text:
Bandungan

Bandungan is a small town and district in Central Java.

Understand
Bandungan is a small mountain town on the shoulder of Mount Ungaran, an easy day trip from Semarang. It is well known as a centre for horticultural products and flowers. One of the coolest areas in the Semarang area. There is also a swathe of villas and karaoke bars.

By car
Allow an hour from Semarang or Salatiga. The road to Bandungan is narrow and winding, but you can see beautiful scenery on the way.

By bemo
An Indonesia bemo called Angkot serves around the main road of Bandungan.

By horse
Only in the Gedong Songo temple area.

By ojek
Using ojek (motorcycle taxi) is more flexible to go to tourists or public objects.

On foot
Some streets are walking-friendly for pedestrians. Beware of walking along the street without a sidewalk.

See

 * Fruit farms, vegetable farms, and flower gardens.
 * Fruit farms, vegetable farms, and flower gardens.

Food souvenirs

 * Torakur candied tomatoes.

Sleep
There are some villas for rent and also hotels and resorts.

Hotel and resort

Telephone
The area code for Bandungan is 0298.

Internet
Several hotels provide free Wi-Fi. Some cellular providers cover 3G and 4G in Bandungan.

Go next
All of the following places are accessible in less than an hour by car, as well as having bus services that connect.

 * Semarang, the capital of Central Java
 * Ungaran, the capital of Semarang Regency
 * Salatiga, a small University town
 * Ambarawa with its Indonesia Railway Museum and the Rawa Pening lake. 8 km away. 30 min drive.
 * Kendal
 * Temanggung

title: Bandungan


text:
Banff

 * For the Scottish town that Banff was named after, see Banff (Scotland)

The town of Banff in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies, is the larger of the two populated areas in Banff National Park, about an hour and a half drive west of Calgary and four hours south of Jasper. Banff is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like many mountain towns, Banff has a very different character in winter and summer. There is a decent selection of bars and restaurants but predictably a few too many souvenir shops and boutiques. European travellers will especially welcome the sidewalks that facilitate exploration of the town on foot.

Understand
Banff is a tourist town full of visitors and seasonal workers from across Canada and around the world. It is a convenient base for seeing some spectacular scenery with little effort. However, with convenience comes crowds. Banff Avenue can be very busy on summer afternoons and evenings, but it is a great place to stay for any length of time. There are a wide variety of restaurants and clubs and plenty of tours and activities to keep you busy. Staying in Banff during the winter gives easy access to the nearby ski areas of Norquay, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise.

The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace in Banff, Scotland.

Climate
At an elevation of 1400m above sea level and surrounded by mountains, the climate is subarctic. Banff has experienced snowfall even during the summer months. With daily mean temperatures of +15°C in the summer and -8°C in the winter, the climate is very similar to northern Scandinavia.

By plane
The park is easily accessible for international travellers via Calgary International Airport, which has international scheduled and charter flights. The Banff Airporter ($63.99 one way) and the Brewster Airport Express ($69.99 one way) run regular scheduled trips between the airport and Banff several times daily.

Alternatively, On It transit provides a direct Calgary downtown to Banff central service for a flat rate of $10. It's less convenient than the direct shuttles, as getting from the airport to downtown requires either an expense taxi or an hour-long trip on public transit.

By car
From Calgary, take the Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) west. The first exit to Banff is about an hour and a half from the airport.

The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) is a scenic drive from Jasper.

Parking can be tricky, but the five-storey Bear Street Parkade near downtown is free. Look for it in the 100 block of Bear Street, one block west of Banff Avenue. The Bear Street Parkade also has an EV charging station. The Town of Banff website has parking maps.

By train
Regularly scheduled passenger trains no longer stop at Banff's historic train station, but luxury Rocky Mountaineer sightseeing trains run from Vancouver between late April and early October (reservations required), requiring two days to complete the journey with an overnight stop at Kamloops. You can take VIA Rail Canada train service to Edmonton or Jasper, and then either take a bus or rent a car and drive to Banff.

Park entry fees
All visitors stopping in Banff National Park (even just for gas or in the town) require a park permit. If you are driving through non-stop, the pass is not required. Day passes and annual passes are available; see Banff National Park for details.

