Good question! Many reasons make it worth hiring a professional guide during your next trip to the Canadian Rockies:

A guide increases safety. Guides are trained to care for others in mountain environments. While risks can never be eliminated, guides are able to recognize hazards as they appear and to deal with them accordingly. This goes for wildlife (bears, deer, cougars, etc.), weather (wind, cold, precipitation, etc.) and terrain (stream crossings, rockfall, navigation issues, etc.) hazards. Navigational skills in particular cannot be underestimated in an environment such as the Canadian Rockies where weather changes quickly and complete wilderness is never far. Guides are also trained in wilderness first aid and risk minimization. They carry emergency gear at all times and know how to put forward an emergency response.

A guide knows where to go. Guides have an unmatched knowledge of the area they operate in and can take you to places you would probably never have reached on your own. Guides have a passion for sharing the secrets of Banff National Park with visitors.

Guides can make your experience considerably richer because of their interpretive skills. They help guests understand and love the landscape they travel through, along with the life forms that inhabit it, and make the experience meaningful. Guides are also environmental stewards and ensure that the impacts of mountain activities on the ecosystems are minimized.

A good guide will do his best to maintain the comfort of his guests, physically and psychologically, and to provide competent leadership.

Hiring a guide facilitates the visitor's experience. The guide can ensure logistics, gear and permits are taken care of to provide a stress-free experience. Some also hire guides for companionship, a friendly partner to head into the mountains with.

In short, guides make the necessary decisions to maximize the the safety, comfort and enjoyment of the clients they are responsible for.

To learn more about guides, visit The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and Interpretive Guides Association.

Where else in the world can you hike amidst turquoise lakes, shiny glaciers, sheer rock faces, abundant wildlife, spectacular wilderness and get that wonderful feeling of discovery, yet never be too far from all services, facilities and even an international airport? Nowhere, I am afraid. From my personal experience, I would suggest that The Rockies offer the "best easily accessible hiking" in the world. In fact, the Icefields Parkway, the road that allows easy access to the suggested trips, has been deemed the "most beautiful road on Earth" by many. The Canadian Rockies parks form a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is arguably the most spectacular and accessible natural display in the world (wildlife, scenery, plenty of wilderness). The beauty of visiting Banff National Park stems from that fine balance, to which one could add a very unique geological record, the low costs of a visit to Canada (in comparison with the US or Europe, for example), the availability of activities for all and the striking variety in the landscapes of Western Canada.

As the indigenous proverb says:

"We don’t inherit the planet from our parents; we borrow it from our children"

Paul Zizka Guiding is very concerned with the state of our dear Earth and vows to do anything possible to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. This means adhering to Minimum Impact principles whenever possible and committing to sustainability by donating 1% of its annual revenues to environmental organizations. The main driving force behind the company is the belief that we must start treating our environment better but that the only way to achieve that goal is to help people reconnect with, understand, and truly love the planet again.

Rest assured that the respect of your privacy is a priority and that any personal information collected by Paul Zizka Guiding is used solely to maximize your safety, comfort and enjoyment during your stay in Banff National Park and will not, under any circumstances, be shared with any other company or individual. Should you receive Paul Zizka Guiding newsletters once you provided your email, you will be given the option to easily opt out of the mailing list. Please contact me should you have any remaining concerns about privacy and confidentiality.

Once you have booked a trip you will be sent an information package that will include a gear checklist. Some of the items on the list are required, while others are optional. You may be surprised at some of the items you will see on there, but know that it can snow in August in northern Banff National Park. I do have extras of some the mandatory items so I may be able to help. Simply contact me to let me know what you are missing and I will be happy to help. I can also provide advice on gear you may need to purchase or rent.

Here is a standard gear list for the typical trips. This list is flexible to allow for different trips and weather conditions.

