Banff & Lake Louise has been on my bucket list for the last few years after seeing dozens of beautiful photos of the gorgeous turquoise lake on social media. I recently had the opportunity to visit multiple destinations throughout Alberta with the Alberta Tourism Board and Fairmont Hotels in February and it was one of the most epic experiences ever! We traveled through the Canadian Rockies for 9 days starting with Edmonton, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and ending the trip in Calgary. February was a cold time to visit but it was not as cold as I imagined. Our group was well prepared which made our trip very comfortable. The team planned an amazing itinerary for the week and I’m so happy to share it with you! Here’s the perfect 9-day Alberta itinerary during winter!

To prepare for your winter trip, I’ve written a guide on my Packing Winter Tips For Canada.

DAY 1 – ARRIVE IN EDMONTON

Our group started our trip to Edmonton, the capital of Canada’s Alberta province.

WHERE TO STAY: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald has stunning rooms and is in the perfect location in the city!

WHAT TO DO:

• Edmonton Mall: The biggest mall in North America
• Edmonton Ice Castles
• Dine at Rostizado

DAY 2 & 3 – JASPER

From Edmonton to Jasper it can take up to 4 hours by car. I highly suggest renting a car for the trip or using a private shuttle from SunDog Tours. The drive is beautiful and you’ll want to make stops along the way like we did. We saw plenty of Elks and Bighorn Sheeps on the road!

WHERE TO STAY: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a stunning property in Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage. It has 440 guest rooms and cabins. I stayed in the Gardener’s Cottage which has 4 rooms, kitchen, living room, fireplace and downstairs living space with a pool table. Definitely, spend time relaxing at this property and ice skate on the lake.

The property has 5+ restaurants and bar. I highly recommend dining at the Emerald Lounge!

WHAT TO DO:

• Explore Jasper National Park
• Maligne Canyon Ice Walk
• Maligne Lake & Medicine Lake
• Dark Skies Stargazing at the Fairmont
• Spend the day Skiing/Snowboarding at Marmot Basin! The slopes were not crowded and the views are so beautiful!
• Skating on the lake, fat tire biking, and other winter activities

DAY 4 & 5 – LAKE LOUISE

The drive from Jasper to Lake Louise is around three hours, known as Icefields Parkway. The drive is one of the world’s most scenic drives with plenty of stops for photos. So be prepared to make plenty of stops along the way!

Do not miss out on Athabasca falls, Pyramid Lake, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, and Abraham Lake to see the frozen ice bubbles. We did not get to see this but I know I’ll have to make another visit back!

WHERE TO STAY: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is by far my favorite property in the Canadian Rockies! It’s located in Banff National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage. There’s just something special about the resort sitting right on the lake. During the winter months, the property has a stunning ice castle and multiple ice sculptures on the lake. Do not miss out on ice skating on the lake and take in the beautiful scenery.

The property has 5+ restaurants and bar and my favorite restaurants were the Lakeview Lounge and Walliser Stube for the truffle fondue!

WHAT TO DO:

• Ice Skating on Lake Louise
• Explore the ice castles and ice bar at the Fairmont
• Skiing activities
• Snowshoe excursion
• Dogsledding with Kingmik Tours

DAY 6 & 7 – BANFF

The drive from Lake Louise to Banff is an hour. I was super excited to visit Banff as I was ready for some relaxation in the hot springs.

WHERE TO STAY: Fairmont Banff Springs is the perfect resort to relax in. The property is located in the town of Banff, Alberta and is considered to be Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies”. The property surely feels like a castle and I surely got lost plenty of times! Do not miss out on the hot springs and spa facilities!

The property has 10 restaurants and bars to satisfy your taste buds from sushi, Italian and so much more! Make sure to do afternoon tea at the Rundle Lounge!

WHAT TO DO:

• Banff Gondola: Tickets are $56 for adults and $28 for ages 6-15. Kids under 5 are free.
• Explore the town and go shopping
•  Johnston Canyon
• Vermilion Lakes (the perfect view for sunrise)
• Lake Minnewanka

Town of Banff

Vermilion Lakes

DAY 8 & 9 – CALGARY

It can take up to an hour and a half from Banff to Calgary.

WHERE TO STAY: Fairmont Palliser is a historic property in Calgary. Centrally located and has stunning large guest rooms.

Dine at the Rimrock for breakfast and order the red velvet waffles!

WHAT TO DO:

• Calgary Tower for panoramic views of the city.
• Studio Bell Museum to learn about Canadian music history
• Get the BEST hot chocolate at Deane House
• Scotsman Hill for a sunset overlooking the skyline

It was so much fun exploring Edmonton, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and Calgary during the winter! From the amazing properties at the Fairmont, dining at some of the best restaurants and experiencing the best winter activities in Alberta, I already want to return next winter! There is so much to see, do and experience and I would love to also come back during the Summer. I hope this itinerary was helpful and has inspired you to explore Alberta!

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