One of the most anticipated openings in Canada this summer isn’t a hotel, it’s a thermal spa.
The new Basin Glacial Waters, so named for its location overlooking the natural basin of Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, is slated to open in late summer at the iconic 100-year-old Fairmont Chateau hotel.
The indoor/outdoor thermal spa will provide luxury travelers an opportunity to experience traditional Nordic hot and cold sauna circuits and relax in warm outdoor pools on its terrace with wraparound views of Victoria Glacier, the water source for the resort.
“This is going to be a destination for wellness in its own right,” says Fairmont public relations director Kymberley Hill, as well as the flagship of Fairmont’s new wellness offerings.
But it’s not the only place to soak within the park — Upper Hot Springs has been drawing crowds to its historic bathhouse and no-nonsense soaking pools of mineral-rich water since 1886, and there are Nordic spas in the town of Banff 40 minutes away.
Basin, however, provides a more luxurious and intimate take on Banff’s soaking history. Designed by architect Matteo Thun, the spa is modern and minimalist, with a warm infinity pool resting at the edge of the lake, aromatherapy steam rooms, various types of cold plunges and an Aufguss sauna, with “sauna masters” overseeing a dance-like ritual with scented oils and towels to circulate the warm dry air.
Guests can book additional services through the Fairmont’s original spa to complement the thermotherapy, such as the 2½-hour Glacier Lake renewal scrub, massage and wrap.
Accessed from the hotel, guests can choose one of five self-guided “journeys” through the space to achieve certain outcomes, Hill said, from detox to relaxation or rejuvenation. Open every day of the week, and all four seasons, Hill expects it to be a popular afternoon stop with hikers, climbers and skiers wanting to soak their tired muscles, as well as relaxation seekers after a forest bathing session or one of the hotel’s silent meditation walks.
When Basin opens, the five-star Italian villa-style hotel will also have completed a property-wide makeover, updating its 539 rooms and suites to a fresher, more contemporary look.
A specific opening date has not yet been announced, however, Hill said it will open by “late summer” to hotel guests, before expanding to day pass visitors in early 2026.
Soaking in these spectacular views won’t come cheap. In addition to the Fairmont’s nightly rates, which range from $699 for a double room in winter to $1,299 in peak summer season, admission to Basin will cost an additional $200 dollars. (The hotel spa is still complementary for guests).
The steeper price tag — soaking at Upper Banff Hot Springs will only run you about $13 — will, however, buy you one of the best views in Banff, and a luxurious thermal experience without the crowds.
“We don’t want this to be a high-volume experience,” Hill said. “We want this to be very introspective, very immersive.”
