Travel note listing arrival times from different origin flights; passengers meet at Calgary International Airport arrivals. Keep boarding passes and IDs handy for U.S. pre-clear info (if returning via YYC).
Depart Calgary Airport via pre-booked private shuttle — approximately 50-minute scenic transfer to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; relax and enjoy mountain views.
Group dinner on the Lakeview Lounge Summer Patio at the hotel — relaxed family meal with lake/mountain views; two tables reserved for 9 each and seated together around 6:15pm.
Daily Gold Lounge breakfast service from 6:30–10:30am; ideal to fuel up before hikes with hot items, fruit and coffee. (Open 6:30–10:30am per hotel schedule.)
Moderate 4.4-mile round-trip hike starting at the hotel: forested switchbacks to Mirror Lake then onward to Lake Agnes and historic Tea House (built 1901). Tea House offers tea, soups, sandwiches and baked goods — cash (CAD) preferred; total ~3–4 hours.
Casual lunch at The Guides Pantry inside the Fairmont — sandwiches, soups and light fare that suit kids and adults; convenient after the shorter lakeshore walk (approx. 11:30–12:15).
Parents drop kids at the supervised kids club for crafts and games while adults enjoy scheduled spa treatments at the Basin Spa (spa appts 1:15–4:15pm). Confirm kids club check-in at 12:45pm.
14-minute gondola ascent; choose among Pika Trail (1–1.5h), Kicking Horse Pass Viewpoint (1.25–1.75h) or Ptarmigan extension. Great panoramas, alpine flora and short interpretive stops.
Board the Ice Explorer onto Athabasca Glacier and experience the Glacier Walk; includes the Skywalk glass-floored lookout at the Icefields Centre. Allow 2–3 hours for the full experience; wear layers and comfortable shoes.
Arrive at Fairmont Lake Louise with evening free for showers, rest, or Gold Lounge dessert (Gold Lounge food 4:30–6:30, dessert until 8pm) — dinner on your own.
Relaxed downtown time for ice cream and browsing specialty shops and cafés (recommended spots around Banff Avenue); bathrooms available at shops and visitor centre.
Group walk from downtown to Bow Falls — easy 1.7-mile round trip (approx. 45–60 minutes) with riverside bridges and waterfall views; accessible and scenic for all ages.
Easy waterfall-focused hike departing hotel for Bow Falls trail — short one-way 1.2 km, 20–30 minutes with waterfall viewpoints; great for a gentle family outing.
Guided 1-hour Spray River & waterfall horseback ride from corral on hotel grounds; closed-toe shoes and long pants required, and waivers must be signed.
One-hour gentle scenic float on the Bow River (3:20–4:30pm) for the entire group; calm, dry trip (no swimsuits required) with interpretive guide and great views of Banff scenery.
Group dinner at Waldhaus, a Bavarian-style cottage restaurant on the Fairmont grounds — hearty family-style menu and alpine ambiance (6:00–8:00pm reservation).
8-minute gondola ride to the summit with panoramic views — excellent interpretive displays and short summit boardwalk hikes to Sanson’s Peak and lookout points; bathrooms available at summit complex.
Full-day guided e-bike along the Legacy Trail to Canmore (approx. 9:00am–4:00pm). Scenic paved trail with moderate distance and guided support; includes regular stops and a lunch break in Canmore.
Group dinner in downtown Banff at Hello Sunshine (5:00–7:00pm) — relaxed, bright atmosphere with regional dishes; 5-minute walk from the cycle shop for those finishing biking early.
Arrive at YYC in time for U.S. pre-clearance; recommended arrival buffer allows 2–4 hours before scheduled U.S. departures. Expect customs/security wait times; proceed to gates after pre-clear.