BASIN Glacial Waters Marks its Debut on the Shores of Lake Louise

Marking its debut on the shores of iconic Lake Louise, the consciously designed, all-sensory thermal bathing destination – set to revolutionize wellness as a “Fairmont first” – is now officially open.

Honouring its natural glacial water source, BASIN Glacial Waters embodies the convergence of natural elements and contemporary wellness, interpreted through a luxury lens. Its foundation resting upon the ancient traditions of thermal bathing – a practice shared across cultures, of flowing through diverse water temperatures to stimulate and restore both body and mind – BASIN’s unveiling in one of the world’s most revered natural landscapes, sets the stage for an entirely redefined wellness experience.

A concept two decades in the making and realized by acclaimed AD100 Matteo Thun, BASIN Glacial Waters’ minimalistic grandeur shines, seen as a striking yet seamless addition to its historical location, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Elegantly presented as if embedded into the natural environment, BASIN takes inspiration from the healing benefits of thermal waters and long-established wellness practices of Nordic sauna culture, reimagined from a modern wellness perspective.

Designed to allow for moments of solo reflection balanced with social wellness elements, BASIN presents a thoughtfully curated series of thermotherapy modalities, defined as self-guided journeys of renewal and vitality. Forcing an instant shift into a state of calm, guests make their way through a sensory passageway, leading to a bright, open interior complemented with high ceilings, clean lines, and warm wood tones. Dramatic arched windows allow for streams of natural light to flood into the space, creating a powerful connection to the breathtaking mountain vistas and seasonal elements that surround.

Water in all its forms – from crushed ice to steam mists – form the basis of the experience; this is an invite to immerse into a self-paced, non-prescriptive wellness flow between diverse temperatures and varying heat and humidity states of the traditional Finnish, Bio, and Aufguss saunas, and steam room cabins. For contrast bathing, a series of indoor-outdoor pools, including the impressive reflexology pool with uninterrupted glacier views, the Infinity Pool – spanning onto the expansive terrace, with dedicated space for open-air rest. For quiet relaxation and meditation, the ‘Hot Stone’ and ‘Silent Salt Relax’ rooms become intimate sanctuaries of stillness.

Guests can opt to follow one of five thoughtfully curated wellness experiences – named “Trails” – for a preferred wellness outcome. The ‘Stillness Trail’ is a gentle sequence to soothe the nervous system and set the body into the perfect state for a deep rest, the “Presence Trail” for grounding and awareness – to counteract jet lag and calm an anxious mind.

The outdoor Aufguss sauna – its roots in European sweat culture – will become the home of a signature BASIN experience: the ‘Aufguss Ceremony’. Led by “Aufguss Meisters”, the theatre of a sensory, aromatherapy-infused, steam journey – based on authentic Aufguss rituals – will come alive.

The ‘Glacier Lounge’ is an open restoration space, to rehydrate and restore indoors with a menu of simple, light, freshly prepared dishes. A selection of elixirs, tonics, nootropics and adaptogens are also on hand – and for a sense of occasion, a glass of Champagne perfectly sets the tone.

Speaking of BASIN’s opening milestone, General Manager, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Tracy Lowe, says: “Introducing this incredibly impressive facility, as a world-class wellness destination in its own right, is a remarkable honour.”

She continues: “BASIN Glacial Waters has been a passionate collaboration between our hotel team, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, and our owners, Oxford Properties. The vision has always been clear: to not only enhance the luxury appeal of the resort in a meaningful way, complementing how our hotel delivers diverse experiences centered on a personal approach to overall wellbeing, but to set an entirely new standard of luxury wellness. Today marks the birth of an incredible thermal bathing destination within one of Canada’s most celebrated locations; to be bringing such a superior wellness experience to iconic Lake Louise is incredibly special.”

BASIN is accessible daily and year-round, the indoor-outdoor nature of the thermotherapy experience shifting with Lake Louise’s dramatic seasonal changes. The ‘BASIN Signature Retreat’ has been designed for guests seeking a wellness-inspired resort stay, featuring BASIN access, a ‘Glacier Lounge’ tasting, and guided wellness-in-nature experience. Further, guests can partake in the resort’s diverse program of wellness-focused outdoor activities, such as small-group Forest Bathing, a Silent Meditation Walk to find presence within the alpine, or a natural cold plunge with guided breathwork in the glacial waters of Lake Louise itself.