Travel Eye on Lake Louise (Alberta, Canada)

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Overview:

This is Canada's largest skiable terrain, with varying descents on 4 different mountains, covering 17 sq mls, long gentle greens, tree-lined pistes and deep powder back bowls. A high percentage of ski-runs are aimed at intermediate and expert skiers but there are still more than enough beginner runs.

Lake Louise has been described as the 'Jewel in the Rockies' for a number of reasons. With a superb all-natural snow record and a location in the heart of the Banff National Park (a World Heritage Site), this is skiing on a grand and glorious scale. What really defines Lake Louise (and North American skiing in general) is the incredible customer service and the amazing user-friendliness of the skiing.

This resort is suitable for the serious downhill and cross-country skiers, climbers and hikers not wishing to commute daily from Banff and farther afield. Popular with self-catering couples and families. The limited nightlife at the few hotels may not suit energetic 18 to 30s.

Winter temperatures can be very severe, with Jan/Feb temperatures often plummeting to -30°C, which means arctic-style clothing and winterised vehicles are absolutely essential.

Lake Louise itself is pretty small, but it does have a good selection of accommodation and restaurants - most are good value-for-money. If your budget is bigger, you can always stay at the world-famous Chateau Lake Louise, which is also a lovely spot to drop in for lunch during your ski day.

Après-ski is distinctly North American, with line-dancing and Country music dominating the bar life. Alternatively, you can choose to stay 60km away in Banff itself. Banff, a significantly larger town is for many a better choice as a base resort, offering you closer access to Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay/Mystic Ridge ski areas and a wider choice of lodging and dining options.

If you visit, you will quickly understand why, along with Whistler, most Europeans head for Lake Louise. It has great skiing, is incredibly user-friendly, the snow is excellent and it's all very reasonably priced.

Locality:

Lake Louise is set in the heart of Banff National Park. It is in a small valley, sandwiched between the main Trans Canada Highway and Bow River, and flanked on both the east and west sides by steeply forested mountains. The ski-areas of Lake Louise proper and Victoria Glacier are almost 3 miles and 500 ft above the village centre respectively.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to:

A ski-school meets at the foot of the nursery slopes. On-site medical centre, supervised nursery and restaurants.

There is little danger of going mad with credit cards, unless you're visiting Hotel Chateau's designer boutiques. A dozen premises line the village's car park and, other than bare essentials, the choice is a ski-store, gift shop, grocery store and well-stocked book shop.

During the daytime there is downhill skiing, horse riding, dog sledding and, increasingly, cross-country skiing and ice-skating on lake.

Nightlife here is generally low key, confined exclusively to hotels and their occasional theme nights. Not for night owls in search of a sophisticated club scene.

The only alternatives for eating out here instead of hotel dining are 3 independent restaurants, including one in the old train station which boasts the title of "oldest building in the village" (1909).