"Located in the middle of Canada – what really hits you is the stunning scenery and the sheer size of the country. The majority of the skiing is in Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This combined with reliable and large snow falls makes it a great choice."
Our expert Rupert Hatfield
The skiing in Alberta is focused round 3 main ski resorts – Sunshine, Lake Louise and Jasper. There are other Mountains in the Region but they are generally very small local ski hills.
The main entry point in the past was Calgary although just recently Air Canada has started daily flights in to Edmonton. This makes access to Jasper much easier these days and also means that on a Rockies ski safari you do not need to back track.
The drive from Calgary takes you through the ranches and farm land and in the distance you can just see the white peaks of the Rockies – and that’s where you are heading. The easy drive to Banff is around 1 ½ hours so it is not long before you are in The Banff National Park.
Banff
is definitely a skier’s town in the winter surrounded by the most breathtaking scenery. The atmosphere in Banff is relaxed and easy going – it's not just filled with tourists, there's a thriving local population as well. There is no ski-in ski-out accommodation in Banff - from here you have to drive or get the shuttle to the different ski areas:
Norquay is a 5 minute drive
Sunshine is a 15-20 minute drive
Lake Louise is a 40-45 minute drive
There is an abundance of accommodation options and is all excellent value for money (the winter is actually the low season for Banff).