Banff Private Tour: Lakes & Waterfalls Highlights

Takkakaw Falls drops over 1,200 feet. You walk close enough to feel the mist.

A private tour of Banff's alpine lakes and waterfalls in a luxury Mercedes Sprinter van, with a professional guide and door-to-door pickup from your accommodation. You visit Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Takkakaw Falls, the Natural Bridge, and Morant's Curve, then drive the Bow Valley Parkway wildlife corridor. The itinerary is flexible and you choose your own start time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Moraine Lake1h 30m · entry included
2. Yoho National Park45m
3. Emerald Lake1h
4. Bow Riverpassing by

Explore Moraine Lake and Surroundings

• Drive through Banff National Park
• Visit Moraine Lake and explore lakeshore
• Visit Lake Louise and stroll lakeshore
• Experience Takkakaw Falls up close
• Walk around the Natural Bridge
• Discover Emerald Lake and lakeside trail
• Drive along Bow Valley Parkway wildlife corridor
• Stop at Morant’s Curve photo spot

The experience

Moraine Lake opens the day: the turquoise water sits in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, and your guide explains why the glacier-fed lake holds that particular color. You have time to walk the lakeshore, hike for higher views, or simply stand and photograph. Lake Louise comes next, famous enough that the Fairmont Chateau sits on its shore, and the same turquoise water reflects the surrounding peaks. The drive between them runs through Banff National Park, where your guide points out wildlife, glaciers, and the geological forces that carved the valleys.

Takkakaw Falls is the day's centerpiece. The waterfall plunges over 1,200 feet in a single cascade, and the trail brings you close enough to hear the roar and feel the mist on your face. Your guide shares the Cree name ("it is magnificent"), and explains how glacial runoff carved the valley. The Natural Bridge comes after, another water-carved formation where the Kicking Horse River has sculpted solid stone. Emerald Lake follows, known for its brilliant green hue from glacial minerals. The lakeside trail offers quiet moments and reflections of the surrounding mountains.

The return journey runs along the Bow Valley Parkway, a wildlife corridor where elk, bears, and bighorn sheep move through their habitat. Your guide discusses conservation and the protected status of the area. The tour ends at Morant's Curve, a world-famous photo spot where the Canadian Pacific Railway winds through the valley with mountain backdrops. The location is named after a legendary railway photographer, and the light is often best in late afternoon. The Sprinter van has air conditioning, USB chargers, panoramic tinted windows, and electric doors. Hiking poles, headlamps, and sit pads are available if you want them. Coffee and tea are provided, and the access fee to Moraine Lake is already included in the price.

What’s included

• Private ride in a luxury Mercedes Sprinter van with air conditioning, USB chargers, and panoramic tinted windows.
• professional and licensed driver.
• door-to-door pickup and drop-off from your accommodation.
• complimentary use of hiking poles, headlamps, and sit pads.
• coffee and tea.
• access fee to Moraine Lake.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jun 2027

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by The Mountain Explorer Co.

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, family, or small group and want to move at your own pace without coordinating with strangers. The private van and flexible itinerary mean you set the start time and can linger at any lake or waterfall. The guide handles the route and the stories while you decide how long to stay.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Moraine Lake actually like when you arrive?

Moraine Lake sits in the Valley of the Ten Peaks with turquoise water so vivid it looks unreal in photographs. The color comes from glacial minerals suspended in the water. You have time to walk the lakeshore, take photos, or hike to higher viewpoints for panoramic views of the surrounding peaks.

How close do you get to Takkakaw Falls?

Takkakaw Falls plunges over 1,200 feet, and the trail brings you close enough to feel the mist and hear the roar of the water. Your guide explains the geological forces that shaped the valley and shares the meaning of the Cree name. "It is magnificent."

Will I see wildlife on the Bow Valley Parkway?

The Bow Valley Parkway is a protected wildlife corridor where elk, bears, and bighorn sheep live in their natural habitat. Your guide shares insights into local conservation efforts and the importance of the protected area, and you have a chance to spot animals as you drive through.

Can I choose when the tour starts?

Yes. You pick your own start time, and the van picks you up from your accommodation and drops you back there when the tour ends. The itinerary is flexible, so you can spend more time at any stop if you want to.

What's included in the van for comfort?

The Mercedes Sprinter has air conditioning, USB chargers, cup holders, electric doors, and panoramic tinted windows so you can see the landscape clearly. Hiking poles, headlamps, and sit pads are available if you need them, and coffee and tea are provided during the day.

What is Morant's Curve and why does the tour stop there?

Morant's Curve is a world-famous photo spot where the Canadian Pacific Railway winds through the Bow Valley with dramatic mountain backdrops. It's named after Nicholas Morant, a legendary railway photographer, and the location is especially striking when a train passes through.