The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a Canadian luxury resort that sits in front of a pristine alpine lake and is surrounded by mountains, trees, hiking trails and wildlife. If you’re looking for a mountain escape, here’s our review of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to help you decide if the hotel is right for you.

Location

A frozen Lake Louise. (Photo courtesy of Josh Garber)

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located in Alberta, Canada, in the Rocky Mountains. If you love the outdoors, you’ll appreciate that the hotel is in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its tall mountain peaks and glacial lakes.

To get to the Fairmont Lake Louise, you’ll fly into Calgary and rent a car. The drive is about 125 miles and it takes just over two hours to get to the hotel.

Design

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise was built over 100 years ago and was designed to take full advantage of the views of pristine Lake Louise as well as the majestic peaks and forests that surround the hotel.

(Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise)

With this in mind, you’ll notice that the restaurants, common areas and guest rooms are all designed to allow guests to take in the beautiful views surrounding the hotel. Visitors can select rooms with mountain or lake views, and dining areas feature large windows so you can see the scenery.

While it is a large hotel with over 500 guest rooms, the inside of the hotel feels cozy and comfortable — almost like a ski lodge.

Food and beverage

Interior of the Fairview Bar and Restaurant. (Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise)

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a bit isolated from the outside world — which means if you stay there, you’ll likely be eating many meals at the hotel itself. Luckily, there are a number of dining options at the hotel, including:

Walliser Stube, a pub with an alpine feel notable for serving up fondue.

Louiza, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant open for breakfast and dinner, featuring seafood, steak and seasonal specialties.

Fairview Bar & Restaurant, an art deco-inspired space that serves locally-grown produce and is known for serving afternoon tea.

The Guide’s Pantry, a grab-and-go spot open 24 hours a day where you can buy sandwiches and snacks — perfect to pack if you’re going on a hike.

In-room dining, great for when you need to recharge after a day of exploring.

Accommodations

Bedroom interior in a Fairmont Gold Two-Bedroom Lakeview Suite. (Photo courtesy of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise)

There are 539 guest rooms at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, ranging from the 215-square-foot Fairmont Gold Room to the 915-square-foot Fairmont Gold Two-Bedroom Lakeview Suite. If your budget allows, we recommend springing for a lake view room so you can take full advantage of the hotel’s location on Lake Louise.

If your trip time is flexible, visiting in the spring or fall can save you some money. For instance, a two-night stay in February 2023 starts at about $398 per night while a two-night stay in April 2023 starts at about $368 per night. Keep in mind that the hotel also charges a resort fee of about $30 per night before taxes.

Amenities

Avalanche on a hiking path in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. (Photo courtesy of Josh Garber)

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has a variety of amenities that will keep you busy (if you want to be!), including:

Indoor pool.

Health club.

Ski and snow rental shop.

Concierge, to help with activity bookings and reservations.

Kids’ adventure program for children 8 years old and older.

The Fairmont also offers a number of activities that you can book through the hotel including snowshoeing, ice skating, sleigh rides, cross-country skiing and snowboarding. If you visit in the summer, the hotel offers guided hiking and canoe rentals.

Before venturing out on any outdoor activity, ask the concierge desk about any precautions you should take. For instance, some hiking trails have been known to have bears frequenting the area and others can be prone to avalanches in certain seasons.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel recapped

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a great option for travelers who are looking for an outdoor-focused experience, including hiking and canoeing in the summer and ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and alpine skiing in the winter.

Because of its location in Banff National Park, guests will enjoy views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and Lake Louise directly from the hotel.

The hotel offers a wide variety of rooms, though we’d recommend booking a lake view room if you’re able. Given the number of activities and amenities you have access to through the hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the perfect getaway for active travelers with a sense of adventure.