Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies: Luxury Winter Getaway

Day 1: Welcome to Vancouver

Set between the ocean and the mountains, Vancouver is one of Canada's most scenic cities. Take in the sights as you make your way to the famous Fairmont Hotel, known as the 'Castle in the City.' Built in 1939, this iconic hotel has a prime downtown location close to many of the city's biggest attractions and offers timeless elegance and luxury inside. You'll soon see why it tops the 'best of' lists for hotel stays in Canada. And if you love dogs, you'll love the hotel's resident ambassadors: a friendly pair of Labradors named Elly and Ella.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or similar

Day 2: Explore Vancouver

Vancouver is a beautiful city to explore and you’ll have the whole day to take it in. Spend the day in some of the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods: shop on famous Robson Street, visit the cobblestone streets of historic Gastown or hang out in trendy Kitsilano Or take advantage of Vancouver’s mild weather to head out into nature with a walk in Stanley Park or along the sea wall. There are spots to rent bikes if you’d like to cycle some of the scenic oceanside paths. Vancouver is well-known as a foodie destination with a variety of restaurants, breweries and cafes scattered throughout the city.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or similar

Day 3: Train to the Rockies

Spend one last morning discovering the charms of Vancouver or enjoying the amenities in your luxury hotel before making your way to the train station to board your mid-afternoon train to Jasper. Onboard you will find cozy accommodations and huge windows to take in the incredible views. Enjoy your chef-prepared meal in the dining car with views over British Columbia's interior and then relax in comfort as you are whisked off for an overnight journey into the spectacular Canadian Rockies.

Day 4: Welcome to Jasper

You’ll wake up on the train and immediately be mesmerized by the beautiful scenery out your window. The train passes by Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies at nearly 13,000 feet, and plenty of other incredible sights as it makes its way to Jasper National Park. After arriving in Jasper, head to your hotel -- the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a 700-acre luxury mountain resort that wraps around the shores of Lac Beauvert. Surrounded by the snow-capped Rockies, this resort of interconnected log cabins and picturesque paths feels like a winter wonderland. Spend your evening enjoying the hotel's amenities.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or similar

Day 5: Explore Jasper

Nestled amid the stunning Rocky Mountains, Jasper town is the heart of the Jasper National Park and you could happily spend the day wandering around. If you are looking to get out and see more of the park, however, we recommend booking a guided Maligne Canyon Ice-Walk Tour. This tour is one of Jasper’s most popular and impressive winter adventures. You’ll get the chance to go to the bottom of the canyon, which is the deepest accessible canyon in the park, and explore frozen waterfalls, ice caves and incredible ice formations. You’ll learn about the valley, Karst topography and the mystery of the “disappearing” Medicine Lake.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or similar

Day 6: Drive the Icefields Parkway

If a drive on the famous Columbia Icefields Parkway is on your bucket list, this will be the day you get to check it off. Linking Jasper with Lake Lousie, the Icefields Parkway is rated as one of the top drives in the world. For 232 km, it stretches along the Continental Divide with stunning views of towering mountains, frozen waterfalls, and pristine snow-covered valleys. At the end of the journey sits iconic Lake Louise, an alpine village with breathtaking scenery in the UNESCO-recognized Banff National Park. Your home for the next two nights is the castle-like Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, perched right on the shores of the namesake lake. From this vantage point, you'll have an amazing view of the soaring mountain peaks and the Victoria Glacier.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Lake Louise or similar

Day 7: Wonders of Lake Louise

There are many ways to experience the beauty of Lake Louise in the winter, but the most famous is a skate on the lake -- known to be Canada's most scenic skating rink. The area gets the most snow in the region, turning the mountainside town into a real-life snowglobe. Take advantage of the spectacular scenery with a stroll around the trail that skirts the lake or take an evening horse-drawn sleigh ride to see the Ice Falls.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Lake Louise or similar

Day 8: Lake Louise to Banff

This morning, you will leave behind the quiet beauty of Lake Louise and travel further into Banff National Park to the resort town of Banff itself. If you thought your previous hotels resembled castles, you'll be blown away by the sheer scope of your next home-away-from-home. The world-famous Banff Springs hotel is a historic, landmark resort in the Canadian Rockies, nestled right in the heart of Banff. The luxurious hotel gives you easy access to some of the most sought-after mountain views in Canada.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Banff Springs or similar

Day 9: Experience Banff

You will have a full day of leisure in Banff and there is plenty to do, whether you prefer to get out in nature or relax in comfort. For a comprehensive look at the town and its fauna, we recommend booking the ‘Discover Banff & Its Wildlife” tour. This half-day tour visits beautiful viewpoints, landmarks and historic places around Banff where you’ll have a chance to take short walks, enjoy the scenery and watch for wildlife.

Accommodation at the Fairmont Banff Springs or similar

Day 10: Banff to Calgary. Depart from Calgary.

Today you will say good-bye to the Canadian Rockies as you head out of the national park towards Calgary.