Historical Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$76
per adult
Discover Banff Tours
Discover Banff Tours
4.5
Climbing ToursSightseeing ToursHiking & Camping ToursNature & Wildlife ToursBus Tours
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About
Discover Banff Tours provides small personalized tours in Banff National Park. We offer activities in both summer and winter for individuals and groups. Our tours are smaller giving you plenty of time to chat with our friendly, local and professionally trained guides.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Discover Banff Tours
Eco Tours
2–3 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 100% of travelers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$76
per adult
Private and Luxury
4–5 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 93% of travelers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$85
per adult
Hiking Tours
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 90% of travelers
90% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$76
per adult
Ghost Tours
1–2 hours
Free cancellation
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from
$30
per adult
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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
4.5
4,210 reviews
Excellent
3,393
Very good
440
Average
120
Poor
91
Terrible
167
christys0221
Seffner, FL10 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Everyone i talked to was so helpful, friendly and patient. I mostly worked with Katie W and she was wonderful! She was so patient and took the time to answer my 1000 questions while setting up our tours for the whole week. She helped me figure out which days were the best to do which activities based on the projected weather and provided additional guidance on which of the activities could be done in one day.
Communication with this company was fantastic! Our snowmobile tour was cancelled on the day prior to when we were scheduled due to Avalanche control. Katie called us as soon as they knew to help me re-arrange a couple of our tours so we could Snowmobile another day. Once we had it set, all tours were notified of the change and there was no confusion. We showed on to do the Lake Louise tour a day early instead of snowmobiling and they already had our name. It was a relief that I did not have to worry about making a ton of calls to try and move things around, she took care of all of it!
I also want to say thank u for how willing they are to answer questions about transportation options. While most of the tours we set up included a shuttle to pick up and drop u off, there were a couple of things we had to work out transportation on our own. Katie helped me figure out the best options on how to get from one point to the other.
Highly recommend using Discover Banff, they made planning a weeks worth of activies a breeze! Thank u Katie, u were awesome!
Communication with this company was fantastic! Our snowmobile tour was cancelled on the day prior to when we were scheduled due to Avalanche control. Katie called us as soon as they knew to help me re-arrange a couple of our tours so we could Snowmobile another day. Once we had it set, all tours were notified of the change and there was no confusion. We showed on to do the Lake Louise tour a day early instead of snowmobiling and they already had our name. It was a relief that I did not have to worry about making a ton of calls to try and move things around, she took care of all of it!
I also want to say thank u for how willing they are to answer questions about transportation options. While most of the tours we set up included a shuttle to pick up and drop u off, there were a couple of things we had to work out transportation on our own. Katie helped me figure out the best options on how to get from one point to the other.
Highly recommend using Discover Banff, they made planning a weeks worth of activies a breeze! Thank u Katie, u were awesome!
Written February 8, 2020
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.
Martel T
Midland, MI8 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
My husband and I couldn't decide which tour to choose so we booked a full day private tour that included a morning hike in Johnston Canyon. It was one of the best days we've ever had while traveling anywhere. Nick was an amazing guide and it really felt like having a friend showing us around his favorite areas. He seemed as excited to see things again as we were to see them for the first time. We had a truly great experience and recommend Discover Banff and Nick to anybody wanting a relaxed but full tour of the area. Hands down the best decision we made on this trip.
Written February 12, 2020
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.
Amie F
Dallas, TX23 contributions
Mar 2020
We opted for a private tour, unsure of how my 65 year old father would fare, and I'm so glad we did. Jeff arrived promptly to meet us for the all day tour and was full of wonderful information, photos, factoids, and the knowledge only a local could have to find hidden vistas. I would recommend these tours in a heartbeat to anyone looking to see more of Banff or the Lake Louise area, and learn along the way!
Written March 11, 2020
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.