Required Items:

Boots (most important piece of gear; fit is critical: make sure they work for you BEFORE the trip; comfortable, broken in and with good ankle support, preferably with good sole traction and waterproof - they are likely to get wet on any hike, on any day)

Socks (that wick moisture away from the skin (try merino wool); if you are prone to blisters, apply protection before donning the socks)

Backpack (a capacity of 20L-30L should do the trick for most people)

Water Container (at least 1L, preferably larger)

Sunglasses (preferably blocking all UV radiation)

Sunscreen (even on cloudy days)

Warm Hat (you should be able to keep warm at a temperature of 0 C when moving slowly and wearing all your layers; the head is responsible for more than half of the body's heat loss)

Sun Hat (the glaciers of the Rockies and the early season snow can get incredibly bright on sunny days)

Rain Gear with Hood and Rain Pants (you should be able to stay relatively dry even in long-lasting snow or rain; hypothermia is a common problem in the mountains)

Warm Upper Body Layer (you should be able to keep warm at a temperature of 0 C when moving slowly and wearing all your layers)

Next-to-Skin Layer (avoid cotton; a layered system is more adaptable and will keep you more comfortable)

Hiking Pants (avoid cotton or jeans; zip-off pants are convenient on warm days or on trips that involve stream crossings)

Gloves or Mitts (if you have poor blood circulation, consider bringing mittens, which allow your fingers to share heat)

Snacks and Lunch (if possible, choose food items that are not overly scented as most trips take us into bear country; bring more than you think you might need; ideally, include proteins, carbohydrates and fats)

Optional Items:

Trekking Poles (highly recommended; they reduce fatigue and impacts on your knees; they also provide balance and do not take long to get used to)

Gaiters (keep water, snow and rocks out of your boots and reduce wear on your boots and pants)

Personal First Aid Kit

Personal Toilet Items and Storage Bag (no scented items if possible as most trips take us into bear country; be ready to pack out your garbage)

Camera and Batteries (it is almost hard to take a bad picture around here! Contact me should you have any questions about what photography gear to bring)

Insect Repellent (could be useful on lower elevation trips)

Extra socks (handy after wet stream crossings)

Pack rain cover

Binoculars (a must for birdwatchers)

Sandals (for those trips that require fording streams)

Ideally, your pack should not weight more than 15% of your body weight, particularly on longer days.

Monod Sports is probably the best place to buy gear in Banff. For rentals, drop by Mountain Magic Equipment. In Calgary, try Mountain Equipment Coop. In Lake Louise, visit Wilson Sports. Both of the latter sell and rent hiking gear.

The best way to train for any activity is to do the activity itself, so walking will work best. Start walking or hiking at home several weeks before your visit to the Rockies, and try to include some ascents and descents in your itinerary. Try to adopt a lifestyle that includes healthy meals and regular exercise. A few days before your booked hike, consider exercising in the immediate area to see how you do in the Canadian Rockies environment. More options will be available to you if you can be on the move for a full day.

Paul Zizka Guiding operates from June 1st to October 15th. On a typical year, all of the suggested trips are doable in July and August and possibly in the latter half of June and through September. However, all years are different. Paul Zizka Guiding allows for the necessary flexibility to always provide the best experience possible. At either end of the operating season, hikes will likely be led in the gentler Banff and Lake Louise areas.

With few exceptions, the number of hikers ranges from 2 to 8. If you book an exclusive hike, the participants will consist of your group only. If the hike is open to all, you will get a chance to meet others who came from all over the world to share the natural beauty the park has to offer.

Generally speaking, the trips suggested may turn out to be rather challenging for children. Moreover, kids in general have a limited interest for geological features or spectacular scenery, and they are quite sensitive to changes in weather. Contact me if you are considering hiking with children.

Of course, there is no simple answer to this question. On the trips page, the hikes are given a difficulty rating and an approximate time that includes all stops. Those are simply indicators that provide a basis of comparison between those specific trips. Weather conditions can dramatically affect the difficulty and length of the trips for example.

An easy hike usually means traveling over flat surfaces and short distances, with perhaps a few more challenging sections. Easy trips are generally accessible to all visitors, including those who don't have any hiking experience.
A moderate hike typically includes a steady climb, rougher terrain and longer days. Prior, recent hiking experience is preferable for such trips.
Strenuous trips involve steep trails, off-trail travel, stream crossings and overall more challenging conditions that make it necessary for participants to have prior hiking experience.

