The Ultimate Alberta Winter Bucket List

We've been sending customers to Alberta for three decades and we ski there ourselves every year too, so who better to put together the Ultimate Alberta Winter Bucket List?

These experiences are all tried and tested by our team - most of them as recently as 2025 - and they're favourites of our customers too, many of whom return to Alberta year after year, always finding something new to do.

If you like what you see and want to speak to someone who has first-hand experience skiing and staying in Alberta, enquire online or call our friendly, knowledgeable team on 01273 224060. Alberta offers great value, with 10 nights starting from £1,335pp including flights, transfers and accommodation.

Where else would we start? It's what we love the most.

Alberta is home to some of the world's finest ski resorts, offering a huge variety of terrain for all abilities and scenery so good that you'll struggle to keep your eyes on the slopes.

Stay in Banff and you'll have access to three resorts totalling 7,748 acres of skiable terrain, 29 lifts, 362 runs and up to nine metres of light, fluffy snowfall.

The nearest resort is Mt Norquay (10-15 mins from Banff). The smallest ski area, it's great for warming up or for shorter ski days when you want to fit in some activities. Don't let the size fool you though - Norquay features some of the steepest terrain in Alberta. Banff Sunshine (20 mins from Banff) is where you'll spend most of your time, with three mountains offering everything from magic carpets for beginners up to experts-only Delirium Dive. Lake Louise (40 mins from Banff) is the largest area and arguably the most scenic. The gladed terrain on the front side here is absolutely fantastic and suitable for all levels.

For something a bit different, head north to the town of Jasper and ski nearby Marmot Basin. Known as 'The Big Friendly', it's super quiet (especially during the week) as the nearest major city is four hours away, putting off day trippers. It's rare that you won't ski straight onto almost every chair, and you won't have to get up at the crack of dawn to lay fresh tracks on a powder day. The terrain is cruisy and best suited to early intermediate to advanced skiers and riders, while the Tres Hombres area will test the hardiest of experts.

You'll find the staff and other skiers incredibly polite and welcoming across all the resorts. No jostling for space on the lifts and runs or in the restaurants. They also all boast a long, snow-sure season often running well into May.

Want to know our favourite runs or whether the terrain is right for your group? Call our team on 01273 224060.

While there are benefits to purpose-built resorts with ski-in ski-out hotels, we prefer to stay in authentic towns where people live and work year-round. And Banff and Jasper are two of my favourites.

Banff is home to almost 100 places to stay (we offer 11 of the best), ranging from great value 3* inns to luxurious 5* hotels and everything in between, plus 130+ cafés, restaurants and bars and 100+ shops. Surrounded by three iconic mountains - Cascade, Sulphur and Rundle - Banff Avenue is the heart of the town. Make sure to stroll along it when you first arrive to get your bearings.

Jasper is approximately half the size, but there's still a good range of hotel options and more than enough places to eat and drink for even a longer stay. It's known as one of the friendliest towns in Canada (which is saying something) and tends to attract more visitors from North America than abroad, which adds to the locals vibe.

Both are small towns (around 10,000 and 5,000 residents respectively), but offer a huge amount to see and do while providing a gateway to the two incredible national parks on their doorsteps. They're also both best visited in winter which is their off-season. Summer is a beautiful time to visit, but you'll be fighting through the crowds and you can expect to pay as much as three times for your hotel.

From the best deals to the best hot tubs, let us help you find the perfect hotel. Call 01273 224060 or request a quotation online. 10 nights in a 4* hotel starts from £1,355pp including flights, transfers and accommodation.

Prepare for the most scenic drive of your life. The Icefields Parkway, 232km of frozen lakes, glaciers, soaring peaks and vast valleys separating Lake Louise and Jasper, is one of the most beautiful journeys on the planet.

On paper it's a three hour drive, but you should set aside at least six for scenic stops along the way. As well as breathtaking vistas from the roadside, there are also plenty of places to park up and go for a snowy stroll.

Highlights include Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Saskatchewan Crossing, Big Bend, Athabasca Glacier, Tangle Falls, Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls. These spots (and the road itself) are incredibly busy in the summer, but travel in winter and you'll have many of them to explore yourself!

You're likely to experience all seasons and conditions along the drive, from heavy snow and ice to clear blue skies. And once on the Parkway, there is no mobile signal and no petrol stops, so it's only recommended for confident drivers. Transfers are available and the drivers will make stops so that you have time to take in the sights.

