Banff: The pine green and lake blue of the Rocky Mountains

Banff is the crown of the Rocky Mountains. Six days and five nights, from the Tiffany Blue of Lake Louise to the glaciers of Icefield Avenue, encounter the wildest of Canada between pine green and lake blue.

Lake Lewis is Banff's calling card. Glacier meltwater is rich in rock powder, giving the lake a dreamy Tiffany Blue. Backed by the Victoria Glacier, the lake surface is like a mirror, reflecting the peak of Ten Peaks Mountain. Its most captivating moment is when the morning is windless.

Even more stunning is Dream Lotus Lake. This lake, printed on the old 20 Canadian dollar banknote, has pine green waters embraced by the Ten Peaks Mountains, earning it the nickname "the blue of lakes." Walking a lap along the lake's wooden boardwalk, every step is a wallpaper-worthy scene.

Drive along the Icefield Drive, the road connecting Banff and Jasper is hailed as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Along the way, glass platforms of the Columbia Icefield hang above the glacier, with millennia-old ice beneath your feet—so breathtaking it's speechless.

Back in Banff Town, soak in Banff Hot Springs. This outdoor sulfur hot spring is warm year-round, and soaking while admiring the snowy peaks of the Rockies is the best reward after a day of hiking. The Whyte Museum in town is worth a visit.

Banff's wildness is the perfect balance between civilization and wilderness. When you meet a leisurely passing elk by the lake, you suddenly understand why Canadians cherish this land so much. When you leave, the camera is full of screensavers.