For obvious reasons, a lot of work goes into making sure that the chosen outings are appropriate. It is impossible to define in absolute terms what a "moderate hike" is or what a "reasonable level of fitness" is. In order to provide the best experience for all, we rely on an information package that all participants are asked to fill out as well as a pre-trip meeting whenever possible, and we adjust objectives as necessary.

Simply contact me and let me know which trip(s) you are interested in, and the dates, and I will get back to you quickly to make arrangements. If a non-exclusive trip has already been planned for the date you choose, you are more than welcome to join the trip if there is room. If the date is free, you get to decide which suitable hike you would like to go on. It is then possible to book a hike exclusively for your group, which makes for a more personalized experience. Simply mention that you would like an exclusive booking in your enquiry.

If you have already made an enquiry about a trip and would like to reserve your space on a hike, you can do so here.

Paul Zizka Guiding does not charge cancellation fees. However, please let me know as early as possible if for some reason you are unable to make it.

Once you have enquired about a trip, you will be sent an info package in which you will be given an opportunity to share such personal information.

Overall, the Canadian Rockies are rather chilly but the summers are usually quite nice. The air is generally dry and the region gets less rain than many would expect. However, as in any mountain region, weather is unpredictable, which means that forecasts are notoriously unreliable and that it can snow at any time of year. In other words, be ready for anything. Click here to check the current weather conditions and forecast for the town of Banff, and here for info about the average temperatures and precipitation for the Banff area.

Going with a certified guide helps reduce the risks associated with exploring the mountains. See "Why go with a guide?" at the top of this page to find out more. However, traveling in the mountains involves risks. Always. No guide can eliminate hazards entirely. By deciding to hike in the mountains, you are accepting that there are inherent risks, whether you travel with a guide or not. Upon booking, you will be sent a waiver that will be explained and signed at the pre-trip meeting. Paul Zizka Guiding reserves the right to refuse a client if it is deemed that for any reason the client could potentially compromise the safety of the group.

Unfortunately I cannot, but I can help you arrange yours. In the end, it is a lot more convenient for all if visitors have their own vehicle. That way, all are free to leave from anywhere to get to the trailhead, and to move on in the direction of their choice following the hike. However, since we are concerned with preserving the natural environments we have the chance to experience, please consider making your stay carbon-neutral and asking for a green vehicle when reserving your car. Please see the next question for more information on transportation.

Renting your own car (which you can do upon arrival at the Calgary airport) is definitely the best option if you plan on exploring the Rockies on foot, as trailheads are challenging to get to using public transportation. Please see this page for useful links to all transportation options. Hiking gateways Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise are all great places to spend the night.

Here are a few pointers regarding entering the country. Please contact me if you need help planning.

Most visitors fly in through the gateways of Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary, from which it is possible to take a bus, shuttle or to drive your own car to reach the mountain parks. Here is a list of all the airlines that land at Calgary Airport. A great way to get a glimpse of spectacular Western Canada is to fly into Canada and fly out of Vancouver, or vice-versa. You will need a valid passport to enter Canada. Residents of some countries will also need a visa.

Visit the links page for recommendations. Try to book early as the high season coincides with the hiking season in Banff National Park.

Visit the links page for a list of the most useful online resources for planning your visit.

The mountain parks are expensive compared with most of Canada but remain a good deal for those coming from Europe or the US. Here are a few indicator prices. Click here for an exchange rate converter if needed.

National park entry pass, per adult, per day: C$10

Average hotel room in Banff, high season: C$160

Evening meal for two in a medium-priced Banff restaurant, including one alcoholic drink per person, taxes and gratuities: $130

Car rental for a week out of Calgary airport, economy, unlimited kilometres: $200

I have extensive experience in mountain travel, particularly in the Canadian Rockies. I have interpretation training, I am a certified hiking guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and I hold an Advanced Wilderness First Aid certificate. Both of the latter exceed requirements for hiking guides in Banff National Park. Visit the bio to learn a little more about your guide.