By foot
The Banff townsite is small, and you can walk just about anywhere you want to go. Walking is quick, easy and allows for random adventures down to the river, through the forests, and up the mountains. All of these activities are within a 5- to 15-minute walking distance.

By bike
Biking around town is popular too. There are several shops to rent bicycles if you are interested in either mountain biking, quick travel downtown, or trail riding to the historic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. You can also combine cycling with public transit, as buses are equipped with bike racks. Banff is filled with trails that take you through forested areas, along streams and waterfalls, to incredible lake and mountain views.

See
The Canadian Rockies offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. It may seem a daunting task to try to see it all in a limited amount of time.

Many tour companies will eliminate the hassle, giving you the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. The friendly guides offer fun and informative sightseeing tours in and around the Banff area in comfortable vehicles.

Whimsy

 * For a spot of whimsy, you can check out Rather, the intersection thereof, about 2 blocks east of the train station, diagonal from the school. Nothing more than the signpost, but good for a chuckle.

Do
Mountain town activities are characteristically different in summer and winter.

Indoor activities
Banff does offer some indoor activities besides museums and galleries.

Spas
Banff National Park was established to protect and promote the natural hot springs at the Cave & Basin (now Cave & Basin National Historic Site). So there is a century-long tradition of visitors coming to take the waters in a spa-type setting. Today, visitors have many spas to choose from, but only the Upper Hot Springs Pool and Pleiades Spa allows visitors the opportunity to bathe in water from a hot spring.

Skiing and snowboarding
Banff National Park is home to three ski areas, all within easy drive of the Banff townsite. Driving to the hill is not strictly required, as ski shuttles have stops convenient to most hotels. They will take you to the mountain of your choice and back again. Shuttle buses are included in the price of some ski passes, or you may have to pay a fare ($15).

Of the three Banff National Park ski areas, only Sunshine Village has ski-in ski-out accommodations. However, access to Sunshine is solely through their gondola. The gondola stops running Sa-Th at 4PM, and F at 10PM. Sunshine is a village in name only; there are very few activities there after the ski lifts shut down for the day. Most skiers stay in the town of Banff or the village of Lake Louise.

The ski season in Banff runs from early November to mid-April. The final day of skiing at Sunshine Village is always on Victoria Day, in late May.

 * See also Lake Louise Ski Resort
 * See also Lake Louise Ski Resort
 * See also Lake Louise Ski Resort

All the ski hills are busier on the weekends. Lake Louise tends to get icy if it hasn't snowed in a while, but with fresh snow is hard to beat. Sunshine Village has been giving them some competition with their new terrain and improvements however. Especially in the early season, pay attention to how many runs are open and how much recent snow has been received in the snow reports - they are better indications of the conditions than the generic conditions ratings given by the hills (the conditions are always at least 'good' according to their ratings). If you only have a few hours and want to ski where the locals ski check out Ski Norquay, it has nice long open runs with great views of the town.

Lift passes
If you arrive before December 31 and you intend to ski at least 3 days at Sunshine Village, or a combination of three days at Sunshine and at Marmot Basin in Jasper, consider buying a Sunshine-Marmot card. The card costs about the same price as one lift ticket. The first, fourth and seventh times you use the card you get a free lift ticket, all other times you get $10 off (you are ahead quite a bit by the third day). These cards can be purchased on the hill (either Sunshine or Marmot Basin), or also at Safeway stores in Edmonton and Calgary, and are valid at Sunshine Village in Banff and Marmot Basin ski resort in Jasper. The Sunshine-Marmot cards are available for purchase until December 31 but can be used all season.

Louise Plus cards are very similar to Sunshine Marmot Cards. In addition to Lake Louise, they are also honored at four other ski areas: Castle (near Pincher Creek, Alberta); Revelstoke (Revelstoke, BC); Panorama (Panorama, BC), and Schweitzer (Sandpoint, Idaho, USA).

You can purchase a Tri-Area Pass for Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Mountain Resort and Norquay. This ticket includes the bus transportation and can be used at any of the three hills at any time.

Ski and snowboard rentals
There are a number of great places in the Town of Banff that will rent high quality skis, snowboards, and boots. Some will also rent winter coats and pants. All Banff National Park ski areas require skiers & snowboarders under age 18 to wear helmets. Adults will find that not only do helmets protect your head when you fall, but they do a great job of keeping your head warm in cold and windy weather.

