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Banff Tours
Small-Group Guided Via Ferrata Climbing with Banff's Best Views
5

Small-Group Guided Via Ferrata Climbing with Banff's Best Views

By Banff Norquay Summer Sightseeing and Via Ferrata
Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 12-90, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Japanese, English, French
More


  • All Safety equipment is provided, including climbing helmet, harness, via ferrata lanyards.
  • Rainwear, backpacks and suitable hiking boots are available at no charge. Size availability is not guaranteed.
  • Banff Sightseeing Chairlift - Ride the chairlift to the via ferrata start point.
  • ACMG-certified Guide
  • Free shuttle bus to and from Banff
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drink
  • Hotel pickup & drop-off


Start:
  • Mount Norquay Scenic Drive, Mt Norquay Scenic Dr, Banff, AB T0L 1E0, Canada
    CHECK IN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO TOUR TIME at Norquay's North American Lodge, 6km (3.7 miles) from Banff, via Mt Norquay Scenic Drive. When arriving, go past the first two lots. Park in lot posted as 'P3', follow short walking path to Lodge. Free shuttle available from Banff, visit their website.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 274286P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • PARTICIPANTS MUST CHECK IN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME
    • A liability Waiver must be signed by all via ferrata participants
    • Minimum 12 years of age and minimum 40 kg (88 lbs)
    • Maximum participant weight is 120 kgs (265 lbs)
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 274286P1

    From
    $140.69
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Banff Norquay Summer Sightseeing and Via Ferrata
      585
      Banff, Alberta, Canada
      Joined in April 2014
    • haleywN2953IV
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best tour of trip/maybe of life
      This was one of the highlights of my trip. The view at the top is breathtaking. The Via Ferrata itself was so much fun. Ben our guide was probably the best guide I've ever for any type of guided tour in any discipline. So personable and knowledgable. Highly recommend this experience.
      Written October 13, 2024
    • Brenna C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing first climb
      Love love loved this experience! My first time doing something like this, I don't have a lot of upper body strength by any means so I was nervous about getting through it but I was able too no problem! And I felt very safe with the cables and harness. Lucy was a great guide, doubling as teacher and photographer while climbing. I've booked with tour groups before that cancel or try to reschedule when I'm the only one signed up for that tour, but Lucy took just me out and it was great! Definitely recommend if you can handle heights. The views of Banff and the surrounding area were amazing
      Written September 29, 2024
    • Q9511XKjoeyw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A can’t-miss experience in the Banff area!
      A cant-miss experience in the Banff area and a highlight of our trip! We had the best guide, Matt, who made our experience great. He was calm, encouraging, and made a great coach! His optimism and attitude toward life will stick with me long past this excursion. Highly recommend Mt Norquay Via Ferrata and especially Matt!
      Written September 16, 2024
    • paulabcxyz
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Via Ferrata Is Awesome
      We did the Skyline route on Via Ferrata. Paul was our guide. He was excellent. Two members of our group decided they were not comfortable proceeding and Paul and the team handled it very well. The route was challenging and exhilarating at the same time. Our family will talk about it for years!
      Written August 23, 2024
    • AdventureSeekingFam
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best Time Ever—Brandon is a Great Guide!
      Brandon guided our group on a work retreat to do the Via Ferrata and we had a blast! I want to bring my family back here to do it again. Totally the best thing to do in Banff. Need to be a little adventurous though.
      Written September 20, 2023
    • shadah1
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Definitely worth a visit!
      Amazing! We stumbled across this while out for a morning walk. It doesn’t have the massive crowds (we were pretty early) but what an amazing experience! Everything went really smoothly from the pickup to the chairlift up Mt Norquay. Staff were amazing, the view was spectacular and the restaurant at the top was lovely. Highly recommend 😊
      Written August 29, 2023
    • Ksabow
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      One of the best adventures in the rockies!
      When I realized we were going to be climbing the side of a mountain, I honestly thought about turning around and going back down the chair lift. Luckily, Zach was our guide and he immediately made me feel calmer and more confident. I'm SO glad I continued. Although I was scared at times (due to the height) I'm so glad I did this with my family. They all loved it and it really was an adventure. These guides have seen everything and know how to handle every situation. Zach was the reason this all went so well. Thank you.
      Written August 15, 2023
    • X9756XYwendym
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Banff Norquay Vie Ferrata - Skyline Rout
      This was our second Via Ferrata (first in Tahoe last year) and we did the Skyline rout which was AMAZING! We are a couple of middle aged ladies (old friends from college) who enjoy physical challenges and adventure, and this was just challenging (ack!) enough to get my heart racing and motivate my training for 4 months before hand to be still be able to hike for 4-5 hours comfortably. Our guide was friendly, knowledgable, patient and a very good teacher - explained things well and demonstrated while explaining. I highly recommend the Skyline rout for its variety (wire crossing/ladder/suspension bridge), breath taking views and challenging climbs, that pushed me to work through my fears and work hard - feeling like a substantial accomplishment!
      Written July 23, 2023
    • Eishe94
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best part of my trip to Banff
      Such an amazing experience! Borrowed hiking boots and a backpack rom the check-in desk (included in your package). Everyone was so nice. Did the explorer route for 2.5 hours with a very lovely group of people. Ben was our guide - such an all around great and funny guy. He supported us the whole way and didn't make me feel left out as a solo climber. The views were amazing and the climb was one hell of an experience. I will definitely be doing this again next time I'm in banff - maybe even a longer route next time. Thanks again!
      Written October 8, 2022
    • nosh2005
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun challenging adventure
      Excellent activity! A bit challenging so one does require atleast moderate level of fitness. Doing the shorter route first will be a good idea to get a feel what it's all about. Our guide, Aaron was very helpful! Recommended!!!
      Written September 22, 2022
    • BrooklinHeather
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing Experience
      What an amazing experience! My family of four (including a 13 and 16 year old) did the Ridgewater course. Absolutely amazing! While the cost may be a bit on the expensive side for a whole family, it is definitely an experience not to be missed while visiting Banff. Definitely worth the money. Jazz was a fantastic guide. She was engaging with all members of the group and ensured everyone had a great experience!
      Written August 18, 2022
    • KAdelia17
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wish I could give 6 stars!
      What an amazing experience! Addie is such a helpful, personable, and positive guide. We had some very spooked members of our group (me included) and he made it a fun and exciting morning. The views are spectacular and worth all the fear.
      Written August 17, 2022
    • maximes807
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience, definitely recommend!
      Me and my sister did the Skyline tour (5 hours). You get the safety gear but can also borrow jackets, backpacks and shoes depending on availability (free of charge!). Our guide Zach was really enthusiastic and friendly and guided us through the tour with ease. I would definitely recommend this tour! You don’t need any previous mountaineering/climbing experience as everything will be explained. However, for your own pleasure I would recommend a basic level of fitness to be able to enjoy the tour.
      Written August 16, 2022
    • Caitlin M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Via Ferrata!
      The day I arrived, I was looking for something to do before my hotel check in. I stumbled upon the Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay brochure. I bought a ticket and ended up having the BEST time and meeting some wonderful people!
      Written August 12, 2022
    • kipleyc
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nice views.
      Scenic drive up, some one-lane due to construction. We had intended to take the chairlift up the mountain but at $40 a pop, it didn’t seen worthwhile.
      Written July 31, 2022
    See all 585 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles120 reviews
    Excellent
    115
    Very good
    1
    Average
    2
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    1

