Eco-friendly destinations where travellers can enjoy the Canadian wilderness

A suite at Trout Point Lodge in Nova Scotia (Trout Point Lodge)

Canada offers some of the most pristine wilderness in the world, attracting nature-lovers of all kinds.

And as travellers search for the ultimate outdoor experience, an increasing number also want to make sure they aren't hurting the environment they came to enjoy.

For the eco-conscious tourist, here's a look at some of Canada's most sustainable places to immerse yourself in nature:

The Kw'o:kw'e:hala Bed and Breakfast

Price range: $105 to $180 a night

Nestled in British Columbia's Pacific Northwest mountains, the Kw'o:kw'e:hala eco retreat rests "on the cusp of the coastal rainforest and British Columbia interior," owner Sue VandeVelde-Savola says.

The seven-acre forest property borders the Coquihalla River and features a natural beach area, walking trails, an organic garden, and a wood-fired hot tub and sauna.

Guests can stay in one of three small cabins along the river.

The Homestead and Othello cabins are both historic properties, dating back to 1923 and 1913 respectively, and the third cabin, the Forest Cottage, is made entirely from recycled materials.

As the retreat's website says, the cabins are not "spacious or posh," but they are cozy. The beds are outfitted with snug quilts and mismatched pillows.

All of the wood for the buildings comes from trees on the property, and the retreat owners say they've replanted more than 100 trees to replenish the surrounding forest.

VandeVelde-Savola, a former banker and one-time politician, describes Kw'o:kwe'e:hala as the perfect eco-friendly getaway from "hectic life."

At the retreat, guests can wake up to VandeVelde-Savola's homemade granola, before hiking or biking the Kettle Valley trail or Othello Tunnels, the cavernous passages through which Canadian Pacific trains once travelled. After a day of exploration, visitors can return to rest in the wood-fired Finnish sauna, or cedar hot tub, swing in a riverside hammock or enjoy an evening campfire.

"We're just in such a beautiful little location here," she said. "We're only minutes from the (Coquihalla) highway, but you could be anywhere."

Trout Point Lodge

Price range: $249 to $459 a night

Trout Point Lodge is a secluded Nova Scotia getaway for foodies, nature lovers, and star-gazers alike.

In 2014, the UNESCO-backed Starlight Foundation named Trout Point the world's first "Starlight Hotel."

And the Lodge doesn't just cut down on light pollution. The entire property was designed with nature in mind.

The lodge is built of insulating logs to keep the rooms temperate and avoid the need for air conditioning. It also has a grey water system to conserve and reuse wastewater, a compost system, and extensive organic gardens.

Guests can stay in a suite in the Main Lodge, or rent out the riverside Beaver Hall, or the lakeside Black Bear Cottage.

Each room is unique, decorated with locally-inspired cottage decor. In the Main Lodge, the walls are built of spruce and the fireplaces are lined with stone from the surrounding area. The three-storey lodge features a Great Room, library, dining rooms, kitchen, and bar.

"Three-quarters of our guests say that eco-friendliness was of paramount importance in their decision making about where to stay," Proprietor-chef Charles Leary said.

In keeping with their focus on environmental stewardship, Leary and co-owner Vaughn Perret also act as nature guides, leading foraging tours through the woods and out to the coast.

Back at the lodge's kitchen, Perret uses the foraged ingredients to cook local, sustainably gathered food: from pasta with wild mushrooms to sweet fern brown butter sauce, drizzled over swordfish.

"Our menu changes every single day," Perret said. "We show (guests) the beautiful wild foods from the coast all the way inland."

Fogo Island Inn

Price Range: $975 to $2,875 per night

Perched off the coast of Newfoundland, Fogo Island Inn offers guests a luxurious getaway in the hauntingly beautiful North Atlantic.

Set on a rocky outcropping, the Inn boasts ocean views and striking architecture.

And, Inn Ambassador Paddy Barry, even the nails holding the building together were carefully chosen and ethically made.

According to Barry, the inn has tried to be eco-friendly right from construction, when builders "more or less placed the building on top of the landscape" to avoid blasting huge areas of the rock.

The inn collects rain water, which is minimally treated and then reused around the property, such as to help flush toilets. And the the roof is lined with solar collectors to help power the building.

The whole building is heated by two wood-fired boilers, fed with lumber purchased from sustainable forests within 160 kilometres of the inn, Barry said.

And in addition to purchasing eco-friendly materials, Barry said the inn makes an effort to hire and buy products from locals.

"If we could get it on Fogo Island, then we'd get it here. If not, then we'd get it in Newfoundland, if not in Newfoundland then in Canada," he said. And if they can't get it in Canada, then they'll only buy from a country with fair labour laws.

The inn also supports the Shorefast Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to preserving local culture and fostering the local economy.

Every suite in the inn features an ocean view and a custom-made bed built of organic, natural fibres, and locally designed and crafted furniture and textiles.

Guests can choose to pay only for a suite, or opt for a "full board" option, which includes all meals and an afternoon tea.

Outdoors, the inn offers year-round activities from fishing to snowshoeing, so guests can enjoy the area's "seven seasons."

And indoors, guests can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding landscape as they take art classes, visit the inn's heritage library, contemporary art gallery, cinema screenings, sauna, or gym.