Trip Report: Testing Our Recent Canadian Creation - The Continental Divide Ski Safari

Earlier in the year, our team created one of the most versatile and affordable multi-destination ski holidays in Canada - the Continental Divide Ski Safari. In March 2024, five of us put it to the test as we combined the family-favourite resort of Panorama with the bustling ski town of Banff, home to the Big 3 resorts of Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise.

This would be my first time stepping foot in Canada, and although the Continental Divide Ski Safari was new to all of us, I was in good hands. Experienced Sales Specialist Jack, Sales Consultant Carina and Assistant Operations Manager Anna had all skied in Canada before, leaving me and Tour Coordinator Katie as the first-timers in the group.

In the lead-up to departure day, I was buzzing around the office excited about the chance to experience Canada’s unrivalled customer service and breathtaking scenery and combine Banff's three all-ability ski resorts with Panorama's convenient ski-in ski-out accommodation.

March rolled around and it was time to head to the Rockies to test our latest Canadian ski safari!

For more personal advice on Canada ski holidays or a tailor-made quotation, enquire online or call our ski specialists on 01273 224060

Banff's bustling ski town

Our adventure couldn’t have had a more straightforward start. We boarded a direct flight from London Heathrow to Calgary Airport, where we picked up our SUV. It’s worth noting here that the full itinerary could be easily completed by shared transport with convenient bus routes. However, as we had a jam-packed schedule, it made sense to opt for our own car.

The drive from Calgary to our first stop, Banff, was less than 90 miles (140 km) and took around an hour and a half. During this time, I had my first glimpse of Canada’s rugged scenery as we drove past Kananaskis into the Rocky Mountains.

We received a stunning welcome upon our arrival to Banff. The sun was close to setting, leaving behind a magnificent purple glow in the sky over the national park.

Banff Evening Sky & Ski Safari Team in Banff Town
We were stunned by the early evening backdrop as we strolled through the town

The 4* Mount Royal Hotel was our accommodation for the next two nights and is conveniently located on Banff Avenue. There would be plenty of time to make use of the Cascade Lounge and its rooftop bar and hot tubs, but the schedule called for us to drop our bags and pick up our rental gear from Ultimate Sports, which was just across the street - very handy!

Mount Royal Hotel, Banff Rooftop Hot Tubs From Lounge
Views from the Cascade Lounge rooftop bar and hot tubs at the Mount Royal

Rental gear acquired and preparation for the next day complete, it was time to take part in one of Banff's greatest traditions, soaking in Banff Upper Hot Springs - the highest operating hot spring in Canada. After a day of travelling, relaxing in the mineral-rich water surrounded by the jagged peaks of Cascade Mountain was just the ticket.

Our pleasant evening was complete once we had enjoyed a hearty meal at Brazen, which is located in the Mount Royal. If you want my advice, I'd recommend having the French onion mac & cheese (a very sophisticated version of mac & cheese!).

Brazen's French Onion Mac & Cheese
Just the right meal after a day of travelling

Livin' the life in Lake Louise

We assembled nice and early on our first morning to grab a quick breakfast at Evelyn's Coffee Bar before jumping on the ski bus to Lake Louise. The meeting point was just behind the Mount Royal Hotel - another huge bonus of staying there.

The journey from Banff to Lake Louise took under an hour and my goodness, was it worth it! While we were at an elevation of over 8,500ft, it wasn't the altitude that took our breath away; it was the magical panoramic views.

Lake Louise Panoramic Views
Sales Specialist Jack taking in the outrageous scenery at Lake Louise

Our Product & Sales Specialist Jack is an experienced North American skier, but this was his first time in Lake Louise. He had high expectations of the ski area and they were more than met.

"Our first ski day in Canada did not disappoint! Lake Louise treated us to bluebird skies, good spring snow conditions, and blissfully quiet slopes. The fantastic terrain suits all skill levels, so everyone could meet up at the end of each run. Plus, the variety of bars and refreshment options across the mountain was fantastic - great spring sun traps!"

Anna Phoebe Carina and Jack Chair Lift Lake Louise 2024
Anna, Phoebe, Carina and Jack catching the Summit Quad chairlift up before skiing down together!

After a full day of skiing, we returned to our base at the Mount Royal Hotel via another comfortable bus journey. By the time we had arrived back and freshened up, it was time for dinner. On the menu at Añejo Restaurant was a delicious Mexican spread of tacos, mussels and guacamole. You can't go wrong!

