Banff is a very popular ski resort in Canada and it is easy to see why. The rugged mountain scenery of the Rockies, the pine-clad lower slopes and two hundred kilometres of pistes all combine to attract skiers from all over the world. Lying at an altitude of almost fifteen hundred metres and with the highest skiing at almost three thousand metres, Banff offers good snow cover throughout the season. It is a resort with excellent hotels and apartments, a wide variety of restaurants and a good number of shops. Banff has terrain to suit all levels of skiing and snowboarding expertise. There are twenty kilometres of cross country trails and good opportunities for off-piste skiing. A regular shuttle bus takes skiers to the two main ski areas in Mount Norquay and the Sunshine Village, free to those possessing a tri-area ski pass which covers Banff and Lake Louise. The whole of this beautiful area is National Park which has an abundance of wildlife and elk are frequent visitors. A Banff ski holiday offers great conditions in dramatic scenery, comfortable accommodation and a relaxed nightlife.
Surrounded by rugged mountains and forested slopes, Banff offers great skiing conditions in a stunning landscape. It is a friendly resort that welcomes visitors with a warm hospitality and offers a range of recreational activities as well as a relaxing après ski scene.
A Banff ski holiday is popular with a wide range of skiers, including families, as the slopes accommodate all levels of ability from novices to experts. Mixed groups with non-skiers choose Banff as there is much to occupy the latter during the day.
The Banff ski season lasts from early December until the middle of April. It is also popular in the summer with walkers, climbers and mountain bikers.
With a permanent population of only eight thousand, Banff is the largest town in the National Park in the Alberta Rocky Mountains in Canada. Banff sits at an altitude of almost fifteen hundred metres fifty eight kilometres from Calgary. It is a very popular year round destination for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
Banff has three ski areas, Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise which are connected by a free bus when you hold a Tri Area lift pass. With over two hundred kilometres of pistes, Banff offers great skiing and boarding for every level of ability. Beginners will enjoy Mount Norquay’s nursery slopes where, with the help of expert tuition, novices will soon progress to blue runs. Intermediate skiers can also enjoy Norquay’s terrain as well as the wide open bowls that are found in Sunshine. Advanced skiers have a wide choice of demanding black runs as well as superb off-piste skiing with Goat’s Eye Mountain being one of the best. The mountains around Banff offer snow parks with half pipes and excellent free riding terrain. Tuition is available for children from the age of six in both skiing and boarding. Childcare is available from eighteen months but since places are limited early booking is recommended.
Banff offers high quality hotels and apartments that are reasonably priced. Its restaurants serve a variety of cuisine that caters for most tastes and two shopping malls provide a more than adequate number of shops. Although Banff has several lively bars and pubs nightlife is fairly relaxed and low-key.
In order to complete your holiday satisfaction, Banff offers a range of recreational activities including sledging with huskies, sleigh rides, skating, snowmobiling and heli-skiing.
Although there are a number of lively bars, Banff’s nightlife is fairly low-key with the larger hotels providing evening entertainment.
Banff has a large number of shops with two malls containing a variety of specialist retailers. There are also craft, gift and souvenir shops as well as art galleries.
Banff has a good number of restaurants serving a variety of menu, including international cuisine. There is such a choice of fare that even the most pernickety of palates will be satisfied.
