The view of Lake Louise from top of the Big Beehive. This is a challenging hike with a big payoff!
Banff-Jasper Trip
We travelled to Banff in September 2022. Our 8-day/7 nights trip was the perfect length for us! Did we get to see all the places we wanted to? No, but we did cover 95% of our target spots. This was a trip for the books and something I will remember forever. Alberta has my heart and I will go back again and again and again!
Day 1 – Travel Day
Morning: Fly into Calgary. We took a 6:30 am flight and landed around 9 am. The flight was about 5 hours but since we were flying west, we gained a couple of hours. We had booked a car through the TURO app.
Noon: The drive to Banff takes about 1.5 hours. Make sure you have your camera in hand. The views are spectacular and there are several lookout spots where you can(read, should) stop to take pictures or simply enjoy the view.
Afternoon: Checked into the hotel and left immediately to explore downtown. We had also booked our Banff Gondola rides for 5 pm and made our way to Sulphur Mountain around 4:15 pm. Parking is scanty, so you will not be allowed entry into the parking lot if you do not have a prior booking. Head over there half an hour before your ride time. If you do not have a car, don’t worry, the shuttle system is pretty good. Head to the roam transit website to check schedules and buy passes. There is a short 1km well-maintained boardwalk at the top, which is a pretty easy hike(suitable for children and the elderly) with loads of resting spots and viewpoints. Don’t miss it!
Evening: Drive/ride the bus back to Banff downtown and explore the quaint little tourist town. There are a lot of eateries to explore and cute little gift shops and cafes that are sure to keep you entertained. Don’t forget to take the iconic picture(you know the one I am talking about), with Mount Cascade towering over you at the end of Banff Avenue.
Day 2 – Lake Louise and the Big beehive Hike
Morning: Parking at Lake Louise is limited. You need to get there early to catch the sunrise. We started driving at 3 am. Reached Lake Louise Parking and rested in the car. Watch the sunrise! It is ethereal! After sunrise, we started the hike at around 8 am. We were determined to do the Lake Agnes hike, and then take a short break at the tea house on Lake Agnes and then move on to the Big Beehive hike. On your way, you will see Mirror Lake as well! The whole hike took us 7 hours. We were back in our car at 3:30 pm. This hike is challenging but this is the one we are most proud of. Before you attempt this, head over to my recommendations to know how to prepare for this hike and learn from our mistakes!
Evening: walk to downtown Banff and have a hearty dinner. You deserve it after that hike! We went for some burgers and fries this night.
Day 3 – Emerald Lake and Johnston Canyon
Morning: Drive to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, BC. We caught the sunrise here as well, which means this was an early morning for us again! I’d recommend you do the 5.1km easy Emerald Lake loop which offers beautiful views! We stopped frequently here for pictures, to listen to birds and just to take in the views. The hike is easy, so you do not get overly tired but still get to enjoy the beautiful emerald-green waters and the mist rising up from the lake at sunrise.
Afternoon: Drive to Johnston Canyon. Parking is tight here but a couple of rounds should do the trick. There are 2 falls here, Upper and Lower Falls. Make sure you visit both! This hike is easy with a great payoff.
Evening: Drive back to Banff town and spend the night with a special dinner at The Keg.
Day 4 – Lake Moraine and Larch Valley hike
Morning: Parking at Lake Moraine is impossible. We had to turn back at 3 am since the parking was full. As of Jan 10th, 2023, private vehicles are banned year-round at Lake Moraine. Only Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Transit, and Commercial buses are allowed. This day we decided to take the bus instead. Book your tickets at least 24hrs in advance. The earliest bus leaves Banff town at 6:30 am and drops you off at the parking at around 7:30 am. This bus is often overbooked so reach the bus depot at least 20mins earlier than the boarding time. We were able to catch the sunrise here! I would recommend hiking up the short rock pile trail to get better views. If you are visiting in the fall season, do not miss out on the Larch Valley hike. This is a moderate to difficult hike with significant elevation gain but the views are worth it.
Afternoon: Finish the hike and grab a coffee from the cafe at Lake Moraine and then take the transit bus back to Banff town.
Evening: Finish the day off by taking a stroll through downtown and finding a new spot to eat.
Day 5 – Icefields Parkway to Jasper
Morning: Check out of Banff and start driving toward Jasper at 7 am. Icefields Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives in the world and for good reason. It is quite impossible to see everything this drive offers in a day but we made a decent attempt! Head over to the Icefields Parkway article to understand what to see, where to stop and why this drive is a highlight of your trip!
Afternoon: Drive into Jasper. We booked rooms at the Pine Bungalows and I could not recommend it more!
Evening: Drive into downtown Jasper and enjoy the cute cafes, the food and the spectacular views all around. Grab dinner, walk about the town and then head home for the night.
Day 6 – Jasper Skytram and Pyramid Lake
Morning: We slept in this morning and got up at 8 am to grab a quick breakfast and then drove to Whistler mountain for our 10:30 am Skytram ride. Book your tickets ahead of time for this 6min ride to the top(almost) to see the panoramic view of the valley and the mountains that surround Jasper town. You could choose to stop here and enjoy the view. We continued on the Summit Trail to the top of Whistler mountain for a better view. This hike is somewhat challenging but breathtaking nevertheless.
Afternoon: Walk back to the upper station to enjoy some food at the alpine cafe and peruse the gift shop, before heading down. Drive to Lake Pyramid for the afternoon to see another stunning lake and get some sunset pictures.
Evening: If you are lucky and you get clear skies, you could schedule a night sky viewing session at the Jasper Planetarium or just spend the night downtown with some drinks and good food like we did!
Day 7 – Icefields Parkway back to Banff
Morning: Start early so you can hit as many spots on the Icefields Parkway as possible. Go over to the detailed article on Icefields parkway to know which to prioritize.
Noon: Book a glacier adventure tour at the Columbia Icefields Adventure for an unforgettable experience on the Athabasca Glacier. Ride a special bus to go to the actual glacier and drink the fresh glacier water! Don’t forget to carry an empty bottle to fill up. This package also includes the skywalk. This 1km walkway leads visitors to a glass-floor observation platform overlooking a 280m drop. Worth a one-time visit for sure!
Afternoon: Drive back into Banff and hit all your favourite downtown spots one last time before your bid adieu to beautiful Banff!
Day 8 – Explore Calgary and fly back
Morning: Start early so you can cover the 1.5-hour drive back to Calgary and see the mountains covered in mist. Once you are back in Calgary, explore the town and grab brunch. We visited some friends and had lunch with them.
Afternoon: Drop off your car and fly back home to start planning your next visit!
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