Banff Tours
Banff National Park is home to some of the most stunning mountain scenery anywhere in the world. Many visitors to Banff come on organized tours, but if you are travelling independently you will want to take advantage of one of the fantastic Banff tours or activities on offer locally. Brewster were the first company to operate Banff sightseeing tours over 115 years ago, and still today they offer the best range of tours available in the Canadian Rockies. Must-see attractions such as the Banff Gondola, the Columbia Icefield, and Lake Minnewanka Boat Tours can be combined with a Brewster sightseeing tour, enabling you to make the most of your time and your money.
Horseback riding, rafting, and ATV tours are just a few more examples of Banff activities that can help you discover the best that Banff National Park has to offer.
Banff Sightseeing Tours
One of the best ways to experience the sheer beauty of the Banff area is to take a Banff sightseeing tour. Brewster’s Discover Banff Tour is the perfect way to explore your immediate surroundings, and if you want to venture further afield, they also offer tours to Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefield, Jasper and Calgary.
Gondolas
A gondola ride is the perfect way to get high into the mountains and enjoy the distant views normally reserved for mountaineers. The Banff Gondola on Sulphur Mountain is just 5 minutes from downtown Banff and shouldn’t be missed. There is also a sightseeing gondola in nearby Lake Louise, and at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
Columbia Icefield Glacier Tours
The Columbia Icefield covers an area of nearly 325 sq km, and is a stunning site from the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper. A trip onto the Athabasca Glacier on the Brewster Ice Explorer is a once in a lifetime experience.
Boats & Canoes
A scenic boat tour on Lake Minnewanka is a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours gazing at the Canadian Rockies and its wildlife. For the more energetic, canoes can be rented for excursions on the Bow River.
Winter Tours & Activities
During the winter months, many of the summer tours are not available, and are replaced by a whole host of exciting snow activities, such as dog sledding, snowmobiling, heliskiing, sleigh rides, and ice hockey games. Take a look at our winter activity guide to find out more.
More Winter Tours & Activities
Rafting
Rafting in the Banff area can range from sedate trips along the Bow River, suitable for families, to the adrenalin filled whitewater rafting experience on the Kananaskis or Kicking Horse River.
Horseback Riding
Horses have been an integral part of the history of the Rocky Mountains, and all the original expeditions in the Banff area were on horseback. You can re-live those experiences on a 1 hour trail ride or a multi-day backcountry lodge trip.
ATV Tours
If you like to combine speed and rugged terrain, an ATV tour may be what you are looking for. Due to Parks Canada regulations, ATV tours take place outside of Banff National Park.
Helicopter Tours
A helicopter sightseeing tour is a fantastic way to get an unparalleled bird’s eye view over the Canadian Rockies. Tours fly from Canmore, just a 25 minute drive from Banff.
Fishing
The Canadian Rockies are home to some of the best fly fishing in the world. Professional fishing guides can take you to the best spots in and around the Banff area.
Golf
The only golf course in Banff is the famous Stanley Thompson Course at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, while several other world class golf courses can be found in Canmore, just outside of Banff National Park.