BusymomEsssex
Essex, Canada45 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
We went as a group on the morning icewalk. Neil our guide was punctual in collecting us at the pick up point and was very informative throughout the drive and tour. It was a beautiful walk and our two families really enjoyed the sites. I do think however for the price that was charged it was way overpriced for what we received. I think this company is simply capitalizing on the fact that during COVID the canyon is closed to the public unless you go in with a guide. Kind of sad. Also, although our guide was polite and informative he came across as very COVID fearful so I’m not sure why he was electing to work as a guide. If you seriously think you are going to catch COVID outside while hiking in a canyon stay home and let your colleagues who are confortable being with tourists do the tours.
Written March 21, 2021
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.
Good morning,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Neil. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the hike and Neil's commentary throughout the tour. We believe that this tour offers good value for money, and we have held our prices from last year for this winter. The road has been closed to public vehicles for most of the last year by Parks Canada due to the pandemic, although we are one of a few commercial tour operators that has access this winter. Our icewalks at Johnston Canyon include hotel pickup and drop off in Banff in a small group with a current maximum of nine guests with a professional hiking guide - and of course hot chocolate and maple cookies at the upper falls! Our company is taking the COVID-19 health measures very seriously, including social distancing even when outside. In line with the AHS restrictions, face masks must be worn whenever social distancing cannot be maintained, even outdoors, and we thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
Written March 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lynne N
15 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
Jake gave a really interesting commentary about Banff and its history, geology, wildlife and Lake Louise on the Lake Louise and Snowshoeing Tour. However there was no guided snowshoe walk through the woods around the Lake as advertised. It's way cheaper to get the local 8X bus, walk round the lake at your leisure as the local bus times allow for more time at the lake than the 1hr45min afforded on this trip. The reason given for not doing the snowshoe walk on arrival at the lake was there was not enough snow! The lack of snow and the probability that the snowshoe element of the tour might be cancelled should have been highlighted at the time of booking.
Written February 9, 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.
Hi Lynn,
Unfortunately, our guide deemed that there is not enough snow for the snowshoes to be effective. Snow conditions are hard to predict as they can change quickly. Lake Louise is still gorgeous and there is plenty to do and see around the lake.
We hope you still had a great time on the tour and in Banff.
Written February 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kudalayd
Freeport, FL176 contributions
Jan 2020
I booked two different tours with Discover Banff Tours.
The first was the Banff and Wildlife Tour. Although the tour was @
1/2 day, it encompassed quite a bit for a first-time Banff guest.
We were able to see Elk and one Buck that seemed to want to pose
for us. The scenery was spectacular and our tour guide was very
informative. This is a Must-Do Tour for anyone new to the Banff area.
My second tour was to Lake Louise. I chose this tour as my second as
the Ice Sculpture Competition began on the 15th of January, my last
day in the Banff area. The first thing I did when we were dropped off at the Chateau
Lake Louise is head to the Iconic Bar for lunch. It wasn't really crowded, but there weren't
any window seats available. I was still able to enjoy some great Lake Louise Views from my
table. After lunch, I walked around the ice sculptures and walked on to the frozen lake. It was so
cold (@ -21) that I didn't last long outside.
The first was the Banff and Wildlife Tour. Although the tour was @
1/2 day, it encompassed quite a bit for a first-time Banff guest.
We were able to see Elk and one Buck that seemed to want to pose
for us. The scenery was spectacular and our tour guide was very
informative. This is a Must-Do Tour for anyone new to the Banff area.
My second tour was to Lake Louise. I chose this tour as my second as
the Ice Sculpture Competition began on the 15th of January, my last
day in the Banff area. The first thing I did when we were dropped off at the Chateau
Lake Louise is head to the Iconic Bar for lunch. It wasn't really crowded, but there weren't
any window seats available. I was still able to enjoy some great Lake Louise Views from my
table. After lunch, I walked around the ice sculptures and walked on to the frozen lake. It was so
cold (@ -21) that I didn't last long outside.
Written January 25, 2020
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.
