Work from Calgary, Play in the Rockies: The Adventures of a Digital Nomad

Fancy a two-week mountain adventure, but short on annual leave?

If you’re lucky enough to have a brother and his fiancee living in Calgary in Canada with a spare room, plus your employer allows remote working, it’s surprisingly possible.

Two weeks of Rockies adventure without taking a single day off work.

Life as a ‘digital nomad’ – from hikes and swims, to cycling the Parkway and riverside paddle boarding, this trip blended work and play, with mountains and city life in perfect balance.

Here’s my blog on how those two weeks unfolded:

I arrived in Calgary at midday on a Saturday, bleary-eyed but buzzing — a new adventure and two full weeks ahead in Canada’s mountain playground.

The first afternoon was all about easing in: unpacking, setting up desk (because yes, this was a working trip), and wandering around the city to fight off the jet lag.

Calgary is wonderfully alive at this time of year — cyclists everywhere, river paths full of locals floating downstream, and sunshine that lingers even though the evenings are drawing in.

After an early night, jet lag worked its magic.

I was wide awake before dawn on Sunday, ready to make the most of it.

We piled into the car and drove an hour west to Banff — coffee in hand, mountains rising on the horizon.

First stop: a short two-hour hike near Mt Norquay, the perfect way to stretch the legs after the flight.

We set off along the famed Parkway — every turn revealing another “pull over and stare” view.

The roads were lined with bear warning signs, which of course had us scanning every tree line and shadow.

Sadly, or perhaps fortunately, no bears made an appearance, despite our enthusiastic searching.

Though we did see backside of what looked like a mountain goat.

We found a quiet spot for a picnic lunch with mountain views, before heading into Banff town for a lazy afternoon of wandering, people-watching and poking around the shops.

Banff in summer feels more like a buzzing alpine resort than a tourist town — full of life, hikers fresh off the trail, and that unmistakable scent of pine and sunscreen.

As the day wound down, we took a short drive to Lake Two Jack for a swim.

It looked icy, but once you’re in, it’s surprisingly manageable — crisp and exhilarating, with mirror-flat water reflecting the mountains.

A quick dip, a few laughs, and then the drive back to Calgary, windows down, golden light flickering through the trees.

Not a bad way to spend the first 36 hours in Canada: a bit of city, a lot of mountain air, and a healthy start to what was shaping up to be an escape that didn’t cost me a single day of annual leave.

I was keen to experience the life of a ‘digital nomad’ – the ups and the downs.

The working week in Calgary was full-on:

I kept to UK hours as much as possible — starting at 6am and finishing around 2:30pm local time (13:00-20:30 BST) — which meant early mornings, plenty of coffee, and a proper day’s work.

Due to the jet lag and time difference I was awake early anyway, and then felt tired by  mid-evening.

I didn’t fight jet-lag, but went with it.

The schedule had its perks, and by mid-afternoon, I could shut the laptop and make the most of the late afternoon and early evenings.

Some days I’d head out for a run or visit the gym.

Other days I’d wander down to the river, join friends for a paddle board, or just sit by the water watching the world go by.

It was a busy week, but having those bright, warm evenings to unwind made all the difference.

The working week flew by and I did just as much work as if I was in London.

Probably more as I was determined to make it succeed.

By Saturday I was ready to swap my laptop for hiking boots again:

We set off early for Kananaskis — a less touristy, more rugged slice of the Rockies that feels wilder than Banff.

The drive alone was worth the trip: winding roads through pine forests, flashes of snow still clinging to the peaks, and the constant reminder that, yes, this is proper bear country.

That fact became hard to ignore once we hit the trail.

Every sign seemed to include a bear warning, and though I was still desperate to spot one (from the car, ideally), I was less keen on bumping into one mid-hike.

We made plenty of noise — chatting, playing word games, even singing — partly to keep spirits up, mostly to make sure any nearby bears knew we were coming.