Other winter activities

 * Ice skating. There are outdoor skating rinks at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (fire, heated shelter) and at Banff Community High School (right next to Banff Avenue). A section of the Bow River is also cleared for skating. However, as always with bodies of natural ice, be careful. There is an indoor rink at Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Ice skates can be rented from some of the ski rental business.
 *  Snowshoeing. Strap on snowshoes and walk through pristine snow like the fur traders did in days gone by, a true winter experience. Guided snowshoe walks are available, or you can rent snowshoes from some ski rental shops. Snowshoeing is subject to the same avalanche risks as cross-country skiing; check the current avalanche risk for your planned route with Parks Canada or at the website of the Canadian Avalanche Centre. In March 2014, four snowshoers were killed when they went into avalanche terrain near Lake Louise without proper training or equipment.

Summer
Summer in Banff, just like winter, is stunning. There are plenty of hiking trails accessible from the main town, as well as tours for horseback riding, white water rafting, mountain biking and more. Be warned though - some smaller tour companies are not as professional as the larger tour companies. If they are overbooked, they may pass your credit card details along to a third party without your knowledge and book another tour on your behalf (not always at the same price, and not always the same tour!)

Hiking and wildlife viewing
Banff has the most beautiful trails surrounding it. You can pick up a free trail map at the Visitor Centre, or find many trail maps online, as downloadable pdf files. Please check the trail reports online or with the Parks Canada desk before you go, as high-elevation snow, bear activity, or other factors may close trails or create hazards. Another option is to go with a hiking guide and group, different locations are available.

While in the area, always keep your eyes peeled as there are so many animals to spot in the summer in Banff. It is important to keep your distance, though, as wildlife is wild and they should be kept that way, they can be dangerous too! In the spring, female elk are very protective of their calves, who may lie hidden out of sight; in fall, bull elk are extremely aggressive during the rut. For this reason, you will need a telephoto lens to get good photos of wildlife while staying safe.

How can you tell that you are getting too close to wildlife? If the animal stares at you, moves away from you (even just a few steps), or behaves aggressively toward you, then you should back away until that behavior stops. Also, it is illegal to feed wildlife in a national park.

Visitors often confuse bighorn sheep with mountain goats. Goats are white with black noses and short black horns, and are usually seen high up on rocky ledges. Bighorn sheep are brown, with white rump patches and brown horns. They are usually seen by roadsides and grazing on grasses close to rocky outcrops. You'll never forget the difference after you watch this Parks Canada music video, "GOat Sheep GOat".

Buy
Enjoy strolling alongside locals and world-travellers as you discover a cosmopolitan collection of galleries, boutiques and cafés. Shops range from internationally recognized clothiers or independently-owned establishments to Canada's oldest department store. A recommended way to experience the highlights is to start on Banff Avenue at the Cascade Plaza mall, do a quick circuit of the shops there, then head down Banff Avenue towards the Bow River. This is the retail, cafe, and restaurant heart of Banff. Once you get near the river, turn around and head back on the other side of Banff Avenue to complete the Banff shopping loop.

Eat

Banff is an exciting place to visit on all fronts, and the palate is not excluded. There are pubs, fast-food, fine dining, steakhouses (this is Alberta, after all!), traditional fare from around the world, and candy shops.

Banff can be an expensive place to dine as it is a tourist destination.

Alcoholic beverages: Visitors to Banff can sometimes be perplexed by Alberta's liquor laws. The legal drinking age in Alberta is 18. A restaurant that does not serve alcohol can admit diners of all ages. However, some restaurants that serve alcohol may be required to bar anyone under 18 from entering — even if they are just going to use the toilet. A second type of liquor licence allows both adults and minors to enter. To further confuse things, the same restaurant may be allowed to accept diners of all ages at certain times, but be open only to ages 18+ at other times of the day (usually evenings). All establishments that serve alcoholic beverages are legally required to have a food menu as well.

In a hotel, guests cannot take their unfinished alcoholic drinks from the hotel restaurant to their hotel room.

These are not rules imposed by management; they are legal requirements, and the business could forfeit their liquor licence if they are caught breaking them. Similarly, younger drinkers may have to show proof of age before they are served. Again, the business could lose their liquor licence if they are found serving under-aged patrons, so they need to be very careful.

