Banff Basin and Town Self-Guided Walking Tour (No Ticket)
Description
This isn't an entrance ticket to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. Get up close and personal with Banff's famous hot springs with this self-guided walking tour, which features the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and follows one of the national park's most renowned riverside trails. Uncover the history of the springs, find out how their discovery created all sorts of legal drama, and dig into lesser-known aspects of Banff's history along the way. As you stroll, you'll also enjoy amazing wilderness scenery and breathtaking views of the Bow River. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Here, underground hot springs create gorgeous natural pools which stay warm year-round—even in Canada’s harsh winters! For thousands of years, people of the First Nations lived around these springs. Note: This 2.2+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Banff's Cave and Basin in 1-2 hours. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
During the first World War, the Canadian military established the Castle Mountain Internment Camp here in Banff National Park. But who was interned in this camp? Enemy soldiers? German officers?
This easy and popular hike hugs the Bow River and offers beautiful views of the wetland, hot springs, and the mountains beyond.
Up ahead, in the distance, stands Sulphur Mountain, the summit of which was once home to a high tech research station. It was called the Cosmic Ray Station, and it studied rays emitted by the sun.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
- The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
- Your password can be used on the same number of devices as travelers booked. Enter the same password on each device.
Reviews(7)
The exhibits were very well done. The cave is beautiful and we really liked being able to leave a photographic message at the sight. We took the self guided audio tour and the narration was excellent and very informative. Loved the hike.
John, I’m glad you enjoyed my Banff Basin and Town GPS Walking Tour, including the Cave and Basin exhibits, the cave, and leaving a photographic message. I’m happy the narration was informative and you loved the hike. For more, check out my collection of 200+ self-guided tours. Happy exploring!
This is NOT a walking tour. Its a narration to accompany the walk for which you pay separately. There are descriptive signs and rangers along the way. There are also additional fees to enter the cave and the hot springs.
Vivian, I’m sorry for the confusion. The tour wasn’t what you expected. This is a self-guided audio tour; the entrance ticket isn’t included as mentioned in the listing. I saw your message and have already processed a refund. Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with or if you’d like to try a different tour.
We thoroughly enjoyed this walking tour in Banff. The app was easy to use, and the information it provided about the caves and hot springs was fascinating. It’s a great way to explore the area if you want some context but also the freedom to linger at certain spots. Overall, a good option for a relaxed, educational experience.
I'm glad you enjoyed my Banff Cave & Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour. It’s great that you found the app easy to use and the information fascinating. If you’re looking for more, check out my collection of 100+ self-guided tours for your next adventure. Happy exploring!
Scenic views of the Bow River and Sulphur Mtns, interesting stories from the recorded narrative. However, 2nd half of the Marsh route I followed, the path is a big muddy trench used for horse riders so full of horse manure! Would not recommend this route until the path is improved or changed.
Sally, I’m glad you found the stories and scenic views along my Banff Cave & Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour interesting! The tour is designed to follow a specific route, but I understand how the conditions on the second half of the Marsh route might have impacted your experience. Unfortunately, the path wasn’t in the best shape during your visit. I appreciate your feedback and will keep it in mind for future updates.
These tickets did not work at the cave and basin. Was told this has been a problem all year and that these tickets are not real and I had to purchase new ones
Hunter, I understand your frustration. My tour is an audio guide only and does not include admission tickets to the cave and basin. These need to be purchased separately. If you bought the wrong product, please email me immediately or request a refund through Viator. I'll happily give you a full refund.
The self guided walking tour was very helpful because there were not very many staff members or maps available on the walking tour.
Anne, I'm glad you found my Banff Cave and Hot Springs Self-Guided Walking Tour helpful! It's great to hear that the tour enhanced your visit even with few staff around. If you're up for more exploration, check out my 100+ Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tours by Action—it's packed with diverse experiences like this one!
The app was easy to use. For us, much of the facts/local information shared were things we had learned on our tour of the area. It might be beneficial for those not travelling with a tour.
Joanne, you might have accidentally given my Banff Cave and Hot Springs Walking Audio Tour 3 stars. While you mentioned the app is easy to use, reviews with three stars typically highlight some areas for improvement. If something specific about the tour weren't a great fit, we'd love to hear your thoughts to improve the experience for future explorers!
