Lake Louise, Moraine & Emerald Lake Day Trip from Calgary

Four Lakes, One Long Morning & Afternoon

You get picked up in Calgary, Canmore, or Banff and spend eight hours moving through Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (or Marble Canyon in winter), Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, and either Banff Avenue or Bow Falls, with admission to the seasonal lakes included and your guide handling the wheel the whole way. Lunch is your own stop, and you choose your drop-off point at the end.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Moraine Lake1h · entry included
2. Lake Louise1h · entry included
3. Emerald Lake30m · entry included
4. Bow Falls15m · entry included

Explore Canadian Rockies highlights

• Start tour from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff
• Travel to Banff National Park
• Visit Moraine Lake or Marble Canyon
• Explore Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier
• Lunch stop at Lake Louise Village or Ski Resort
• Visit Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park
• See Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park
• Visit Banff Avenue shops or Bow Falls
• End tour with drop-off in Banff, Canmore, or Calgary

The experience

So yeah, the drive from Calgary is ninety minutes, and then you're actually in it: the Rockies just sitting there, and the van's already moving toward Lake Louise. Your guide is driving, which means no separate driver to worry about, and the whole thing is eight hours door-to-door, which sounds like a lot until you realize you're hitting four different lakes and a waterfall without having to navigate or figure out where to park. Lake Louise comes first, the turquoise one everyone photographs, and you get time to walk down to the shore, see the Fairmont Chateau sitting up there, and catch Victoria Glacier across the water. It's crowded, but that's not a secret.

After Louise, you're heading to Moraine Lake if it's summer (June through October): that one's famous for the Valley of the Ten Peaks behind it, and the water is so vivid it almost doesn't look real in photos. Winter months swap it for Marble Canyon instead, which is a limestone gorge carved by turquoise creek water, and honestly, it's less about the postcard moment and more about walking into a narrow canyon with walls towering above you. Then lunch is on your own at Lake Louise Village or the ski resort, so you're not sitting on the van eating a sandwich. Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park comes next (the name is literal, the water is that green), and there's a wooden bridge that's basically made for standing on and taking pictures. The Natural Bridge is right there too, this limestone arch the Kicking Horse River carved over thousands of years, and your guide will point out how the water's still doing it.

The last stop is either Banff Avenue or Bow Falls, depending on what you want. Avenue is shops and galleries and a walk around town. Bow Falls is the waterfall near the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, water dropping hard with the hotel sitting up on the cliff. Then you're done, and you pick where you want to get dropped: Banff, Canmore, or back to Calgary, which is another ninety minutes from Banff if you're heading home. The van's air-conditioned, the guide handles all the driving, and if it's winter and you're hiking near snow, crampons are provided, though you're using them at your own risk.

Weather can shift the itinerary (closures happen, roads change), so don't plan the exact sequence in your head before you leave. The eight hours includes all the driving time, so you're not getting eight hours of lake time. You're getting a full day that moves through four of them plus two bonus stops, and the van does the work.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or meeting-point pickup in Calgary, Canmore, or Banff.
• transportation in an air-conditioned van with your guide driving.
• admission to Moraine Lake (summer) or Marble Canyon (winter).
• stops at Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, and Natural Bridge.
• a final stop at either Banff Avenue or Bow Falls.
• and flexible drop-off in Banff, Canmore, or Calgary. Lunch is at your own cost and timing at Lake Louise Village or the ski resort. Crampons are provided in winter if you're hiking on snow.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English07:30

Guide in English08:45

Guide in English09:10

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:45 and 09:10

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Banff ToDo

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Calgary or staying in Banff and Canmore who want to see multiple alpine lakes without renting a car or navigating mountain roads themselves. Eight hours is a full day (plan to be out from early morning through late afternoon), and that's what lets you fit four lakes, two bonus stops, and the drive time into one trip.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

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 24h before the start.

How long is the drive from Calgary to the start of the tour?

About ninety minutes from Calgary to Banff National Park, where the tour begins.

What's the difference between Moraine Lake and Marble Canyon?

Moraine Lake is open June 1 to October 12 and is known for its vivid blue water and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Marble Canyon replaces it from October 13 to May 31 and is a limestone gorge carved by turquoise creek water, better for canyon walks and geology.

Is lunch included?

No, lunch is at your own cost. You stop at Lake Louise Village or Lake Louise Ski Resort to eat.

Can I choose where to be dropped off?

Yes, you can choose drop-off in Banff, Canmore, or Calgary at the end of the tour.

What happens in winter?

Moraine Lake closes in winter, and Marble Canyon becomes the second lake stop instead. Crampons are provided if needed for snow hiking, and you use them at your own responsibility.

Is the guide separate from the driver?

No, your guide is the driver, so there's one person handling both the commentary and the wheel.

How many lakes do I actually visit?

Four: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (or Marble Canyon in winter), Emerald Lake, and you also see Natural Bridge and either Banff Avenue or Bow Falls.

What's included in the price?

Air-conditioned van, guide-driver, admission to Moraine Lake (June–October) or Marble Canyon (October–May), and either Banff Avenue or Bow Falls at the final stop. Crampons in winter are provided.