Christmas in the Rockies

Your journey begins in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, where elegant Victorian architecture, vibrant gardens and the unhurried charm of the Inner Harbour set the tone beautifully for the weeks ahead. Settle into a two-night Scenic Special Stay at the iconic Fairmont Empress, set right on the waterfront, and celebrate the start of your journey with a welcome dinner alongside your Tour Director and fellow guests.

The morning opens with a choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences to explore Victoria in the way that suits you best.

This evening, the renowned Butchart Gardens reveals its most enchanting face. The Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens transforms the already spectacular grounds into a world of festive lights, wreaths, carol singers and seasonal magic, an experience that captures the spirit of the season with rare beauty.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Scenic Floatplane Flight: There is no better way to appreciate Victoria's extraordinary setting than from the air. Soar above the dramatic coastline on a floatplane, the Georgia Strait stretches to the horizon, and the snow-capped Olympic Peninsula rises in the distance, before a graceful touchdown on the glistening waters of the historic Inner Harbour brings it all to a close.
• Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress: Few rituals suit this city quite as perfectly as afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress. Premium loose-leaf teas, a classic tiered selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and handcrafted pastries, served in surroundings as elegant as the occasion deserves.
• Christmas Foodie Tour: The holiday spirit is best explored one delicious stop at a time. This festive culinary walking tour moves through Victoria's most characterful streets, pausing for festive cookies, gourmet cheese, seasonal wine, decadent truffles and more. A warm and wonderfully indulgent way to discover the city.

The journey continues to Vancouver, a city where mountains meet ocean and the streets fill with festive energy at this time of year. Visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, even more captivating in winter, where twinkling lights illuminate ancient trees and the suspension bridge spans a forest of snow-dusted evergreens in a scene of quiet, wintry magic. Settle into a two-night stay at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

The air at Granville Island Public Market carries the scent of roasted nuts, spiced drinks and seasonal baking at this time of year, and the market itself buzzes with festive foods, artisan gifts and the particular warmth of a city embracing the season. The afternoon brings the VanDusen Festival of Lights, where over a million illuminations transform VanDusen Botanical Garden into one of Vancouver's most beloved winter spectacles. Winding paths, synchronised light displays and whimsical installations make this a genuinely magical evening.

The journey heads into the mountains today, arriving in Sun Peaks, a beautifully situated ski resort village surrounded by forest, rivers and sparkling winter lakes. A guided orientation walk through the village offers a warm introduction to the community and the quaint atmosphere of this charming alpine setting. The evening is yours to savour at your hotel.

A full day in Sun Peaks, with your choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences to explore the surrounding winter landscape. In the evening, enjoy a unique Scenic Enrich experience to complete the day.

Scenic Enrich: Moonlight Snowshoe & S'mores Experience: As the sun sets over Sun Peaks, lace up your snowshoes and follow beautiful forest trails to a cosy winter camp, where a crackling campfire, warm apple cider and freshly toasted s'mores await. The return journey rewards with a stunning view of the village lights glowing against the winter night sky, a memory that will stay with you long after the journey is over.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Snow Mobile Adventure: The pristine backcountry of Sun Peaks opens up on this exhilarating snowmobile experience, follow winding trails and open powder fields past snow-covered forests and panoramic mountain vistas. One of Canada's most scenic winter playgrounds, experienced at an adventurous pace.
• Ice Fishing: Guided by locals on the frozen mountain lakes surrounding Sun Peaks, this is a uniquely Canadian winter experience. A heated tent, hot drinks and all equipment are included, making this a perfect introduction for first timers hoping to try their luck with wild rainbow trout.
• Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride: A gentle glide through the village and snow-draped forest trails aboard a horse-drawn sleigh, with crisp mountain air, peaceful surroundings and the kind of classic holiday atmosphere that belongs to a storybook. A beautifully relaxed way to experience the season.

The road east brings you deeper into the Rocky Mountains, arriving in Jasper with its snow-covered trees, frosted peaks and glittering ice crystals at every turn. Settle into a two-night stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and spend the evening exactly as you wish, with a Scenic Freechoice Dining experience to welcome you in.

Scenic Freechoice Dining: Choose between an authentically local take on Northern Italian cuisine or the warm conviviality of a classic alpine chalet, both set against the beautiful backdrop of Lac Beauvert, where warm Canadian hospitality makes every meal feel like a celebration.