    birtellshelly
    Woodland, CA64 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2022 • Couples
    Amazing experience. We felt safe and our guide, BYRON, was amazing!!!! Thank you for the best guided tour. He took photos of us from His phone and also didn’t rush us when we took photos as well. He made the tour so fun and also shared fun facts about birds and the trees in the area. I HIGHLY recommend doing this!

    My only complaint is I felt the price was a little
    High. We recently completed one in Switzerland and it was cheaper(Switzerland is very expensive). But overall, it’s worth your money!!!
    Written September 22, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    DGLAR
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2024 • Family
    We received a call the day before our excursion to notify us that the skyline route still had too much snow on it & we wouldn't be able to attempt that route. We easily re-booked the alpinist route for the three of us (ages 49, 17 & 14). There were a total of 6 of us including the guide & were able to move quickly, which was great.

    You can judge any similar outdoor adventure by the guide that you are assigned. Our guide, Juan, was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable and attentive to make sure everyone was safe. The Mt. Norquay via faratta team did an excellent job of keeping route free of snow & all of the anchors were secured. You could tell they maintained the route by certain sections having a clear path surrounded by 3+ feet of snow carved out on both sides of the path.

    We had the best views of Banff & the surrounding mountain peaks. There is an uncrowded restaurant at the end that just opened for the season. We enjoyed a huge plate of nachos & I had a cold Guinness to cap off the experience. We saw a lot of bighorn sheep & our first black bear on the drive to/from Mt. Norquay. Our group highly recommends this experience.

