Banff & Jasper National Parks
Alfie and I decided to head to Alberta and visit the incredible parks of Jasper & Banff as part of our Canadian vacation. We flew from Vancouver to Calgary with WestJet, a short 1 hour flight but it will definitely give you the best views of the Rockies. I got so excited by flying over those massive mountains, it’s unreal.
We then, rented a car and got lucky at the rental counter as a couple gave us their yearly pass for the national parks as well as their bear spray. What an amazing way to start our road trip! Bear attacks were a big concern for us, getting one for free and unused was a relief.
First stop was Banff. We decided to spend only one day in town and spend our first night in Lake Louise. Banff is a welcoming town, very cute and very touristy but still manage to be a charming place. We loved the architecture, the relaxed vibe and the outstanding surroundings. It’s very easy to get to and you can pretty much walk anywhere.
I would definitely recommend stopping there either for food or a day hike, or even both.
As we wanted to get up as early as we could to enjoy the sun rise, we thought staying near lake Louise was a better option. We stayed at the lovely Lake Louise Inn and it was perfect. Location is great and they have BBQ nights on saturday !
We fell asleep knowing that the next day would be one to remember. We got up at 4:30, got ready to witness something magical. The parking lot near Lake Louise was still empty, few photographers were already there but the place was so peaceful. It was spectacular, I felt so lucky to be there and so alive at the same time. It was really cold but nothing could stop us at this stage. We knew it was about to be an epic day.
Watching the colours changing, was quite something
Few of our shots in front of the lake, before tourists showed up
We then got a coffee break at the famous Chateau Fairmont, a beautiful hotel overlooking the lake. As the weather warmed up, we were ready for our first hike.
We started with the Plain of the six glaciers hike (4 to 5 hours hike), at the top you can stop at an old swiss tea house and get a well needed hot chocolate. They use the water from the glacier to make your beverage and have delicious cakes. To get a spot there make sure to leave early.
The Hike was great, a moderate one with the most beautiful views of the Lake. Each viewpoint is insane.
I could spend hours explaining every single details about our day, but you’ll find everything you need in a guide. What I’d like to share with you is more intimate, a glimpse into those incredible landscapes. So here’s few pictures of this epic day.
