Banff

Banff is the most visited mountain destination in Canada and one of the world's great national park towns — a small resort town (population 8,000) in Banff National Park, Canada's oldest national park (1885), surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on Earth: the Continental Divide, glaciers, turquoise glacial lakes, wildlife-rich valleys and the ice-covered peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise — 55km north of Banff town — is the park's most iconic sight: a turquoise glacial lake backed by the Victoria Glacier and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel, framed by high peaks. The colour (from glacial rock flour suspended in the water) is genuinely surreal. Moraine Lake, nearby, is equally extraordinary and less visited (access now restricted to shuttle). Johnston Canyon, Sulphur Mountain (gondola to 2,281m), and the extensive hiking trail system around Banff town are excellent. The Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper (230km) passes through a seemingly impossible succession of glaciers, waterfalls, mountain peaks and wildlife (elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, grizzlies). The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier can be walked on with glacier experience tours. Banff Upper Hot Springs are excellent in winter when steam rises around you with mountain views. Winter skiing at Lake Louise Ski Resort and Norquay is excellent. Book accommodations months in advance, particularly for summer.