Our weekends diary

We woke up to a bright and beautiful morning — our last one in the cozy glamping dome. It was hard to say goodbye to that magical place surrounded by golden rolling hills, peaceful silence, and nature’s charm. After wrapping up, we decided to make one last stop in Jasper before heading out - Otto’s Café, our new favorite from yesterday. We enjoyed a delicious avocado toast with a perfect view of Pyramid Mountain, which looked even more stunning that morning. It almost felt like the mountain was calling me back again and again. With some sandwiches packed for the drive and my smoothie in hand, we began our journey down the Icefields Parkway once more. Our first stop was a beautiful Athabasca waterfall, framed perfectly by the snow-dusted Pyramid Mountain in the background - truly a dream come true. We made another quick stop at yet another waterfall, each one majestic in its own way. The landscape had completely transformed since our drive a couple of days ago. Back then, it was cloudy ...

We woke up to the first rays of sunlight gently streaming into our dome - the sunrise was perfectly visible right from our bed. The golden light over the rolling yellow hills was the most peaceful sight to start the day After getting ready, we set out toward Jasper for breakfast. On the way, we came across a stunning green lake that instantly caught our attention. Unlike the other turquoise-blue lakes we’d been seeing throughout the Rockies, this one shimmered in deep shades of emerald and jade, almost glowing in the morning light. It was so unique and mesmerizing that we had to stop for a while just to take it all in. Once we reached Jasper downtown, we found this beautiful café called Otto, and it turned out to be an absolute gem. The coffee was rich and aromatic, the green smoothie was perfectly refreshing, and the pastries were melt-in-your-mouth good - a wonderful breakfast experience to start the day. While sitting by the window, I noticed a mountain in the distance that looke...

We woke up in our cozy glamping dome to one of the most breathtaking views imaginable. As we stepped outside, the golden rolling hills stretched endlessly in front of us, glowing in the soft morning light. The crisp fall air, the quiet crackle from the fireplace behind us, and the simple charm of the outdoor seating area made it feel like a dream. From the dome, we watched the sunrise slowly paint the hills in shades of gold and amber - a moment that truly felt magical. After soaking in the calm morning, we got ready and headed into Hinton town, just a short drive away, to try some local goodies. We stumbled upon a charming little café called The Coffee Grind, filled with locals chatting over freshly baked treats. The aroma of coffee and pastries filled the air. We ordered a small, healthy-looking bagel - much smaller than the usual ones! - along with a bowl of creamy mushroom soup for me and a fresh cup of coffee for Shri. It was the perfect cozy stop to start our day. Our main pla...

Day 3 started long before sunrise — actually, in the middle of the night! Around 1:30 AM, I got a critical alert on my phone: “Auroras are visible.” I rushed to the balcony and, to my surprise, the northern lights were dancing right there in the sky. I immediately woke up Shri, and we decided to drive out of town for a clearer view. Even though there was some light around the river bridge, it was still mesmerizing. We drove about ten minutes further to a dark, open spot near a lake — and that’s where the magic truly unfolded. Under a blanket of stars, surrounded by mountains, the aurora borealis shimmered in waves of green and purple. It was unreal. This was our third time witnessing the northern lights — first in Finland, then in the U.S., and now in Canada — but it still felt just as special. We finally went back to sleep around 3 AM, hearts full of awe. A few hours later, after our traditional morning masala tea, it was time to check out from Canmore and begin the journey toward our...

We started our second day in the Canadian Rockies with our little tradition — a steaming cup of masala tea. There’s nothing like that comforting aroma to kick off an adventurous morning. While sipping our tea, we had a great chat with our wonderful host, Jeremy -  a biker, traveler, and author of two books. He’s been around the world on his bike, and listening to his stories was truly inspiring. After breakfast, it was time for one of the most anticipated parts of our trip - the Larch Valley hike and visiting my dream destination, Moraine Lake! We grabbed some Subway sandwiches from Banff downtown to fuel up later on the trail and then headed toward Moraine Lake by shuttle. We started the hike around 12:30 PM, and wow — it was steep and challenging right from the beginning. But every step upward brought more breathtaking views of Moraine Lake below. The turquoise water kept peeking through the trees as we climbed higher and higher. As we gained elevation, the larches turned gold...