Canada · BANFF TOURS
Banff is a small town with a very large back garden, and the good lakes are further out than they look. These 15 sort the Moraine and Lake Louise runs, the gondola, the canyon walks and the Icefields Parkway by price, start time and how much of the day is spent in the van.
Take an 8-minute gondola ride from Banff to Sulphur Mountain, then explore the Above Banff Interpretive Center, rooftop deck, and boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak. You can walk at your own pace, dine at three mountain restaurants, and stay for sunset or seasonal events. The experience is self-guided, with English-speaking hosts on site.
“The views and there is a bit of a museum at the at the top which was educational.”
Spend 8 to 10 hours touring Banff National Park in a vehicle limited to 24 people. Visit Lake Louise, seasonal Moraine Lake or Marble Canyon, Banff Avenue, and selected viewpoints with local guides such as Bob, Joshua, or Mike. Expect photo stops, mountain stories, winter ice walks, and pickup from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff.
“There are tour guides and then there is Joshua! For our tour we went to Lake Louise, then for a hike and ended in Banff. We had great sights and enough time to do some exploring and pictures. Joshua helped us get some good pictures and after the hike he surprised us with coffee and cookies to warm us up. The overall experience was fantastic, our group was very energetic and the little stories we got along the way were a great addition.”
Take a smooth eight-minute gondola ride from Banff to Sulphur Mountain in a four-person cabin. At the summit, explore the boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak and the Cosmic Ray Station, visit the interpretive center, or eat with a view. Allow two to three hours, and bring warm layers for the windy summit.
“Truly an amazing experience in winter time, very easy to get to by public transport, absolutely stunning scenery”
Spend 11 hours visiting the Canadian Rockies’ headline sights by air-conditioned van, bus, or coach. You’ll see Lake Louise, seasonal Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, Johnston Canyon, and possibly Banff Avenue. Guides such as Guri, Hari, Harry, and Ross are known for careful driving, local stories, and helping with photos.
“I signed in more than what I thought I was going to see and do. My guide was excellent… he gave me a lot of pointers for different trails around the area and was very knowledgeable 5/5”
Spend 7.5 to 11 hours with Banff ToDo guide and driver teams such as Ben, Mike, Sam, or Ivan, visiting Banff and Yoho National Parks. You’ll stop at Lake Louise, seasonal Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, and Johnston Canyon, with round-trip transport from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff.
“The time allowed at each venue was enough, however the Johnson Canyon was too much time. Banff having 90 minutes would have been a better choice and Johnson Canyon 45 minutes. I do understand that it took sometime to get to the canyon, but it could be scaled down and added to Banff.”
From Banff or Canmore, ride with a local English-speaking guide such as Rob or Robbie to Lake Minnewanka, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, and Peyto Lake. This 8 to 9-hour small-group tour handles the driving and difficult parking, with up to 22 people in the vehicle.
“Saw the best lakes, lake Louise, morraine, bow lake, peyto lake, minnewashka, glacier parkway. I thought lunch was included in the price but they drop you off at a place to eat lots of options but not much time. Was great to be dropped off right at the parking lot.”
Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, and Johnston Canyon. Guides such as Guri, Hari, and Mandeep add local facts and often help with photos. Moraine Lake is seasonal, so winter departures may include Banff town instead.
“Hari was such a nice guy. He is a brilliant tour giude and one hell of a driver. would recomend this tour to everyone.”
Spend one hour on Lake Minnewanka with an English-speaking guide and captain. You’ll hear stories of Indigenous culture, wildlife, Minnewanka Landing beneath the water, and local legends while cruising past Rocky Mountain scenery. Recent crews have included guides such as Kirsty, John, Jacob, and Sarah.
“It was their first snow of the year a night before our tour and its their last day of tour. We are blessed to witness a mix of fall and snowy mountain. The tour guide said its very seldom to have both view. It was very nice view and it was very peaceful when we had to stop and be quite for a while all you can hear is the sound of the water.”
