Banff Day Trip: Johnston Canyon, Fairmont Banff Springs, Gondola
Description
Make the most of your time in Calgary on a day trip that takes you to several of the surrounding area’s highlights in one convenient tour. You don’t have to plan an itinerary or worry about renting a car for the drive. Sit back and snap photos as you’re driven to Bow Falls, the Banff Gondola, Johnston Canyon, and more. Discover the best of the Rockies on a full-day tour from Calgary/Banff Time-efficient tour with round-trip transportation included Choose from multiple pickup and drop-off locations for flexibility Enjoy a balanced mix of sightseeing and free time to explore
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travel from Calgary to Banff National Park Pickup Locations & Times This tour offers 2 pickup locations in Calgary. Please select your preferred starting point when placing your booking. 07:30AM [NE Calgary] Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel — 07:45AM[Downtown Calgary] Bus station in front of the Harry Hays Building (across the street from the Delta Calgary Downtown Hotel), on 4th Ave SE — 07:45
Your adventure begins as our professional guide warmly welcomes you at the Elk + Avenue Hotel in the heart of Banff. With a friendly smile and a wealth of local knowledge, they’ll ensure you feel at ease from the very start. （Boarding in Calgary: approx. 1.5 hours to Banff; Boarding in Canmore: approx. 20 minutes to Banff.）
Travel to Banff National Park, where the day begins on Sulphur Mountain. Ride the Banff Gondola (Optional Add-on activity) for sweeping, high-alpine views—snow-capped peaks encircling a dramatic Rocky Mountain landscape. OPTIONAL ADD ON : Banff Gondola
SUMMER :Hoodoos are striking natural rock formations; tall, slender spires of sedimentary rock topped with harder caps that slow erosion, formed over thousands of years as wind and water wear away softer layers.
Bow Falls is a wide, powerful waterfall on the Bow River near Banff, known for its roaring flow, misty spray, and dramatic mountain backdrop. Unlike tall plunging falls, it spreads forcefully across the river, especially impressive in late spring and summer.
Surprise Corner for a postcard-perfect view of the river and the legendary Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The view reveals exactly why this spot is known as Surprise Corner.
SUMMER:Known as the “Castle of the Rockies” has a history of more than one hundred years. This iconic gem is nestled among the majestic Rocky Mountains with the clear Bow River at its feet. Step inside this castle-inspired landmark and enjoy lunch (Optional with additional fees). Guests may upgrade to a refined French-brasserie–style dining experience. NOTE : LUNCH STOP
SUMMER :Explore Johnston Canyon, one of the Rockies’ most beloved canyon walks. Follow elevated pathways to thundering waterfalls framed by limestone walls. If Johnston Canyon is closed due to maintenance or other unforeseen conditions, the visit will be replaced with Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake. WINTER :Start the day with an immersive hike through Johnston Canyon, where the well-maintained trails lead you along dramatic limestone cliffs to the breathtaking Lower and Upper Falls. This 2-hour adventure offers stunning views of cascading waterfalls and lush forests.
Drop off : After a day immersed in alpine grandeur, return to Banff/ Calgary, concluding a truly spectacular Rocky Mountains experience. Estimated return Banff : 6:00 - 7:00 PM Estimated return Calgary : 7:30 - 8:30 PM
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(41)
We had an amazing time, our tour guide Kan, was really patient and caring, and planned everything very accurately. Recomand it with all my heart
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We are very happy to hear that you had an amazing time. We’re also glad to know Kan was patient, caring, and organized throughout the trip. We will definitely share your kind words with him. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing WESTAR Travel!
My daughter and I had a great time! Our tour guide was Selina with Westar Travel, whom we had a great experience with. She was very kind and knowledgeable. The tour was a smaller tour, which was really cool and intimate, and gave us a lot of freedom to explore. We would definitely book again!
Accommodating and held conversation well. Only downside was our tour was different than our itinerary. They skipped the lake and brought to a castle. We were really looking forward to seeing the lake.
Due to going during off season, my friend and I were the only 2 people on the tour. Good tour for those without transport as it covers all the main areas. Guide was polite and friendly however, we wish he provided us more information/history regarding the locations as it was not very informative.
This trip wouldn’t have been as enjoyable without our amazing guide, Yongbhin! Our first stop was Peyto Lake, but unfortunately, we couldn’t explore much due to heavy snowfall. The van even got stuck at one point, but thanks to everyone’s cooperation, it turned into a fun and memorable experience! We were supposed to head to the second stop, but visibility was too poor. Instead, we had lunch at Lake Louise Village, where the food and service were excellent. It was the perfect chance to recharge after our snowy adventure at Peyto. Our last stop was Johnston Canyon, and the views were absolutely breathtaking! Yongbhin shared some fascinating background stories, making the visit both scenic and educational. All in all, it was an incredible experience. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had an incredible experience despite the unexpected snowfall. It’s great to know that even when faced with challenges like the van getting stuck, the spirit of teamwork turned it into a fun and memorable moment! We appreciate your understanding regarding the weather conditions and are glad that Lake Louise Village provided a cozy and enjoyable lunch break. Johnston Canyon truly is a breathtaking spot, and we’re thrilled that Yongbhin’s stories added to the experience. Your kind words mean a lot to us and to Yongbhin—we’ll be sure to pass along your compliments! We hope to welcome you on another adventure in the future.
Very amazing.. our driver is very safe and the tours is amazing!!!! We enjoyed so much... the lake is transluscent turquiose..and yhe tours itself is nice.. we have chance to stroll around..to sum up its amazing experience
Thank you for traveling with us, hope to see you again :)
Our tour guide, Alston was great! We got to see all the sights without worrying about parking or dealing with the logistics. The communication was clear and met our expectations.
Thank you for traveling with Westar Travel, that is really our pleasure to provide you a nice and memorable trip in the amazing Rockies!
Our most memorable experiences were the mountain scenery and lunch at Chateau Lake Louise. The only difficulty that we experienced was the fact that the van was very high and it was diffucult for a handicapped person to get in and out of the van. However, we had a wonderful driver/guide who was very helpful. We definitely recommend this tour!
Thank you for traveling with Westar Travel, that is really our pleasure to provide you a nice and memorable trip in the amazing Rockies!
It was a relief not to worry about parking, driving or entry tickets. It felt that we were in a paradise! I really recommend this experience. Our guide was Elsa, she speaks english and chinese, she was very friendly and also she recommend us some beautiful spots. Also, she was describing tips on the road and shared information about Calgary and Banff. We travel with a very happy and nice chinese family! So, I'm very glad to have chosen this tour.
Thank you for Traveling with us, we look forward to welcome you for the next trip.
Small groups are convenient to handle and takes less time to visit popular destinations in one day like our tour with you.
hank you for traveling with us, hope to see you again :)