Tacos at Añejo Restaurant
Look at the range of Tacos at Añejo Restaurant!

Magic on Mount Norquay

Before I knew it, the sun was up again and I was having a lovely breakfast at the 3*+ Banff Aspen Lodge. The order of the day: polish off brekkie, jump in the SUV, hit the slopes at Mount Norquay for a fun-filled day of skiing and tubing.

This was Sales Consultant Carina's second time in Canada, but her first time in Banff. She summed up what was a glorious day at Mount Norquay:

"The skiing in Norquay added another layer of skiing diversity to our trip, plus we practically had the whole mountain to ourselves. It was super to ski with Jasper (our guide from Mount Norquay), who knew the mountain inside-out and showed us some of the more challenging sections. Most of the skiing in Norquay is steep with a vertical drop of 1,650 ft. If you want to practice your skill and technique after easing yourself in at Lake Louise, it’s a fantastic place to be."

Skiing between the trees at Mount Norquay 2024
Our guide Jasper showing us through the more gentle and empty runs at Mount Norquay! These were great fun to practise our turns on

Our day of skiing was full on and the fun didn't stop once we were off the slopes. In the late afternoon, we kicked off our skis and hit Mount Norquay's tube park. Getting to the top of the tube lanes was as effortless as gliding down them thanks to the magic carpet lift at the bottom. The fun atmosphere here was emphasised as we were encouraged by the attendants to go down as a group of five. Don't think twice about going down together; it's a great laugh.

Team Tubing Mount Norquay 2024
We had a great time whizzing down the hill as a group. It was easy to do lap after lap with the tube park's magic carpet

It was hard to leave the tube park and say goodbye to Mount Norquay, but we had to check into our next accommodation, the 4*+ Moose Hotel and Suites. I'd heard a lot about the Moose Hotel as it's a Ski Safari team and customer favourite and I can see why - it's located just a three-minute walk from downtown Banff and has a stunning rooftop hot tub, which we jumped straight into after dropping our bags!

Moose Hotel and Suites Rooftop Hot Tub Area 2024
After a busy day, a pre-dinner soak in the rooftop hot tubs with this view was much needed

For dinner that evening we strolled 10 minutes down Banff Avenue to High Rollers, an American diner-themed bowling alley. The pizzas there were very good - a lot better than our bowling skills! To finish the night, we enjoyed a tipple of locally-brewed beer at Banff Avenue Brewery. I love a crisp lager after a day's carving on the slopes and the Ride Or Dry lager is my recommendation if you’re the same.

A sublime time at Sunshine

We couldn't leave Banff without completing the "Ski Big3" trifecta, and the last resort to tick off was Sunshine Village. The resort sits on the Continental Divide in the heart of Banff National Park and was only a 15-minute drive from Banff in our SUV.

After pulling into the car park, we caught the 20-minute gondola up to the centre of the resort, where there are a number of different chairlifts that will take you further up the mountain. Sunshine is home to more than 3,300 acres of skiable terrain and I loved how diverse the ski area was. No matter which trail we took, the wide pistes seemed to go on forever. Following a few hours hurtling down the mountain, it was time to warm up with a spot of soup at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge.

Skiing & Lunch at Sunshine
Sunshine delivered outstanding backdrops

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring loads of fun little trails through the trees. My favourite moment was going down the ‘rollercoaster slope’ hidden in the tree line - true to its name, there were plenty of bumps to go over!

Before too long, it was time to change out of our salopettes and into our evening wear for dinner back in Banff town at the Three Bears Restaurant. Feeling full and satisfied, it was time to move on to our evening activity, the Johnston Canyon Ice Walk. We slipped on our ice cleats and head torches then walked through the picturesque canyon, crept through a natural cave and paused for quite a while to take in a stunning frozen waterfall. It was an incredible way to cap off our time in Banff.

 Johnston Canyon Ice Walk with Banff Tours
The outside of the waterfall is frozen over, but deeper inside there’s rushing water, the sound of which made the evening walk even more tranquil

Picturesque Panorama

The next morning we faced our longest drive of the trip. And when I say 'long', it was a mere two-hour trip along the Trans-Canada Highway, where we crossed the Continental Divide before turning onto Highways 93 and 95 to complete the journey to Panorama. This legendary route displayed more of Canada's beautiful, rugged scenery.

