Premium Canada & the Rocky Mountains in Winter

Your Canadian holiday starts at London Heathrow where we meet the Tour Manager before our flight to Vancouver. On arrival, we are transferred to our downtown hotel for a three-night stay in this wonderful city, framed by mountains and encircled by water.

This evening is free to relax or become acquainted with the local neighbourhood. Our elegant Fairmont hotel is set amongst high-end boutiques and impressive art galleries. Known as the 'Castle in the City' due to its châteauesque copper pitched roof, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was built in 1939 as one of Canada's grand railway hotels.

It is within walking distance of many Vancouver attractions, including the city waterfront - an extension of Downtown - which has a pedestrian walkway. There are several restaurants, cafés and bars nearby, or you could choose to dine at our hotel.

We set out on a sightseeing tour of Vancouver today, first making our way to Gastown, Vancouver's original settlement. Named after 'Gassy' Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman who arrived here in 1867, today Gastown is a popular downtown area of cafés, music bars, fashionable shops and galleries.

From here we continue to Chinatown, Canada's largest Chinese district, established in the late 19th century. Once inside, you may forget you are in North America. Here, we soak up the sights, atmosphere and aromas of the colourful streets and food stalls. Our last visit of the day is Stanley Park, Vancouver's wonderful open parkland of 400 hectares where we see the city's fantastic, world-renowned totem poles which pay tribute to Canada's Native American heritage.

After our tour, the rest of the day is free to explore independently. You could take the bus or a taxi to North Vancouver, to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Alternatively, a stroll along the Seawalk trail in Vancouver Harbour is a popular choice, overlooking the water with mountain views.

Your day starts with a free morning in Vancouver. You can make the most of our hotel's facilities, visit the local shops or enjoy a leisurely walk along the waterfront.

In the afternoon we transfer to Union Station. Here we board the Canadian for an overnight journey through the majestic Rocky Mountains to Jasper. The Canadian is an iconic train, transporting us in restored stainless steel carriages through incredible winter landscapes of the Cascade Mountains, Fraser River, and dramatic canyons. 

After dinner onboard, we settle into our private cabins and the train climbs into the foothills of the Rockies during the night.

• Dinner

We wake to cinematic views of glaciers, lakes, plunging canyons, frozen waterfalls and snow-covered peaks, all illuminated by the sun's first rays of the day. After breakfast on the Canadian amid this stunning scenery, we arrive into Jasper late morning - a friendly, easy-going mountain town in the heart of the beautiful Canadian Rockies. Bordered by soaring white mountains and frosted Douglas firs, in winter the town is blanketed in snow.

On arrival, you have time to take an initial look around and maybe enjoy some lunch downtown, before checking into our hotel for two nights. The luxury Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resort is set on 700 acres of parkland overlooking the serene Beauvert Lake and majestic mountains in a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.

The hotel site also offers a wide variety of winter activities, from horseshoeing to skating on Mildred Lake. For those seeking a more relaxing experience, you can unwind and enjoy the spa and pool facilities at your leisure.

• Breakfast

From the pretty wintry setting of Jasper, we head out this morning to visit the geological wonder of Maligne Canyon, one of Jasper National Park's most dramatic landmarks - the deepest canyon in the park which is easy to access.

We stop for lunch enroute, then explore this otherworldly canyon on an exhilarating ice walk with a local guide. Entering a setting of giant frozen waterfalls, ice caves and incredible ice sculptures, we also learn about the mysterious Medicine Lake. Jasper's National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to wildlife such as grey wolves, hoary marmots, caribou and moose - we may be fortunate to encounter some of these creatures.

This afternoon we are transferred back to our hotel in Jasper and you're free to relax at the hotel or continue exploring at your own pace.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Jasper and its National Park behind this morning, we begin the spectacular drive to Banff. Travelling along the world-famous Icefields Parkway - one of the world's most scenic highways - we navigate the 144 miles that link Banff with Jasper. Listed by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the top drives in the world, we enter a picturesque valley of frozen lakes, travelling between some of the highest and most rugged peaks in the Rockies. Enroute we pass two other impressive landmarks, the Columbia Icefields and the wondrous Athabasca Glacier. 

Before reaching our destination we stop at Lake Louise in Banff National Park. In winter it becomes a magical frozen arena, where cross-country skiers glide across the deeply frozen lake, with a backdrop of soaring peaks and snow-frosted forests of fir trees. We take a beautifully scenic break here. You could enjoy lunch independently, look around the shops or walk out to the snow-covered shoreline.

On arrival in Banff this afternoon, we check into The Fairmont Banff Springs for a three-night stay. The luxury hotel is located in Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and known as Canada's 'Castle in the Rockies'. There's time to relax and perhaps to warm up at the hotel spa before dining independently at the hotel or in the town centre.

• Breakfast

Waking up in the beautiful mountain setting of Banff, today's excursion is a tour of the stunning National Park. Exploring this breathtaking landscape with a local guide, we visit the glacial Lake Minnewanka, the striking Two Jack Lake and its distinctive mountain - Mount Rundle. We also see the Banff Hoodoos, a fascinating cluster of needle-like sedimentary rocks. Surprise Corner, as the name suggests, delivers spectacular and unexpected views of the Spray Valley and the frozen wall of water formed by the Bow Falls.

As part of our excursion, we also ride on the Banff Gondola, a cable car that transports us to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. Besides panoramic views of the surrounding winter landscape, at the top of the mountain is a museum, an outdoor Observation Deck with a dome tent - where you could sip a hot chocolate as you enjoy the views - and two restaurants. There's also a long boardwalk to wander along, taking in the spectacular mountain views.

We return to our hotel and you're at leisure to explore and decide on a place to enjoy dinner in Banff's downtown.

• Breakfast

Today is your last full day in the beautiful Canadian Rockies and it is yours to spend as you wish. You could spend some time relaxing at the spa in our hotel, or enjoy a walk through the snowy streets of Banff's downtown. The centre is compact and easy to walk around, with a variety of places to eat, local shops and several galleries where you can view some original Canadian art.

Banff has an excellent transport system to seek out some local attractions. One is Johnston Canyon, which has a guided ice walk that you can book independently. Other activities include snowshoeing or wildlife walks - your Tour Manager will be able to provide suggestions. This evening we enjoy dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a final breakfast in Canada, the morning is free for you to do any last-minute souvenir shopping and enjoy a final walk around the sights. Then, it is time to say a fond farewell to Banff as we check out of our hotel and transfer to Calgary by coach, a journey of around two hours. We then board the flight back to London Heathrow.

• Breakfast

The holiday may be over but the memories of this wonderful winter experience in the Canadian Rockies will surely last a lifetime. From sightseeing in Vancouver and an overnight journey on The Canadian train to exploring the wintry Maligne Canyon and enjoying local wildlife in Jasper before exploring Banff, we've had some great moments.

We land in London Heathrow this morning and your holiday draws to a close.