    I highly recommend this experience for those wanting an atypical experience that will leave lifelong memories.
    Written June 15, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jessalyn G
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    We did the mountaineer route (all day) with guide Jake: he was incredible! We had an amazing experience and loved getting to experience the whole Via ferrata course. He was able to bring the group of strangers together so we felt like long time friends, and he was thorough with safety, knowledge about the surrounding areas, and even restaurant recommendations for after our tour. This was a highlight of our honeymoon!
    Written August 25, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Steve B
    57 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022 • Couples
    I booked my partner and I on to the ridgewalker via Ferrata at Mt Norquay in early July. My girlfriend was a little nervous as had never been on a via Ferrata before and also isn’t super strong when it comes to height. Needless to say she loved it and embraced the challenge and was surprised in herself and in the feeling of safety she felt at all times whilst on the course. I also thoroughly enjoyed it as got to appreciate some amazing views and enjoy a nice steady fun activity. What really made the day though was our guide for the route, Zach who offered an excellent level of customer service, skill, knowledge, attention to individuals needs and humour. I couldn’t fault him and he definitely was a major factor in the level of enjoyment we had and the reason for a sixth star review if one was available
    Written July 13, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Nathan81255060
    Antarctica129 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2022
    I booked the Skyline tour thinking it would be a fun challenging activity with some great views and boy did it live up to that expectation! This was a fantastic 4.5hr tour with several different challenges (beam walk, wire rope crossing, bridge crossing & of course climbing!) and it was made all the better by our fantastic guide Anna. You could tell she thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors, on the mountains and this made you feel comfortable. She led the group at a great pace, keeping an eye on all of us throughout. Would thoroughly recommend this as a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, with incredible views and a super fun activity!
    Written August 25, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Liz O
    Orinda, CA219 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Family
    My whole family (2 parents in our late 50s and kids 21 and 19) loved the via ferrata and our guide, Tom, was fantastic. We did the "mid level" experience, the Alpinist, which was just right for us as we had never done a via ferrata before but we knew our kids would want to do more than the "taster." The activity itself is a ton of fun and the views were wonderful. If you are really afraid of heights this might not be your thing, but I am not crazy about heights and was not bothered on this trip at all because you are clearly bolted to the mountain the entire time. It felt quite safe but was also exhilarating. I was also a little worried about my fitness (I am 58 and do a lot of cardio but have no upper body strength) and was pleasantly surprised at how doable this was. Tom was very kind and encouraging and also very knowledgable. He made everyone in our group of 6 (our family and another young couple) feel safe and supported. I highly recommend this activity and we will definitely do it again - a longer trip next time - if we are lucky enough to return to Banff!
    Written August 30, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Kalico Taylor
    Brisbane, Australia29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Absolutely amazing. From the moment we walked in the door until we left, every single team member were abundantly friendly, helpful and accommodating. Brendan was our tour guid for our rock climb and did a great job of explaining everything every step of the way and even shared some fun and educational facts about the area, the habitat and the wildlife.

    It’s was a great climb up the mountain and we reached over 2,100 metres elevation, got a good workout and even saw some young horned sheep 🐏which I thought was really cool. And squirrels too. 🐿️ Cute!!!

    We did have some confusion from the booking confirmation print out from we got from trip adviser. So just just some friendly Constructive feedback for Trip Advisor, but this does not impact the staff and their service or the tour whatsoever. The confirmation ticket advised it wasn’t an entry ticket which is fair enough but the redemption point to get the tickets wasn’t clear and had an address which was different to the meeting point, at least the confirmation print out explains this. however the redemption point to get our entry tickets turns out to be the same place the tour starts from (meeting poin t) so this was actually really confusing for us as tourists not knowing the area at all. It explained 2 completely different addresses on the confirmation print out so my suggestion would be for this to be rectified through through Trip Adviser to avoid any other confusion this may cause for any other customer booking through Trip Adviser.

    All in all, had the best time and got great pics of the Rocky Mountains and took In the cues as much as possible. 💯 recommend doing this rock click and hike.
    Written August 2, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Kathy B
    Saint Paul, MN113 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    We signed up for the Via Ferrata Ridgewalker Route. I cannot overstate how incredibly accommodating the staff was for our family of 4! Our first tour got canceled due to storms, but we were fortunate to reschedule as staff called in last-minute guides to arrange a tour for a different day. During our re-scheduled climb, my son ended up deeply afraid of heights, and our amazing guide, Anna, who was so kind and patient with him, radioed to recruit a second guide to split our group. Half my family downgraded to the Explorer route led by Anna, while Byron navigated the rest of us to the top of the mountain. Dangling off a precipice, there were a few moments where we questioned our sanity, but the views were incredible, and our sense of accomplishment in doing something that stretched us beyond our comfort zone was thrilling. We definitely had an amazing adventure thanks to an unbelievably skillful and gracious staff.
    Written August 9, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Longshanks86
    Cardiff, UK41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was fantastic! Our guide, Amanda, was brilliant from start to finish in getting us set up to climb hundreds of meters up the mountain, and she was enthusiastic and positive throughout. She put us at ease and we felt safe the entire way and learned about our environment too.

    The climb itself was great fun. If you can climb a ladder then you’ll have no trouble here. There are a couple of hiking sections which last 10-15 minutes, but I wouldn’t call those difficult.

    The views were incredible, and Amanda was on hand to take lots of photos which we received straight after we finished, for us to enjoy.

    I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who wants to see Banff and the surrounding area from a different perspective, to get some blood pumping, and wants a bit of a rush!
    Written August 27, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    vikingschick80
    roseville17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2024 • Family
    My friend, husband, and I just did the Explorer's (beginner's) route today and had so much fun!

    Our guide (Isima, apologies that the spelling has to be wrong) was so friendly and reassuring when needed. She kept a close eye on everyone in the group, encouraging those who were a little scared and keeping a careful pace for someone who needed to go a little slower on the downhills.

    The route itself was so fun, it had some feeling of exposure, but was also great for a first time. It took about 2 hrs and 15min and we got some exercise, but overall it was easy and would be great for most folks.

    I would definitely come back and try the other routes, thanks for such a memorable experience!
    Written July 18, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Small-Group Guided Via Ferrata Climbing with Banff's Best Views provided by Banff Norquay Summer Sightseeing and Via Ferrata

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