Alberta adventure

Hit the slopes and explore the vast mountain ranges at Sunshine Village. The area itself is great for groups with different ski abilities as all lifts and runs lead to a meeting point at the bottom. Advanced skiers will love Delirium Dive – one of the top ten off-piste destinations in the world and not for the fainthearted. Fun fact: you can ski two provinces in one run (Alberta and British Columbia). After working up an appetite on the slopes, we recommend lunch at another of the region’s heavyweights – Eagles Nest Canadian Bistro.

Visit Banff's local mountain, Mount Norquay – the training ground of Olympic athletes and the only one of the three areas to offer night skiing. A few more challenges can be enjoyed here with the option to shorten your ski day and enjoy the exhilarating eight-lane Tube Park. Fit in a visit to the historic Cliffhouse Bistro at the top of the ski area which was visited by Marilyn Monroe in 1953, during the filming of 'River of No Return'.

Skiers tend to spend their last day on Sunshine’s slopes again, it’s the biggest of the three ski areas so there is plenty to explore. To mix things up though, try out Mad Trappers Grill come lunchtime for a casual pub-style fare or an après stop. Famed for its distinctly historical ambiance, guests can discover mementos and artefacts from years gone by.

Before arriving in Lake Louise, head on a private tour of Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles – made up of a helitour over the Canadian Rockies and a scenic showshoe hike followed by a hearty Canadian lunch complete with Maple Snow Toffee. Top tip: capture an instaworthy picture of the renowned ice bubbles on the way to Abraham Lake. This expanse of water completely freezes over in the winter and in the process traps methane gas underneath the ice creating a spectacular visual display.

Spend the day skiing at Lake Louise, renowned for its spectacular scenery and unique views of the mountains, glaciers, lakes and forests. The layout of the resort allows all abilities to ski together with beginner, intermediate and expert runs from every chair. The back bowl is a particularly popular area with challenging black runs and a scenic green run all the way down. Today, we recommend lunch at Whitehorn Bistro for fine dining slope-side.

Spend your last day on the slopes of Lake Louise, stopping for lunch at Kuma Yama for sushi at the base area, before dinner is spent indulging in the Chateau Experience at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Start with cheese fondue followed by an AAA Alberta Beef Chateaubriand for two and finishing with a chocolate fondue.

If you don't want to venture onto the slopes, downtown Banff has a wide range of stores, coffee shops, restaurants and museums. To get out into the wilderness though, a ride on the Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola is a must, offering spectacular views of the town, while other activities include a private snowcat snowshoe adventure made famous by Hollywood blockbusters The Revenant, Inception and The Bourne Legacy, a romantic sleigh ride for two along the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, or a Private Paradise Basin Snowmobile Tour that includes a spectacular walk to Smith Icefall.

Relax in the soothing and reputedly healing properties of the mineral-rich waters at Banff Upper Hot Springs. A sulphurous hot spring discovered in 1883 by three rail workers, temperatures of up to 47°C warm the body while the snow falls, or visit late afternoon to watch the sunset.

Today, a private guide is on hand for a bespoke sightseeing tour including a ride on the Mount Norquay chairlift. Other options though include cross country ski lessons, guided snowshoeing, winter hiking, a Johnston Canyon excursion or winter wildlife spotting.

Before arriving in Lake Louise, head on a private tour of Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles – made up of a helitour over the Canadian Rockies and a scenic showshoe hike followed by a hearty Canadian lunch complete with Maple Snow Toffee. Top tip: capture an instaworthy picture of the renowned ice bubbles on the way to Abraham Lake. This expanse of water completely freezes over in the winter and in the process traps methane gas underneath the ice creating a spectacular visual display.

Enjoy a Private Cutter (traditional horse-drawn sleigh) ride for two along the lakeside trail to the end of Lake Louise. Later on, other optional activities include floodlit ice skating, Bavarian curling on the frozen lake, tobogganing, lakeside strolls, ice-climbing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing and dog sledding. Fully certified private guides are also available to take you on customised excursions, local sightseeing excursions, walks or hikes.

On the final day, a private guide leads a bespoke sightseeing tour with the option to add cross country ski lessons, guided snowshoeing winter hiking, a Johnston Canyon excursion or winter wildlife spotting. Dinner is spent indulging in the Chateau Experience at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Start with cheese fondue followed by an AAA Alberta Beef Chateaubriand for two and finishing with a chocolate fondue.