About Banff ski resorts | JENZA Canada work and travel

Banff

Chances are that if you’ve heard of Canada, you’ve heard of Banff. After all, the namesake Banff National Park was Canada’s first – and the world’s third – and is all about the superlatives. Think glistening lakes, imposing peaks, wildlife-filled... Read more

While there are three ski areas easily accessible from Banff (the SkiBig3 pass covering Lake Louise, Mt Norquay and Banff Sunshine Village), the ski resort in question is Sunshine Village. In the heart of Banff National Park and a 20-minute shuttle from the chocolate box town of Banff, Sunshine Village is one of the most famous resorts in North America and is known for having some of the ‘best snow in Canada.’ Home to some of the most scenic skiing in the world, there’s 3,350 acres of terrain across three distinct peaks – Goat’s Eye, Lookout and Mount Standish. A stunner for all seasons, once the snow melts, Banff then blooms to become one of the prettiest places in Canada.

Why Banff?

For a town of just 10,000 inhabitants, beautiful Banff packs a punch. Surrounded by the beautiful environs of Canada’s first ever national park, it’s a picture-perfect kind of place. With turquoise lakes to kayak, alpine valleys to explore, hoodoos to hike, and foaming rapids to raft. Not to mention, the panoramic views from atop the 2,451-metre-tall Sulphur Mountain and a ton of native wildlife to spot – including bears, elk and wolves. The town itself is straight off a toffee tin with excellent restaurants, bars and pubs for snowy après or sunny Aperol's. And of course, the world-famous Banff Film Festival.

Banff in winter

A mecca for skiers and boarders, at Banff Sunshine Village alone, you have three different mountains to play on, 137 runs, six different terrain parks and 12 lifts. Great for all abilities – there's a combination of easy-to-learn-on beginner slopes and extreme big mountain runs. Only a 15-min drive from the town of Banff, when you’re off piste, there’s heaps of other winter activities to get stuck into. Including skating across the frozen lake, ice walking, tobogganing, soaking yourself silly in hot springs, and heading an hour or so to Calgary to see the ice hockey players do their thing.

Banff in summer

Known for its pristine beauty and some of the best wildlife spotting in Canada, summer in Banff is hard to beat. You’ve got incredible hiking, plus a whole host of other activities including rafting Grade 5 rapids at Kicking Horse River, stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing at the spellbinding Vermillion Lakes – a great spot for sunset – and even heading into the national park on horseback. You also can’t miss a drive down the Icefields Parkway. Which, on top of knockout views, you’ll likely spot black bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep and perhaps a grizzly.

What the squad say

“It’s honestly like living in a postcard – so if you’re after that classic Canada experience with mountains, lakes and wildlife on your doorstep, Banff kills it. Sunshine Village has some of the best skiing in Canada, but accommodation is limited – so a season here is perhaps suited to someone who’s more independent and is okay with finding their own place and a daily shuttle to the mountain. Banff town nightlife is legendary – and the drinking age in Alberta is 18 years vs 19 years old in B.C. So, Banff is a good alternative to resorts like Whistler if you’re still 18 and wanting to drink responsibly!”

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