Day 1 - Arrive Calgary | Lake Louise

Upon arrival in Calgary, you are privately transferred for 2.5 hours to Lake Louise in Banff National Park. After settling in, enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure. Lake Louise is world famous for its turquoise hue, the Victoria Glacier, soaring mountain backdrops, and incredible opportunities for adventure around every corner. Stroll along the lake path or opt for a more challenging hike up to one of two tea houses in the mountains. For a more immersive experience, paddle a canoe or kayak to the end of the lake, and keeping a sharp eye out for bears, which are often roaming the shore.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is surrounded by soaring mountain peaks, the majestic Victoria Glacier, and a glistening emerald lake. Located in Banff National Park, the property was built as a base for outdoor enthusiasts over 100 years ago. Walk from the hotel right along the lakeshore and marvel at the mountains. Today the Chateau features beautiful accommodations, a health club, a spa, and several restaurants.

Overnight: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or The Post Hotel

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Moraine Lake | Yoho National Park

Join your guide early this morning for a journey to nearby Moraine Lake. Set in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, this alpine jewel rivals Lake Louise in popularity. Your guide points out the local peaks, waterfalls, and moraines as you stroll the lakeshore or simply enjoy the view.

After, travel with your guide to Yoho National Park. One of the four Canadian Rockies parks, Yoho is the quieter and less of these national parks. Experience a quieter side of the mountains at sites like Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake, as well as a myriad trails of all lengths. Watch for bears, elk and moose and other wildlife as you explore.

Overnight: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or The Post Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 3 - Icefields Parkway | Private Athabasca Glacier Walk

Today, you experience one of the world’s most scenic drives: the Icefields Parkway. Lined with ridges, waterfalls, lakes and glaciers, this 143-mile road road traverses the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Lined with ridges, waterfalls, lakes, and glaciers this private journey allows for plenty of stops. Your driver narrates the along the way, stopping at sites chosen according to your interests.

Stop at the Icefield Discovery Centre to learn about the natural history of this alpine ecosystem, before venturing out onto the famous ice on a pair of ice spikes. Explore the Athabasca Glacier with a professional mountain guide, getting up close to deep crevasses, cascading waterfalls, and other glacial features as your guide leads the way.

At the end of your journey is the town of Jasper on the bank of the Athabasca River. Jasper National Park is home to a wealth of incredible natural features, including Mount Columbia, Alberta’s tallest mountain, Maligne Lake, the second largest glacially fed lake in the world, and diverse wildlife, including bears, moose, mountain goats, wolverine, elk, and bighorn sheep. Summer visitors can bike ride, hike, or fish, while in the winter, skiing, boarding, snowshoeing and dogsledding abound.

Located just outside Jasper on the shore of Lac Beauvert, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge affords incredible views in a tranquil setting. Completely surrounded by Jasper National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), this luxurious lodge is the perfect base from which to enjoy the Canadian Rockies. A mix of traditional rooms and heritage cabins is your home while a spa, golf course, and several restaurants provide ways to unwind.

Overnight: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Forest Park Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 4 - Jasper | Searching for Wildlife and Maligne Lake

Early this morning, set out on a private wildlife tour of Jasper National Park, the largest in the Canadian Rockies and a haven for viewing moose, black bears, elk, bald eagles and many other animals. Your guide leads the way and helps you to find wildlife, including some of the park’s signature species.

Continue with your guide up the Maligne Valley, stopping to explore Maligne Canyon, the deepest Canyon in Jasper National Park. Cross a series of bridges spanning the canyon for the best vantage into the depths of this natural wonder. Learn about the “disappearing” Maligne River as it makes its way down from Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake. Enjoy some time on the shore of Maligne Lake to stretch your legs and get a glimpse of mythic Spirit Island.

Overnight: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Forest Park Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 5 - Jasper Hiking | Authentic Backcountry Cooking

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the Jasper Park Lodge before spending some time with a local wilderness guide. Set out on a moderate hike up one of Jasper’s peaks, while learning the area’s rich history and geology as well as how to identify edible plants and mushrooms. Having worked up an appetite, you are treated to a hands-on backcountry cooking lesson and sit down to a fresh enjoy lunch in a beautiful alpine setting.

Overnight: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Forest Park Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 6 - Banff | Awe-Inspiring Journey

Depart Jasper and head south on the Icefield Parkway. The return journey to Banff provides a new perspective and fresh views, making it feel like a completely different trip. Stop along the way and explore iconic spots such as Athabasca Falls, and stretch your legs with a short walk or two.

Banff, a bustling resort town situated in Banff National Park, has a rich heritage as one of the world’s most awe- inspiring mountain destinations. Stroll through shops and art galleries downtown, or ride the Banff Gondola for stunning views of the area’s jewel-colored lakes, majestic mountains, and the Bow River. In the evening, Banff comes alive with highly acclaimed restaurants and bars specializing in craft cocktails. Wildlife sightings, including bears, are common in the Banff townsite and surrounding area.

The Fairmont Banff Springs is the quintessential luxury mountain resort and an internationally recognized symbol of the Canadian Rockies. Founded by the Canadian Pacific Railroad as a spa hotel to entice visitors into the mountains, the hotel now welcomes visitors who come to golf, hike, ski or enjoy the onsite Willow Stream Spa. The Fairmont boasts several restaurants as well as the Rundle Lounge for a relaxing cocktail.

Overnight: Fairmont Banff Springs or Rimrock Resort Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 7 - Banff Indigenous Medicine Walk

Today starts with a very special private, Indigenous Medicine Walk. As you stroll through mountain meadows and Banff National Park forest learning about the fascinating history of Cascade Ponds, your knowledgeable local guide will also point out key plants and trees and how you can use them to make something crucial to survival – whether it’s a fire cider to cure a cold or flu, a food source or a fire starter. This experience, full of intention, invites you to open your heart and mind to not only connect with each other and the natural environment surrounding you, but also to something deeper within.

Afterward, take in the highlights of the Banff Townsite with your guide. Learn about its history, the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and the Swiss guides who helped develop tourism in the Rockies. Tailored to your interest, the tour may include the historic Cave & Basin, the Whyte Museum, classic scenic viewpoints, and more.

Overnight: Fairmont Banff Springs or Rimrock Resort Hotel

Meal Plan: B

Day 8 - Private Banff Heli-hiking Adventure

Trek through an alpine wilderness on a Canadian Rockies heli-hiking adventure. Lift off from the Canmore Heliport with your guide for a scenic flight through Cougar Canyon, touching down deep in the mountains amid the solitude of an alpine meadow. The hike is tailored to your wishes and can include a gentle meadow walk, or a trek along an alpine ridge. Your certified mountain guide points out local peaks and talks about the plants and animals that call Banff National Park home.

Enjoy the rest of your last day at your leisure, perhaps spend time in Banff at the many restaurants, museums, galleries, and cafes, or pamper yourself at the Fairmont Willow Stream Spa.

Overnight: Fairmont Banff Springs or Rimrock Resort Hotel

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 9 - Depart Calgary

Your incredible journey comes to an end as you are met and privately transferred to Calgary for your departing flight.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B