A Luxurious Getaway in the Canadian Rockies

Fairmont Banff Springs is a historic gem in Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 1800s, this Château-style hotel offers guests a first-class experience in the rugged natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

Fairmont Banff Springs Overview

A National Historic Site of Canada, Fairmont Banff Springs opened in 1888 and quickly became a popular mountain resort destination. Located at the foot of Sulfur Mountain with sweeping views of Bow River and Bow Falls, the majestic hotel offers luxury accommodations in the picturesque town of Banff. It’s the best of both worlds — you can enjoy rustic mountain adventures in the morning and an upscale afternoon tea or a spa treatment in the afternoon.

Rocky Mountain Adventures at Fairmont Banff Springs

From searching for bears by golf cart to rafting the Bow River, there are countless activities to enjoy during a Fairmont Banff Springs stay. You can walk into town, stroll down to Bow Falls, or explore the Spray River trails on foot, ski, bike, or snowshoe. On a recent visit to the hotel, my husband and I packed our days with activities and still left wishing we had time for more.

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Included Activities

The hotel’s daily resort experience fee covers daily activities for all ages, including:

• Guided tours. Join a guided Vermilion Lakes bike tour, a wilderness walk, a historical hotel tour, or a town walking tour. In the winter months, try a snowshoeing tour.
• Bike rentals. Ride a cruiser to the trails or visit the Banff shops by bike.
• Family fun. Enjoy geocaching, a castle treasure hunt, and crafts for kids. You can also play tennis, bocce ball, and lawn games as a family.
• Winter equipment. Borrow snowshoes, ice cleats, hiking poles, and sleds to maximize your cold-weather fun.
• Group fitness. Try one of the fitness or meditation classes that are daily offered.

Forest bathing in Banff National Park

Forest bathing is a unique experience you can book at the hotel for an additional fee. This guided walk in the woods is something special. Rest assured, no actual bathing takes place.

Certified guide Scott Berry lives in the national park and leads groups through the forest to help them slow down, still their minds, and observe nature like a scientist.

On Berry’s tour, I enjoyed picking up rocks along the river, balancing on a felled log, peering closely at plants, and watching birds. It’s a lovely way to spend time in a beautiful setting.

Wildlife Corridor Tour

Private wildlife corridor tours are another special offering of Fairmont Banff Springs. Hop in a golf cart at dusk and experience new mountain views around every bend as you search for critters.

On this guided tour, you’ll learn about the black bears and grizzlies that live in the area. Your guide will share tales of the animals that live in the park, including crows, coyotes, and elk.

If you’re lucky, you’ll spot an animal or two. But even if you don’t, it’s an educational ride with gorgeous scenery and a charcuterie break in the middle.

Visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake — the famous turquoise alpine lakes in Banff National Park — can be complicated because of their popularity. Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round, lake parking lots fill before sunrise, and Parks Canada shuttles require hard-to-get reservations.

A huge advantage of staying at Fairmont Banff Springs is that the hotel offers discounted hotel shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This makes it hassle-free for hotel guests to visit the lakes in the summer.

If you’re planning to visit Lake Louise via hotel shuttle, you might consider extending your stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. You’ll be steps from the lake where you can canoe, go horseback riding, and take a teahouse hike. In winter months, the lake turns into an ice skating rink.

Afternoon tea at Fairmont Banff Springs

The Fairmont Banff Springs has been serving Afternoon Tea for more than 130 years. Make a reservation in Rundle Bar to indulge in fresh-baked scones with blueberry jam and clotted cream. Save room for finger sandwiches and decadent desserts that you can wash down with a pot of Creamy Earl Gray of Goddess Oolong.

Fairmont Gold

For an even more elevated experience at Fairmont Banff Springs, book a recently renovated Fairmont Gold guest room or suite. Fairmont Gold provides guests with a separate check-in entrance, a private concierge team, secure rooms with mountain views, and an adults-only quiet lounge, You’ll also gain access to an exclusive lounge with daily breakfast service, evening sofas, and has bar service.

Getting There

Fairmont Banff Springs is located 90 miles from Calgary International Airport and can be easily reached by rental car or airport shuttle. I enjoyed riding the Banff Airporter shuttle from the airport, which took about two hours. It was nice to let someone else do the driving while my husband and I relaxed and enjoyed the mountain views.