Desserts & sweets
Every tourist destination has stores that specialize in tempting visitors with sweet delights.

Drink
Banff has a large variety of places to sit and enjoy a drink whether it is après ski or a patio.

Most of the pubs have live music, both open mike and hired bands. Dancing is definitely encouraged!

Sleep
Being a national park, Banff has plenty of accommodation. However, book early, because places fill up quickly in winter and summer. To live in Banff, as opposed to being a perpetual tourist, residents must have a business in town. If you have access to a car, another often cheaper alternative is to stay in Canmore and drive to the ski resorts or into Banff.

Most hotels are along Banff Avenue or on Tunnel Mountain Road.

Connect
All phone numbers must be preceded by a local area code. The area codes 403 and 587 are used for Banff & Lake Louise and most of Southern Alberta. If you see a Banff phone number without an area code, use the older area code, 403.

Stay safe
Banff has a lot of wildlife roaming in and around the town. Be careful of elk and deer when driving in the town. The most dangerous wildlife in Banff National Park are not bears or cougars, but elk. In spring, female (cow) elk are very protective of their offspring and will charge anyone who they consider a threat. In the fall, male (bull) elk are rutting and very aggressive. Cow elk weigh roughly 230 kg (507 lb), while bull elk weigh about 320 kg (705 lbs). Both sexes are capable of seriously injuring a person, and rutting males have also damaged cars.

Thirty years ago, bears used to be quite common within the town but conservation efforts have largely fixed this problem. Garbage and litter within the town must be discarded into bear-proof containers. In Banff National Park it is illegal to feed any wildlife, and both stupid and illegal to feed bears. "A fed bear is a dead bear": bears who learn to associate humans with food engage in behaviours that are threatening to humans and ultimately fatal to the bear.

Avalanches are a risk in winter. This risk is not limited to people engaging in activities like cross-country (Nordic) skiing, skiing off piste, ice climbing, or snowmobiling. The winter of 2013-2014 was particularly tragic in Banff National Park because four people were killed by an avalanche when snowshoeing and two people were killed by an avalanche when sledding. None of them had any avalanche gear with them.

Learn to identify avalanche hazards. An avalanche slope has enough of a slope to it that you can ski or sled down, but is not so steep that it won't hold snow. If you're not familiar with how to spot avalanche risks and you want to engage in outdoor activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or even sledding, check with Parks Canada staff or the Canadian Avalanche Centre for more information.

Be alert to your surroundings. Not all cliffs or other unsafe areas are marked with signs or blocked off by railings. Some travellers disregard railings and warning signs of unsafe terrain, when they exist, because they are keen on getting a closer look or taking photographs. Even if the risk is not obvious to you, it's best to assume that someone put up the barriers and safety messages for a good reason.

Emergency contacts

 * Ambulance/Police/Fire: 9-1-1.

Go next

 * If you are staying in the Banff and Lake Louise area and don't mind the slightly longer drive, you may also consider the Kicking Horse Ski resort just over the border in Golden, British Columbia west of Yoho National Park, Banff's sister park and Canada's second protected area.
 * Drive along highway 1A west of Banff.
 * Johnston Canyon hiking.
 * Bow Falls is close to the Banff townsite.
 * Peyto Lake, in Banff National Park, is 40 km north of the town on the Icefields Parkway.
 * Jasper National Park — even more magnificent Rockies landscapes and hiking trails.
 * Calgary — the largest city in the province, world famous for its Stampede and an access point to many of the region's national parks.
 * Edmonton — set in a beautiful river valley park system, Edmonton is a great place to experience live theatre and music.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Banff


text:
Banff National Park

Banff National Park is in the Alberta Rockies region of Alberta. Together with six other national parks it makes up the UNESCO World Heritage site "Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks".

Established in 1885, it is the world's third oldest national park, after Yellowstone National Park in the United States, and Royal National Park in Australia.

Understand
Established in 1885, Banff National Park is Canada's first national park, and its creation gave birth to Canada's national park system. At 6,641 km², it is also one of the largest national parks in Canada. Millions of people visit the park each year.

The park starts in the north at just south of the Columbia Icefield and Jasper National Park with the  just north of Canmore. The town of Banff and the village and resort of Lake Louise are within the park. The other park entrances are from the east near the and from the west at  and.

