30 Jun 2025
Visiting Banff had been on our wish list for a long time, and last week, we finally made it happen. My wife and I chose a private tour with ABestX-Canada via Viator—an excellent decision.
Our tour guide, Abdul Haq, had an impressive knowledge of the area. At first, we were worried because the weather forecast predicted rain over Banff all day. But Abdul was fantastic—he planned our first stop at Moraine Lake early in the morning when it was still quiet, and the sunlight beautifully illuminated the snow-capped peaks and the vibrant blue of the lake. Abdul also showed us the best spots to capture photos!
At Lake Louise, we needed to find good vantage points since it gets quite busy by midday. It makes sense—Lake Louise, with its wide, emerald-green waters, is so iconic. No regrets at all. We also enjoyed an early lunch at the Fairmont Lake Louise, which was a treat.
From Lake Louise, Abdul took us on to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, crossing the border between Alberta and British Columbia. The scenery along the way was stunning and reminded us of traveling through New Zealand’s South Island. We loved the peaceful atmosphere of Emerald Lake—it would have been wonderful to spend a night or two at one of the lodges by the shore, but unfortunately, we didn’t have much time.
On the way back to the little town of Banff, light rain began to fall, yet we still enjoyed the beautiful views.
If you think the best scenery in the sub-tropics is in New Zealand’s South Island, Switzerland, or Norway—you really must visit Banff, Alberta. Just imagine the diversity of landscapes: the towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies and the stunning blue and green lakes.
Thank you, Abdul, for showing us the beauty of Banff and Yoho National Parks. We will always remember this trip. Wishing you all the best and continued success.