Ride an iconic yellow school bus from Banff to Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Lake Louise gondola. Hosts such as Tyler, Dominique, and Louis help you plan hikes and sightseeing, while fixed departure times remove the stress of parking and road planning. Expect an active day, no Wi-Fi, and school-bus comfort.
“This is a very casual and personalized experience. The driver & guide were wonderful and ful of fun, interesting information.”
Spend about 10 hours exploring Banff National Park in a van limited to 12 people. Guides such as Teddy and Angel lead the day with local stories, photo help, music, and winter crampons. Summer highlights include Moraine Lake and Lake Minnewanka. Winter adds Johnston Canyon and frozen mountain scenery.
“Angel is professional, attentive and very knowledgeable! He is kind and nice, especially good with the kids. Our kids loved to hang out with him during the tour. We had a wonderful time! Back at the hotel, my daughter said " Mom you have to give Angel five stars with a great review." Haha Thank you Angel! You are best!”
Ride through Banff National Park in a modern minibus with up to 12 people. Your guide, such as Nolan, Lubo, Ollie, Liam, or Charlie, adjusts the route for weather and recent sightings. Expect Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake, Bow Falls, mountain viewpoints, and a real chance of seeing elk, deer, sheep, foxes, or coyotes.
“This was a fantastic experience and would recommend if you’re heading to Banff. Our guide Tyler was awesome - he knew so much about the area and the wildlife which was a real hit for my husband and me. We saw Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer and Elk on our excursion which was a highlight for us. While some people suggest you could just drive the route and save the money - I could not disagree more! It was special to be able to both enjoy the scenery and relax instead of one person constantly worrying about navigation. This is definitely the way to do these landmarks!”
Travel from Banff to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in a small group of up to 24 people. You’ll get about 30 minutes at each lake, hear local mountaineering stories, stop at the Moraine Lake viewpoint, and enjoy round-trip transport, water, and a maple cookie. Moraine Lake access depends on the season.
“Very comfortable shuttle and small tour. Love that it wasn't too many people and they took us exactly where we needed to go with no stress! The lakes were beautiful, and the tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful.”
Spend 10 to 11 hours exploring Banff National Park with guides such as Dan, Dair, Gordon, or Murray. Ride in private transport from Calgary, Banff, Canmore, or Cochrane, stopping at Lake Louise, Banff Avenue, Lake Minnewanka, and, in summer, Moraine Lake. Park entry, bottled water, and winter ice cleats are included.
“An absolute incredible day. Murray was a fantastic guide, and the views were better than I ever could have imagined. This tour is the perfect mix of guided tour (Murray has a lot of great information to share) but solo time to explore on your own. I couldn't recommend it more, and can't wait to return.”
Spend 8 to 10 hours visiting the Canadian Rockies’ best-known lakes and viewpoints from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff. Guides such as Ahmed and Layse are praised for local insight, humor, and helpful photography. Expect scenic drives, short walks, quick stops, and seasonal changes to the route.
“Our winter day trip through the Canadian Rockies was absolutely incredible. We visited Lake Louise, Marble Canyon, Emerald Lake, and several beautiful stops throughout Banff, and every moment felt like stepping into a postcard. The landscapes were unreal — frozen lakes, turquoise water peeking through the ice, snowy forests, and dramatic canyon views. Our guide, Geoff, made the entire experience even better. He was friendly, knowledgeable, organized, and made sure everyone was comfortable throughout the day. He shared fun stories and interesting facts about each location, kept the energy light, and helped us find the best photo spots without feeling rushed. You could tell he genuinely loves ...”
This four-hour Discover Banff Tours outing takes you from Banff to Lake Louise and, from June to October, Moraine Lake. Expect a small-group ride, local stories from guides such as Ella, Neil, Emma, or Alex, a short Moraine Lake viewpoint walk, water, and a maple cookie. Seasonal timing can change the route.
“Shout out to our guide Spencer who did a great job transporting and educating us during the trip. We learned so much history about Banff and he was able to answer every question. He’s a great story teller and helped make the experience memorable for everyone.”
Pick a summit, a shoreline or a table.
