Banff

Banff, an authentic mountain ski town located within the boundaries of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, is home base for three unique ski resorts. Banff Sunshine and Mt Norquay being the closest two resorts to town, while the Lake Louise Ski Resort is located just 40 minutes west of town. These three resorts make up SkiBig3, all three unique and worth discovering with at least one-day at each. Enquire now for Banff packages, plus special reduced airfares to Canada through Travelplan with Qantas. Hurry, offer won't last - book by 7th May 2024.

At a Glance

Terrain Area

3,135ha

Summit

2,730m

Mt. Vertical

1,070m

Season

Nov-May

Lifts

Food & Bars

125

Banff Accommodation
Skiing & Boarding
Activities
Getting There

Banff Accommodation

With winter being low season in Banff National Park, finding great accommodation at a reasonable price is easy. Choose from clean comfortable rooms in affordable hotels to mid-range hotels with pools, saunas and fireplaces… and if you want to splash out, check in to a luxurious Fairmont Banff Springs, also known as Canada’s Castle in the Rockies. As you’d expect, Banff’s historic castle has a full service spa, award winning restaurants and breath-taking views from every vantage point. Getting to the slopes from town is a snap, there are plenty of ski shuttles to get you to and from all three ski resorts. Make it easy on yourself and hop on one of these luxury motorcoaches, free with your SkiBig3 lift ticket. Sit back and relax while you take in the magnificent mountain views as you head to your ski resort of choice for the day. The town of Banff is a great home-base location for exploring this winter wonderland.

Skiing & Boarding

Banff Sunshine and Mt Norquay, together with The Lake Louise Ski Resort, make up SkiBig3, a trifecta of world-class ski resorts located in close proximity and accessible with one SkiBig3 multi-day lift pass. Mt Norquay is the closest ski resort to town and is a great spot to launch your Canadian Rockies ski experience. This family friendly resort is known for its rolling groomers, perfect for warming up your ski legs and acclimatizing to the fresh mountain air. Perched just above the town, Mt Norquay provides spectacular views of town backdropped by the surrounding peaks of Mt Rundle and Cascade. Need to extend your ski day? Head over to the 7-lane tube park for some high-speed thrills, or hit up night skiing at Mt Norquay on Friday & Saturday nights – including a fully lit terrain park. Next up – Banff Sunshine. Located just 20 minutes west of town, Banff Sunshine offers an incredible 3,300 acres of varied terrain to explore. Up to nine metres of fresh snow falls here every year and with an altitude of over 2,000 metres, it’s feather light and dry. Banff Sunshine has something for everyone, with 20% of the mountain marked for beginners, 55% for intermediates and 25% for advanced skiers. If you’re a beginner, the upper village area is for you. Get started on the magic carpet area then venture on to gentle terrain nearby. If you’re more advanced challenge yourself on steep descents, moguls, fast groomed runs and picturesque glades. Feeling more adventurous? Delirium Dive and The Wild West, both unmarked but patrolled, reputedly offer Canada’s most extreme off-piste skiing. Experience and appropriate equipment is essential. There’s also several terrain parks at Sunshine, with jumps and rails suitable for a wide variety of skill levels. A SkiBig3 ticket gets you access to Banff Sunshine, Mt Norquay and the Lake Louise Ski Resort, assuring you of exceptional variety while you’re in the area.

Activities

The vibrant town of Banff is home to 9,000 residents and a holiday destination for four million visitors every year – most arriving during the summer months. Winter here is low season so you can take advantage of all the amenities without the crowds. And, enjoying winter outside is what Canadians do best, so winter activities and adventures are plentiful. In town you’ll find an enormous selection of fabulous restaurants and bars that stay open into the early hours of the morning. A well-known cultural destination, Banff has plenty of wonderful museums and contemporary art galleries to explore and you can enjoy regular live performances at the world-renowned Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. Another renowned attraction here is the hot springs – just perfect for relaxation after a long day on the mountain. And, if you just can’t get enough snow, how about trying dog-sledding, ice-skating or snow-shoeing.

Getting There & Around

Getting to Banff National Park is easy. Simply fly into Calgary and jump aboard an airport shuttle for an easy 90 minute journey on the TransCanada highway to Banff then on to your hotel. If you choose to hire a car, make sure it has snow tyres and take the time to stop along the way to appreciate the spectacular views. You’ll also need to purchase a park pass at the East Gate entrance to Banff National Park. Getting around the town of Banff is easy on foot and there is a local transit system to take you further afield. There’s also a shuttle, which is free with your ski pass, to get you to the three ski resorts.