History
This area was inhabited by the Nakoda (Stoney) Indians thousands of years before the white man arrived. The area was explored by the workers building the transcontinental railway in 1882. At first the park was centred around the Cave and Basin Hot Springs, and was officially born in 1885. The first Banff Springs Hotel was built three years later, the current incarnation was built in 1928. The first highway through the park was completed in 1923. The park boundaries as they are today were drawn up in 1930, as part of the National Parks Act passed by Canadian Parliament.

Landscape
Other than the townsites of Banff and Lake Louise, the three ski areas (Norquay, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise), and the highways that bisect the park, it is about 93% untouched wilderness. The most dominant feature is the mountains, of which vistas are present from anywhere in any direction.

Flora and fauna
The most common wildlife seen in the park are bighorn sheep, deer, and North American elk. Moose are more elusive (their population is in decline) and mountain goats are virtually undetectable on the mountainsides without a good pair of binoculars. (Visitors often mistake female bighorn sheep for mountain goats, because female bighorns have short horns somewhat like those of mountain goats.) Although caribou are present in the park, they are rarely seen by visitors. It is important to keep in mind the park is also home to black bears, grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, and cougars (mountain lions).

On the warmer and fuzzier side, the park is home to many tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. The occasional porcupine and beaver may also be found. Bird lovers will want to watch for Ruffed Grouse, Bald Eagles, and the ubiquitous Canada Goose.

Climate
In summer the climate is generally mild. July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 22 °C. There is rarely snow at highway level in the summer, but the mountain tops will be snow covered year round. In winter the average temperature drops drastically. January is the coldest month with an average of -15 °C. Snow will be found at any elevation in the winter, and harsh winter conditions can be expected anywhere at any time. No matter the season, it is important to consider that the temperature will drop 1 °C for every 200 m of elevation gained.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) bisects the park east/west. Banff is about an hour and a half from Calgary Alberta and the same from Golden British Columbia. Other ways to enter the park by automobile include the Icefields Parkway from Jasper, Highway 11 from Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer Alberta, and Highway 93 from Radium Hot Springs and Cranbrook British Columbia.

By train
Explore the Canadian Rockies by rail. Day rail tours depart from Banff connecting to Vancouver.

 * Rocky Mountaineer provides independent year round vacation packages to the most unique and scenic regions of Canada, including travel on the world acclaimed Rocky Mountaineer rail journey.

Between Mid-April and Mid-October, the two-day, all daylight Rocky Mountaineer travels between Vancouver or Whistler, British Columbia and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper, Banff or Calgary Alberta. Guests relax in Silverleaf or Goldleaf Service, enjoying onboard commentary and bi-regional cuisine as the awe-inspiring scenery passes by at a leisurely pace. For selected departure dates in December, the festive Rocky Mountaineer travels through a winter wonderland where the mountain valleys are covered in a blanket of snow.

By air
The closest international airport is in Calgary. Vancouver International Airport is approximately 12 hours' drive to the west. Springbank Airport (west of Calgary, towards Banff) is nearly 80 km from Banff. Springbank operates short charter flights with small aircraft. There is a heliport in Canmore, 5 minutes drive east of the park boundary and a 15-minute drive from the town of Banff.

Fees and permits
Most Canadian national parks charge an entry fee to Canadians and visitors alike, and Banff is no exception. However, you do get some extra value: Banff, the three adjoining national parks (Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho), and two smaller ones further west (Glacier, Mount Revelstoke) essentially function as one large park: if you buy a park permit in one park, you can visit any of the others using the same permit.

All visitors stopping in the park (even just for gas) require a park permit, purchased at the gate or online. If you are driving on Highway 1 and don't intend to stop on the (very scenic) segment between Canmore and Golden, you don't need to buy a pass.

Daily entry is valid until 4pm on the next day, and fees as of July 2022 are:
 * $10.50 for an adult (aged 18-64)
 * $9.00 for a senior (aged 65+)
 * free for children and youth (17 and under)
 * $21.00 for a family/group (up to 7 people arriving in one vehicle)

A Discovery Pass includes admission to national historic sites operated by Parks Canada, such as the Banff Park Museum, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Bar U Ranch, Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, Fort Langley National Historic Site, and more. Parks Canada does not operate all of Canada's national historic sites.

