The Canadian province of Alberta might be one of the most scenic places in the country, with jaw-dropping scenery and picture-perfect landscapes around every corner. These 4 must-see spots have proven to be some of the most beautiful places in Alberta, so be sure to take your camera!
Banff
The town of Banff is a spirited place, alive with adventure and wonder. In all directions you’re surrounded by strikingly beautiful and rugged mountains that seem to burst straight out of the ground. You might see a herd of deer wandering down the main street during your early morning jog. The lively streets of downtown are lined with top-class restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as a vibrant range of art galleries and museums. The locals are warm, open, and genuinely connected to the inspiring environment in which they live. The town of Banff offers you endless options for rejuvenation and exploration every day.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is a traditionally-designed, castle-like grand hotel that was built in 1888. It’s easily reached on foot from downtown Banff, and you’ll enjoy lovely views of its surroundings. You’ll also be nearby the Bow River, which tumbles over a cliff-like rise.
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is famous for its surreally coloured lakes, majestic mountains and endless outdoor adventures. Canada’s first national park and the world’s third, it has a rich heritage as one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain destinations. What makes Banff National Park so special is its easy access and close proximity to the vast unspoiled wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. The park spans 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of mountainous terrain, packed with spectacularly scenic valleys, peaks, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers.
The bustling town of Banff and hamlet of Lake Louise are uniquely located in the National Park. You feel truly immersed in the mountains and close to nature when you visit Banff & Lake Louise.
Lake Louise
You have seen photos of Lake Louise but they haven’t prepared you for how it feels to experience it yourself. Rounding the corner, the sight of the emerald green water and rugged peaks and glaciers hits you viscerally. You’ve never seen anything so dramatically beautiful. Late in the day, with the glowing sun dropping behind Mount Victoria, it is quiet and still. As you wander around the lakeside path it seems like the whole scene is for just you to enjoy. It is a feeling you will remember forever.
In 1890, the Canadian Pacific Railway built the first Château Lake Louise on the moraine at the end of the lake. Easily accessible by rail, Lake Louise and the surrounding countryside soon developed into a tourist centre. From here, expeditions started out to explore the rocky region on horseback. Mountaineers from England and the United States scaled the as yet unknown peaks. The present day Château Lake Louise was built in 1924 after a fire destroyed its smaller wooden predecessor. In the early days, horse-driven coaches - later to be superseded by trams - transported guests from the rail station down in the valley to the hotel six kilometres away.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park, established in 1907, is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies with 10,878 square kilometres of mountain wilderness. Jasper is the wildest of the mountain parks, and contains a superb backcountry trail system as well as the world famous Columbia Icefields, one of the only Icefields in the world accessible by road.
It is internationally-renowned for hiking in the park, skiing at Marmot Basin and wildlife viewing, and is home to some of North America's rarest animals, including healthy populations of grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves.
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