Small-Group Banff to Lake Louise Tour

Operated by Alberta Blue Sky Tours

Exclusive Full-Day Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls Tour Description

This tour will surround you with soaring mountains, stunning lakes, and breathtaking waterfalls. This excursion takes you to some of the most treasured spots in Yoho and Banff National Parks such as Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Kicking Horse Pass, Morant’s Curve, and Natural Rock Bridge. Explore the evolution of the land and discover how ancient glaciers shaped the appearance of the natural wonders found in these spectacular mountain settings. The locations visited on this tour are subject to changes throughout the year due to weather restrictions and seasonal accessibility. Some of these changes include:

During the peak travel season of early June through early October, a key highlight of this tour will be a visit to the iconic Moraine Lake.

During the quieter shoulder season which includes May and October, while you may not have the opportunity to visit Moraine Lake, you will have a much greater chance of seeing wildlife throughout the tour.

During the off-peak/winter season of late October to April, the roads to locations such as Moraine Lake are closed, and the lakes may be frozen, however, a shortened version of this tour will still include a collection of the scenic stops listed above, while providing a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, and allowing for free time in your destination by arriving before sundown.

The itinerary on our Small-Group Tours may vary from day to day as traveling with fewer guests allows our tour guides to be flexible and tailor the plans for the day based on the groups’ interests and fitness levels. Other scenic stops may also be substituted at the discretion of the tour guide due to weather, time of year, or wildlife viewing opportunities.

Joining Instructions:

This tour uses a sprinter van with group sizes of 10 or fewer people.
This tour is approximately 8 hours from June to early October and between 4 to 6 hours from mid-October to May.

Please be ready and out front of your hotel 5 minutes before the pick-up time noted on your itinerary. This tour is operated by Alberta Blue Sky Tours / Canada Rail Vacations. No voucher is required to be presented to your driver-guide for the tour. If there are any issues connecting with your driver-guide, they will call you.

Please note that this tour may start or end in Canmore, Lake Louise, or Banff. This tour may also be done as a return trip to either location depending on your itinerary. If you are transferring between destinations, please bring your luggage with you as you will not be returning to your starting hotel. For those with the return option that are staying an additional night in Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise after the completion of this tour, you will not need to bring your luggage.

If you have any specific questions about this particular tour, please contact Canada Rail Vacations: 1 888 589 3777

Please note that you are likely to experience cooler temperatures than what the weather in your starting location suggests. Packing an extra layer of clothes may make for a more enjoyable experience throughout this tour.


*Please do not take advice from other travelers you may meet onboard the train as there are many tour operators offering similar sightseeing tours. Please do not get on board any bus unless the driver states that they work for, or have been chartered by Alberta Blue Sky Tours / Canada Rail Vacations. 

*You may experience delays with pick-up and drop-off at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise due to ongoing construction. We have done our best to account for this additional time, but please be patient if your guide does not arrive precisely on schedule.

Interested in booking a small-group tour in the Rockies?

These Small-Group Tours (up to 9/10 people) are included for guests booked with Canada Rail Vacations as space permits.

For independent travelers with a free day in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper, check below for availability on one of these tours.

Please contact us at [email protected] should you wish to include this tour during your stay with us in Banff.