TravelFoodieTex
Houston, TX269 contributions
Jun 2022 • Solo
My tour was cancelled 2 days before it was scheduled to happen because of staffing shortages. Fortunately my travel partner rented a car so we went on our own. About halfway to the Icefields we saw a Discover Banff van. Why was my tour really canceled? I saw a Brewster Tour bus. Maybe I should have booked with them? If you decide to drive, buy tickets online in advance for the glass skyway and explorer drive across the glacier because tickets sell out fast.
Written June 10, 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.
Good afternoon,
As we often face staff shortages in Banff, we are sometimes forced to make last minute changes involving cancelling tours. It is never easy and lots of thought goes into what tour to best cancel to meet operational needs. usually the case is 1-2 tours get cancelled if any, allowing our other tours to remain as planned. We hope you enjoyed your time in Banff!
Written June 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BVW
12 contributions
Feb 2020
What a bargain. For less than the cost of a lift ticket, you get round trip transportation and a lift ticket to one of the most unique and amazing hills I've ever skied. Kicking Horse isn't for beginners - it's essentially backcountry skiing accessed by a gondola but it's incredible if you're up for it and this tour is the way to get there if you're in Banff. The drive itself is beautiful and much easier to enjoy with someone else at the wheel. We did it in between days at Sunshine and Lake Louise and it made for a diverse and great 3 days of skiiing.
Written February 21, 2020
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.
Aniket E
Toronto, Canada3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
I had the pleasure of experiencing an unforgettable hiking tour in Banff National Park with Discover Banff Tours. I booked the guided hike from Moraine Lake to Larch Valley. Our guide Phoebe was exceptional, combining deep knowledge of the area's history with insightful explanations about the local ecology, enriching our journey through this stunning landscape. Her passion and expertise transformed the hike into a unique learning experience, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the rugged beauty of Banff. It was truly a breathtaking experience in combination with the vibrant Fall colours and the snow-capped Rockies, which painted a magnificent picture! Hiking poles were provided and the packed lunch was absolutely delicious. I can't recommend Discover Banff enough for anyone looking to explore and gain a deeper understanding of this magnificent location.
Written October 17, 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.
Thank you for sharing your incredible hiking tour experience with us. We're thrilled to hear about the unforgettable journey with Phoebe. Your description of the vibrant Fall colors and snow-capped Rockies is enchanting. We're delighted you enjoyed the provided hiking poles and delicious packed lunch. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more enriching adventures in Banff National Park.
Written October 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Liz B
13 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
Anika was out guide and was so delightful and full of knowledge about the area. They were very conscious about Covid and keeping everyone safe. The hike up was beautiful. She made sure that there was enough brakes in between the steep uphill portions of the hike for out of shape folks like me. Great conversations and scenery. No pictures can do the beauty justice. Would book with discover banff again in a heartbeat.
Written March 20, 2021
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.
Hi Liz,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and photos from the Johnston Canyon Icewalk with Anick. We're so glad you enjoyed the hike and Anick's company. We think she's delightful too! We'll be sure to pass on your kind words and we look forward to seeing you on your next visit to Banff.
Written March 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
louisa
Jakarta, Indonesia
28-31 oct 2022 what kind of unique activities we can do in lake louise and banff
Written August 14, 2022
Hi there, late October can be a great time to visit Banff National Park, but please note that some summer tours and attractions will be closed for the winter season. There's attractions such as the Banff Hot Springs and Banff Gondola that are open year round, as well as tours at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary (1 hour from Banff), caving tours in Canmore, ghost walks in Banff and Canmore, helicopter flights and sightseeing tours of Banff and Lake Louise.
Written August 14, 2022
Hello, what day of the week is the least busiest?
Written September 13, 2021
Hi Christine, thanks for your question! Was there a particular tour or location that you were looking for a less busy day for? In general, weekends are busier than weekdays in Banff.
Written September 28, 2021
Hello, is there an option to take a carry-on bag on the trip from Banff to Lake Louise and leave it in the bus/any other place so I don’t have to carry it with me throughout the trip?
