Small Group Tours
Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls Tour between Banff and Lake Louise
Experience some of the most photographed mountain lakes in Canada on this small-group tour. Your tour guide will pick you up from your chosen location in Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise, as this tour can travel in either direction.
From early June to early October: This tour focuses on the stunning mountain lakes of Banff National Park and Yoho National Park. Key highlights include Lake Louise, Moraine Lake*, and Emerald Lake, along with some seasonal surprise locations selected by your tour guide!
From mid-October to May: Key highlights of this tour include Lake Louise and Emerald Lake, as well as other scenic locations such as Morant’s Curve, Natural Bridge, and the Spiral Tunnels. During this period, the lakes may be frozen, and some mountain roads will be closed. As a result, Moraine Lake and Takakkaw Falls will not be accessible. However, there is still plenty to see!
At the end of your tour, your guide will drop you off at your chosen location in Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise.
CAD $215 per person
Duration: 8 hours
Maximum: 10 people
Sightseeing Locations
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake*
- Emerald Lake
- Morant's Curve*
- Takakkaw Falls*
- Natural Bridge*
- Spiral Tunnels*
*Seasonal locations are not guaranteed and are tentatively available from early June to early October. For more details, please contact us at: sales@albertablueskytours.com
Top 3 Reasons to Book Our Small Group Tours
- Enjoy small group experiences at large group tour prices. Our small group tours are available exclusively when we charter guides for Canada Rail Vacations and have unfilled seats.
- These tours provide a more personalized experience, allowing deeper exploration of Banff compared to larger tours with up to 50 guests.
- These tours often coincide with Rocky Mountaineer arrivals or departures, offering an excellent opportunity to see Banff's key attractions, particularly for those on short stays without a vehicle.
- Guided tour of Banff & Lake Louise with an interpretive guide
- Small group size
- Pick up and drop off from Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise
- Banff National Park entrance fees
- Access to Moraine Lake (mid-June to early October)
- Lunch stop (meal not included)
What to bring: We recommend bringing an extra layer of clothing, as mountain weather can be unpredictable, and temperatures may vary significantly between stops on this tour.
Please be ready at the front of your hotel 5 minutes prior to your listed pick-up time. Look out for a black or silver Ford Transit van with the Alberta Blue Sky Tours logo. Just let the tour guide know your name to join the tour!
Please allow for 5 minutes of leeway if your tour guide has not arrived exactly on time as they may held up picking up other guests.
Can I join this tour in one place and end in another?
Yes! This tour can start in Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise and end in any of these locations. Please bring your luggage if you do not plan to return to your original starting point.
When is Moraine Lake included on the tour?
If Moraine Lake is open, we’ll go there! In 2024, Moraine Lake was open from June 1 to October 14. The exact dates may vary each year, as road access depends on weather conditions. If Moraine Lake is not open, we’ll fill the time with other scenic locations and potential wildlife viewing opportunities.
How long is the stop at Moraine Lake?
The stop at Moraine Lake will be approximately 45 minutes. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to take a short hike up the Rockpile Trail for the best vantage point of the lake. The Rockpile Trail loop is 0.8 km (0.5 miles). If you prefer not to do the short hike, you’ll still have great photo opportunities from the lake shore!
How long is the stop at Lake Louise?
The stop at Lake Louise will be approximately 30 minutes for photo opportunities. We keep this stop short, as many of our guests use this tour for transportation between Banff and Lake Louise. For those who would like more time at Lake Louise, we recommend booking a private tour.
Can I join this tour from Calgary?
Guests coming from Calgary will need to travel independently to Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise to join the tour. Alternatively, ask us about our private tours!
Is lunch included on the tour?
Meals are not included in this tour, but we will make a stop in the town of Lake Louise, where you’ll have time to purchase your own lunch.
Will I see wildlife on the tour?
There is always a chance of seeing wildlife between Banff and Lake Louise, but sightings are not guaranteed.
Availability Overview
Please review our most up-to-date availability.
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Popular Banff & Lake Louise Tours
We may be sold out or not operating this tour on your travel dates. Check out our collection of Banff and Lake Louise small group tours that may be operating on this date, or book a private tour instead!
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Small Group Tours
Mountain Lakes, and Waterfalls Tourbetween Banff and Lake Louise
Your tour guide will pick you up from the location of your choice in Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise as this tour can travel in either direction. Please bring your luggage with you if you plan to take this tour as a one-way tour, not as a return trip.
This tour will surround you with soaring mountains, stunning lakes, and breathtaking waterfalls. This excursion takes you to the most treasured spots in Banff and Yoho National Parks such as Kicking Horse Pass, Emerald Lake, Morant’s Curve, the Natural Rock Bridge, and crossing the Continental Divide.
Your tour guide will drop you off at the location of your choice in Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise at the end of the tour.
Pick-ups for this tour typically range from 15 minutes before, or 15 minutes after the listed start time of 9 AM in Banff. Your exact pickup time will be confirmed a few days prior to the tour as the timing is dependent on where the other guests in your small group are staying.
Pick-ups in Canmore will be around 8:30 AM. Pick-ups in Lake Louise will be at 10:30 AM.
CAD $240 per person (Peak Season)
Find Your Dates
*From early-June to early-October you’ll also have the chance to visit the iconic Moraine Lake. When Moraine Lake is not open during the winter months, a shortened version of this tour will allow you to arrive at your hotel for the evening before sundown.
Top 3 Reasons to Book Our Small Group Tours
- You'll pay large group tour prices, for a small group experience.
- Our small group tours are only made available to the public when we have chartered our guide services to clients of Canada Rail Vacations and all seats have not yet been filled. By joining one of these exclusive group tours, you'll get a more intimate tour experience, and get to see more of Banff than would otherwise be possible when traveling with a larger group as similar tours in the area may include up to 50 people.
- Many of our tours align well with Rocky Mountaineer arrivals or departures in Banff. This tour offers a great way to see the highlights of the Banff townsite and surrounding area, particularly for those who only have a short stay in Banff booked and are without their own vehicle.
What's Included
- Guided tour of Banff and Lake Louise with an interpretive guide (7 hours total)
- Small group size (up to 9 people)
- Pick up and drop off from Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise
- Banff National Park entrance fees
- Lunch stop (meal not included)