What it’s like to ride the iconic Banff Gondola

Climb aboard the Banff Gondola for a scenic journey in Canada’s oldest national park, writes Vivian Vassos

Nothing really prepared me for this pinch-me moment. As I climb aboard a cable car on the Banff Gondola, I’m excited. The window is cracked open and fresh mountain air rushes in. We rock gently as we begin our ascent, the world below slowly unfurling like a carpet that only Mother Nature can weave, as we head to the summit of Canada’s Sulphur Mountain.

Half a dozen Rocky Mountain peaks, snow-capped even in July, loom over the green Bow Valley Parkway and the town of Banff. Beneath us, a few mountain goats munch on grass, while bighorn sheep bask in the sun.

At the top, there’s more reward; an eagle swoops past, so close I could almost touch its wings. Around us, Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain pierce the blue sky with their white tips at nearly 3,000m high.

But even Mother Nature can be elevated. In winter, you can experience Nightrise – an immersive, interactive sound and light show, created in partnership with the Stoney Nakoda Nation – which plays after dark at the summit of the gondola between November and March.

Go later in the day and take in the spectacular sunset, then book dinner at Sky Bistro, a light-filled restaurant set more than 2,000m high, with a focus on local ingredients.

After sunset, the dark sky is a stargazer’s dream, offering the chance to see the aurora borealis.

There’s another magical sighting on the way back down as one of our party gasps at spotting a bear and cub on the slope below.

Once at the bottom, it’s a short stroll to The Rimrock Resort Hotel, a historic property that has been a community hub for more than 100 years and is just minutes from three of the area’s best ski hills.

The Rimrock’s free guest shuttle does a loop of the town, so I hop on board. Five minutes later, it arrives at one of Canada’s most glorious and storied rail hotels, Fairmont Banff Springs. Known as the ‘Castle in the Rockies’, the hotel has been hosting guests since 1888 and, although grand, it’s far from showing its age.

That’s the beauty of Banff; it’s an all-encompassing Canadian experience that never gets old.

Book it:

Tickets for the Banff Gondola start at about £37. Gold Medal offers a week’s room-only in a Classic King Room at The Rimrock Resort Hotel from £1,899 per person, based on two sharing. The price includes car hire and flights from Heathrow on May 11, 2025.
goldmedal.co.uk

PICTURES: Chris Amat; Shutterstock/Timothy Yue