15 Waterfall Tours in Banff That Live Up to the Photos

1.Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls – roundtrip from Banff

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 486 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $233Our pick

Spend about 9.5 hours touring Banff and Yoho national parks by comfortable coach. See Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Victoria Glacier, Takakkaw Falls, the Ten Peaks, and Spiral Tunnels, with hotel pickup, lunch, snacks, and an on-board host included. Guides such as Les, Zoe, and Michael are known for lively local stories.

“Lake Louise & Emerald Lake & the wonderful driver Michael’s narrative throughout. Banff & Yoho National Parks were explored up close. What a magical experience!!”

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2.Gondola, Hot Springs, Bow falls & Three lakes tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 157 reviews · from $57

Spend 10 hours touring Banff National Park with an English-speaking guide such as Harry, Guru, Armaan, or Navi. Visit Lake Louise, ride the Banff Gondola, stop at Bow Falls and Surprise Corner, and see Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake, and Johnson Lake. Gondola, cruise, and hot springs tickets cost extra, and hot springs may be closed for maintenance.

“This trip was wonderful!!! We all had a great time!! Still in awe with what Banff has offered us! Stunning Lakes & mountains, cable car ride, or just strolling at downtown Banff and many more that definitely made our day trip better!! Guru was such a good guide! Very informative! Took us safely to each drop offs. Soooo kind to return my “forgotten” hats in his van…. Amazing man!! Kudos!!!”

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3.Lake Louise Moraine Lake Banff Gondola Cave Basin Bow Falls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · 8 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $61

Travel from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff Avenue, Bow Falls, and Surprise Corner. Add the Banff Gondola, Upper Hot Springs, or Cave and Basin for an extra fee. Guides such as Jay, Samuel, Junior, Ivan, and Ben are praised for clear narration, patient driving, and helpful photos.

“The trip was well narrated and organized. We enjoyed the ability to ride the Gondala see all the popular lakes and stunning views in Banff. Our driver and narrator was awesome”

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4.Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls & Canadian Rockies Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 116 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $217

Spend about eight hours crossing into British Columbia with a local Radventures guide. You’ll visit Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Marble Canyon, Natural Bridge, and the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint, with time for easy walks, photos, and a possible local stop. Transport, water refills, and a cooler are included, while lunch and the park pass cost extra.

“Dan was our tour guide. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive to our questions. The tour was pleasant and exciting.”

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5.Abraham Ice Bubble/Sunwapta Falls,Snowshoeing,Icefield, Bow&Peyto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $68

This 11 to 12-hour Rockies Journey tour leaves Banff at 7:00 am for Cascade Mountain, Vermilion Lakes, the Icefields Parkway, Bow and Peyto lakes, and Abraham Lake’s famous winter ice bubbles. Guides such as Kenneth, Lam, and Ray provide local facts, photo help, hot drinks, water, and winter crampons. Weather may change the route.

“Had a great time on the tour. The tour guide, Ray, was very kind and the vehicle was clean and the ride was smooth. I went on the tour during the off season, in November, so there are less people on the tour and overall at Banff. Lots of space for everyone to move around and take pictures at the scenic locations!”

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6.Athabasca Falls/Abraham,Sunwapta Falls, Icefield, Peyto Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $107

Spend a full day on the Icefield Parkway with a small group, visiting Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier, Athabasca Falls, and Sunwapta Falls in summer. In winter, the route features Abraham Lake’s ice bubbles instead. Guides such as Kenneth, Ray, Wing, and Patrick are praised for good timing, photos, and clear local insight.

“It was amazing. Our guide wing was just the best person to take us to the best spots and that too right on time. He took lots of our pictures for us, told us about the history of the spots and was amazing overall. Definitely worth every penny and highly recommend anyone who wants to see most of the best spots in banff at an affordable price. 💯”

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7.Johnston Canyon Frozen Waterfalls – Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85

Join Radventures for a four-hour Johnston Canyon winter walk from Banff, limited to 12 people. Your guide supplies ice cleats and poles, explains wildlife and canyon geology, and leads you toward the Lower and Upper Falls. Expect hot chocolate, coffee, or tea, panoramic transport, and photo stops along the Bow Valley Parkway.

“Tess our tour guide was awesome!!! I would highly recommend seeing the Johnston Canyon. The hike was spectacular”

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8.Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Bow Falls, Banff Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $59

Spend 8 to 10 hours touring Banff National Park with pickup in Calgary, Canmore, or Banff. Your guide takes you to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, and Banff in summer, with Bow Falls and Surprise Corner replacing Moraine Lake in winter. Expect scenic drives, short walks, photo help, and a group of up to 23 people.

