Banff flights and travel guide

Postcard-perfect Banff is one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations. For skiers and snowboarders taking cheap flights to Banff, the towering peaks (Mount Rundle at 2,949 metres, Cascade Mountain at 2,998 metres and Mount Norquay at 2,134 metres) and knee-deep snow, bountiful wildlife, natural hot springs and exciting nightlife is just the start of what promises to be a memorable vacation.

Banff was "discovered" in the 1880s when Canadian Pacific Railway workers spotted natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. It was not long before the area was being promoted as a resort and spa. By the late 1880s, the reserve area spanned 673 sq km, the start of the National Park system. In 1985, the United Nations declared Banff National Park a World Heritage Site.

It's Canada's highest town (it stands at 1,463 metres) and the biggest town in Banff National Park in the Rockies. Two ski resorts are close to the town - Sunshine Village and Ski Norquay - and Lake Louise is just a 58km drive away along the Trans-Canada Highway.

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Banff insider information

• Sunshine Village is famous for having Canada's best snow; it's known as Champagne Powder. An eight-person high-speed gondola whizzes skiers to the runs and lifts. It takes eight minutes to get to Goat's Eye mountain and 18 minutes to get to the upper village. There are more than a hundred trails on the three mountains (Mount Standish, Lookout Mountain, and Goat's Eye Mountain).
• Norquay is made for family vacations. Groomed runs, bumps and terrain park cater for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Norquay also has the only night skiing in the Bow Valley. There is a gondola lift to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (2,281 metres) from where a boardwalk leads visitors to Sanson Peak. The Banff Upper Hot Springs, of course, are one of the most popular attractions.
• Tunnel Mountain, which used to be known as Sleeping Buffalo Mountain (at 1,690 metres) is very popular for quick hikes. The summit can be reached in less than 30 minutes. The name comes from the days when the surveyors wanted to make a tunnel for the Canadian Pacific Railway through the mountain, rather than following the Bow River Valley.
• Travellers take cheap flights to Banff for its world-renowned festivals. In June, Banff hosts the World Television Festival, now in its 30th year. The Banff Mountain Film Festival takes place at the end of October. On the silver screen, festival goers can view films about mountain expeditions, diverse cultures, the adventure of climbing, and the world’s last wild places. November is when the Rocky Mountain Music Festival takes place. This festival's noble philosophy is to be "musically and educationally oriented without competition or grading".

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Banff airports

Calgary International Airport (YYC) (website: www.calgaryairport.com) is located 20km northeast of Calgary.

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