Banff Gondola & Lake Minnewanka Cruise Combo
Description
IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ Select your preferred date and ascent time for the Banff Gondola. Your descent will be set 1 hour 30 minutes later, giving time to explore the summit. The Lake Minnewanka Cruise will be scheduled 2 hours after your gondola descent. This combo is available until October 12, 2026, and resumes in May 2027. This ticket pairs two of Banff’s most iconic experiences: the Banff Gondola and the Lake Minnewanka Cruise. Ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views, boardwalk trails, exhibits, cafés, and chances to spot wildlife. Then unwind on a guided cruise across Banff’s largest lake, where expert commentary shares the region’s history, geology, and ecology. Blending adventure, learning, and relaxation, this seamless package helps travelers make the most of their time while seeing Banff from two memorable perspectives, soaring above the Rockies and gliding over pristine alpine waters. Tickets are limited; book early to secure your preferred times.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your return (descending) time will be scheduled 1 hour and 30 minutes after your initial ascent. Embark on an unforgettable journey with the Banff Gondola, where breathtaking views await! Glide to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in a modern, enclosed cabin featuring panoramic windows. Marvel at sweeping vistas of six mountain ranges, the Bow Valley, and Banff. At the summit, stroll the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk, discover interactive exhibits, and enjoy dining at the Sky Bistro, offering local flavors paired with stunning views. Perfect for all ages, the Banff Gondola promises incredible scenery, fresh mountain air, and a memorable adventure in the heart of the Rockies.
Your Minnewanka Lake Cruise will be scheduled 2 hours after your Gondola descent time. Set sail on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Minnewanka and uncover the beauty of Banff National Park from a unique perspective. This guided boat tour takes you through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, offering stunning views of rugged peaks, glacial valleys, and pristine wilderness. Learn about the lake’s rich history, local legends, and diverse wildlife from expert guides as you glide across the largest lake in Banff. Perfect for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and families, the Lake Minnewanka Cruise is a serene and unforgettable way to experience the Rockies.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(14)
We went before the free entrance and the crowds weren’t too bad. Fun experience and we were fortunate to do boat ride that was prior time to ours. Directions to Minnewanka cruise were not clear so make sure you are sure where you are going. Other than that no issues.
Brilliant way to do two key activities from Banff but if you do not have a car, make sure you have enough time to travel between the two. You can use the Roam Transit buses for free with your gondola and cruise tickets, but you will need enough time to allow the timetables to match up.
Very disappointed I didn't know there were 2 gondolas in lake Louise and I went to lake Louise gondola and couldn't get my ticket to come up because of the crappy wifi and finally pulled my confirmation up and she informed me I was at wrong one. So I txt to see if Viator could rebook me later in day or next day? She said no sorry. Was not happy with that will make me think twice about buying tickets ahead of time and with Viator!!
We enjoyed this excursion. We picked an early morning Gondola ride, 810am, to make sure we got a good parking space for the day and the skies are clearer in the morning to see distant mountain ranges and the town of Banff from Sulphur Mountain. We picked up the Roam Transit Route 1 to downtown Banff after our Gondola ride. We left the Gondola ride early as the facility at the top had no power and was on a generator. So the restaurants and gift shops were not operational. From downtown we picked up Roam Transit Route 6 to Lake Minnewanka. If you show your passes to the Gondola and Lake Minnewanka there is no charge for the roundtrip bus trips. FYI the buses exchange hub is in front of or across the street of the Banff High School. Lake Minnewanka cruise was very nice. Our guide Brooklyn and boat Captain Max were great!
The combo deal was a good day outing from Banff. However, there was no information provided on how to get to the gondola or to Lake Minnewanka. We had a hire car but unaware that parking at each location would be problematic. Had to resort to investigating public transport option or free shuttles from Banff town center to each location. In the end was quite straightforward but stressful as we had no idea how busy each service would be. As an aside, I thought the attractions were overpriced, but we had basically paid the admission fees for each attraction in this tour.
Must visit. Beautiful views of the entire banff area. Gondola experience was very good. Cruise was also very good.
Great experience at both the Banff Gondola and Lake Minnewanka Cruise! All the staff at both locations were terrific! On the cruise, Captain Darian and Vic were fantastic! Loved being able to take free transportation from Banff for both activities with a little walking. We also parked for free at the train station.
Gondala Ride and hiking up Sulfur Mounting was the highlight for our Banff vacation.
Easy to access, wonderful views, friendly helpful staff. Although the weather affects the experience both are adaptable for the conditions.
I didn’t understand that this was not a tour group activity. We were at the gondola looking for someone from your company. We did run into another couple who had booked the same trip and we figured we were on our own. That aspect needed to be made clear when booking. Second, we booked the Lake Minnewanka cruise but I looked everywhere for an address but found nothing. I put the Lake into my GPS and it said it was an hour away. Imagine our surprise when 30 minutes later we pulled into the parking lot and our GPS saying we were in the wrong place. Fortunately we found the cruise. While we enjoyed the gondola and cruise we were disappointed in the lack of clarity regarding this being an individual trip. By the way, the other couple booked with you were just as bewildered as us. By the way, the cruise folks were kind enough to take us early.