This iconic road was last driven by Marketing Manager Craig in March 2024, and it was so incredible that he stopped to ask a special question at the halfway point... Read his Alberta trip report or watch his highlights on YouTube.

When thinking about Alberta's scenery, usually the second thing that comes to mind after the mountains is the lakes. Lake Louise is perhaps the most famous, overlooked by the stunning Fairmont Château Lake Louise and the nearby ski resort, but there are many more to explore on a rest day or after a morning on the slopes. There are lots of ways to explore them too!

Near to Banff, you have Louise, Minnewanka, Moraine, Johnson and Vermilion. A short drive from Jasper takes you to Maligne, Medicine, Beauvert, Pyramid and Patricia.

Winter boots are advised for hiking around the lakes, and you can hire snowshoes and cleats from most ski rental shops. Or for something a bit different, why not hire a fat bike? Essentially a mountain bike with giant tyres that are suitable for snow and ice, it's a great way to cover more ground.

Ice skating is available on many of the lakes and is not something you'll ever forget. Or if you prefer to sit back and enjoy the scenery, dog sledding and horse sleigh rides are also available from Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

Your tour coordinator can help you find and book your Alberta activities - just let them know after you book!

Banff and Jasper both have scenic sightseeing gondolas that take you high up to viewpoints overlooking the towns and surrounding mountains, plus options for walking and dining at altitude.

Banff Gondola whisks you up 700 metres to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where you'll find the mountaintop boardwalk, café, award-winning Sky Bistro and, if you visit at night, the Nightrise light and sound art installation.

For the best experience, time your visit so that you can stroll along the boardwalk while it's still light, then enjoy an incredible sunset meal at the Sky Bistro followed by a visit to Nightrise before heading back down the mountain. You can book a ticket that includes all of the above - so all you have to do is enjoy yourself.

Jasper's SkyTram is equally impressive, in fact it's the longest and highest guided aerial tramway in Canada! It also features a café and restaurant, plus the option to go for a scenic snowshoe walk overlooking the town and Marmot Basin ski area. Make sure to keep an eye out for mountain goats and other wildlife. The SkyTram is closed for most of winter but usually opens from mid to late March, which is also when we recommend visiting Jasper.

We recommend booking your sightseeing gondola tickets directly in advance to guarantee your preferred date and time.

In 1883, three railway workers discovered a hot spring on the slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the rest is history! Since their first discovery and the ensuing late 19th-century craze for the “water cure”, many spas were opened and people flocked to Banff to enjoy the purported healing properties of the mineral-rich springs. Our favourite is the last remaining and most historic public bath - Banff Upper Hot Springs.

With all the facilities of a modern spa, the Banff Upper Hot Springs are set against Banff's impressive backdrop. The water is heated geothermally, bubbling up to the surface from three kilometres into the earth's crust. Sitting in the pools and watching the snow fall on the surrounding peaks is nothing short of magical.

It's not the only way to unwind, either! Many of the hotels in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper feature outdoor hot tubs and pools - including a few on rooftops - while the three Fairmont Spas are world-class and all feature large outdoor pools and hot tubs.

Opening in 2025, BASIN Glacial Waters is a unique thermal bahting experience exclusive to guests at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Expect vitality pools, steam rituals, a glacial lounge, an Aufguss Sauna and much more.

Alberta's hot springs and spas can be booked online in advance or locally during quieter periods. If a hot tub at your hotel is important, let us know - we've tried most of them! Call us on 01273 224060 or enquire online and we'll be in touch.

Whether you opt for Banff, Jasper, or both, you'll be staying in a national park. So you can expect to see caribou and elk literally walking the streets downtown.

Look a little further and you will find moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pine martens and all kinds of birds. Lynx have been known to make an appearance and if you visit late season you may even spot a bear. 65 grizzly bears call Banff National Park home while Jasper National Park has 109 grizzlies and 90 black bears. But as they tend to hibernate from November to March, we've yet to see any up close!

For the best chance of spotting wildlife, we recommend heading to more secluded areas on the outskirts of town at sunrise or sunset. Make sure to keep your distance and take binoculars or a camera with a good zoom lens so that you don't have to get too close.

Opting for car hire? Drive carefully - moose, elk, sheep and goats love to lick the salt off the road in winter!

If you thought Alberta's frozen lakes were spectacular, wait until you see the waterfalls! Book a canyon icewalk for a guided hike like no other.

