The wild beauty of Western Canada
Western Canada is not a destination that announces itself. It simply opens up to you - ridge by ridge, lake by lake - until the scale of it becomes impossible to ignore. This is a part of the world that still belongs, in the most meaningful sense, to the landscape itself: think vast national parks where glaciers retreat into turquoise water, mountain highways that exist for the view rather than the destination, and coastlines where the wilderness begins where the city ends.
This journey moves through all of it, unhurried and deliberately paced. From the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast, it threads together two of Canada's greatest national parks, a two-day rail crossing of the Rockies in glass-dome carriages, a city stay with genuine cultural depth, and a wilderness resort tucked inside the Discovery Islands archipelago, which is accessible only by helicopter or floatplane, and all the better for it.
Experience this...
Begin in Banff
You’ll begin your Western Canada adventure at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which places you on the shore of one of the world's most photographed lakes in the heart of Banff National Park, with the Victoria Glacier rising beyond it. There are so many things to do here, and your included Parks Canada Discovery Pass makes accessing the region’s best sights seamless, such as Moraine Lake, the Bow Valley Parkway, and the town of Banff.
You could paddle out across the lake’s still water before sunrise, hike the surrounding trails for breathtaking views, or surrender an afternoon to the BASIN Glacial Waters thermal experience - a considered ritual of heat and cold drawn directly from the glacial landscape.
Pines, peaks, and Lac Beauvert
The drive north from Lake Louise to Jasper is one of the great overland journeys on the continent. The Icefields Parkway - all 232 kilometres of it - runs through Parks Canada territory the entire way, taking in Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, and the Athabasca Glacier.
You’ll then arrive at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which spreads across 700 acres on the shore of Lac Beauvert, deep within Jasper National Park. The setting feels more private than Lake Louise, with heritage cabins settled among the pines and wildlife moving through the grounds freely. At the Lodge, the Boathouse opens onto the lake for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding across glass-clear water framed by towering peaks. Any golfers in your party should secure a round on the Stanley Thompson course, long considered one of Canada's finest.
Ride the Rocky Mountaineer
Rather than fly between the mountains and the coast, you'll travel by rail over two days aboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer in GoldLeaf Service. This journey is unlike any other and most guests say it becomes a real highlight of the holiday rather than just a transfer.
Your seat sits on the upper level of a bi-level glass-dome coach, panoramic windows framing everything that passes. You can step onto the outdoor viewing platform to feel even closer to it. In the dining room below, executive chefs prepare elegantly plated meals using local ingredients while the hosts narrate the landscape, calling out wildlife as it appears, throughout the journey.
A city framed by forest and sea
Four nights at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia settle you in the heart of Vancouver. Built in 1927, this property carries genuine history - restored with care rather than stripped of its character - and sits within easy reach of everything worth seeing. Stanley Park is nearby: its 400 hectares of old-growth rainforest and coastal trail are best explored early on foot or by bicycle before the crowds arrive. Granville Island is also worth an unhurried visit, if you can spare the time. Its public market is a genuine pleasure rather than a tourist obligation, featuring local producers and artisan studios that will surely tempt you to grab a souvenir or two.
For something less expected, FlyOver Canada suspends you before a vast screen with wind, mist, and motion for a flight across the country that's surprisingly affecting, while whale-watching departures head out into the straits in search of orcas and humpbacks framed by the coastal mountains - a reminder that the wild is never far from the city here.
Where the wild things are
The final four nights take you somewhere very few people reach. Sonora Resort sits at the confluence of four channels in the Discovery Islands, surrounded by ancient temperate rainforest, eagle-patrolled skies, and waters that shift from steel to turquoise depending on the light. Accessible only by helicopter or floatplane from Vancouver, the resort reveals itself gradually through the canopy as you descend and prepare to switch off from the rest of the world.
Days here revolve around what the land and sea offer rather than what a hotel programme dictates. The fishing is world-class and grizzly bear viewing excursions head into the surrounding inlets alongside expert guides, while tours by Zodiac allow you to explore kelp beds and sea caves where sea lions relax and porpoises move through the current below the hull. It's private, genuinely wild, and a fitting close to an unforgettable journey.
Suggested itinerary
This 14-night private journey through Western Canada visits two of the continent's most celebrated national parks, crosses the Rockies by rail, and closes with four nights in one of North America's most remote luxury wilderness retreats. Every element can be tailored to your preferences - whether you'd like to extend your time in the mountains, choose a different suite category, or add bespoke experiences along the way.
Days 1–2: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Banff National Park – Visit the Victoria Glacier, try the BASIN thermal experience, and upgrade to the Fairmont Gold lounge for those who value discretion over formality.
Days 3–4: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park – Stay amongst 700 acres on the shore of Lac Beauvert, via the Icefields Parkway.
Days 5–6: Rocky Mountaineer, GoldLeaf Service – Two days crossing the Rockies by daylight, with an overnight hotel stay in Kamloops en route.
Days 7–10: Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver – A 1927 landmark at the centre of the city with Stanley Park and Granville Island close by.
Days 11–14: Sonora Resort, Discovery Islands – Reached by private helicopter or floatplane. All-inclusive, Relais & Châteaux, and as far from the ordinary as it's possible to get.
Your handcrafted journey starts here
The hotels and experiences in this itinerary are suggestions and can be personalised to suit you by your Travel Counsellor, plus they can organise luxury enhancements such as airport lounge access and Business Class seat upgrades.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today and quote TCJ2600 to get things started.
All holidays are subject to availability; T&Cs apply.