Written November 21, 2019
Hi Olga, thank you for your question.
While our buses don't have a luggage storage area, guests are welcome to bring a small backpack or bag with them for the day (that would fit on your lap or by your feet). Our guides will always lock the bus while we're at a stop, so you're welcome to leave it on the bus during the tour.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions! You can reach our reservations team on 1(877) 565-9372 or info AT banfftours . com.
Written November 21, 2019
I'm not able to find any reviews on the Banff ghost walk. Can anyone let me know how good it is please?
Written May 19, 2019
Hello, thank you for your question. This is a fairly new tour, offered by a local theatre company here in Banff. We quite enjoy it as a fun leisurely activity to do in the evening while hearing spooky stories and local history, but I don't think we have received any reviews specifically on this tour yet.
Written May 21, 2019
Hello. Your website states it is small group sizes. Can you be more accurate please? Thank you.
Written January 19, 2019
Hello, thanks for your question.
Our small group sizes do vary depending on the tour but we typically display these as an 'inclusion' for each tour on the website if that helps. Was there a particular tour that you had in mind so that we can confirm this for you?
Most sightseeing (bus) tours are a maximum of 24 people, and our guided hikes (including summer hikes and winter icewalks and snowshoeing tours) are a maximum of 12 guests per tour/guide.
Please let us know if you would like any more details!
Written January 28, 2019
Wandalee C
Oshawa, Canada
Hi there. We are coming to BC in February for a 2 week family vacation. I am wondering if there are any activities or excursions that we can bring a small dog on with us? Thank you!
Written November 3, 2018
Hello, unfortunately dogs aren't permitted on our tours and activities, but there's still plenty to do in Banff National Park and the surrounding area (we're right near the BC border) with your pets.
The Banff Visitor Centre can help you with things to do with pets in Banff National Park as well as information pet sitting services that you could take advantage of incase you decide to take part in any tours or activities that don't permit pets. You can reach them on 1877-762-8421. Alternatively if you're only visiting BC, you may prefer to contact the local visitor centre there to see what information they can provide you with to make the most of your visit.
Written November 6, 2018
Has anyone done the Banff Ghost Walk? Is it any good?
Written August 16, 2018
Hi Scott, this is a new tour that we book, run by a local company that specialises in theatre. A few of the team here have been on the tour, and enjoyed the historical stories and learning about the history of the town and spooky stories from another local - without any gore! Hopefully we'll have some reviews of this tour up soon, as we've only been booking it for a short while at this stage.
Written August 21, 2018
Does this tour do hotel pick ups
Written July 5, 2018
Hello,
Thank you for your question. Most of our tours pick up from hotels in Banff, and then we offer limited pickups in Canmore or Lake Louise for select tours. Please don't hesitate to contact us directly to check if we offer transport for the specific tour/s that you're looking at!
Written July 17, 2018
Snow pants are not provided on any of DBT's tours. They are REQUIRED for snowshoe tours, recommended for icewalks. Icewalks you can get away with warm layers on the bottom. Snow pants can be rented in town if needed.
Written April 16, 2018
Considering the Columbia Icefields Tour with Discover Banff --- trying to decide if this full day tour is suitable for a 5yo child. Are there sufficient stops or restroom breaks every 2-3 hours on the road? Would the sights be generally interesting for a younger child who enjoys the outdoors? Thanks for any insights!
Written July 20, 2017
Hi
The tour is complimentary for children 5 and under. There are plenty of stops along the tour, roughly every hour or so. Most have washrooms and we are in the wilderness so they are outhouses. Our buses do not have washrooms onboard. Keep in mind it is a full day excursion, 10 hours until you return to Banff. Our guides do their best to tailor their stories and commentary to the dynamics of the group on board. Our experience is that some infants can manage a public tour for this long, and some cannot. It depends on the child which you will know best. Hope to see you in Banff
Written August 31, 2017
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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.