All passes can be purchased at the visitor centers at Banff and Lake Louise or at the tourism website. The Parks Canada website only allows purchase of the Annual Discovery Pass. Visitors staying in for at least 7 days are better off purchasing the annual Discovery Park pass. If you purchase online at the tourism website, it will recommend the cheapest method based on your visit dates.

Additional variable fees are required for camping and backcountry exploration. See the official Parks Canada website for a complete current schedule.

Get around

 * Moraine Lake Bus Company. Shuttle bus connecting the Lake Louise Summer Gondola parking lot, Lake Louise Village, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
 * By far the easiest way to get around is by vehicle. Vehicle rentals are available in Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise. The only places to purchase fuel in the park are in Banff and Lake Louise, Castle Mountain Chalets, and Saskatchewan River Crossing Resort.
 * It is also possible to cover the park on bicycle, but the mountainous terrain will make this quite a workout. Bicycle rentals (town, road and mountain bikes) are also available with in Banff and Lake Louise, visit the Parks Canada information centre for road and trail routes.
 * By far the easiest way to get around is by vehicle. Vehicle rentals are available in Calgary, Banff and Lake Louise. The only places to purchase fuel in the park are in Banff and Lake Louise, Castle Mountain Chalets, and Saskatchewan River Crossing Resort.
 * It is also possible to cover the park on bicycle, but the mountainous terrain will make this quite a workout. Bicycle rentals (town, road and mountain bikes) are also available with in Banff and Lake Louise, visit the Parks Canada information centre for road and trail routes.

Moraine Lake vehicle access restriction
No personal vehicles are allowed to travel to Moraine Lake. Roam Transit, the Parks Canada Shuttle, and commercial shuttles are your only options to reach Moraine Lake.

See
There are thousands of kilometers of hiking and nature trails within Banff park. These feature wildlife, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes, rivers, streams, and mountains. Banff is located at a high latitude and thus the scenery is four-seasonal; Banff looks completely different in the winter than it does in the summer.

Do
Visit the official site for Banff Lake Louise Tourism to find any activity you may be looking for.

Banff National Park also offers a large variety of activities in the winter: skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, icefishing, ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice climbing.

Buy
In nearby towns, such as Banff, Canmore and Jasper, you may enjoy strolling alongside locals and visitors as you discover a cosmopolitan collection of galleries, boutiques and cafés. Shops range from internationally recognized clothiers or independently-owned establishments to Canada's oldest department store. The village of Lake Louise also has a few places to purchase supplies.

Eat
Recipes change according to the seasons and make use of fresh local ingredients. During the fall and winter, this means game, squash and legumes, while spring features asparagus and mushrooms and summer highlights edible flowers and fresh fruits. The majority of restaurants are found in Banff town, with a few at other resorts in the park.

Drink
Banff town has a large variety of places to sit and enjoy a drink whether it is après ski or a patio.

Sleep
Whether camping or looking for a high class hotel, Banff National Park has something to offer. Camping spots are found throughout the park. Camping outside of designated spots is illegal without a special backcountry permit.

There are many hotels and lodges and bed-and-breakfasts throughout Banff. Vacation rental apartments can also be found easily. Some resorts provide log-cabin rentals. RV parking is available very close to Banff township.

Stay safe
Although cougar and bear attacks may get sensationalized in the media, statistically the greatest threat for injury or death in the park is driving. If you are unfamiliar with driving in winter conditions it is highly recommended you either use other transportation, or visit in the summer. If venturing in the backcountry you must also be aware of avalanche danger. This also applies to skiing out of bounds, in three words: Don't do it.

Elk, moose and deer are unpredictable and potentially dangerous, especially females with young (May and June) and males during the mating season (September to November). Remember, stay at least 30 metres (3 bus-lengths) away from any elk, moose or deer.

Elk (a.k.a. Wapiti) in some areas of the park are accustomed to the presence of people and automobiles. Do not think you can photograph a bull elk (i.e. one with antlers) from close-up by driving slowly past it while you shoot. Especially during the rut (mating season), bull elk have been known to attack an automobile without warning, and can cause serious damage.

Wolves and coyotes are often seen on trails and along roads. Cougars are elusive and rarely seen, but they do live here. The chance of being approached by these carnivores is unlikely, but if you are approached, send a clear message that you are not prey.

