Luxury Canadian Rockies Tours

Author: Dan Brewer

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With world-famous stunning rocky mountain scenery, taking a tour to the Canadian Rockies is a bucket list trip for many travelers. Planning your once-in-a-lifetime trip through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park is easy when all the details are taken care of. Make your trip to Banff & Jasper relaxing and memorable by traveling in style on one of these luxury Canadian Rockies tours.

With these four luxury tours to Banff & Jasper, you will not only see some of the most scenic spots in the Canadian Rockies, but you will also enjoy accommodations at some of the most iconic luxury hotels in Canada, including the famous CP railway hotels (now owned by Fairmont Hotels).

a hiker walks through a meadow with small larch trees adjacent to the Valley of the Ten Peaks

Although every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information, please confirm all tour details with the tour operator prior to booking. This post contains compensated links.

The 4 Best Luxury Canadian Rockies Tours

1. Spirit of the Rockies Tour

The Spirit of the Rockies tour showcases the best mountain scenery in Canada. This 12-day luxury Canadian Rockies tour begins and ends in Vancouver, and includes a 2-day luxury train ride through the mountains from Vancouver to the Alberta mountain parks. Here you will discover the wonders of Banff and Jasper – the two most beautiful national parks in Canada.

Rocky Mountaineer - the luxury train to Banff Canada.
Photo: Rocky Mountaineer

The Spirit of the Rockies tour not only showcases the best coastal and mountain scenery in Western Canada, but it also includes stays at five of the most iconic luxury hotels in Canadian Rockies.

A luxury trip from Vancouver to Banff is a great way to see the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Lions Gate Bridge – Vancouver, BC

Spirit of the Rockies Itinerary

Day 1: Your luxury tour to Banff begins this evening in Vancouver, BC.

Day 2: Enjoy a guided tour of Vancouver in the morning, with plenty of free time to explore this scenic coastal city in the afternoon.

Day 3: Board the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train and travel eastward towards Banff into the interior of British Columbia. Spend the night in Kamloops, BC.

Day 4: Your train journey continues up-and-over the Continental Divide enroute to Banff National Park.

Day 5: A tour around the town of Banff includes scenic stops at Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain and Bow Falls.

Day 6: Get your cameras ready on Day 6 as you visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise – two of the most scenic spots in Banff National Park. Enjoy a guided heritage walk at Lake Louise.

Getting to Banff from Vancouver on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer Train.
Rocky Mountaineer Train

Day 7: Enjoy a drive on the Icefields Parkway – one of the most scenic roads in the world. Take a tour of the Athabasca Glacier aboard an Ice Explorer vehicle.

Day 8: The amazing mountain scenery continues from Jasper to the Sun Peaks resort near Kamloops, BC.

Day 9: Travel to Whistler, the most famous ski resort in Canada. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring this spectacular Olympic mountain resort.

Day 10: A special start to your day with a private breakfast at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Watch for pods of killer whales as you take a BC Ferry through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. Enjoy guided sightseeing through Victoria.

Day 11: Enjoy a free morning in Victoria, before a visit to the special Butchart Gardens.

Day 12: Your tour ends with a return ferry trip to Vancouver.

Explore Whistler, BC while on a luxury tour from Vancouver to Banff.
Whistler, BC

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

Luxury Tours to Banff with stays at the Banff Springs Hotel
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

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Fairmont Hotels, the renowned luxury hotel chain, is the current owner of all the historic CP railway hotels in Canada. These amazing luxury hotels are among the finest in all of Western Canada. For more information, visit Fairmont.com.

Of all the luxury Banff National Park tours featured here, the Spirit of the Rockies tour has the finest selection of luxury accommodations in Western Canada. In this tour, you’ll enjoy 2 nights at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 2 nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, 1 night at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 1 night at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and 1 night at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

2. Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Tour

Spend an amazing week exploring the top national parks in the Canadian Rockies. Travel in style on the Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Tour with stays at luxury Fairmont hotels in Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise.

