Rocky Mountain Magic Nick Laver, Product Manager

"Banff is one of a kind, and is one of my favourite ski destinations. The scenery is uniquely stunning, there’s three great ski areas and the town is really lively with a good mix of restaurants, bars and shopping."

Banff Ski Holidays

The historic ski resort of Banff has achieved iconic status within the global winter sports community thanks to its exceptional slopes and energetic atmosphere. Drawing in everyone from young families to professional skiers and boarders, it’s a fun-loving winter utopia. 

Explore the Slopes

Banff offers easy access to unbelievable ski terrain spread over three separate resorts – Banff Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise – all connected to the town of Banff by free ski shuttle. Using the Tri-Area ski lift ticket you can choose where to ski and when.

Whilst Banff Mount Norquay is the smallest, it’s also the closest to downtown Banff, and is the perfect place to start your adventure, get your ski legs back and ease into your holiday. Expect great beginner and intermediate terrain through tree-lined trails with amazing Rockies views, and some pretty challenging advanced skiing too. Norquay is a fun and family-friendly resort - a great place to learn your craft and perfect your progression. It’s which also offers night skiing, 8 lanes of tubing fun and a fully lit terrain park. It’s the best-kept secret in the Canadian Rockies!

Sunshine sits about 20 mins from Banff way up on the Continental Divide and boasts one of the longest seasons in Canada (November through to late May). Expect amazing snow on more than 3,300 acres of world-class ski terrain spread over three distinct mountains. There is definitely something for everyone at Sunshine – plenty of gentle and wide beginner runs, long cruising intermediate trails and loads of advanced terrain to scare even the bravest.

Then there is the mighty Lake Louise with terrain designed so that skiers or boarders of any ability can ski together with beginner, intermediate and expert runs from the top of every chair. Lake Louise is 60kms from downtown Banff. It’s one of the largest resorts in North America with over 4,200 acres of ski terrain and boasts some of the most iconic scenery of any ski resort world-wide. Lake Louise is known for its variety from gentle beginner slopes to long cruising runs above and below the tree-line, glades, chutes and a huge back bowl network of off-piste possibilities and secret stashes.

All in all, the three resorts complement each other wonderfully – they’re all different, and that’s part of the charm.                          

Enjoy the Resort

The snowy streets of downtown Banff are packed with welcoming cafés, fantastic restaurants, quirky boutiques and friendly bars. As a bona fide mountain town, it has an unpretentious atmosphere that celebrates its traditional heritage and embraces modern trends at the same time. Locals and visitors mingle happily, brought together by a shared love of spending time in the great outdoors.

Banff après-ski covers everything from innovative fine dining to chilled out beers around roaring log-burners. Enjoy the Canadian beer culture with a cold pint at a craft brewery, sample such local culinary delicacies as elk steak and bison burgers, or sip fine wines in a stylish bistro as you watch the sun set behind a silhouette of peaks and ridges. After dark, things tend to get lively as Banff’s bars and clubs crank up the floor-filling tunes.

Where to Stay

We’ve carefully hand-picked the best accommodation options in Banff for you. Treat yourself to a stay in one of the resort’s world-class luxury ski hotels, complete with 5-star facilities and unparalleled service. Relax in a secluded ski-in/ski-out alpine lodge where you can bask in sweeping views and the tranquillity of the wilderness. Or maybe you’d prefer a comfortable room in a charming downtown inn with Banff’s bustling après-ski on your doorstep? Whatever your preference, we have something to suit all tastes and preferences.

Getting to Banff

Ski Independence offer a choice of airlines flying from London into Calgary and we provide complete flexibility to choose the day of departure, holiday duration, choice of airline and cabin type. We have the freedom to build you the perfect holiday itinerary around the best flight options that suit you, and not around a product we’re committed to sell.

All of our holidays to Banff include a shared shuttle transfer from Calgary operating to set departure times. We also offer a full range of private transfers. That said, the area is perhaps best explored with the flexibility of a self-drive car, SUV or minivan. We offer 'Gold' option car rental which includes all the mandatory taxes & fees. We can also offer vehicles with SatNav.

 

Tiny Tigers Daycare

Located in the “Village” area at the top of Sunshine Village Gondola, this popular, licensed daycare facility is designed especially for youngsters between the ages of 19 months and 5 years. Their caring, professional staff will ensure your child enjoys an exciting day packed with fun activities - both indoors and outdoors - in a safe environment. The children are served a nutritionally healthy lunch, plus two snacks. You are advised to book ahead to secure your child’s place. Open 8.30am-4.30pm. 

We can book your daycare as part of your Ski Independence Banff ski holiday.

Client Reviews
Sharon Seton, March 2022

We have been travelling with you for multiple years and trips now and sorry to say “you're stuck with us”. We love the service you offer and when needed as we have done before (hubby broke his leg) you were AMAZING and excellent to me. So supportive. Your staff and always attentive and respond quickly. We will be back next year!

Important information
Season Early November–Late May
Ski Area Sunshine - 3,358 acres / Banff Mt Norquay - 190 acres / Lake Louise - 4,200 acres
Annual Snowfall Sunshine - 30ft
Number of Lifts Sunshine - 12 / Banff Mt Norquay - 5 / Lake Louise 9
Ski Range Sunshine 5440–8954, Banff Mt Norquay 5350–7000, Lake Louise 5400–8650
Ski Shuttle Free with lift ticket, runs between all ski areas and town centre.
Blue Runs 20%
Red Runs 55%
Black Runs 25%
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Off-season Off-season Off-season Off-season Off-season On-season On-season On-season On-season On-season On-season On-season
Distance from airports
Calgary 1hr 45mins