Road Trip: Lake Louise
When I say road trip, I don’t necessarily mean a road trip from home. To get to Lake Louise, you’ve gotta drive. It’s one of those dreamy destinations that needs to be on your travel bucket list. But it’s not the easiest to get to. We added it to our Canadian Vacation itinerary and stopped along the way from Banff to Jasper.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
In the snow, it took about an hour for us to drive from Banff to Jasper. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen. It’s called “The Diamond in the Wilderness” because it’s completely secluded, totally lux & set on a famous lake that’s right next to a ton of adventurous, nature activities.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise literally feels like the location at the end of a disney movie. It’s where the princess’s dreams all come true and everything magically comes to life.
About the Hotel
Whether you’re looking for an adventure or a relaxing weekend getaway, the Chateau is the place to be. In the summer, you can go hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, fishing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding or even take a boat cruise. In the winter, there’s skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and ice skating! All right outside of the hotel doors.
The hotel’s exclusive Fairmont Gold floor is designed to pamper guests from the moment they arrive at the private seventh floor check-in, with a dedicated concierge and business services. In true Fairmont fashion, the rooms and suites are nothing short of lavish. Amazing bath products, personalized service, a private lounge with complimentary continental breakfast, cocktail hour canapes and an honor bar. Because, hello… you deserve the gold treatment.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louis: 111 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
What to Eat in Lake Louise
If you don’t feel like wandering away from the hotel (which is totally justifiable), visit The Walliser Stube. Located inside the Fairmont, it’s a cozy little spot with amazing fondue. With Austrian/German decor, who can pass up a glass of wine and cheese while looking out at the mountains?
If you want to venture outside of the hotel, Baker Creek Bistro is an adorable wood cabin set in the woods. They just so happen to also serve authentic Canadian cuisine!
What to Do in Lake Louise
My go to activity is visiting the spa, obviously. But if you’re looking to be a little bit more adventurous, there are a ton of things to do.
We visited in the winter and everything was covered in snow. You can take one of their guided Mountain Adventure Program tours to learn more about the history and heritage of the Lake Louise area, all while exploring some of the most scenic landscapes that Canada has to offer.
Other options include:
- Snowshoeing
- Tobogganing
- Evening Campfires
- Ice Skating
- Helicopter Tours
- Snowmobiling
- Ice Fishing
- Dog Sledding
- Skiing
- Snow Tubing
- The Ice Bar
Places to Visit Nearby
After visiting Lake Louise, we drove to Jasper National Park. The drive was 146 miles, so we decided to make a day of it and stop at a bunch of spots along the way. Whether you’re staying for the weekend or bouncing from hotel to hotel, there are a ton of destinations nearby that are totally Instagram worthy.
As you drive north along the Icefields Parkway, you’ll hit the Crowfoot Glacier on the south end of Bow Lake. While you’re there, you can check out a ton of wildlife like deer, moose, elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats!
A bit up the road is an awesome Bow Lake lookout where you can get the perfect pic of the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge.
Another amazing photo opportunity is Peyto Lake. We took a 10-minute walk (in the snow) to the viewpoint. It’s the highest elevation on the Parkway, giving views of the glacial valley and beautiful lake below.
As you drive north, you’ll end up on the Columbia Icefield. Depending on the time of year, you can stop at the Glacier Discovery Centre and board an Ice Explorer that will take you up onto the Athabasca Glacier. For even more amazing views, of the glaciers and mountains, you can take a five-minute shuttle from the Discovery Centre to the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored observation platform suspended 900+ feet over the glacier-formed Sunwapta Valley.
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