The view of Mount Rundle from the Vermillion Lakes is a popular stop on luxury Banff tours.
Mount Rundle – Banff National Park

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The Fairmont hotels in the Canadian Rockies are featured prominently within these luxury Canadian Rockies tours. But you may be interested in seeing the other luxury hotels in Banff.

Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Your luxury Banff tour begins in Calgary, Alberta.

Day 2: Enjoy a guided walk at Lake Louise – one of the most spectacular locations in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Day 3: Sit back and soak in the scenery along the Icefields Parkway – one of the most scenic drives in the world. Stop for a visit to see the vibrant blue waters of Peyto Lake. Explore Jasper National Park in the afternoon.

Day 4: Relax on a scenic boat cruise on Maligne Lake in Jasper.

A good Banff tour will include a visit to the Athabasca Glacier for a ride on an Ice Explorer.
Ice Explorer – Athabasca Glacier – Jasper National Park

Day 5: Drive back to Banff National Park along the Icefields Parkway. Get up close to a glacier on an Ice Explorer at the Athabasca Glacier.

Day 6: Take a scenic drive around Tunnel Mountain and Bow Falls. Meet with a Canadian Mountie for stories and a photo opp.

Day 7: Your luxury Banff tour ends with a drive back to Calgary.

Optional Tour Activities

This luxury Banff tour gives guests the opportunity to go on a guided walk through Maligne Canyon in Jasper.

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

A stay at the Chateau Lake Louise is a highlight of many luxury tours to Banff.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

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We are fortunate to have stayed at several of the Fairmont hotels in Banff National Park. If you’d like more information about them, you can read our Banff Springs Hotel review and our review of the Chateau Lake Louise.

As the name of the tour implies, the accommodations on this luxury tour of the Canadian Rockies are one of the main attractions. On this tour you’ll enjoy a 1 night at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 2 nights at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and 2 nights at the amazing Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

3. Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer Train

How can you make the Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies tour even better? Add a train trip from Banff to Vancouver on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train!

Take a train journey through Banff National Park on the Rocky Mountaineer.
Bow River – Banff National Park

Great Resorts + Rocky Mountaineer Tour Itinerary

The first 6 days of the Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer tour are identical to the luxury Banff tour described above. Instead of going home, your once-in-a-lifetime journey continues by train westward through the Rocky Mountains on day 7:

Day 7: Board the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer train in Banff. Relax and enjoy the stunning Rocky Mountain scenery as you pass over the Continental Divide. Spend the evening with free time in Kamloops.

Day 8: Your luxury train ride from Banff to Vancouver concludes with a journey along the Thompson River and Fraser Canyon. Explore Vancouver in the evening.

Take a train journey through Banff National Park on the Rocky Mountaineer.

Day 9: Enjoy a free day sightseeing in Vancouver. Sitting between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, Vancouver is Canada’s most beautiful city.

Day 10: Your luxury Banff tour ends in Vancouver after breakfast.

Luxury tours from Vancouver to Banff allow guests to enjoy the sea and the mountains.
Vancouver, Canada

4. Secrets of the Rockies and Glacier National Park Tour

A 10 day luxury tour which visits the five best Rocky Mountain parks in Canada and the United States.

Waterton Lakes National Park is a beautiful stop on a luxury tour to Banff.
Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada

Secrets of the Rockies Tour Itinerary

Tour Day 1: Begin your tour in ‘Cowtown’. Calgary, Alberta is renowned for its cowboy culture and is the gateway to Banff National Park.

Tour Day 2: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump on your way to Waterton Lakes National Park.

Tour Day 3: Cross into Montana to visit the awe-inspiring Glacier National Park. Enjoy a drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most scenic drives in the United States.

Tour Day 4: Back into Canada, drive through the beautiful Sinclair Canyon in Kootenay National Park on your way to Banff National Park.