We arrived at the resort later that morning. As our rooms were still being prepared, we discovered a wonderfully convenient service at the Central Check-In building. Here we picked up our lift passes and room keys for our accommodation, the 3* The Approach, and were told the hotel would call us when our rooms were ready. Instead of waiting around for our rooms, we could go straight to the rental shop, pick up our gear, change, and hit the slopes.

Within an hour of our arrival, we were on a chairlift. But tummies were rumbling, so before clicking into our skis at the top, we decided to grab some lunch at the Elkhorn Cabin, one of a handful of quaint mid-mountain cabins at Panorama.

Team Lunch in Panorama 2024
Not sure I've had any lunchtime views better than this

In the afternoon, we discovered why Panorama is a hugely popular destination for mixed-ability groups and families. There were all types of terrain, from gentle runs and long, cruisy groomers at the top of Sunbird Chair to steep, thigh-burning trails through the trees at the top of Champagne Express. And because the slopes were so quiet, we had the freedom to carve the biggest lines and stop wherever we wanted to take in the scenery!

Having the mountain to ourselves should have come as no surprise because Panorama was ranked as the number one resort for most space per skier among the world’s 100 largest ski areas according to a 2019 report by European researcher Montenius Consulting.

Terrain in Panorama 2024
We had the runs to ourselves at Panorama

Too soon, the afternoon had ended and our rooms were ready. Panorama has an excellent selection of ski-in ski-out accommodation (another tick for families) and The Approach is perhaps the most convenient of them all. Positioned at the base of the slopes, we hopped off the lift and were in our rooms within minutes.

Following a quick soak in The Approach's hot tubs, it was time for dinner. If you happen to be in Panorma on a Wednesday, make your way to T-Bar & Grill for Wing Wednesday. The atmosphere was fantastic and the salt & pepper wings are mine and the gang's top recommendation.

We started the next day with a yummy grab-and-go breakfast from Fireside Cafe, located just below our hotel. After stepping outside, we realised we were being treated to some fresh powder!

Ski Safari Team at Panorama
Up on the mountain early in the morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to enjoy the fresh snow!

As we all consider ourselves to be confident skiers, we spent the day exploring more of the mountain guided by Lauren from the resort. With 85% of the trails graded intermediate or above, there was lots to see and ski! Sun Bowl and Roy's run were particular highlights as the moguls and tight turns put my intermediate skillset to the test.

Senior Sales Consultant Jack is the most advanced skier of the group and he had a whale of a time hurtling down the black diamond run called Top of the World - a daunting yet broad trail directly down from one of the highest points of the mountain. Knowing Jack, I imagined he went down it backwards!

Top of the World in Panorama & Jack
Senior Sales Consultant Jack on top of the world in Panorama

As our legs began to tire, we called it a day, got changed and rode the gondola down to the lower village to have dinner at Chopper's, the restaurant at the RK Heliplex. The burgers there are sensational and we ate beside a roaring fire crackling in the background - a rather relaxing way to spend the evening.

The next morning I woke up and realised it would be our final full day in the Rockies. The conditions couldn't have been nicer as we had sunny skies all day long.

There were barely any other skiers in sight as we whizzed between Panorama's shrubbery. In the moments we paused to catch our breath on the side of the slopes, I was able to fully soak up the expansive backdrop of Panorama's peaks littered with emerald trees and some dusted with snow.

Phoebe Skiing in Panorama 2024
I've skied in some amazing destinations, but Panorama may be the most picturesque

The skiing portion of our trip was completed, but we still had one last dinner with our amazing guide, Lauren. We had a craving for Italian, so we strolled into the heart of the village to Alto Kitchen & Bar to get our pizza fix. Our final dinner was one to remember with lots of laughter and freshly cooked pizza. The only downside of this whole trip was knowing that we had to leave the Rockies and head back to the UK the next day.

Dining & Pizza at Alto, Panorama 2024
Having a great time and even better pizza with Lauren from Panorama at Alto Kitchen & Bar

Never Been to Canada? Book This Ski Safari

This was my first time experiencing Canada and I can't speak highly enough of it. If you've never been and want to ski resorts with all-ability terrain, ski-in ski-out convenience and an authentic Canadian atmosphere, the Continental Divide Ski Safari is for you. Plus, it's great value as the Ikon Base Pass gives you access to all four resorts.

To find out more, speak to one of our specialists by enquiring online or by calling 01273 224060.

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