The Canadian Rockies are Canada's greatest tourist attraction and subject to quite a bit of hype. So it’s a relief to find that its landscapes really are sublime: the iridescent emerald lakes are every bit as vivid as they are on postcards, while the craggy glaciated mountains do appear to soar overhead.

Banff & Jasper

Banff – both the name of the key National Park and its main town – is the key draw in the Canadian Rockies so the area has its own destination information and itineraries. Typically it’s the first place visitors head after landing in Calgary, the region’s main international gateway, some 90 minutes’ drive away. Yet first impressions of the Rockies are usually formed by Kananaskis Country, a collection of provincial parks adjacent to the likable town of Canmore which lies en-route to Banff.