Banff and Lake Louise from Atlanta, 11 – 16 Dec: £1,223 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, because
- Nonstop on WestJet, 4h 50m
- £106 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- Elk + Avenue Hotel, rated 8.4 by 428 guests
The catch: Heads-up for these dates: Ski season; Sunshine and Lake Louise often run into May.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
A nonstop WestJet round trip from Atlanta to Banff and Lake Louise costs $369 per person ($738 for two) for Dec 11–16, 2026, which is 5 nights. Expect snow, with typical highs of 25–31°F. The best-value stay is Elk + Avenue Hotel at $884 for all 5 nights.
The total, before you go
£1,223 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £556 |
| Elk + Avenue Hotel, 5 nights, two guests, taxes in | £666 |
| The total, before you go | £1,223 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £106 |
£106 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £26 each way per bag on WestJet, £106 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£278 per person, return
£556 for two, taxes and fees included · WestJet · nonstop · 4h 50m
Out Fri, Dec 11, 8:15 AM – Fri, Dec 11, 12:05 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| WestJet | £278 | nonstop | 4h 50m |
| WestJet | £317 | 1 stop | 12h 31m |
| WestJet | £278 | nonstop | 4h 55m |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026, 20:48 GMT-4. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
The fare is $369 per person round trip, nonstop on WestJet, with taxes and fees included when we checked on Oct 13. That's $141 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, 28% under the $510 top end across the 12 offers we found. Flights for two come to $738. Add Elk + Avenue Hotel at $884 and $1,300 for spending, and the 5-night trip comes to $2,922 for two. Mid-December is the start of ski season, and Sunshine and Lake Louise often stay open into May, so you'd be there early in the season. Typical highs run 25–31°F with lows near 11°F, and snow is in the forecast pattern. It's a good fit for ski days, a frozen canyon walk and slow evenings in town. Prices change, and we can't promise this one will hold.
The kind of trip this is
This is a snowy mountain and nature getaway: ski days, frozen lake views and short winter walks, with a walkable town to come back to at night. It suits a couple or two friends sharing a room. You set the pace. You can ski three resorts on one lift pass or keep it easy with slow mornings and a gondola ride. Pack for real cold.
Weather in Banff and Lake Louise, 11 – 16 Dec
Typical highs 25–31°F, lows near 11°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 11 Dec | 27 °F | 11 °F | Snow |
| Sat 12 Dec | 25 °F | 9 °F | Overcast |
| Sun 13 Dec | 25 °F | 10 °F | Overcast |
| Mon 14 Dec | 31 °F | 13 °F | Snow |
| Tue 15 Dec | 27 °F | 13 °F | Overcast |
| Wed 16 Dec | 26 °F | 11 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Banff and Lake Louise
All three hotels are listed in Banff. The Banff townsite is the walkable base, with the most hotels and restaurants plus the Bow River trails. Elk + Avenue Hotel is the best value at $884 for the 5 nights, or $177 a night, rated 8.4 from 428 reviews, in a room with two queen beds. Peaks Hotel and Suites is the top rated at 9 from 561 reviews, costing $1,251 for the stay or $250 a night, in a room with one king bed. Mount Royal Hotel is the budget pick at $924, or $185 a night, rated 8.3 from 461 reviews, in a Heritage Room. All three are room only with free cancellation. If you'd rather be close to the ski hill and Moraine Lake, Lake Louise is the area for that.
Elk + Avenue Hotel
£666 for 5 nights, two guests · £133 a night
See roomsPeaks Hotel and Suites
£943 for 5 nights, two guests · £188 a night
See roomsMount Royal Hotel
£696 for 5 nights, two guests · £139 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Banff and Lake Louise for these dates
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Where in Banff and Lake Louise
- Banff townsite: Walkable base with the most hotels, restaurants and the Bow River trails.
- Tunnel Mountain: Lodges and condos on the hill above town, a short bus ride to Banff Avenue.
- Lake Louise: The Château on the lake and the village below it, closest to Moraine Lake and the ski hill.
- Canmore: Mountain town just outside the park gates with better-value hotels and condos.
- Kananaskis: Nordic spa and lodges in the quieter valley between Calgary and Banff.
What to do in Banff and Lake Louise
- Ski Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay on one lift pass.
- Take the winter ice walk through Johnston Canyon.
- Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for views over the Banff townsite.
- Drive the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield on a clear day.
- Spend an afternoon at Lake Louise, with the Château on the lake and the village below.
Also worth it
- Shuttle to Moraine Lake for sunrise
- Canoe on Lake Louise in front of the Château
Tours and tickets in Banff and Lake Louise
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Atlanta | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Banff and Lake Louise | Calgary International (YYC) |
| Flight time | 4h 50m nonstop |
| Distance | 1,970 miles each way |
| Time difference | -1 hour |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 5 nights in Banff and Lake Louise costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £556 |
| Hotel, 5 nights (Elk + Avenue Hotel) | £666 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 5 days for two | £980 |
| Total for two | £2,203 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Atlanta to Banff and Lake Louise
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £278 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £278 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Price checks | 3 |
Good to know
- Passport: passport needed: travellers from the United States need a valid passport for Banff and Lake Louise; check the expiry rule of the country before you book.
- Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD).
- Ski season; Sunshine and Lake Louise often run into May.
- You need a passport for this trip to Canada.
- Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD), and Banff is 1 hour behind Atlanta.
- The nonstop takes 4h 50m from ATL to Calgary International (YYC), and Banff is 90 minutes from that airport.
- Fares and hotel prices include taxes and fees as found. Return flight times weren't part of our check.
- All three hotels are room only with free cancellation.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
$369 per person round trip, or $738 for two, nonstop on WestJet, with taxes and fees included when we checked. The flight leaves Atlanta at 8:15 AM on Friday, Dec 11 and lands in Calgary at 12:05 PM. A 3:00 PM departure that lands at 6:55 PM was the same price.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. Banff and Lake Louise are in Canada, so every traveler needs a passport. Plan on paying in Canadian dollars (CAD) once you're there.
What is the weather like?
It's cold and wintry. Typical highs are 25–31°F with lows near 11°F. The seasonal pattern shows snow on Dec 11 and Dec 14 and overcast skies on the other days.
Is 5 nights enough?
It's enough for a couple of ski days on the shared lift pass for Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay. You'll still have time for the Banff Gondola, the Johnston Canyon ice walk and a drive on the Icefields Parkway.
How do I get from the airport?
You fly into Calgary International (YYC), and Banff is 90 minutes from there. Your flight lands at 12:05 PM, so you can be in the mountains by mid-afternoon.
What does the whole trip cost?
We estimate $2,922 for two: $738 for flights, $884 for 5 nights at Elk + Avenue Hotel and $1,300 for spending, which works out to $130 per person per day.
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Banff and Lake Louise in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Ryan Beirne / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Andrew Patrick Photo / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Ranjeet Kumar Singh / Pexels, Pexels License