Banff Gondola Tickets
Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and walk the summit boardwalk above the town and the Bow Valley.
$100 per person
Canadian RockiesCanadian Rockies, at two Fairmont hotels
Banff & Lake Louise: 6 Days
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake from one base in Banff, with no rental car needed, and the Banff Gondola and a Lake Minnewanka cruise as optional add-ons.Two Fairmont hotels, private transfers and a private guide for Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway.
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts at Calgary (YYC)
- No car needed
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts at Calgary (YYC)
- No car needed
Attractions
What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.
4sights on the route
1Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour
5nights in Banff
1free day to explore
Calgary→Banff→Lake Louise & Moraine Lake→Calgary
1Day 1
Arrival in Banff
Settle in and stretch your legs in town.
Banff Avenue
Why it is worth itBanff’s main street, lined with shops, restaurants and galleries, with Cascade Mountain rising at the end. It is an easy place to stroll in the evening.
Insider tipLook up the street toward Cascade Mountain for the classic photo of the town.
2Day 2
Banff, or the Gondola
Ride up for the big view over the town and valley.
Optional add-on
Banff Gondola Tickets
Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and walk the summit boardwalk above the town and the Bow Valley.
$100 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
3Day 3
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Two of the Rockies’ most famous lakes, on a guided tour.
Lake Louise
Why it is worth itA turquoise lake framed by the Victoria Glacier, in Banff National Park. Its color comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the water.
Insider tipThe lake is often calmest in the early morning, when it is most likely to mirror the glacier.
Moraine Lake
Why it is worth itA glacier-fed lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, known for its bright blue water. The Rockpile trail leads to the classic view over the lake.
Insider tipThe Rockpile viewpoint is a short climb on rocky steps, so wear shoes with good grip.
4Day 4
A walk, or Lake Minnewanka
Out on the water on the park’s largest lake.
Optional add-on
Lake Minnewanka Cruise
A one-hour cruise on Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park, out to the Devil's Gap.
$90 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
5Day 5
Your day in Banff
A free day, with one easy idea.
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Free-day idea, not includedWhy it is worth itA historic hot-spring pool on Sulphur Mountain, near the Banff Gondola. You soak in warm mineral water with views across the valley to Mount Rundle.
Insider tipEntry is not included. Bring a swimsuit and pay on site if you decide to go.
The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.
What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.
9sights on the route
1private guided day
2Fairmont hotels
1free day to explore
Calgary→Lake Louise→Icefields Parkway→Banff→Calgary
1Day 1
Calgary to Lake Louise
Check in by the lake.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Why it is worth itA grand hotel on the shore of Lake Louise, first opened as a small chalet in 1890. You can walk the lakeshore right from the door and rent a canoe at the boathouse.
Insider tipCanoe rentals at the boathouse are not included, and they are popular in summer, so go early.
Lake Louise
Why it is worth itA turquoise lake framed by the Victoria Glacier, in Banff National Park. Its color comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the water.
Insider tipThe lake is often calmest in the early morning, when it is most likely to mirror the glacier.
2Day 2
Lake Louise at your pace
Lake Louise at your own pace.
Lake Agnes Tea House
Optional walk, on your ownWhy it is worth itA historic tea house above Lake Louise, reached by a trail of about 3.5 km (2.2 miles) each way. It serves tea and simple baked goods beside a small mountain lake.
Insider tipThe trail climbs steadily the whole way, so allow time and bring water. Food and tea at the top are not included.
3Day 3
Private guided day: Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway
A private guided day along one of the world’s great mountain roads.
Moraine Lake
Why it is worth itA glacier-fed lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, known for its bright blue water. The Rockpile trail leads to the classic view over the lake.
Insider tipThe Rockpile viewpoint is a short climb on rocky steps, so wear shoes with good grip.
Icefields Parkway
Why it is worth itOne of the world’s great scenic drives, running north from Lake Louise past glaciers, waterfalls and turquoise lakes. Your private guide stops at the viewpoints along the way.
