Banff, Canada's oldest national park, is 6,641 square kilometres of incredibly dramatic mountain landscape, glaciers, high moraine lakes and rushing rivers, making it one of the most gorgeous places on earth.

So beautiful is Banff town, it can sometimes seem surreal: quaint buildings, some of them historic, line a bustling main street, over which loom the peaks of the Rockies - so close you feel like you could reach out and touch them!

The wilderness offers respite from the crowds and congestion, which can sometimes be attributed to Banff town. Banff Park is blessed with many ways to make it easy to get on a raft, bike, or horse and find a little solitude. Alternatively, consider visiting the park off-season, when prices are lower and the scenery is just as stunning!