Wonderful Banff

After our 3 nights in Toronto, we then took the 4.5 hour flight to Calgary, where we were going to spend 2 nights in Banff and 2 nights in Calgary. We had pre-booked the shuttle transfer from the airport to Banff – these go set times and I would advise leaving approx 45 minutes from landing to collecting your luggage.

We stayed 2 nights at the Delta Royal Canadian Lodge which is on the main road leading to Banff Avenue for the shops. On Banff Avenue, you will find many restaurants, shops selling tourist souvenirs and also Ski wear as Banff is popular with skiers in the winter. There is a bus which runs down the main road and up to the Banff Gondola for $2 Can per person each way for any stop on the route, or during certain hours of the day, there is a free coach to take you to the gondola.  We took the gondola to the summit (Nick kept his eyes shut on the cable car) and cost $64 CAN pp.

One of the highlights of the trip was the tour we had booked to do whilst in Banff – The Columbia Icefield Parkway tour (which we can book for you here at Cruise.co) We were picked up at 7.40am and after a few more pickups we then commenced the tour which took us to see the famous Moraine Lake and Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise, then on to Bow Lake, Peyto Lake –  the lake had opened the day before so we were really lucky to get see this lake with its amazing colours and there was still snow on the ground.  We then went to Howse Pass, saw the Crowfoot Glacier before arriving at the Albathesa Glacier. Lunch was provided in the visitor’s centre and then it was off to board our 6 wheeled Ice Explorer Vehicle to take us to the GLacier.

Whilst at the Glacier we experienced Sun, snow, rain and cloud which luckily cleared when we went onto the Glacier where we got to spend 20 mins on the ice (and I would recommend wearing coats and hats for this part of the tour)

After the Glacier, we then drove 5 minutes down the road to the Glacier Skywalk – which has a glass floor and is hanging from the edge of the Sunwapta Valley at 918-foot. Nick is scared of heights but braved the skywalk to see the view.

It was then time for the 2-hour drive back to Banff. Our driver was very good and was always on the lookout for animals but sadly we did not see any bears – although there is apparently only 60 in the whole of the Rockies National Park.

Banff is definitely somewhere I would go back to again.

Have a great couple of weeks

Kerry

xx