Private Full Day Guided Tour at Banff Iconic Attraction

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Johnston Creek originates north of Castle Mountain in a glacial valley southwest of Badger Pass and south of Pulsatilla Pass, at an elevation of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft). The creek flows southeast between Helena Ridge and the Sawback Range, and then south through a gorge known as Johnston Canyon. As Johnston Creek approaches the Bow River, it flows through a large canyon formed by erosion over thousands of years. The creek has cut through the limestone rock to form sheer canyon walls, as well as waterfalls, tunnels, and pools. A popular hiking trail follows the canyon and leads to a meadow within the Johnston Valley above the canyon. The first part of the trail consists of a constructed walkway with safety rails and bridges, while the last part of the trail is natural and more rugged. Within the meadow are the Ink Pots, which are six blue-green spring-fed pools.

   1.8 h

2. The Vermilion Lakes are a series of lakes located immediately west of Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The three lakes are formed in the Bow River valley, in the Banff National Park, at the foot of Mount Norquay. The area offers wildlife viewing opportunities and breathtaking scenery. Offering spectacular views of Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain, the proximity of these lakes to town make them a fantastic place to watch sunrise or sunset.

   15 min

3. Cascades of Time Garden spreads out behind Banff National Park's historic administration building at 101 Mountain Ave. A geological sequence of cascading ponds and water courses provide the garden’s namesake and is highlighted with flowers, shrubs, rustic bridges, pavilions and flagged walks. The peak season for blooms is June through September.

   15 min

4. The beautiful town of Banff is well known as the heart of Banff National Park, it’s an incorporated municipality located inside a national park. The Town of Banff is a great resort town and one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations. With boutique shops, nightclubs, museums and fancy restaurants in the town, Banff is no ordinary town. It developed as a service center for the park that surrounds it. Today it brings in busloads of tourists keen to commune with shops as much as nature, alongside artists and writers drawn to the Rockies' unparalleled majesty. It really worth some of your time wandering in any direction of the town before you’re back to wild country. Please consider taking lunch in this session.

   1.1 h

5. Timeless Rocky Mountain views. 100% reimagined summit experience. Take the Sulphur Gondola (Optional) and discover sweeping scenes of six mountain ranges, the Bow Valley and the charming town of Banff from the Sulphur Mountain summit. Once you're at the top, begin your adventure by strolling the boardwalk to the Cosmic Ray Station and Sanson's Peak and learn about Canada's first national park. The air is clean and clear up here. When gaze down from the jagged mountain ridge, you stare in amazement at the town, lakes, and rivers on the valley floor far below, and a lot more. it’s such a revitalizing and calming sensation.

   1.4 h

6. Bow Falls is a major waterfall on the Bow River. The falls rumble about 30 feet over a low-gradient pitch of channeled bedrock, providing a short turbulent interrupt of the cerulean waters of the Bow River. The falls are pretty, and under the right conditions, exceptionally photogenic, but not terribly impressive. The 1953 Marilyn Monroe film “River of No Return” featured the bow falls.

   15 min

7. Named for its spectacular, surprising views when viewed from Buffalo Street, Surprise Corner is an excellent place for photos and to connect to the local trail system.

   15 min

8. A “hoodoo” is a North American term for a unique rock formation. Soft rock is coated by harder earth that resists more erosion from the weather. This protective coating is essential for creating what is known as hoodoos. With the Bow River in the background and towering mountains surrounding you. It’s a majestic viewpoint that gives stunning views overlooking these natural peaks.

   15 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 3 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Banff

• Its from-price is 674% above the median of the 275 day trips we list in Banff.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 152 of 275.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Banff

Banff is a small mountain town inside Canada's first national park, set among the Rocky Mountain peaks of Alberta with hot springs, lakes and wildlife.

The town of Banff sits in the Bow Valley at about 1,400 metres, with Mount Rundle's sloping ridge rising over the main street and Cascade Mountain at the other end. It began as a railway town beside hot springs, and the Cave and Basin National Historic Site marks the discovery that led to Canada's first national park. A gondola climbs Sulphur Mountain for views, and the Bow Falls and a château-style hotel add to the river scenery.

Top-ranked sights in Banff: Moraine Lake, Bow Falls, Lake Louise.

See all 476 experiences in Banff