Banff and its Wildlife - Year Round Tour
Description
Uncover the secrets of the historic mountain town of Banff with a local guide leading the way as you gaze at stunning views and visit key landmarks. This morning journey takes you to some of the best sightseeing viewpoints including Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka and the “oh wow!” view at Surprise Corner of the 'Castle in the Rockies'. Keep in mind that some stops could be closed pending the season. Plus, enjoy hot chocolate (in winter) or water (in summer) and maple cookies at one of the scenic stops. It's a complete orientation to Banff and a great tour for seeing wildlife in the morning! This tour is the perfect introduction to Banff as you hear stories about the local history and animals, while keeping your eyes out for local wildlife.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit Lake Minnewanka, Banff's largest lake, and hear stories about the underwater ghost town.
See Bow Falls roaring rapids, as water crashes over ancient limestone creating a spectacle of sound and sight. These falls were featured in several classic Hollywood films of the 1950s including 'River of No Return' with Marilyn Monroe.
This viewpoint gives an iconic view of the “Castle Of The Rockies” against the backdrop of Sulphur Mountain with the majestic Bow River in the foreground.
Learn about the hoodoos from your guide as you look out over this impressive viewpoint.
(Summer only) Learn about an abandoned mining town and relic of Banff’s industrial past at this scenic stop.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Every pickup point has a unique pickup time. Guests must be ready at their selected pickup point 5 minutes prior. Banff Rocky Mountain Resort at 7:55 AM Canalta Lodge at 8:00 AM Banff Caribou Lodge at 8:01 AM Fox Hotel & Suites at 8:02 AM Red Carpet Inn at 8:03 AM Douglas Fir at 8:06 AM Banff Ptarmigan Inn at 8:10 AM Banff Park Lodge at 8:11 AM Mount Royal Hotel (Public Bus Parking behind hotel) at 8:12 AM Rimrock Resort at 8:20 AM Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (Motorcoach Entrance) at 8:25 AM Banff Train Station at 8:30 AM Juniper Hotel at 8:35 AM If no pickup is selected, your pick up will be defaulted to meet at the public bus parking behind the Mount Royal Hotel at 8:12 AM.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(199)
Jake was an excellent tour guide. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and also entertaining. We saw many amazing places and saw wildlife along the way. I hope he gets that one night stay at the end of the year - he deserves it!!!
Gabriel was amazing, he was so knowledgeable and kind. We also saw so many animals. Would recommend if you want to learn more about both the wildlife and the parks.
Excellent guide appearing very knowledgeable about the area. Anyone wanting to learn more about the growth and/or local environment, ecological and community for the Banff area would enjoy this trip. I was hoping for more wildlife but that is not always possible. Overall tour was very interesting.
The tour was fantastic. Gabe was our tour guide and he was very knowledgeable and personable. The fee was very reasonable for what we got out of the tour. We were able to spend a good amount of time at each stop to take photos and take in all of the sites in the 3hrs we had for the tour. The weather was perfect the day we went and we even saw some big horned sheep! Gabe taught us about their horns and had a horn in the tour bus that we were able to interact with. I would definitely do more of these tours in the future 😁
Had the most amazing trip today with Jake. He was extremely knowledgeable - and courteous making sure everyone was enjoying the experience. His sense of humour made the trip - everyone had a good laugh. Would highly recommend this trip with Jake - it will be an experience you will never forget.
We took the evening wildlife with Mitch as our excellent guide. He made sure we saw a variety of animals. We saw a mama bear and her three cubs! Amazing!!
A great small group tour, showing us all the main attractions and sights of Banff. The guides Charlie and Xavier were fantastic, giving us a history of the local area and we spotted some wildlife, being elk, deer and mountain sheep. A gondola ride was included in the tour and saw amazing views from the top. A must do experience when you are in Banff. At the conclusion of the tour Charlie gave some recommendations for local restaurants to dine in. Overall value for money and would recommend doing this tour.
Our guide Buffy was excellent on the wildlife tour. Her knowledge, passion and determination to find the local wildlife was unbeatable. She shared lots of local information and facts which were very interesting, and although the goats and sheep weren't out on our evening tour, she found a Mother bear and her 3 cubs. The whole bus was so happy! The tour was reasonably priced for the length of the tour and the quality Buffy provided. We would highly recommend her as a guide (ask for her!) and my 8 year old has been saying ever since that he would like to become a tour guide just like her - high praise indeed. SHe dropped us off very near to our campground which was so kind. Thank you Buffy, from your passengers from the UK.
If you’re considering a tour with Discover Banff, stop reading reviews and book it immediately—especially if Jake is your guide. Jake wasn’t just a tour guide. He was a majestic force of nature. Equal parts wilderness expert, stand-up comedian, and rugged mountain prince, he effortlessly led our group through Banff while keeping us laughing the entire time. At one point, Jake’s eagle eyes spotted a black bear in the distance (photo attached). While the rest of us were busy admiring the scenery and questioning our survival instincts, Jake calmly assessed the situation, protected us from certain doom, and somehow made it entertaining. I can’t say for certain that he stared the bear down, but I also can’t rule it out. His knowledge of the area was incredible, his jokes landed every time, and his hair somehow remained perfect despite the mountain winds. Coincidence? I think not. By the end of the tour, I learned more about Banff than I thought possible, saw amazing wildlife, and left wondering if Jake secretly communicates with bears, elk, and the Canadian Rockies themselves. If Discover Banff ever loses Jake, Parks Canada should probably classify him as a natural wonder. 10/10. Would trust Jake to guide me through the Rockies, a zombie apocalypse, or a diplomatic summit with bears. 🐻🏔️😂
Loved it! Our guide Ed was wonderful and informative and we saw lots of beautiful sites and finished with the gondola tour My kids and I loved it all!
