest, Glamp Good offers:
- Pet-friendly sites
- A-frame, geodomes, and treehouse options
- Communal cookhouse
- Heated shower house and toilets
- Nordic saunas
- Open year-round
While a couple of their sites include solar power plugs for charging devices, none of the sites offer full-wattage electricity or running water. Suppose you hope to bring refrigerated foods or ensure prime sleeping temperatures. In that case, you’ll still need to bring your EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus power station to power your portable refrigerator or better heating/cooling.
Mount Engadine Lodge
Mount Engadine Lodge is located in the mountainous Kananaskis country and provides a truly remote glamping opportunity. Nearly an hour away from the nearest large town of Canmore, you can escape to one of the Lodge’s glamping tents, cabins, or yurt!
Some of the things that make Mount Engadine stand out:
- Pet-friendly
- Includes gourmet meals
- Direct trail access for hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing trails
- Open year-round
- Eco-Stay certified
- Never overcrowded with a maximum of 38 guests at the Lodge at a time
- Full ensuite bathroom, private balcony, and luxury bedding
- Rock-your-world mountain and forest views from every room/tent/yurt
If you want to escape to the backcountry but still want convenience and luxury, Mount Engadine Lodge is where it’s at.
Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows
If cabin camping is your style, check out the nearly hundred-year-old Johnston Canyon Lodge and Bungalows.
Tucked into the pine forests at the Johnston Canyon trailhead, you can enjoy a room at the lodge or one of the 42 unique heritage bungalows or cabins.
Accommodations include:
- Electricity
- Private kitchens and bathrooms in most bungalows
- Fully furnished
- Access to the lodge’s restaurant and market
If you want access to some of Alberta’s most gorgeous trails and waterfalls but the relaxation of a resort or cabin, this is a good choice.
Glamping Alberta at Castle Provincial Park
Tucked away beneath Table Mountain and on the shoreline of Beaver Mines Lake, Glamping Alberta offers a variety of glamping experiences in the heart of the Rockies. With hours of trails, boating, and fishing right on your doorstep, you’ll not be bored staying at this glamping resort.
You can choose from luxury cabins, oak tents, canvas cabins, or bunkies and enjoy amenities like:
- Fully powered and air-conditioned units
- Private bathrooms and kitchens with refrigeration
- Fully furnished with luxury beds, seating, and tables
- Spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies and woodlands
Most of their sites are luxurious and fully powered. However, if you choose to rough it at one of their “bunkies,” be prepared for a true off-grid camping experience, and don’t forget your EcoFlow RAPID Power Bank to charge your devices.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
For a different experience, check out the Comfort Camping canvas Wall Tents available at Dinosaur Provincial Park in the Alberta Badlands.
This location is out there, but it provides a close stay to a working dinosaur fossil excavation site and one of the most fossil-dense destinations on Earth!
While you need to be prepared for a little walk to your site, you can drop your things off nearby and can still expect the following:
- Electric heaters, fans, lighting, and outlets
- Mini fridge, coffee/tea kettle
- Beds, tables, and chairs
- Propane barbecue and fire pit
- Shared flush toilets, showers, and potable water within a short walk
You will need to bring your own bedding, cooking and eating dishes, and water containers, but otherwise, these comfort camping accommodations will keep you well set.
OTENTiks at Banff, Elk Island, and Jasper National Parks
Parks Canada oTENTiks provides the perfect blend of traditional camping with a touch of glamping convenience.
Blending canvas tents with a-frame cabins to create unique camping structures, oTENTiks provides:
- Raised wooden floors
- Beds for 5-6 people
- Indoor tables and chairs
- Some form of lighting (usually a lamp)
- Often includes deck/outdoor furnishings
- Cook shelter
- Camping or barbecue stove
- Fire pit
Accommodations do vary depending on the location you choose. The goal behind oTENTiks is to make camping less of a hassle so you can get to the fun of your outdoor adventure faster.
That said, these shelters provide a pretty rugged, authentic camping experience. If you still want power for your devices or tools, you’ll need to bring your EcoFlow RIVER 3 Series power station.
Important note to keep in mind:
- According to AlbertaParks.ca, pets aren’t allowed in comfort camping sites within provincial parks. The only exception is the Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, which has a few pet-friendly cabins.
So, if bringing Fido along is important to you, remember to look closely at the rules of your chosen glamping site. - Demands are high for glamping sites these days. Be sure you book your reservation far in advance, as a last-minute reservation may be unavailable.
- The time of year impacts many of these sites. Quite a few are seasonal, only operating during the summer months or winter months. Be sure to look into the details and reserve your site before making further plans.
- If you plan to visit any of the comfort camping sites within Kananaskis Country, you will likely need to purchase a Conservation Pass. You can do so quickly and easily online; just be sure to do it before your trip.
What Do I Need for an Alberta Glamping Trip?
If you’re glamping in Alberta, your needs will vary widely depending on your chosen location. Some are highly luxurious and won’t leave much to be desired, while others are rustic, aimed at granting a genuine camping experience with just a touch of convenience.
However, here are some things you’ll want to remember to bring on your Alberta glamping trip:
- Appropriate clothing and footwear are essential: hiking boots, layered clothing (even in summer, weather changes quickly, especially up in the mountains), and an outer waterproof layer.
- Sleeping and comfort gear: while some glamping sites include sleeping linens, many do not, and you may want extras depending on the weather.
- Cooking, food, and water supplies: even sites with kitchenettes often require campers to bring their own cooking gear and water, or at least containers to carry water from a water source.
- Outdoor and recreational gear: Remember your binoculars, flashlights, bug sprays, sunscreens, and bear spray.
- Connectivity and navigation: offline maps, GPS devices for when you’re out of cell service, and/or portable Wi-Fi hotspots.
- Power and climate control: For truly off-grid sites, remember your EcoFlo Portable Power Stations so that your devices and portable appliances stay charged and usable no matter where you are or how long you stay.
Final Thoughts
Alberta boasts some of the most spectacular natural beauty anyone could hope to enjoy. Whether you love hiking in the mountains, resting in an ancient forest, or just getting out of town to unplug and reset, you have a bountiful supply of glamping sites to choose from.
If you’re ready for your next glamping adventure, even if it’s just in your backyard, get your EcoFlow River 3 Series portable power station so you can glamp with ease and comfort.