'Content,' 'calm' and 'tranquil' were just a few of the words our group used to describe how we felt about our yoga experience. Hardly surprising you might think, but we'd just been dropped off in a remote meadow in the Rockies by helicopter and were completely alone - until our ride returned in about four hours

I admit it, my first thought was bears. Everyone warned us we were in bear country - grizzlies and black bears are fairly common - and although I was assured they wouldn't attack a group of six or more (we were eight), I did wonder if our downward dogs might upset their counting.

Luckily no such furry friend appeared and we were soon engrossed in our poses, the only distraction being the ants that crawled over our feet!

Martha McCallum, who runs the heli-yoga tours, believes strongly in getting back to nature and learning to listen to your body. She quickly realised we were all novices and tailored our session to suit our ability, and I can honestly say I've never enjoyed an exercise session as much as that one. With a gentle breeze rustling the trees, and the sound of a river flowing in the background, it really was a magical way to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wonderful fresh air.

Awesome beauty

Nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of the Rockies. Everything you read tells of their majesty, and it was quite a relief to discover that they more than lived up to expectations. Their awesomely jagged peaks were still snow-covered when I visited in June, and although daytime temperatures were warm and pleasant, there was still a chill in the air at night.

So if you crave wide open spaces and awesome scenery, head to the Rockies, and rediscover the great outdoors. Vast areas of wilderness peppered with turquoise lakes should satisfy your wanderlust and there are plenty of opportunities to get active.

Scary fun

In Calgary itself, head to the Canada Olympic Park. In no time at all, you could find yourself dangling from a zipline about to hurtle down the very ski-jump that Eddie the Eagle jumped off in the Winter Olympics of 1988. It's scary at the top, but once you're snugly in your harness, there's only one way to go! It's truly exhilarating and, although I did have a bit of a scream, it's a very more-ish rush.

Once in the Rockies proper, there are great walks to be had from just about anywhere, that can be tailored to ability and time available. Everywhere you look, you'll be rewarded by stunning views and fantastic scenery. Remember you are in bear country, so don't go chasing shadows into the bush to find out what they are, and take sensible precautions, like making lots of noise and carrying bear spray.

For a low-key adventure, hire canoes and paddle gently through the calm waters of the Vermillion Lakes, spotting goslings, ospreys, muskrat, and even elk along the shores of the Bow River. Canoes can be rented from Blue Canoe Rentals.

If you're confident around horses, or are a rider, you might enjoy a morning's horse ride in Banff National Park. I'm not and I didn't! We saddled up with Rafter Six, but as a totally inexperienced rider, I found the ride terrifying. Plonked on a horse and told it would follow the ones in front, our wrangler headed off. This sounded simple enough, but no one had warned us that the horses would jostle and bite each other to get, and keep, the position in line they wanted.

With just one wrangler for our group of seven, she was way ahead and blissfully unaware of the commotion behind her. Be warned also that you may not stick to marked trails, so be prepared for close encounters with branches!

Me-time in Banff

Banff itself is a busy, commercial town. There's shops of every persuasion here, so you'll be able to have your dose of retail therapy should you need that fix. Originally built as a spa town - it has natural hot springs - it now plays host to some 4.5 million visitors each year. And there are still plenty of spas to choose from, should you feel the need for a spot of pampering.

With its Gothic architecture, the Banff Springs Hotel is a much-loved landmark of the town. Originally built to encourage tourists to the area to help pay for the Canadian Pacific Railway, the architect's drawings were misunderstood, and the hotel was built back-to-front. This oversight gave the most spectacular views to the kitchens while guestrooms looked out over forests.

The Willow Stream Spa at the hotel is gorgeous. There's a large mineral pool in which to take the waters, three cascading waterfall pools of varying temperature, an outdoor salt water hot tub, as well as steam rooms and saunas and a Jacuzzi. Try a treatment if you can. I had the Rockies Rehydration - a full-body wrap with algae and aloe vera - totally delicious.

The Red Earth Spa at the Banff Caribou Lodge is another good choice. Not quite as luxurious as the Willow Stream, it's more central to the town and offers a full range of spa treatments, as well as use of the pools and steam rooms.

In Calgary, the understated but beautifully relaxing RnR Wellness Spa is great for massages and holistic treatments. They also have satellite operations in many of the hotels.

Wilderness experiences

To make the most of your time in the mountains, stay at a wilderness lodge. We stayed at Mount Engadine Lodge, where it's easy to relax and take in the beauty around you. Sleeping just 19 guests, this lodge is friendly and informal, with great food and constant supplies of good coffee and tea.

The dining room and deck overlook a huge meadow and it's not uncommon to see moose snuffling for minerals in the muddy puddles as you sip your morning brew. Alternatively, check out the Alpine Club of Canada, which provides huts and hostel accommodation for members (membership fees are not expensive). In Banff, we stayed at the Fox Hotel & Suites, which is a fairly central, modern hotel.

Food and drink

There's certainly no shortage of great places to eat and drink in the Rockies. The food at Mount Engadine Lodge was served 'family-style' with huge platters from which to help yourself. Each meal is a communal experience and every dish was tasty and fresh.

In Banff, there are plenty of options for eating out. Fuze restaurant, as its name suggests, offers fusion food, mixing continents and flavours with panache. The Sleeping Buffalo Lodge showcases Rocky Mountain cuisine and makes great use of local resources with elk and moose on the menu, while the Bison Mountain Bistro and General Store offers a simpler menu and great brunch, as well as tasty treats to take away.

Need to know

Travel Alberta
For more information and assistance on planning a holiday to Alberta see www.TravelAlberta.com

British Airways
BA Holidays offers a 7 night fly-drive to Calgary from £803 per person departing September 2008. Includes return BA flights from Heathrow from £716.50 per person and car hire (Alamo inclusive) from £86.50 per person for the duration. Subject to availability, based on two sharing and includes all UK taxes. To book visit www.ba.com or call BA Holidays on 0844 4930758 (add £15pp surcharge for telephone bookings)

Mount Engadine Lodge
www.mountengadine.com
Tel: 001 403-678-4080
Rates start at $380 CDN per night for double occupancy including room, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner - as well as endless coffee and tea!

The Fox Hotel & Suites
www.bestofbanff.com
Rates start at $264 CDN per night for double occupancy in a superior hotel room, on room only basis.