Premium Canada & the Rocky Mountains at Christmas

Your festive Canadian vacation begins in Vancouver as we meet the Tour Manager at 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 neighborhood. 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. At this time of year, it is decked out with spectacular Christmas decorations adding to the festive atmosphere.

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. During the festive season, there are live performances around the decorated streets creating a cheerful atmosphere amongst the 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 colorful 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, which is illuminated with Christmas lights at this time of year. Alternatively, a stroll along the Seawalk trail in Vancouver Harbor 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, browse the Christmas markets 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. Following dinner onboard, we settle into our berths for an overnight journey into the foothills of the Rockies.

• 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 has a wide choice of winter activities from horseshoeing to skating on Mildred Lake. For a more relaxing experience, you can take advantage of the spa and pool during our stay.

• Breakfast

It's Christmas Eve and, from the pretty wintry setting of Jasper, we head out 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 admire the setting of giant frozen waterfalls, ice caves and incredible ice sculptures. 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 which is beautifully decorated for Christmas and has a popular Gingerbread Village and ice skating. Alternatively, you could continue exploring at your own pace. For a small town, Jasper has a wide range of restaurants to choose from for your Christmas Eve dinner.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Today is Christmas morning and we wake in the pretty wintry setting of Jasper, where a peaceful hush sets over the town. We enjoy a leisurely Christmas breakfast at our hotel.

After a relaxed morning, and possibly a peaceful walk on freshly fallen snow, the rest of the afternoon is free. You could explore locally or make the most of the hotel's facilities and festive activities on offer such as wandering "Candy Cane Lane" or indulging in holiday-themed cocktails. This evening, we sit down to a festive Christmas lunch as we celebrate the day.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Leaving Jasper and its National Park behind, 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. We enter a picturesque valley of frozen lakes, travelling between some of the highest and most rugged peaks in the Rockies. En route 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 downtown.

• 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 before dinner at the hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Saying a fond farewell to Banff, we check out of our hotel and transfer to Calgary today by coach, a journey of around two hours. As we travel, recall our time in the festive streets of Vancouver, our overnight journey on the Canadian, exploring the wintry Maligne Canyon on Christmas Eve and enjoying a festive Christmas Day in Jasper. Arriving in Calgary, you can make your way home with these wonderful festive memories.

• Breakfast