The Canadian Rockies are all about the great outdoors. Whether you want to hike, mountain bike, raft, climb, scramble, paddle, ski, board or snowshoe you're sure to find something truly world-class.

This is so irresistible that tourism has boomed in these mountains for more than a century, leading to the destination's only real drawback: its popularity.

Summer

A few key spots seem to make it onto everyone's summer itinerary and it's worth arriving early or late in the day, or simply avoiding them if you're in the Rockies to get away from it all. Key honeypots include Lake Louise (lake); The Icefields Centre and Maligne Lake.

Winter

In winter crowds are absent everywhere, even at the ski resorts on most days, but you'll need to be prepared for the possibility of really low temperatures.