Eaglenest Sanctuary - Rustic and Serene Riverfront Stay

The property is very rustic. The woodwork inside beautiful. The phone number on the website is incorrect and the property description is a bit confusing. I would happily rent again... in the summer next time.

Our group of friends decided to enjoy a weekend away. We loved the secluded location and the wonderful property. We can't say enough good things. We hope to be back soon.

Beautiful stay next to the river.

Wonderful property needs some upkeep and updating , bathrooms and Laundry rooms need better cleaning before guests arrive. Will consider renting again for group over 10 .Had electrical issues but found second fuse box and moved coffee pots to dinning room when running dishwasher worked out the problem .

Eaglesnest is truly a sanctuary. The property, nestled in stunning forest along a welcoming river provides for rich outdoor exploration and fun. Ezio was a gracious and generous host. His many talents enrich the grounds and building with beautiful craftsmanship. There are multitude of quiet nooks of to discover. The house was a bit grubby, hotel like shine not to be expected. But the uniqueness and warmth of the house made up for any shortfalls.

This is by far the most peaceful and serene property I have ever experienced. It is situated on a beautiful river in the middle of the forest at Shawnigan Lake. It is rustic, but charming and very comfortable. Ezio - the owner was very welcoming! You greet him at his house, which is just down the road from the retreat. He will give you a property tour and explain in detail where everything is located. There is a stage, a meditation area fire pit, and many other outdoor amenities. It is such a beautiful place! The reason for my visit was for a surprise birthday party. We had about 8 people total, but this house could easily accommodate more. There are so many rooms with so many beds. The indoor sauna was amazing! The hot tub location is great, but it definitely needs to be cleaned after every visit! I believe that all of the water provided to the house is from the river, so as you can imagine, the hot tub looks and feels dirty. There was a lot of debris in the hot tub and it was a dark green color. It also had a funky smell. With it being warm water it was a breeding ground for bacteria. I would say that this was the only complaint that I had for the trip. Thanks again Ezio! Kind regards, Todd & Sasha

I rented the Eaglenest Sanctuary for a weekend getaway with nine friends. It comfortably accommodated all of us and was clean and well organized. The house is beautiful, nestled in the woods besides the river, with a nice garden. Hot tub and sauna were excellent. Ezio was a great host - very communicative, responding promptly to all of my questions. I'd certainly stay here again and would recommend it to anyone looking for a spacious, comfortable place.

We had such a memorable weekend at the Eaglenest Sanctuary. Everyone in the group enjoyed the gorgeous, private location and the awesome space the big house provided. The host was so amazing and made us feel so welcome and at home. We had such a special weekend enjoying the patio, green space, river and spacious house. Would definitely recommend and will come again!

We held a reunion with a group of 15 friends who had not all been together for 15 years. From the moment we arrived at The Eaglesnest Sanctuary, all life's hassle's were left behind!! The owner takes the time to make sure you feel completely at home with all the amenities on site and even the ones that are not far offsite. We have never stayed anywhere with such a relaxed atmosphere. With all the detailed hand crafted stylings of the house, pathways, outdoor tub and shower to the majestic river and forest views there was not a moment unappreciated by all that attended. This place was built with love!! The accommodations were very comfortable and was roomy enough for 15 people without getting in each others way. We made full use of the outdoor stage and danced and frolicked through the night. The medicine wheel provides a perfect setting to relax or meditate. We should also mention the most used feature, the sauna with a built in stone shower. This place is like no other!!! We are planning another stay already and will be back many more times! Thanks to the Owner and his Wife for making us feel like family, really!

We are fresh from a weekend spent at the Eaglenest Sanctuary and all I can say is WOW! This property and house are beautiful and the host is most gracious and accommodating. We hosted a 40th birthday there and it was the perfect venue for this event. I could ramble on and on but I will just say this, book this rental!

We were looking for a house/place to rent for our team - with enough beds for 14, enough space to hang out, and a space to eat together. Eaglenest had enough bedding, towels and dishes to accommodate us. There were laundry facilities to wash uniforms if needed. The wifi was a bonus for our players and the remoteness was perfect peace and quiet instead of a hotel. Ezio was a gracious and attentive host.

18 people and lots of room to relax! My boyfriend and I booked the Sanctuary for our combined birthday party and homecoming celebration. The house is like a piece of art and has all the comforts of home. There are tons of options for sleeping although for couples there are only 2 rooms so prepare for that. The grounds are full of nooks and crannies to explore. Right next to the river, fairy paths through the woods and the amazing energy circle are just the beginning! The sauna and yoga room are so lovely and versatile and the privacy is second to none....we danced and laughed as loud as we liked into the wee hours and no one to disturb! The owner is flexible and so accommodating and truly a lovely man to deal with. My only suggestion would be a "do not disturb" sign up by the garage or a phone call system just to avoid any uncomfortable unexpected meetings in housecoats! :-) But really, this is a very special place, we have already booked for next year and look forward to many returns to the Eaglesnest Sanctuary!