 * Pick up small children immediately.
 * Try to appear bigger, by holding your arms or an object over your head.
 * Face the animal and retreat slowly. Do not run or play dead.
 * Maintain steady eye contact with the animal.
 * If the animal continues to approach, deter an attack by yelling, waving a stick or throwing rocks.
 * If you are attacked, fight back. Hit the animal with a heavy stick or rock.

Rules to follow for your safety and theirs:

 * Give all the wild animals you see the respect they deserve and the space they need.
 * Use your binoculars to see animals up close, and use telephoto for your photos.
 * Remain at least 100 metres (10 bus lengths) away from bears, cougars, and wolves.
 * Keep back at least 30 metres (3 bus lengths) from elk, moose, deer and Americans. Bighorn sheep are generally tolerant of humans' presence, but you should still give them at least 10 metres distance.
 * When viewing roadside wildlife remain in your vehicle and move on after a few seconds.
 * When hiking outside of the main tourist spots, travelling in groups is recommended, as is carrying bear spray for protection.

Learn more and educate yourself from a reliable source.

Ask park staff about wildlife safety, and how you can keep wildlife wild– and alive, or read Parks Canada wildlife publications available at information centers or on the Parks Canada website.

Emergency contacts

 * Ambulance, Police and Fire: 9-1-1.

Go next
Although Banff is considered one of the best places to "get out" of the nearby cities, these nearby destinations are great:

 * Jasper National Park: Just as spectacular scenery with a little fewer tourists, located immediately north of Banff National Park.
 * Kootenay National Park: Located immediately south of Banff National Park.
 * Yoho National Park: Once away from the few car parks, real away from people destination, located immediately west of Banff National Park.

The nearest major cities are:
 * Edmonton: Capital of Alberta, from the National part to Edmonton Mall for a real cultural contrast.
 * Calgary: Colder and smaller version of Dallas. Stampede week is in early July, one of the great world parties, and rodeo.

title: Banff National Park


text:
Banfora

Banfora is a city in Burkina Faso

Understand
Banfora is greener than Bobo – and of course is home to the famous Banfora Cascades (actually about 10 km away from the city itself – but easily accessible by bike). Banfora has more Faux Types than Bobo – and you get more unsolicited attention.

French and Jula are spoken. Lots of sugar cane fields line the route as you come in from Bobo (a main crop down there).

Get in
STMB and Rakieta, Sogebaf, and assorted taxi brousses all roll the Bobo Banfora route. Rakieta comes recommended above all others. Air-conditioned between Bobo and Ouagadougou (1500F Banfora-Bobo, 7000F Banfora-Ouaga as of April 2009)

Trains on the line between Ouagadougou and Abidjan call in Banfora.

Do

 * Dômes de Fabédougou (10 km from town) great dome-shaped sandstone formations in the vicinity of the falls and the sugarcane fields.
 * Dômes de Fabédougou (10 km from town) great dome-shaped sandstone formations in the vicinity of the falls and the sugarcane fields.
 * Dômes de Fabédougou (10 km from town) great dome-shaped sandstone formations in the vicinity of the falls and the sugarcane fields.

Buy

 * Marché The Grand Marche is on Sundays – but all other days of the week there is a significant marche where you can get most anything.
 * Boutiques Ubiquitous. Supermarkets and Shops to note – Between the Alimentation across from the Marche and its super-well-stocked boutique neighbor lots is available (eggs, flour, yoghurt, fancy cookies, duracell batteries, etc. ) The boutique near the round point has milk sometimes and there is a gas station shop on the road to Bobo as you leave town. Beauty products are available from a store next door to McDonalds (not the golden arches kind).
 * Tailors

Drink

 * A local specialty is bangui, a palm wine made from Borassus palms.

Connect

 * Post Office You can use it to withdraw money from your postal checking account. 7:30AM–11:30AM and 3PM–5PM.
 * Internet Apparently lots of one horse (computer) joints exist and the general price is near 3000cfa for one hour. The better option is one right next to the Catholic School.

Go next

 * Peaks of Sindou (45 km from town) watch out for the dirty water there – and you’ll need a guide.
 * Comoé-Léraba Reserve (100 km from town) some of the best wildlife experiences in Burkina Faso.
 * Niansogoni (90 km from town) beautiful 'village troglodyte' on the cliffs, nice relaxing 'campement' below.

title: Banfora