Tour Day 5: Tour the Banff Townsite, with a stop at Surprise Corner for amazing views of the Bow Falls and the Banff Springs Hotel.

Combining Glacier National Park with Banff National Park is an excellent option for a luxury tour of the Canadian Rockies
Lake McDonald – Glacier National Park, Montana

Day 6: Spend the morning at Moraine Lake, one of the most stunning locations in Banff National Park. Explore the beautiful shores of Lake Louise in the afternoon.

Day 7: Soak in the stunning scenery along the Icefields Parkway on your way to Jasper National Park. Stop along the way to enjoy a tour of the Athabasca Glacier in a specially designed Ice Explorer.

Day 8: Spend a day exploring Jasper National Park. Enjoy a leisurely walk through Maligne Canyon and a relaxing scenic cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.

Day 9: Enjoy one last day traveling through the incredible Rocky Mountain parks of Jasper and Banff on your way to Kananaskis Country.

Day 10: Bid farewell to the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains before driving back to Calgary.

Moraine Lake - Banff
Moraine Lake, Banff National Park

Optional Tour Activities

This luxury Banff tour gives guests the opportunity to go on a Kananaskis helicopter tour, up the Banff Gondola, a Jasper float trip and a Mt. Assiniboine Helicopter Tour.

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

Luxury Banff tours will often stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Chateau Lake Louise from Plain of Six Glaciers Hike.

This luxury tour through the US and Canadian Rockies spends 2 nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and 2 nights at the Chateau Lake Louise.

Learn More: The Main Stops on Luxury Tours to Banff

Banff National Park

Canada’s first and most famous national park. Enjoy stunning scenery of the Canadian Rockies with visits to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and more.

Many luxury tours to Banff will include a visit to Lake Louise.
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

Top Banff Luxury Tour Stops:

Moraine Lake: Chances are that if you’ve seen a promotional picture for Banff National Park, it was taken at Moraine Lake – the Jewel of the Rockies. Resting beneath the Valley of the 10 Peaks, the beauty of Moraine Lake is beyond description.

Moraine Lake in the afternoon.
Moraine Lake – Banff National Park

Lake Louise: If any place could wrestle the title of “most scenic place in Banff National Park” away from Moraine Lake, it would be Lake Louise. Surrounded by rocky peaks and resting at the foot of the massive Victoria Glacier, the vivid turquoise waters of Lake Louise must be seen to be believed.

Tours to Banff often include a stop at Lake Louise to view the Victoria Glacier
Victoria Glacier – Lake Louise
Canoeing at Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

Recommended Banff Sightseeing Tours

The Mountain Lakes & Waterfalls Tour visits Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake and more!

Surprise Corner: A popular viewpoint in the Town of Banff where you can see both the Bow Falls and the world-famous Banff Springs Hotel. One of our favorite hikes in the Banff townsite is the Surprise Corner to the Hoodoos trail.

A Banff tour often stops at Surprise Corner, to get the best view of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Surprise Corner – Banff, Canada

Bow Falls: A wide and powerful waterfall along the Bow River.

The Bow Falls are one of the top things to do near the Banff Springs Hotel

Peyto Lake: A glacier fed mountain lake along the Icefields Parkway with incredibly vibrant blue water.

The electric turquoise water of Peyto Lake as seen from a viewpoint along the Bow Summit Interpretive Trail.
Peyto Lake – Banff National Park

Jasper National Park

Sharing the same incredible mountain scenery as Banff (its neighbor to the south), Jasper is Canada’s second most visited national park.

best luxury tours to jasper and banff.

Top Jasper Tour Stops

Icefields Parkway: The road which connects Banff and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway has been named one of the Top 10 Scenic Roads in the World.

The Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic roads in the world. Many luxury tours to Banff transit this road between Banff and Jasper National Park.
Icefields Parkway

Athabasca Glacier: The most visited glacier in North America, the Athabasca Glacier is one of the six toes of the massive Columbia Icefield.

