ESSENTIALS - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 525

Getting There
For international travelers, Vancouver and Calgary are the main gateways to the Canadian
Rockies. From these two cities, as well as points across Canada, scheduled train and bus
services pass through the region year-round.
AIR
The closest city to the Canadian Rockies is Calgary, Alberta, 128 kilometers (80 miles)
east of Banff. Vancouver, British Columbia's largest city, is a major gateway to the moun-
tains for international travelers. It lies on Canada's West Coast, 830 kilometers (515 miles)
west of Banff. Edmonton, 360 kilometers (224 miles) east of Jasper, also has an inter-
national airport. Even though Vancouver is a lot farther from the Canadian Rockies than
Calgary, it is a popular starting point, as the trip across British Columbia by rail, bus, or
car is spectacular.
Air Canada
Canada's national airline, Air Canada (604/688-5515 or 888/247-2262,
www.aircanada.com ) is one of the world's largest airlines. It offers direct flights to Calgary
and Vancouver from all major Canadian cities, as well as from Los Angeles, San Fran-
cisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, and
Orlando.