On my most recent trip to Canada to visit my family, I wanted to take this opportunity to explore a new region I had never been to before. There are still a few provinces I haven’t visited, and it didn’t take me very long to choose Banff as my next destination. I remember going to Vancouver (BC) and exploring the national parks and glacier lakes over there; I was amazed. Alberta, which is BC’s neighbour, is just as stunning and has a multitude of lakes to explore too. Since I only had time for a very short 2-day trip, I decided to focus on the must-do’s of Banff National Park only, although there are many other gorgeous locations such as Jasper, Mount Robson, Bow Valley, etc. The daily fee for Banff National Park is $9,80 CAD per adult.

Where to stay?

To avoid more driving, I would suggest staying in Lake Louise. There aren’t that many options for accommodation; it’s either you go high-end and stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (which is gorgeous, but 1 night costs $900 CAD), or you look for some hostels/Airbnb. You probably guessed right, I chose to stay at HI Lake Louise, an international chain of hostels that I had the opportunity to test when I was in Reykjavik earlier this year. Prices vary between $41 CAD for a single bed in a dorm, and $128 CAD for a private room for 2 people.

Banff has much more options to choose from, so if you don’t mind driving a few extra miles, or if you intend to stay longer than 2 days, then I would highly recommend staying in Banff as it is more lively and there’s a lot more going on. Prices also vary; there’s another HI hostel in Banff with similar prices, and there are other hostels/hotels too. Generally speaking, prices tend to be a little higher in Western Canada compared to the rest of the country.

Where to eat?

In Lake Louise

Poppy Brasserie: this place is the breakfast restaurant of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. It gives you the opportunity to get a glimpse of the luxurious experience with a breathtaking view on the lake, without actually having to pay for a room. They have plenty of options for an a la carte brunch, but they also have a breakfast buffet.

Bill Peyto’s Cafe: this restaurant is located inside HI Lake Louise, and is one of the very few restaurants in Lake Louise. It is named after Banff National Park most respected guide, and they serve western food as well as some Canadian specialties such as the famous poutine dish and local beers.

In Banff

Bear Street Tavern: this restaurant was recommended to me by my waitress at Poppy Brasserie when I told her I was heading to Banff in the evening. They specialize in pizza, and I confirm that this is what you should order! They have vegetarian options, but if you’re not a vegetarian, I highly recommend trying their bison pizza!

Day 1

Mistaya Canyon

On my first day, I decided to drive up to the furthest point I intended to visit which is Mistaya Canyon. This place requires a 10/15-min hike to get there and is absolutely stunning. The currents there are so strong, there is mist everywhere as you get closer to the canyon.

Waterfowl Lakes

On my way back from the canyon, I basically stopped everywhere I saw a blue lake, which is every 10 minutes! My first stop was Waterfowl, two stunning bright blue lakes right next to the road.

Peyto Lake

Then I headed to a place I had been dying to see for many years now: Peyto Lake. I sincerely thought this place would be closed during my trip because I had recently read that they were closing it temporarily for construction works and that there would be no access as of mid-August, but the place was still open. I’m so glad I saw it!

Bow Lake

Lastly, I stopped at Bow Lake and decided to walk around a bit, and just sit by the water to enjoy the landscape before heading to my hostel.

Day 2

Moraine Lake

The next day I woke up for sunrise as I wanted to go see it at Moraine Lake. This place (as well as Lake Louise) gets packed very quickly. The parking lot isn’t big enough to accommodate all vehicles and it gets full around 6AM. Afterwards, people need to go park their car at another designated area near the highway and take the free shuttle to the lake. Once I managed to get to the lake, what I saw was pure magic.

Lake Louise

I decided not to do any hike at Moraine Lake because I hadn’t had any breakfast and my plan was to go have brunch at Poppy Brasserie. So I headed to Lake Louise right after sunrise. I enjoyed the view, took a few photos, and went straight to the restaurant to give my name for a table.

Mirror Lake

After breakfast, I started my hike to Lake Agnes. This hike takes approximately 3 hours (return) and is steep in the beginning, but it gets better as you get closer to Lake Agnes. It’s also one of the most popular hikes in the area, so expect to see many people. On the way to Lake Agnes, you will come across Mirror Lake, a small greenish lake with a round shape.

Lake Agnes

When you finally get to Lake Agnes, you will see a tea house. If you arrive anytime between 10:30am and 4:00pm, it will most likely have a long lineup. I believe it is best to visit earlier or later during the day, or to pack your own snacks. You can take some time to rest and enjoying the beautiful lake view, or you can hike around it to explore different angles.

Yoho National Park

This park is the continuity of Banff National Park, but on the other side of the border with British-Columbia. It is a very short detour, and you can do it any day since it’s not very far from Lake Louise. There is a specific place that I really wanted to see there: Emerald Lake.

Natural Bridge

On the way to the lake, there is a place called Natural Bridge. It is a rock formation that has been carved by the strong waters, which has created a natural hole. The river now goes through these rocks and it actually looks like a bridge when you look from one side of the river.

Emerald Lake

Five minutes from the Natural Bridge is Emerald Lake. Just like most other glacier lakes, its blue colour is absolutely stunning, and the lodge located in the backdrop gives it such a beautiful look.

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