“Awesome tour with Ben as our guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful! This tour was so wonderful because we didn’t have to worry about getting to these beautiful places on our own. Gorgeous Lake Moraine would not have been accessible in a personal vehicle, so it was wonderful to be able to see the scenery and the breathtaking lakes without the hassle of driving, parking, etc.”

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9.Emerald Lake,Natural Bridge, Wapta Falls & Takakkaw Falls in Yoho

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 27 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $119

Spend 8 to 10 hours touring Yoho National Park from Banff in a small group of up to 14 people. Guides such as Vicky, Patrick, Ray, Kenneth, and Wing lead the day, offer photo help, and adjust stops for weather. Summer includes Wapta and Takakkaw Falls. Winter swaps in Lake Louise and Marble Canyon, with hot drinks and crampons.

“The tour was great you see a lot in Yoho National Park Patrick and Vicky were great tour guides to have”

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10.Banff Gondola Hot Springs Bow Falls and Three Lakes tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 26 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $59

Spend about nine hours touring Banff from Calgary in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water and a small group of up to 26. Ride the Banff Gondola, pause at Bow Falls, relax at the Upper Hot Springs, shop on Banff Avenue, and see Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake. Guides such as Arun, Aashish, and Hari are known for friendly, flexible service.

“Very accommodating tour, Sanjeet was a great tour guide and took me and my friends out even though we were the only people booked onto the tour. We had a lot of fun and even returned to Banff and lake Minnewanka the next day because it’s so beautiful.”

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11.Emerald Lake, Wapta Falls & Takakkaw Falls Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 21 reviews · 10 hours · from $116

Spend 10 hours exploring Yoho National Park with a small group and guides such as Patrick, Vicky, Kenneth, or Ray. You’ll visit Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, Wapta Falls, and Takakkaw Falls, with hotel-area pickup, water, winter hot drinks, and crampons included. The 4-kilometre Wapta Falls walk requires moderate fitness.

“This was such a great tour, the stops were absolutely incredible! Our guide Patrick was great, so informative and attentive throughout the whole day! Couldn’t recommend more!!”

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12.Small Grp: Emerald Lake (Optional Canoe) & Takakkaw Falls

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 19 reviews · 10 hours · from $87

Travel from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff through Yoho National Park in a small group of up to 11 people. Stop at Natural Bridge, spend 2.5 hours at Emerald Lake for lunch, hiking, or optional canoeing, then walk to Takakkaw Falls. Guides such as Travis add local facts and humor along the way.

“I enjoyed the trip and Travis shared interesting facts along the way. Overall, I highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting this trip.”

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13.Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Lake Louise with Banff Explorer

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $439

Travel from Calgary with a private guide to Yoho and Banff national parks. See the Spiral Tunnels, Natural Bridge, Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, Lake Louise, and Banff. Guides such as Joey, Jules, and Amman are praised for friendly service, careful driving, useful local tips, and giving you time to explore.

“Our first ever road trip to Banff and it was amazing experience! A place to remember Moraine lake and Lake Louise plus going to Lake Minnewanka is fantastic! Thanks for a great trip. Trip advisor made it possible for us to take easy in going to prominent lakes.”

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14.Banff Town, Gondola, Hot Springs, Bow Falls & Three Lakes

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 16 reviews · 10h 30m · from $43Best value

Spend 10.5 hours exploring Banff, Sulphur Mountain, Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake, and Johnson Lake. Your English-speaking guide handles the driving and park pass, while you enjoy free time in Banff. Gondola tickets, food, and lake cruises cost extra. Guides may include Hari, Harry, Naveed, or Prabh.

“We had the best day! Hari, our guide was amazing, we had the perfect amount of time in each location, he took some really great photos too! Definitely recommend!”

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15.Tour of Yoho National Park See Canada’s Second Highest Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $141

Travel from Calgary with a maximum of five people and an English-speaking guide such as Habib or Aziz. See Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, the Spiral Tunnels, and Marble Canyon, with national park fees, parking, and bottled water included. Expect scenic driving, short walks, photo stops, and time for a picnic or restaurant meal at Emerald Lake.

“The guide was excellent. His name is Habib. I think he made the biggest difference in our fantastic tour. He stopped at photo spots and took a lot of our photos. He was very flexible with timing as the group was small. I recommend 1000HOST tour company. I booked the tour through Viator and this company was assigned.”

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