Insider tipThere is little phone signal along much of the parkway, so download anything you need before you set off.
Bow Lake
Why it is worth itA glacier-fed lake along the Icefields Parkway, below the Crowfoot and Bow glaciers. It is a calm spot for photos, especially in the morning.
Insider tipEarly morning light and still water make for the best photos.
Peyto Lake
Why it is worth itA glacier-fed lake known for its bright turquoise color and its wolf-head shape. A short walk leads to the lookout high above the water.
Insider tipThe color is brightest in summer, when glacial meltwater fills the lake.
Fairmont Banff Springs
Why it is worth itA castle-like hotel that opened in 1888, set above the Bow River valley. It is known as the Castle in the Rockies and houses the Willow Stream Spa.
Insider tipSpa treatments at the hotel are not included, so book ahead if you want one.
4Day 4
Banff at your pace
Banff at your own pace.
Optional add-on
Banff Gondola Tickets
Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and walk the summit boardwalk above the town and the Bow Valley.
$100 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
Optional add-on
Lake Minnewanka Cruise
A one-hour cruise on Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park, out to the Devil's Gap.
$90 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
5Day 5
A free day in Banff
A free day, with one easy idea.
Bow Falls
Optional walk, on your ownWhy it is worth itA wide, low waterfall on the Bow River, a short walk from the town of Banff. A riverside trail leads from town to the viewpoints.
Insider tipBow Falls is just below the Fairmont Banff Springs, an easy walk from the hotel.
The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.
Why this trip
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the two views everyone pictures when they think of Banff, and summer seats to reach them go fast. On this trip you stay in Banff all five nights, ride a shuttle in from Calgary, and let a guided tour handle the drive up to the lakes, so you never need a rental car.
- Lake Louise and Moraine LakeA guided half-day tour to both lakes, with pickup in Banff.
- The Banff Gondola, if you likeRide up Sulphur Mountain for views over the town and the Bow Valley (optional add-on).
- Lake Minnewanka, if you likeA boat cruise on Lake Minnewanka, a short ride from town (optional add-on).
- No car, no repackingOne hotel in Banff all five nights, with the airport shuttle booked both ways.
Why this trip
This is the Rockies done in style. You wake up at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise with the lake and the Victoria Glacier outside, then spend a full day with your own private guide: Moraine Lake early, then north on the Icefields Parkway to Bow Lake and Peyto Lake, ending at Fairmont Banff Springs, the castle in the Rockies. Private drivers take you to and from Calgary, so there's nothing to drive, park or figure out.
- Lake Louise at your paceA slow morning by the lake. Walk up to the Lake Agnes Tea House or along the shoreline to the Plain of Six Glaciers trail, or rent a canoe at the boathouse (optional).
- Private guided day: Moraine Lake and the Icefields ParkwayYour private guide picks you up early for Moraine Lake (private cars can't drive the Moraine Lake road, so this is the easy way in), then heads north on the Icefields Parkway to Bow Lake and the Peyto Lake lookout.
- Banff at your paceA day in Banff at your own pace. If you like, add the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for the boardwalk views and a Lake Minnewanka cruise (both optional add-ons).
- A free day in BanffNothing booked on purpose. Book a treatment at the Willow Stream Spa, walk to Bow Falls, play a round of golf, or browse Banff Avenue (all optional).
Trip at a glance
- Length
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts / ends
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Pace
- One hotel base in the town of Banff; a shuttle and a guided tour do the driving
- Best time to go
- Mid-June to mid-September. In 2026 the Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour ran June 1 to October 12 and the Minnewanka cruise May 8 to October 12; 2027 dates are not published yet
- Great for
- Couples, families and first trips to the Rockies
- Flights
- Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide
Trip at a glance
- Length
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts / ends
- Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Getting around
- No car needed; private SUV transfers and a private guide
- Pace
- Two hotels, one private guided day, one free day
- Best time to go
- Mid-June to early October
- Great for
- Couples, honeymoons and milestones
- Accommodations
- Superior
- Flights
- Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide
Day by day
Days 1 and 6 are travel days. Days 2 to 4 each have one booked experience, and day 5 is yours. The order can shift with the weather and your tour times.
