Banff National Park and Lake Louise in the rocky mountains of Alberta, are rated as one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world, so where better to start your adventure. We recommend spending the first few nights staying in one of the lovely mountain lodge hotels in the famous resort town of Banff. No matter what time of year you visit there is plenty to do and here are just a few ideas:
- A half day whitewater tour of Horseshoe Canyon that offers adventure lovers rafting thrills and excitement just a short distance from the resort.
- Take a sightseeing tour of the resort and learn about the local culture, geology and wildlife.
- Enjoy a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain where you get a fabulous 360 degree panoramic view of the Bow Valley.
- Have a romantic dip in the Banff Hot Springs with views over the mountains or city lights if you decide to go at night.
- Relax on a cruise around Lake Minnewanka.
After re-charging your batteries in Banff head to Lake Louise to spend a couple of nights at one of the luxurious lakeside hotels. You may well find that being on the edge of this gorgeous lake and enjoying the hotel amenities is more than enough, however if you fancy exploring, there is plenty to do. In the winter for a truly magical experience take a traditional horse drawn sleigh ride around the lake. And, if you enjoy ice skating Lake Louise has one of the most scenic rinks in the world. Dog sledding is another unique and memorable way to see the lake.
In the summer it is well worthwhile taking a canoe and spending a romantic afternoon gliding across the lake’s beautiful turquoise water stopping off for a picnic in some secluded spot. Also taking the gondola and seeing grizzly bears feeding below is something you won’t forget.
One thing you shouldn’t miss whatever time of year you visit is spending a day at the Icefields Parkway. This covers an area of 325 square kms and is one of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic.
Kelowna on the east shore of Okanagan Lake in British Colombia is your next stop. This laid back, sun kissed city surrounded by vineyards is the perfect place to explore the vibrant Okanagan Valley. Spending a couple of nights here will give you the chance to do a bit of vineyard hopping and sample some of the fine wine and food produced in this region. Sporting activities include skiing, golf, cycling and boating on the lake.
After leaving the winelands spend a few nights at the luxurious Sutton Place Hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver, one of Canada’s most popular and cosmopolitan cities situated on the west coast. You can enjoy the fast paced city life while also getting to visit some spectacular mountains and the many natural wonders close by. Highlights include Grouse Mountain, Stanley Park, Lions Gate Bridge and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.
A short flight away the Yukon is your next destination on this adventure. A true wilderness that has amazing scenery, wildlife and the spectacular Northern Lights.  Whitehorse is the capital city and the perfect place to base yourself to go on a guided Yukon River tour in a canoe or kayak. The landscape is fabulous and you will get to see lots of different species of birds and wildlife.
Next stop, Dawson City on the banks of the Yukon river. This city was at the heart of the famous Klondike gold rush when nearly 100,000 people struggled across mountains and impenetrable terrain to seek their fortune. Nowadays it is registered as a national historic site and retains it’s frontier atmosphere. Trips include a tour of the Tombstone National Park and the Top of the Dome tour gives you the opportunity to see the city and the Yukon valley from above. Before you leave you may also want to try your hand at panning for gold.
Kluane National Park situated high in the mountains in the south west will be your last destination in the Yukon. It is a land of extremes, home to Mount Logan Canada’s highest peak, it’s largest ice field and North America’s most genetically diverse grizzly population.  You can go hiking, fishing, boating and wildlife spotting but one thing we would highly recommend is taking a flight in a turbo charged STOLski plane from Kluane Lake to see the spectacular glaciers and mountains of the St Elias region. The perfect finale to your honeymoon adventure.
After flying back to Vancouver you will enjoy one last luxurious night before going back to the UK.
I really hope this sample itinerary has inspired you. Please get in touch if you’d like to find out more about visiting Canada, either via the chat below, by email [email protected] or telephone 0203 441 6848.
