Canada’s diverse landscape offers unique experiences for travellers in every season. Western Canada is celebrated for its vast wilderness, natural wonders, Rocky Mountains, and great food, while Arctic Canada is renowned for its surreal Aurora Borealis and remote lodges on the edge of nature.
If you’re thinking of visiting these regions, it can be challenging to figure out where to start. Here we’ve put together the ultimate travel guide to the Canadian Rockies and the Northwest Territories, including where to stay, shop, eat, and the must-do bucket list experiences.
PLAN
There is such an abundance of outdoor activities, natural wonders, and must-do experiences in Canada that it pays to create a detailed itinerary before you arrive. The planning process can be overwhelming – from booking accommodation to arranging day trips – but it ensures you’ll enjoy a holiday that suits your travel style and budget.
To simplify the preparation stage, book a pre-planned travel package or get in touch with a travel advisor to create a personalised itinerary. Canadian Rockies travel packages, for example, often include Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Aurora viewing experiences in the Northwest Territories. Visitors can choose from a diverse range of travel options, from adventurous winter skiing packages to rejuvenating hiking tours and seasonal Aurora viewing.
STAY
The picturesque landscape of the Rocky Mountains is as diverse as the unique places you can stay within the region. From luxury castles and chalets to eco-friendly cabins and mountain lodges, there’s no shortage of charming accommodation.
Visitors with a penchant for extravagance can’t go past the Fairmont properties, including the Castle of the Banff Springs, the jewel of the Chateau Lake Louise and the wilderness cabins of the Jasper Park Lodge. If you’re seeking out lodge or cabin stay amongst the mountains, try Baker Creek, Storm Mountain Lodge, and Emerald Lake Lodge in Banff National Park, or Pyramid Lake Lodge in Jasper. In the Northwest Territories, try a unique fly-in, fly-out lodge like Blachford Lake Lodge.
SHOP
Visitors to the Canadian Rockies don’t often expect alpine shopping to be a highlight of their journey. But the beautiful pathways of Banff Avenue and Bear Street are brimming with retailers offering everything from genuine Canadian souvenirs to clothing, handcrafted jewellery, wellness products, and locally made chocolates. Reserve a day to shop and stroll streets set against a mountainous backdrop.
EAT
Dining in Canada can take you from modern restaurants to cosy, backcountry lodges or brewing companies. The crowd-pleasing food scene showcases ingredients unique to the area, such as bison, elk, regional craft beers, and wines from across the country. Whether you’re after evening drinks at Banff Ave Brewing Company, or sustainably farmed meats and produce from fine dining restaurant, The Bison Restaurant and Lounge, there’s something for everyone. And when Aurora viewing in Yellowknife, a visit to the NWT Brewing Co is a must.
MUST-DO
The Canadian Rockies are packed with bucket list experiences, from skiing in the Rocky Mountains to driving along the scenic Icefields Parkway. For arctic Canada in the Northwest Territories, one of the biggest drawcards is the spectacular Aurora Borealis, where flickering tendrils of green and purple lights dance across the ink-black sky in Yellowknife.
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