Day 1Arrival in Banff
Land at Calgary International Airport and ride the Banff Airporter shuttle to your hotel in Banff. Check in and take an easy evening stroll along Banff Avenue.
Day 2Banff, or the Gondola
Explore the town at your own pace: Banff Avenue, the Bow River trail and the Cave and Basin. Or add the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain and walk the summit boardwalk (optional add-on).
Day 3Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Join a guided half-day tour from Banff to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, with time at each lakeshore.
Day 4A walk, or Lake Minnewanka
A walk or a relaxed day in town, or add a cruise on Lake Minnewanka (optional add-on).
Day 5Your day in Banff
A free day. Your pre-trip guide has ideas, from easy walks to the Banff Upper Hot Springs, and a guided day trip can be added if you want one.
Day 6Departure
Ride the Banff Airporter back to Calgary International Airport and fly home.
Day by day
Day 1 and day 6 are travel days. The order of the days in between is flexible and can shift with the weather.
Day 1Calgary to Lake Louise
Land at Calgary (YYC). Your private SUV and driver meet you and take you straight to Lake Louise (about 2.5 hours). Check in to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and walk the lakeshore before dinner.
Stay: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (night 1 of 2).
Stay: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (night 1 of 2).
Day 2Lake Louise at your pace
A slow morning by the lake. Walk up to the Lake Agnes Tea House or along the shoreline to the Plain of Six Glaciers trail, or rent a canoe at the boathouse (optional). Afternoon tea or a spa hour at the hotel (optional).
Stay: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (night 2 of 2).
Stay: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (night 2 of 2).
Day 3Private guided day: Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway
Your private guide picks you up early for Moraine Lake (private cars can't drive the Moraine Lake road, so this is the easy way in), then heads north on the Icefields Parkway to Bow Lake and the Peyto Lake lookout. You finish the day at Fairmont Banff Springs.
Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (night 1 of 3).
Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (night 1 of 3).
Day 4Banff at your pace
A day in Banff at your own pace. If you like, add the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for the boardwalk views and a Lake Minnewanka cruise (both optional add-ons). The town of Banff is a short walk or shuttle from the hotel.
Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (night 2 of 3).
Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (night 2 of 3).
Day 5A free day in Banff
Nothing booked on purpose. Book a treatment at the Willow Stream Spa, walk to Bow Falls, play a round of golf, or browse Banff Avenue (all optional).
Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (night 3 of 3).
Stay: Fairmont Banff Springs (night 3 of 3).
Day 6Back to Calgary
Your private SUV and driver take you back to Calgary airport (about 1.5 hours) for your flight home.
Map
Your route at a glance.
Expand map
- 1Calgary Airport
- 2Banff
- 3Banff Gondola
- 4Lake Louise
- 5Moraine Lake
- 6Lake Minnewanka
What’s included
Included
- 5 hotel nights in the town of Banff
- Round-trip Banff Airporter shuttle between Calgary International Airport and Banff
- A guided half-day tour to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
- Parks Canada park passes for your stay
- A day-by-day itinerary
- Every hotel and experience in your trip, booked for you
- A pre-trip guide covering travel insurance, packing, money and getting around
- One point of contact, from booking to landing
Not included
- International flights
- Meals
- Travel insurance
- Optional extras on your free day
- Personal spending and tips
Optional add-ons: Banff Gondola Tickets ($100 per person), Lake Minnewanka Cruise ($90 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.
Getting around: No car needed. The Banff Airporter shuttle gets you from the airport to Banff and back, and your Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour picks up in Banff. Banff's Roam Transit buses are an easy option for getting around town.
