Luxury with a Light Show – Takhini River Lodge, Whitehorse

Experience all the rugged beauty of the Yukon, while nestled in the French elegance and luxury of Takhini River Lodge.

I find it difficult to avoid becoming too lavish in my praise for Canada’s Yukon Territory, as the whole place simply blew me away – and the accommodation selections were no exception. There are options available to suit every purse, from the charming and cheerfully relaxed heritage Historical Guest House in the middle of Whitehorse, to the hunting, shooting and fishing haven of Dalton Trail Lodge adjacent to the stunning Kluane National Park, but for those seeking a little luxury the Takhini River Lodge, just outside of Whitehorse, will tick all the boxes.

Located just far enough out of Whitehorse to allow you to experience the regions rugged beauty, but only 40 minutes from the airport, Takhini River Lodge has it all. The delightful hosts, Christiane and Jean-Marc have put their hearts and souls into making their luxury lodge an outstanding experience for their guests. From the spacious, exquisitely appointed bedrooms accessorised with fine linens, plenty of soft fluffy towels, and spa quality toiletries in the ensuite bathrooms, to the carefully curated communal living area downstairs and the deliciously warm hot tub outside, you’ll know you are somewhere special from the minute you step through the door.

The elegant lodge is situated on a cleared block on the 100 acres bought by the couple when they decided to move out of hectic (so very not) Whitehorse, after moving there from Alsace in France. Christiane and Jean-Marc discovered the Yukon during a holiday break from their frenzied lives as a pharmacist in a large hospital and a baker with two bakeries and 15 employees, respectively. The appeal of remote spaces and the lure of the stunning scenery proved all the temptation they needed to sell their house and businesses in France and up-sticks with a four year-old in tow, to move to the Yukon. As you do.

Christiane and Jean-Marc have perfected the art of looking after their guests with the utmost of personal service, whilst seeming to be almost invisible at the same time. In any of the four beautiful bedrooms or downstairs in the living area there is nothing to desire as every possible need – beverages, snacks, peace and quiet – seems to have been anticipated and generously catered for with quality ingredients. Meal times are especially to be looked forward to and for a small extra fee you can enjoy a fine, gourmet meal – Christiane’s culinary skills to be a credit to her French background and the fresh local seafood we were served.

The lodge has been designed with enormous windows which face north – the perfect viewing position to catch the spectacular Northern Lights. I was still struggling with a little jet lag, so the gourmet dinner, a glass or two of wine and a dip in the hot tub soon had my head lolling and I crawled into my deliciously large and well-appointed bed, leaving the light spotting to my companion. She didn’t disappoint and at 3.00 am came tapping on my door so we could both sit at the windows and gaze at the extraordinary display that is the Aurora Borealis. The Aurora wasn’t putting too much effort into things on that particular evening so, while it was a delight to watch, it was unfortunately a complete photography fail.

Takhini River Lodge also offers a chance to get up close to a fascinating regional winter past-time – dog mushing. Jean-Marc is an enthusiastic middle-distance racer and passionate about mushing. He has a much-loved team of 20 dogs and will happily introduce you to them and share all the details of dog care, training, racing and winter camping – a genuine look at a unique aspect of life in the Yukon Territory.

Takhini River Lodge
Takhini River Road
Whitehorse

Phone: (1) 867-393-3060
Fax: (1) 867-393-3061
Mobile: (1) 867-332-3054

While in the Yukon, Lambs Ears and Honey was a guest of the Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism Yukon.