Tours to Banff and Lake Louise: two lakes, Banff town and Bow Falls in one day

What these tours to Banff and Lake Louise cover in one day

The itinerary holds two lakes and the town of Banff between 8 and 11 hours, from CAD 88, rated 4.8 ★ (270 reviews). Lake Louise comes first with 50 minutes at the lakeshore, Moraine Lake follows with 50 minutes, and the afternoon moves to Banff town for 90 minutes of free time, a 10-minute photo stop at Surprise Corner and 20 minutes at Bow Falls. Pickup and drop-off work from designated points in Calgary, Canmore and Banff, so the day fits travellers staying in any of the three.

Moraine Lake is on the route only from June 1 to October 11, and the admission for that window is included. Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles all year, and a licensed operator is the practical way in, which is the main reason this stop appears at all. From October 12 to May 31 the tour swaps in Two Jack Lake for 10 minutes and Lake Minnewanka for 20 minutes, with admission to both included in that season.

One stop is a choice you make, not a fixed inclusion: either the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain or the Banff Upper Hot Springs, 90 minutes either way, with the ticket not included. The operator contacts you closer to the travel date about buying it. Both sites have maintenance closures listed, the Hot Springs until early November and the gondola November 10-21, and the replacement stop in each case is Cascade Garden or Cave and Basin.

Practical details worth knowing before you book. The vehicle is air-conditioned, crampons are handed out in winter for use at your own responsibility, meals are not included, and a cash tip of CAD 12 per person is suggested. Lunch is the obvious use of the 90 minutes on Banff Avenue, where the restaurants and cafes sit on the same few blocks as the shops.

How the day runs, stop by stop

1. Lake Louise 50 min
   The day opens at the lakeshore, 50 minutes under Mount Victoria and its hanging glacier. The flat lakeshore trail starts at the water and needs no planning: walk out as far as the time allows and turn back. The turquoise comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the meltwater.
2. Moraine Lake 50 min
   June 1 to October 11 only, with admission included for those dates. Fifty minutes at the lake below the Valley of the Ten Peaks, enough for the short climb up the Rockpile Trail, which is where the wide view over the water is. No cell service, no running water and only pit toilets at the lake, so carry what you need from the vehicle.
3. Banff Avenue 90 min
   Ninety minutes of free time in Banff town, the longest single block of the day. Lunch, shops and souvenirs happen here; meals are not included.
4. Banff Gondola 90 min
   Option one of the afternoon choice, ticket not included and bought in advance after the operator contacts you. The gondola climbs Sulphur Mountain and the 90 minutes cover the summit boardwalk, the observation deck and the interpretive centre. Closed for maintenance November 10-21, when the stop becomes Cascade Garden or Cave and Basin.
5. Banff Upper Hot Springs 90 min
   Option two of the same choice, ticket not included. Entry is first come, first served with tickets sold at reception, admission covers a locker token, and swimsuits and towels are available to rent on site. Closed for maintenance until early November, with Cascade Garden or Cave and Basin as the replacement.
6. Surprise Corner 10 min
   A ten-minute photo stop on the way, looking across to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
7. Bow Falls 20 min
   The last stop of the day, 20 minutes on the path along the Bow River next to the Banff Springs Hotel, with the falls in front of you.
8. Two Jack Lake 10 min
   Stands in for Moraine Lake from October 12 to May 31, admission included. A ten-minute stop for the water and the ridge of peaks behind it.
9. Lake Minnewanka 20 min
   The second Moraine Lake substitute from October 12 to May 31, admission included. Twenty minutes at a lake about fifteen minutes from Banff town, known as Lake of the Spirits by the Stoney Nakoda First Nations. The easy shoreline path works in summer; in winter the surface is used for skating and holds the methane ice bubbles the lake is known for.

What is included

Meeting point, pickup and cancellation

• Meeting point: Wait in front of the hotel; Wait in front of the center; Wait at the bus stop on 4th Avenue, across the street from the Delta Hotel
• Cancellation: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• Ages: infant 0–2, child 3–12, adult 13+

Other tours to Banff and Lake Louise compared

The shorter options trade the town for a faster look at the lakes. The two half-day runs at 4-5 hours take you to Lake Louise with Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake or the Natural Bridge and have you back by early afternoon, while the 6-hour shuttle-style trip is the simplest way to see the two main lakes and nothing else. The 8-10 hour Banff Gondola, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake and Lake Minnewanka tour is the one that adds a second national park to a full day.

This page's tour is the only one of the group that builds in 90 minutes of free time in Banff town plus Surprise Corner and Bow Falls. Check availability for your dates on whichever option matches the hours you have.

Tour details from the operator's listing, checked 24 October 2026. Prices and times can change; the booking page has the current ones.

More ways to plan your visit

Moraine Lake: access, season and what to expect

Moraine Lake: access, season and what to expect

Shuttles and parking at Lake Louise

Shuttles and parking at Lake Louise

Best time to visit Lake Louise

Best time to visit Lake Louise