Banff Tour: Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Emerald Lake, Hot Springs

Glacial lakes and frozen waterfalls in one day across the Canadian Rockies

A full-day guided tour of Banff National Park and Yoho, departing from Calgary, Canmore or Banff, with stops at Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon (winter) or Moraine Lake (summer), Emerald Lake, Banff Upper Hot Springs and Banff Town. The guide speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and the route includes Castle Mountain, Vermilion Lakes and Natural Bridge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Canadian Rockies highlights

• Pick up from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff
• Pass by Castle Mountain
• Visit Lake Louise
• Visit Moraine Lake or Johnston Canyon (seasonal)
• Pass by Vermilion Lakes
• Visit Emerald Lake
• Visit Natural Bridge
• Relax at Banff Upper Hot Springs
• Free time in Banff Town
• Drive back to starting point

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Moraine Lake Entry included 1h
2. Johnston Canyon 1h 30m
3. Emerald Lake Entry included 30m
4. Banff Upper Hot Springs 1h

What’s included

• Bottled water and hot drinks in winter.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• crampons for winter hiking.
• multilingual guide in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
• pickup from Calgary, Canmore or Banff.

Times

Next departure: 15 Jul 2027

9 departing soon ›

Before you book

Group Up to 24

Live guide English, Cantonese and Chinese

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 3 with pickup ›

Ages Adult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems

Operated by Rockies Journey

Prices and times updated today

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 11 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

The tour runs eight hours and covers the major glacial lakes and canyons of the Canadian Rockies in a single loop. You start with a pickup from Calgary, Canmore or Banff and pass Castle Mountain on the drive to Lake Louise, where the turquoise glacial water sits beneath the Victoria Glacier. In winter, the lake freezes solid enough for ice skating. In other seasons, you walk the shoreline. From there, the itinerary splits by season: summer takes you to Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks (open June through early October), a short walk from the parking lot. Winter swaps it for Johnston Canyon, where you hike to frozen waterfalls and crawl through a cave to see pillars of blue ice.

After the canyon or lake, you stop at Vermilion Lakes to see Mount Rundle reflected in the water, then drive to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. The lake's vivid green comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the water, and the snow-capped peaks frame it on all sides. Winter transforms it into a frozen landscape. The source notes that visiting then is "even more incredible." You also pass Natural Bridge, a rock formation spanning the Kicking Horse River, which becomes walkable from below when its waterfall freezes in winter.

The day ends with free time in Banff Town to grab lunch or shop, followed by a soak in Banff Upper Hot Springs. The outdoor pool holds 100% natural mineral water and sits surrounded by Rundle and Cascade Mountains. The drive back to your starting point gives you time to rest after the day of stops and short walks. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and in winter you get crampons for icy terrain and hot drinks during the tour. A multilingual guide leads the group in English, Cantonese or Mandarin.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Cantonese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Lake Louise like when I visit in winter?

Lake Louise freezes solid in winter and turns into what the operator describes as a "wonderland of ice and snow." The lake is thick enough for ice skating, and the Victoria Glacier backdrop remains visible across the frozen surface.

Do I walk at Johnston Canyon, or just look at the frozen waterfalls?

Johnston Canyon involves hiking. The trail is open year-round and in winter takes you past frozen waterfalls and snow-covered paths. The hike is rated suitable for all fitness levels and offers several waterfall views over a short distance. Part of the experience includes crawling through a cave to see the iconic frozen waterfalls and blue ice pillars up close.

What makes Emerald Lake's color so different from other mountain lakes?

Emerald Lake's vivid green comes from tiny glacial particles called rock flour suspended in the water. The operator notes the color is unique and that the verdant surroundings and snow-capped Rockies as a backdrop make it impossible to describe adequately in words alone.

Is there time to eat lunch during the tour?

Yes. The tour includes free time in Banff Town, where you can grab lunch from the high-end restaurants and cafés that line downtown's streets, or shop for souvenirs.

What's included in the winter version of this tour?

Winter inclusions are crampons for icy terrain and hot drinks during the tour, in addition to the year-round inclusions of bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle and a multilingual guide.

How do I get to the starting point if I'm staying in a different town?

Pickup is available from Calgary, Canmore or Banff, so you can arrange to be collected from whichever town you're based in. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer to meet the tour at a central location.