Johnston Canyon is the nearest to Banff while Maligne and Pleckaitis Canyons are easily accessible from Jasper. All are available as guided tours with all necessary equipment and pick-up from your hotel.

Your knowledgeable guide will lead you down into the canyon and tell you about the ice formations and the history of the area. You'll see frozen falls, natural ice sculptures and deep ravines - and expect to take some of your best holiday photos.

Our team can book select Canyon Icewalks for you - just let us know when you enquire or book.

Alberta's longest tube lanes can be found at Mt Norquay, and you can try them for free with your SkiBig3 lift ticket.

Don't think tubing's just for kids, it's one of our team's favourite activities. You can choose from three sessions - booking your slot in advance is recommended, especially over busy periods.

To maximise your ski time, go for the 5pm to 8pm 'night session' - or you can choose 9am or 1pm if you just want a half day on the slopes.

Another benefit of staying and skiing in national parks is the dark skies, untainted by light pollution. The stars shine brighter and if you're extra lucky you'll see the northern lights dance overhead. Jasper National Park is one of 17 designated Dark Sky Preserves in Canada and is the second-largest in the world.

For the clearest skies, it's worth heading slightly out of town either on foot or by car. Just park up at one of the nearby lakes and look up.

There are lots of options for a more unique nighttime experience too. Join an evening icewalk, go night skiing at Mt Norquay, take an evening trip up Banff Gondola, soak in an outdoor hot tub, join a starlit snowshoe walk or visit the Jasper Planetarium and gaze through the largest, most powerful telescopes in the Rockies.

The peak months for auroa activity are December to February, but they can appear throughout the whole season. Aurora Forecast is a great website and features a three day forecast, so you don't have to stay up every night hoping to see the light show!

If your sense of adventure goes beyond looking at frozen waterfalls, how about scaling them? Ice climbing is a popular activity in Banff and Jasper and one you can try even without prior experience.

Join a guided beginners' lesson to get to grips with the basics, grab your axes and crampons and head onto the wall. It's a brilliant way to test yourself and try something a bit different on a day off the slopes.

Alternatively, if you have some climbing or ice climbing experience, you can hire a private guide for a day tailored to your skill level. Your guide will take you to the best spots on the day and give you a real challenge.

December to March is the best time to visit for ice climbing, when the ice is steady and safe, and hasn't yet started to thaw in the warmer spring weather.

You can't have an Alberta bucket list without including the province's most famous hotels: Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. All three offer a next-level stay that's worth the trip alone.

The 5* Fairmont Banff Springs is styled like a Scottish baronial castle and offers modern facilities with old world elegance. With 12 acclaimed restaurants, bars and pubs, 50 shops and boutiques and a 40,000-square-foot spa, this huge hotel is a resort in itself and you can spend hours simply exploring it.

Perfectly placed on the edge of the lake itself, the 5* Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise may look giant, but the welcoming service still feels personal. Like Banff Springs, the hotel is practically like a ski village itself with so many restaurants, bars and shops, but the reason people visit is for the location. Head straight out onto frozen Lake Louise for ice skating, walking, snowshoeing and horse sleigh rides.

Last but not least, the 4*+ Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is the most elegant accommodation in Jasper with its cedar chalets and log cabins dotted around Beauvert Lake. It feels more like a mini alpine village than a hotel and has everything you need on-site including restaurants, a large outdoor hot pool and also Jasper Planetarium.

If you're not sure about staying at a Fairmont, you don't have to be a guest to book in for a visit to the spas and restaurants or to try any of the many activities. They're worth the trip.

Our Alberta Rockies Ski Safari can be adapted to stay only in the luxurious Fairmont Hotels. Request a quotation online or call us on 01273 224060 for a price.

• We have the knowledge - we've been skiing and selling British Columbia for three decades.
• We listen and help - speak to a real human, every time. No bots, no long phone wait times. Rated 5/5 by our customers on Feefo.
• We don't cost as much as you might think - tailor-made service doesn't need to cost more. Our strong relationships with suppliers mean that we're often cheaper than self-packaging or booking through a big, online travel agent.
• You're in safe hands - when you book with Ski Safari, your money is protected, and we're always here to help from your first call to your flight home. You'll have 24/7 phone support when you're in resort, just in case.

Call our team on 01273 224060 or request a quotation online for advice from a team that knows Alberta inside out. We can help find the perfect resort (or combination of resorts) for your group.

Join the Ski Safari mailing list, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for more tips and advice from our team.