World Heritage-listed Jasper National Park takes on an entirely different character in winter, its canyons filled with ice and trails dusted with fresh snow. Today is yours to explore with your choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Pleckaitis Canyon Ice Walk: A remarkable winter experience, walking the frozen canyon floor of Pleckaitis Canyon deep in the heart of Jasper National Park. Cascading icefalls hang like blue-green curtains from the canyon walls, and hidden caves and sculpted passageways carved into the ice reveal themselves as the walk progresses.
• Snowshoeing: Newly groomed trails at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge lead through the forest toward Lake Annette, a peaceful and beautifully scenic way to move through the winter landscape. Wildlife encounters along the way are always a possibility.
• Wildlife Discovery Tour: Jasper's resident wildlife navigates the mountain winter in remarkable ways. This guided tour explores the diversity of species that call the national park home, offering insight into their behaviour, their role in the ecosystem and the ways they adapt to survive in one of Canada's most extreme seasonal environments.

Regarded as one of the world's great scenic drives, the Icefields Parkway winds through a spectacular procession of ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes and towering peaks. Today's journey follows this remarkable highway through the heart of the Canadian Rockies before a Scenic Enrich stop adds one of nature's most extraordinary winter spectacles to the day.

Scenic Enrich: Pause at Abraham Lake to witness one of the Canadian Rockies' most unusual natural phenomena, thousands of frozen methane bubbles trapped beneath the surface of the ice, creating a pattern of otherworldly beauty underfoot.

Arrive at the Diamond in the Wilderness and settle into a three-night Scenic Special Stay in a Lakeview Room at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

If there were ever a place on earth to spend Christmas Day, Lake Louise would be a strong contender. Snow-covered peaks surround the lake on every side, the Chateau glows with warmth and the kind of festive atmosphere that the season deserves settles over the day with complete ease.

Scenic Enrich: The Christmas feast begins with a celebratory drink, and the table that follows is everything the day calls for. Classic Christmas trimmings, elegant decorations and the incomparable backdrop of Lake Louise combine to create a dinner that captures the spirit of the season in the most beautiful of settings.

A horse-drawn sleigh glides along the snowy shores of Lake Louise this morning, the mountains reflected in the ice and the winter air crisp and still. It is the kind of morning that makes this place feel like the most extraordinary corner of the world.

Scenic Enrich: In a delightful nod to the season, today's special encounter involves a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a very particular role. A once-in-a-lifetime and genuinely joyful moment for all.

At this time of year, the Fairmont Banff Springs resembles a snow-dusted castle in an enchanted forest, its stone towers rising above the frozen Bow Valley in a scene of complete winter splendour. Ride the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for extraordinary views across the snowy Canadian Rockies, and take the opportunity to explore the winter wonderland by helicopter. Settle into a two-night Scenic Special Stay and choose where to dine this evening.

Scenic Freechoice Dining: The restaurants of the Fairmont Banff Springs offer a range of settings and styles, each delivering the warmth, quality and attentive service the hotel is renowned for.

The Canadian Rockies in winter make Banff one of the most spectacular natural playgrounds on earth, and today is yours to explore with your choice of Scenic Freechoice experiences.

Scenic Freechoice:

• Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Banff Springs: Mineral pools, mountain views and the serene calm of one of Canada's finest spas. A perfect way to spend a winter's day in the Rockies.
• Johnston Canyon Icewalk: Suspended catwalks carry you above the frozen surface of Johnston Creek and deep into the canyon, where sheer icy walls, glittering frozen waterfalls and sculpted limestone formations create a landscape of extraordinary winter beauty.
• Heli Flightseeing Banff: Lift off and venture into one of earth's most dramatic mountain landscapes. Weave between the iconic Three Sisters Peaks as sheer rock faces rise around you and the true scale of the Canadian Rockies sinks in. Rugged peaks, glittering lakes and untouched wilderness stretch to every horizon, with the winding Bow River far below, a breathtaking finale to a journey that cannot be replicated from the ground.

Your journey draws to a close with a transfer to Calgary airport, carrying with you the warmth of a Christmas spent in one of the world's most extraordinary natural settings.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. Please refer to Scenic's terms and conditions for further information. Hotels are indicative and subject to change.