How Banff tours differ
A tour from Banff can mean a day trip along the Icefields Parkway, a glacier ride, a wildlife drive or just a seat on a bus to a lake. The products are not alike. Some return to Banff, and some end in Jasper. Some include an attraction ticket, and others do not.
Check five things for each offer: the start point, whether it is a round trip or one way, the entry fees included, the park pass and the meals. The examples below are single products with 2026 dates. They show what one offer costs, not a market range.
Tour and transport options compared
Adult prices in CAD for 2026. Taxes and fees can be extra.
| Option | What it is | Season 2026 | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icefield Parkway Discovery Tour | Sightseeing transfer from Banff to Jasper, 10.5 hours, no return to Banff | 1 May to 12 October | CAD 382 |
| Columbia Icefield Adventure | Ice Explorer vehicle on the Athabasca Glacier plus the Skywalk, 2.5 to 3 hours | 1 May to 12 October, weather permitting | – |
| Parks Canada shuttle to Lake Louise | Transport, not a tour; the lake is the destination | 15 May to 12 October | CAD 12.75 |
| Roam bus 8X from Banff | Public bus to the Lake Louise lakeshore | – | CAD 12.50 one way |
| Banff Gondola | Cabin ride of about 8 minutes to the summit station | Daily, hours change by season | Varies by date |
The Icefield Parkway Discovery Tour costs CAD 249 for children aged 6 to 15, and children up to 5 travel free. It includes the Columbia Icefield Adventure and the Skywalk, both weather dependent. The park pass is a separate cost. More on that on the park pass page.
Our picks: Banff day tours
Lake day trips, a Calgary-to-Banff outing and a tour that adds Yoho; each card says what is and is not included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided day trip from Calgary or Canmore to Banff
Hotel pickup, a guided drive (not a shuttle), park entry and drinking water are included, and you are dropped off in Banff at the end. Activities such as canoeing or the gondola cost extra.
Check availability →
Lakes day tour with a stop in Yoho
A live guide, pickup at fixed points and all national park fees are included; vehicle sizes range from 6 to 55 seats. Meals are not, and a cash tip of $12 per person is suggested.
Check availability →
Full-day tour to the lakes of Banff National Park
Pickup and return, a local guide, the national park pass and access to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Emerald Lake are included. Meals and tips are not.
Check availability →Banff tours and day trips
Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway, wildlife and more, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
What each one involves.
Icefields Parkway day trips
The Parkway runs 232 km from Lake Louise to Jasper. Parks Canada advises a full day for one direction with stops. The Discovery Tour packs that into a 10.5-hour transfer with sightseeing, and it ends in Jasper. If you need to be back in Banff, check the return arrangements before you book.
Icefields Parkway →The Columbia Icefield tour
The Columbia Icefield Adventure starts and ends at the Glacier Discovery Centre. It combines a ride on the Athabasca Glacier with the Skywalk and takes 2.5 to 3 hours. Transfers between the stops are included. The Ice Odyssey variant is closed for the rest of the 2026 season, so do not mix it up with the classic tour. The operator now advertises 2027 dates, and the park pass does not include the tour.
Wildlife tours
No operator can guarantee that you see an animal, and that includes the large operator in the park. Treat a wildlife trip as a drive with a good chance, not a promise. The rules for watching animals are on the wildlife page.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
The Parks Canada shuttle takes you to the lake, and the ticket for it is a separate purchase. The road to Moraine Lake is closed to normal private cars, and the Moraine shuttle ran from 1 June to 12 October 2026. A private tour product is not the same thing as a shuttle seat, so compare what each includes.
Lake Louise →Lake Minnewanka boat cruise
Boat cruises and rental boats run on Lake Minnewanka. They are seasonal and not offered all year. Check the dates for your trip before you plan around a cruise.
Gondola and town sights
The Banff Gondola is a ticketed ride on Sulphur Mountain, not a guided tour. Prices depend on the date and how early you book.
Banff Gondola →What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Round trip or one way
A transfer that ends in Jasper is not a day trip back to Banff. Look at where the tour ends and how you return.
Entry fees
Some tours include the glacier ride and the Skywalk. Others stop at a viewpoint and leave the entry tickets to you. A seat on a shuttle does not include anything at the destination.
Park pass
You need a pass for the park whatever tour you take. Ask whether it is part of the price, and if you are unsure, buy the day pass at a gate.
Park pass fees →Ages and extras
Child prices, age limits, taxes and meals differ by product. The Discovery Tour lists children from 6 to 15 at a lower price and charges taxes and fees on top.
Weather
Glacier and Skywalk visits depend on the weather. Look at the operator's terms for what happens if a part of the tour is cancelled.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Banff tours: frequently asked questions
What is the best tour in Banff?
That depends on your season and your plan. The table above compares single examples, not a ranking. A glacier tour suits a summer trip, a shuttle suits a lake visit, and the gondola suits any day with clear views.
How much does an Icefields Parkway tour cost?
The Icefield Parkway Discovery Tour from Banff to Jasper cost CAD 382 for adults and CAD 249 for children aged 6 to 15 in 2026. Children up to 5 travel free, and taxes and fees come on top. That is one product, not a price for every Banff day trip.
Is the park pass included in a tour?
It differs by tour. Check the description, and buy the day pass at a gate if it is not included.
Will I see bears on a wildlife tour?
That cannot be promised. Animals are wild, and operators say so themselves.
Can I do the Columbia Icefield tour in winter?
The 2026 season ran from 1 May to 12 October, weather permitting. Look at the operator's dates for the next season.