What’s included
Included
- 5 hotel nights: 2 at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 3 at Fairmont Banff Springs, with the hotels' daily resort fee
- Private SUV and driver from Calgary airport to Lake Louise, and from Banff back to the airport
- A private full-day guided tour: Moraine Lake, the Icefields Parkway, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake
- Parks Canada park passes for your stay
- A day-by-day plan, and one point of contact from booking to landing
Not included
- International flights
- Meals and drinks
- Spa treatments, golf and other optional extras
- Tips for your driver and guide
- Travel insurance
- Personal spending
Optional add-ons: Banff Gondola Tickets ($100 per person), Lake Minnewanka Cruise ($90 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.
Your hotels, experiences, transfers and guides are booked for you. Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips.
Which accommodations? Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable. Superior hotels are 4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area, and a few days change (see Day by day). See the difference
Choose your accommodations
The same trip at two accommodation levels. Superior adds better hotels and a few special days; the price changes with it.
| Accommodations | Comfort PlusFrom$3,109per person, 2 sharing | SuperiorFrom$12,179per person, 2 sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Where you stay | 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable | 4-star and 5-star, or the finest in the area |
| Hotels | 5 hotel nights in the town of Banff | 5 hotel nights: 2 at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, 3 at Fairmont Banff Springs, with the hotels' daily resort fee |
| Getting around | Airport shuttle and a guided lakes tour; no car needed | No car needed; private SUV transfers and a private guide |
| Highlights | Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; No car, no repacking; The Gondola and Minnewanka as add-ons | Lake Louise at your pace; Private guided day: Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway; Banff at your pace; A free day in Banff |
| Pace | One hotel base in the town of Banff; a shuttle and a guided tour do the driving | Two hotels, one private guided day, one free day |
| Choose Comfort Plus | Choose Superior |
Gallery
Questions
What’s the difference between Comfort Plus and Superior?
Where you stay, and a few days of the trip. Comfort Plus hotels are 3-star or better: nice, clean and comfortable, but not luxury. Superior hotels are always 4-star or 5-star, or the finest in the area. Superior also changes a few days: two nights at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and three at Fairmont Banff Springs instead of one hotel in town, private SUV transfers instead of the shuttle, and a private guide for Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway instead of the group lakes tour. Choose either one under Accommodations in the booking box; the price, the day-by-day plan and the inclusions update right away.
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
Do I need a car?
No. The airport shuttle, your guided lake tour and Banff's local buses cover the plan. If you'd rather drive, just ask and the plan is adjusted; you'd book the car yourself.
Are flights included?
Flights to and from Calgary are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so they line up with your shuttle.
When should I book?
As early as you can. Banff is very busy in July and August, so booking early gives the best choice of hotels and tour times.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip, pick your hotels (Comfort Plus or Superior), and choose how many travelers share each room.
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
Do I need a car?
No. A private SUV and driver meets you at Calgary and brings you back, and a private guide drives you on the Icefields Parkway day.
Are flights included?
Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so your arrival and departure fit the plan.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip, pick your hotels (Comfort Plus or Superior), and choose how many travelers share each room.
Optional add-ons
Make your trip a little more special. Add one here or in the booking box. Tours are priced per person; private guides, transfers and tastings for two are one price per booking. Each add-on goes into your cart as its own item.
Lake Minnewanka Cruise
A one-hour cruise on Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park, out to the Devil's Gap.
$90 per person
Good to know
- Weather and nature. Weather, road and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
- Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including how you get around, which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
- Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
- Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
Plan your Banff trip
- Banff & Lake Louise travel guide. Summer lakes or winter snow, the ways to see Banff, and the lake access and park rules to know before you go.
- Banff & Lake Louise in winter 2026–27. What is open and what is closed this winter, Ice Magic dates, park pass fees and a relaxed 5-day plan.
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