Things to do — Rockies

The Canadian Rockies explore by combining the three main hubs. Typical 7-10 day itinerary:

Banff (3 nights) — Banff Gondola (cable car to summit of Sulphur Mountain 2,281 m, 360° panoramic view, CAD 64), Banff Upper Hot Springs (hot springs at 38 °C, open year-round, CAD 17), Fairmont Banff Springs (free visit to 1888 castle-hotel nicknamed "Castle in the Rockies"), Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka (cruise CAD 64, Stewart Canyon hike 4 km), Vermilion Lakes (sunset photo, kayak), Two Jack Lake (picturesque camping), Sundance Canyon (family hike 7 km), Lake Agnes Tea House (5.8 km return, 385 m elevation, tea in historic 1901 cabin). Optional excursions from Banff: Johnston Canyon (canyon with walkways, 5.4 km return hike), Sunshine Meadows (by cable car in summer, alpine meadows, July-August flowers), Banff Wildlife Tour at sunrise (CAD 60-90).

Lake Louise (2 nights) — Lake Louise (iconic viewpoint from the Chateau, canoeing CAD 135/2h, Lake Agnes Tea House and Plain of Six Glaciers hikes 10.8 km), Moraine Lake (mandatory shuttle since 2023, CAD 28, book 6 months ahead — magical sunrise, spectacular Larch Valley 8.6 km return hike in September), Lake Louise Gondola (cable car, grizzly viewing from summit, CAD 65). Excursions to Yoho: Emerald Lake (40 min, calmer turquoise lake than Louise, canoeing), Takakkaw Falls (3rd highest waterfall in Canada, 384 m), Burgess Shale (UNESCO fossils, guided hike mandatory).

Icefields Parkway (1 night en route) — route 93N between Lake Louise and Jasper, 232 km, voted among the world's most beautiful scenic drives by National Geographic. Iconic stops (south to north): Bow Lake, Peyto Lake (Bow Summit lookout, wolf-shaped turquoise lake from above), Mistaya Canyon, Saskatchewan River Crossing (midway, basic but practical accommodation, open May-October), Weeping Wall, Big Bend, Columbia Icefield (Athabasca Glacier accessible on foot or by Snocoach Brewster CAD 117 with Skywalk glass platform), Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls. Plan 5-7h minimum with stops.

Jasper (2-3 nights) — Maligne Lake (22 km glacier lake, cruise to Spirit Island — one of Canada's most photographed landscapes — CAD 119 return), Maligne Canyon (deep gorge, 6 bridges, frozen winter hike), Athabasca Falls, Miette hot springs (1h from Jasper town), Jasper SkyTram (cable car to Mount Whistlers 2,263 m, CAD 60), northern lights viewing (Jasper International Dark Sky Reserve since 2011, one of the largest in the world, Dark Sky Festival in October).

Winter — SkiBig3 skiing: Banff Sunshine Village (3,300 acres, 138 runs, November-May season), Lake Louise Ski Resort (4,200 acres, 145 runs, ranked world top 10, November-May season), Mt Norquay (190 acres, family resort above Banff). SkiBig3 Pass (1-7 days, CAD 250-330/day adult). Complementary winter activities: snowshoeing (rental CAD 25-35), cross-country skiing (free trails), dog sledding (CAD 180-260), heli-skiing (CAD 1,200-2,500/day), snowmobiling (CAD 250-400/day).