Many of the best Banff tours include a stop at the massive Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park
Athabasca Glacier
A good Banff tour will include a visit to the Athabasca Glacier for a ride on an Ice Explorer

Recommended Tour

As you’ve seen above, the Columbia Icefield Adventure is frequently seen on Banff luxury tour itineraries. You can buy your tickets even if you aren’t on a tour.

Maligne Lake: The largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, Maligne Lake is home to Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in Jasper National Park.

Many luxury tours to Banff and Jasper include a cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.

Maligne Canyon: A short interpretive hike around deep & narrow limestone canyon.

Many luxury tours to Banff and Jasper will stop for a walk around Maligne Canyon in Jasper, Canada.
Maligne Canyon – Jasper National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park

A stunning rocky mountain Canadian National Park hugging the Canada / USA border. Waterton is best known for its beautiful chain of lakes surrounded by rugged mountains.

Some comprehensive luxury tours to Banff will include a visit to the beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta.
Waterton Lakes National Park – Alberta, Canada

Kananaskis Country

Nestled in-between Calgary and Banff is Kananaskis Country, a collection of Alberta provincial parks. This mountain park has mountain scenery rivalling Banff National Park, without the crowds, making it popular with locals.

Many luxury tours to Banff will visit Kananaskis Country - a beautiful collection of Alberta mountain provincial parks
View from Wind Ridge Hike in Kananaskis Country, Alberta

Glacier National Park (Montana, USA)

A stunning rocky mountain national park in Montana, USA. Together, Glacier National Park and Waterton National Park are the world’s first International Peace Park.

Some luxury tours to Banff will cross the Canada/USA border to visit Glacier National Park in Montana.
Lake McDonald – Glacier National Park – Montana, USA

Top Glacier National Park Tour Stops:

Going-to-the-Sun Road: A scenic mountain road through Glacier National Park. This winding mountain road crosses the Continental Divide through Logan Pass.

Many luxury tours to Banff will visit Glacier National Park in Montana to drive the Going to the Sun Road.
Going to the Sun Road – Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Kootenay National Park

A hidden gem, the Kootenay National Park joins the Banff and Jasper national parks as a component of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

Some luxury tours to Banff will include a drive through Sinclair Canyon in Kootenay National Park.
Sinclair Canyon, Kootenay National Park

Calgary, Alberta

A cosmopolitan city of 1.3 million people, Calgary is the gateway to Banff National Park. Calgary was the host city of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and is home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede.

Luxury Banff tours typically begin and end in Calgary, Alberta.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Top Calgary Tour Stops:

Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump: This dramatic buffalo jump used by the Blackfoot people is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The UNESCO listed Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is a stop on some luxury Banff Tours.
Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump

Kamloops, BC

A charming small mountain city within the British Columbia interior. Sun Peaks is a pedestrian-only, European style village in the mountains near Kamloops.

Luxury tours to Banff on the Rocky Mountaineer will stop in Kamloops, BC.
Kamloops Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver, BC

Surrounded by the ocean and towering mountains, Vancouver is Canada’s most beautiful city.

Starting a luxury vacation to Banff from Vancouver.
Vancouver, Canada

Whistler, BC

A co-host city of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Whistler is a stunning mountain resort just two hours north of Vancouver.

A gondola ride at Whistler resort on a tour from Vancouver to Banff.
Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Victoria, BC

Known for its outdoor activities and Victorian architecture, Victoria enjoys Canada’s mildest climate.

Many luxury tours from Vancouver to Banff will stop in Victoria for a visit to Butchart Gardens.
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Top Banff Springs Hotel Deal
Are you an Albertan looking for a staycation in the Rocky Mountains? The Banff Springs Alberta resident rate offers locals up to a 30% discount on room rates!

Not from Alberta? See even more Banff Springs Hotel deals.

Standing at Aylmer Lookout Banff National Park
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Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hoping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.

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