Banff National Park

This trip was guided by two different guides, and tips were accepted daily. On the first day, at 8:00 AM, the first guide picked us up from downtown Calgary and took us to Banff. We stopped at Surprise Point for 15 minutes to take photos before heading to Sulphur Mountain to take the cable car (buying tickets in advance through the supplier is cheaper than buying them on-site). The cable car ride was absolutely stunning and highly recommended. In winter, Sulphur Mountain is covered in snow and ice, so we spent an hour there. The next stop was Bow Lake, where we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. In winter, most of Bow Lake is frozen, leaving only a small amount of water, which still creates a unique atmosphere. We had free time in Banff from 1:00 PM onwards. The town is truly romantic, like a fairytale. We stayed overnight at a Banff Inn. On the second and third days, our guide, Jack, led us from Banff. Jack was very professional, friendly, and enthusiastic, and eager to help us solve any problems. Because we are prone to motion sickness, we contacted Jack beforehand, and he even arranged seats for us near the front of the bus – a very thoughtful touch. The view from the first row was unbeatable, and Jack provided a very attentive tour, explaining the scenery along the way. He was truly a fantastic guide. The first stop on the second day was a crampon hike in Johnston Canyon. Before the hike, crampons were distributed, and Jack helped everyone find the right size. He even took photos for us. The crampon hike only went up to the Lower Falls, but it was still very fun. The frozen Lower Falls was particularly spectacular, and we saw many icicles. The next stop was Lake Louise. In winter, the lake is frozen over, and many people were skating on it. The scenery was absolutely stunning, with magnificent mountains and rivers! We passed through Grizzly Town and stayed overnight in Salmon Bay. The accommodation didn't have a kettle, so we had to use a coffee machine to make hot water. On the third day, we visited a Taiwanese-owned ginseng factory and received a guided tour. Free ginseng tea was available, and we could also bring our own cups to take away. There was no pressure to shop, so you can rest assured, although you might find yourself buying things without much effort. We arrived in Vancouver around 4 pm. This trip was truly enriching, and with such a great guide like Jack, we had a wonderful time and created many beautiful memories!