We had 6 adults and three children (10,8,5) The place was big enough for all us to sleep, eat and play. Property is as described, owner was helpful and the overall ambiance was good with a swimming hole close by. Bring water footwear is it rocky. We did day trips to beaches, golf and Victoria. Evening campfires were fun.

Stunning property, literally right by a stream with great walks and a very spacious and comfortable house. Perfect for a large group or family wilderness retreat.

My partner and I recently facilitated a self-inquiry retreat at Eaglenest and everyone loved the location. Beautifully quiet with the accompanying rhythm of the river's flow, the setting was truly relaxing and wonderfully conducive to the deep level of self-inquiry work into which we were all dropping over the 3 nights of our stay. Ezio, the owner and a major contributor to the artistic beauty of Eaglenest, responded to all of our needs whenever they arose. Nothing to worry about. We highly recommend Eaglenest for work and family retreats. We have already booked our next retreat! Edward & Kira

A group of 15-or-so of us found this gem of a getaway for a pre-wedding girls' retreat and it was absolutely perfect!!! This location has everything that any girl would want. It is an absolutely beautiful house and, then after you throw in a sauna, hiking and amazing view overlooking the river, you basically have everything that anyone would want (and I didn't even mention the open "dance floor" downstairs!). Thanks Ezio!!! It was the first perfect weekend before an absolutely perfect wedding. I got engaged right after my sister-in-law got married so we will be calling you again soon :)

My Husband and I recently rented the sanctuary as the venue for our wedding. The property lends itself perfectly to hosting such gatherings and the landscape and surrounding forest provided the perfect atmosphere for our event. The house itself is set up incredibly well for a group of 10-12 people with ample space and beautiful and unique handcrafted wood furnishings. The sound of the river outside your window is the most relaxing way to fall asleep and the forest views further the feeling of being connected to nature. There are great spaces inside for large gatherings, a huge living room, kitchen and dining room in addition to a large yoga studio. The furnishings were new and linens were beautiful, the hand crafted tile mosaics were stunning, overall it was a lovely space to spend time. The grounds are really what drew me to this place, the property is situated on the perfect piece of forested land hugged by the river on two sides. There are three different and equally breathtakeing outdoor areas that can work as a backdrop for any special occasion. The river itself is also amazing with some magical spots and swimming holes just steps from the backdoor. You can also walk right up to the trestle from the property in about 10 minutes. Ezio, our host, was just as fantastic as the property. He made sure it was in pristine condition and that we had everything we needed. He gave us privacy to enjoy the grounds and our stay but let us know he was close by should we need anything. His passion for this land and the details he has crafted inside and out show throughout the property. I look forward to returning again and would recommend this property to everyone!

Recently my wife and I, along with another couple, had the good fortune to visit Vancouver Island. Originally, we had heard of the historic Kinsol Trestle - the highest such wooden railway structure still in existence in the British Commonwealth - and so we set off from Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, and made our way north to the beautiful Cowichan Valley. This was less than an hour's drive north over some of the most scenic country we had yet seen, and the ancient trestle, recently restored as part of the Tran-Canada Trail, was incredible. But while there we met the proprietor of the adjacent EagleNest Sanctuary who invited us, quite by chance, to walk one of the gorgeous trails that meandered along the pristine Koksilah River towards what we now know as one of the best kept secrets of the Pacific Northwest. Serendipity had struck once again. We immediately fell in love with the gorgeous surroundings, the eclectic grounds and buildings, and the generous spirit of our soon-to-be host! What can I say but that we immediately changed our travel plans and booked into one of the most serene and relaxing accomodations it has been our good fortune stay at. Victoria is certainly a splendid city we enjoy, but if the quiet splendour of nature is more your cup of tea, make Eagle Nest Sanctuary your destination - you will not regret it! In fact, my partner who works in the field of holistic health hopes to return soon with one of the meditation groups she practices with. Our host was very accomodating and open to assisting with such arrangements for larger gatherings. His own house called Eagleyew, located at another end of this fabulous property was recently constructed and apparently has set a new benchmark in alternative, environmentally-sensitive design. In all, there is much to see, but it is the privacy and quiet solitude we liked best. Thank you Sir for your kind hospitality and a most wonderful stay - we shall return! Cheers.