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Banff Ice Magic Festival + Lake Louise Heli-Ski Weekend — Banff, AB — Banff, AB
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Banff Ice Magic Festival + Lake Louise Heli-Ski Weekend — Banff, AB

Destination: Banff, ABNights: 4Group: 4–12Season: January, February, March, June, July, August, SeptemberEstimated: $2,400–$4,800/person

Ice Magic Festival on Lake Louise (mid-January, ice carvers from 30+ countries chainsaw 100,000-pound blocks for nine days), heli-ski with Mount Norquay or Pursuit out of Canmore. Sleep at the Fairmont Banff Springs (1888 castle in the woods, the Rocky Mountain icon) or the Rimrock. Dinner at the Eden Restaurant (Banff Springs castle, the only AAA 5-Diamond in Western Canada). Day three: Banff Upper Hot Springs in the snow, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, the Bow Falls below the castle. Calgary (YYC) is 90 minutes east.

What You'll Do

Skiing

Heli-ski + glacier yurt

4,000-ft untouched faces, glacier landings, hot tub overlooking Denali.

Operator: Tordrillo Mountain Lodge or Points North Heli · Pair with: Anchorage Alyeska bookends.

Scenic Overlook

Spa

Where You Sleep

  • · Fairmont Banff Springs (1888 castle)
  • · Rimrock Resort Hotel (mountainside)
  • · Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Where You Eat

  • · Eden Restaurant (AAA 5-Diamond, Banff Springs)
  • · The Bison Restaurant (Bow Valley)
  • · Park Distillery (in-house brewing)

Questions

Ice Magic Festival 2026?
January 17-25, 2026 (verify at banff lakelouise.com). Free to view, on the frozen Lake Louise outside the Fairmont Chateau. Carvers work in real time; the sculptures stay up through the festival.
Heli-ski options?
Mount Norquay heli-skiing (lighter program, intro-friendly) or Canadian Mountain Holidays via Calgary (full multi-day apex package).
Hot Springs at sub-zero?
Banff Upper Hot Springs is 38-40°C in the pool, -20°C in the air. The crew hops between the pool and the snowbank. $9 entry, towel rental $2. Open until 10 p.m.

Ready to book the story?

Five quick questions, then we build the full itinerary — lodging, daily schedule, dining, bars, the group-chat message — and drop you into a Trip Room you can share with the crew.