Banff Gondola Lake Minnewanka Johnston canyon and Banff Town
Description
Embark on a small group tour and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of Banff National Park. This full-day adventure begins with convenient pick-up from Calgary, Banff, or Canmore. Experience the beauty of Lake Minnewanka, soar high on the Banff Gondola, and relax at the Banff Town. This comprehensive tour ensures you see all the must-visit destinations in Banff National Park, including Lake Minnewanka, Sulphur Mountain, and Johnston canyon.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Upon arriving at Lake Minnewanka, travelers will be greeted by breathtaking panoramic views. The lake is nestled amidst the Canadian Rockies, offering stunning vistas of towering mountains and pristine waters. Take a moment to appreciate the serene beauty of the surroundings.
Johnston Canyon in winter transforms into a magical wonderland of frozen waterfalls and icy landscapes. The easy-to-moderate ice walk along the canyon takes you through towering cliffs, offering breathtaking views of ice formations and snow-covered trees. It's a must-visit spot for nature lovers and photographers, with both the Lower and Upper Falls providing stunning winter scenery.
Travelers can explore the vibrant streets lined with boutique shops and restaurants, visit historic landmarks like Banff Avenue. (Lunch at Banff Town)
Begin your experience by boarding the Banff Gondola (Admission fee not included), a scenic cable car that takes you up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain. The gondola offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Canadian Rockies as it ascends, providing a unique perspective of the landscape. Upon reaching the summit, you'll find multiple observation decks and viewpoints that offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges, valleys, and the town of Banff. Take some time to capture photos, enjoy the scenery, and appreciate the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. Additionally, there are interpretive displays and educational exhibits that provide insights into the local wildlife, geology, and history of the area. Explore the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk, which offers a short interpretive walk along the mountaintop. This elevated pathway provides a unique perspective of the alpine environment and allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area.
Bow Falls is a picturesque waterfall located near Banff town, where the Bow River cascades over a wide, shallow ledge. It's an iconic spot known for its roaring waters and scenic surroundings, offering a great place for visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Banff.
(closed from 2025, Sep 8 to 2025, Oct 20, won't visit during this period) Surprise Corner is a scenic viewpoint in Banff, offering a stunning panoramic view of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel nestled among the trees with the majestic Bow River and surrounding mountains in the background. It’s a must-see spot for photography and capturing the iconic landscape of Banff.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please ensure that you are prepared and present 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Here are the designated departure times and locations: 07:15 Delta Hotel by Mariott, 209 4 Ave SE 08:40 Travel Alberta Canmore Visitor Information Centre (2801 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, AB T1W 3A2) 09:00 Banff Caribou Hotel, 521 Banff Ave The pick-up times may vary depending on the status of the tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a local bus tour, and you will join the tour with other travelers locally. If you would like a private tour, please contact us directly.
- If there are not enough participants for a tour in your selected language, we will contact you to discuss joining a tour in another language.
- Total tour duration includes travel time
- If the minimum number of participants is not met, we reserves the right to cancel your booking or change the tour date. We will contact you prior to the departure to inform you of any changes.
- We will send a tour reminder the day before your tour. Please be sure to check your email or messages carefully, as important updates regarding your pickup time or itinerary may be included.
- All pick-up times and locations are fixed. Please carefully review the pick-up detail and choose the location that best suits you. If you have any special requests, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.
- Due to the unpredictable road conditions and weather, the itinerary may be subject to adjustments. We will inform you of any changes to the itinerary the day before the tour.
- Kindly let us know if you'll be bringing luggage, a wheelchair, stroller, or anything that may require extra storage space, as there may be an additional charge.
- Please note that this tour does not include attraction tickets (Banff Gondola). If you would like to purchase tickets in advance at our group discount rate, please feel free to contact us.
Reviews(31)
The tour fills the day. A lot of walking is included . The sights were amazing. The guides were helpful.
We had an awesome time with our guide Chris! He was organized, knowledgeable, helpful and accommodating. I would recommend Banff Journey for your tour needs!
Thank you so much for the 'awesome' review! We are thrilled that Chris provided such a well-organized and accommodating experience for you. We take great pride in our guides' deep knowledge of the area, and it’s wonderful to hear that his helpful nature stood out. Thank you for recommending us—we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Exceptional Experience with Chris! Our tour was unforgettable thanks to our incredible guide, Chris. his deep knowledge, engaging storytelling, and warm personality brought every site to life. he is attentive to our needs, patient with questions, and added thoughtful touches that made the experience feel truly personal. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a meaningful, well-organized, and joyful adventure!
8 hour experience on a small shuttle. Very well paced. Stunning scenery. Great tour guide. Very enjoyable.
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the shuttle, the scenery, and the tour guide. We’d love to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Our guide was D funny humorous and a great photographer. Knew the right spots to stand for the good picture shots always took our pictures for us. He was very knowledgeable and we learned so much about each place we visited. He even had snacks and bottled water for us. He recommended a restaurant for us in Banff town. We did feel a bit rushed at times and wished we had more time Especially for lunch. The rest if the stops we had plenty of time Thanks D for the great day you gave us. We made friends and we all enjoyed our day.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the tour, Dicky’s guidance, and the special touches along the way. We appreciate your feedback about timing and will take it into consideration for future trips. We’re glad you had a great day and made friends, and we’d love to welcome you back!
We had tour guide D. He was just an Amaizing person who went far beyond his job description trying to show to us the best place of sightseeing. He always assisted us with taking the best views of pictures he even treats us with special Cookes. Very nice professional kind and friendly smiling young man.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled Dicky went above and beyond to make your tour enjoyable, from helping with photos to the thoughtful treats. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another amazing adventure!
Very enthusiastic tour guide. Much patience and empathy for physically challenged travelers. Took great panoramic photos for us.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled our guide’s enthusiasm, patience, and care made your tour enjoyable, and that the panoramic photos added to the experience. We’d love to welcome you back for another memorable adventure!
Amazing tour! The guide William took the group to all the top spots in Banff and Lake Louise, and his service was outstanding. I traveled solo, and William made sure to take photos of me at every stop, which I really appreciated. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to make the trip unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had an amazing time exploring Banff and Lake Louise. It’s especially heartwarming to know that William made your solo trip feel special by taking great care of you at every stop. Your kind words and recommendation mean a lot to us—we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
The tour guide is extremely nice and professional. The spots we went to are quite nice, maybe it will be even more marvellous during the summer when the lake is not frozen but overall the tour is very well planned and we enjoyed it very much.
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and found it well planned. It’s true — the lakes are stunning year-round, and summer brings a whole new charm with vibrant colors and open waters. We’re also happy to hear our guide made a great impression. We’d love to have you join us again in a different season for a new perspective on the Rockies!
The 2 days Banff Tour was amazing. We had a tremendous time during the tour especially our tour guide and driver William. He was a good tour leader and has a lot of hidden spots which made our pictures more various and great. My friends and I were recommended him and his company to lead your tour. We might come again next time and definitely we will reach him to be our tour guide and driver. We enjoyed our time in Calgary.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great time on the Banff tour and that the experience was made even more special with William as your guide. It’s fantastic that you enjoyed those hidden photo spots — they really make the memories even more unique! We truly appreciate your recommendation and would absolutely love to welcome you and your friends again in the future. Until then, we hope the memories from Calgary and Banff stay with you for a long time. Safe travels and see you next time!