Between the laughter and the occasional paranoid glance into the trees, we climbed steadily, rewarded at the top with glorious sunshine and an empty mountain all to ourselves.

Lunch was a picnic with a view that made every step worthwhile.

Life as a ‘digital nomad’ had its distinct advantages, and Canada seemed the perfect place to do it.

On the way back, we detoured to Bragg Creek — a popular spot for families picnicking and paddle boarding.

The water looked inviting until I actually got in.

“Refreshing” quickly turned to “freezing,” but it was too nice a day not to swim.

Afterwards we wandered through the little town, drying off in the sunshine before heading back to Calgary for supper.

Sunday was all about two wheels:

We rented bikes in Canmore — great value at around $80 for the day — and drove to Banff, where the Bow Valley Parkway was closed to cars for the bank holiday weekend.

It was the perfect setup for cycling: quiet, scenic, and full of hopeful bear-spotters like me.

It didn’t take long before my curiosity about bears turned into mild anxiety.

I suddenly realised I had no idea what you’re supposed to do if you meet one while cycling — you can’t exactly stand your ground when you’re on wheels.

So, naturally, I started singing.

Loudly.

“Hello Mr Bear, please come and see me. Hello Mr Bear, don’t come too near me,” on repeat for hours.

I like to think it worked — we didn’t see a single bear, but plenty of amused cyclists passed by.

The ride was stunning: endless mountain views, wildflowers lining the road, and that peaceful silence you only get in car-free mountain air.

We finished the day with celebratory drinks, then went for a scenic drive around Lake Two Jack, Johnston Lake and Minnewanka, still holding out hope for a bear sighting.

None appeared, but we did stop for a quick dip on the way back through Kananaskis — another icy plunge to end the weekend.

It was the perfect balance to a busy week working digitally on the other side of the Atlantic.

Two long, adventure-packed days in the mountains, just an hour from the city, and still no bear encounters… though I’d probably sung enough to keep them all safely out of earshot.

The second week back in Calgary slipped into an easy rhythm:

Work kept me busy — proper early starts, long mornings of calls and deadlines.

But it seemed less stressful than doing it all from my flat in London or in a cyber cafe.

Finishing mid-afternoon meant there was plenty of time to enjoy the city.

Most evenings were spent baking, playing cards, or catching up with family, and a few lazy walks along the river reminded me how nice it is to have sunshine and open space right on your doorstep.

The second week whizzed by in a flash and was pretty much a repeat of my first week.

All too soon my life as a ‘digital nomad’ was drawing to close and the final weekend fell.

With my flight home that evening and my working week over, I was determined to make the most of my last day in the mountains.

We set off early and drove to Sunshine Meadows for a gentle walk — a final dose of alpine air before swapping hiking boots for an airport lounge.

Locals told us there hadn’t been any bear sightings there for a while, so the odds of spotting one were slim (and, as usual, they were right).

Still, the views were spectacular: jagged hash mountains and that crisp, clean air you wish you could bottle.

Afterwards, we found a quiet spot by Johnston Lake for one last picnic.

It was warm, peaceful, and the perfect way to end two weeks of working, exploring, and pretending I was a local.

Then it was back to Calgary for a quick pack-up, a final family dinner, and an evening flight out — tired, happy, and quietly chuffed at how much I’d managed to squeeze in without using a single day of annual leave.

Two weeks, four full days in the mountains, and countless afternoons exploring Calgary — all without using a single day of leave.

It was a busy, sometimes hectic, but utterly rewarding trip: challenging workdays, wild swims, epic hikes, and plenty of bear-spotting attempts.

Canada outside of the winter ski season is the kind of place that makes you feel lucky just to be outside, and this blend of work and adventure was exactly the reset I didn’t know I needed.

The best part?

Two whole weeks with my brother.

Life as a ‘digital nomad’ is highly recommended by me.

I’m now looking forward to doing it all over again, but in the winter.

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