Lake Louise, Moraine Lake & Emerald Lake tour from Banff
Four alpine lakes in one day without arranging the drive
A 10-hour guided tour of Banff National Park and Yoho National Park starting from Calgary, Canmore or Banff, visiting Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, and either Moraine Lake (summer) or Johnston Canyon (winter), with stops at Vermilion Lakes and Banff Town. The tour includes a multilingual guide in English, Cantonese and Mandarin; bottled water; hot drinks in winter; and an air-conditioned vehicle. Lunch is on your own during the one-hour stop in Banff Town. The Banff Gondola is optional and not included in the tour price.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Canadian Rockies highlights
- Pickup from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff
- Pass by Three Sisters and Castle Mountain
- Visit Emerald Lake
- Visit Natural Bridge
- Explore Lake Louise
- Have lunch for 1 hour
- Visit Moraine Lake (Jun to Oct) or Johnston Canyon (winter)
- Pass by Vermilion Lakes
- Stop in Banff Town for 1 hour
- Optional Banff Gondola ride (ticket not included)
- Drive back to starting point
- Emerald Lake Entry included 30m
- Natural Bridge Entry included 10m
- Lake Louise Entry included 1h
- Moraine Lake Entry included 1h
- Johnston Canyon Entry included 1h 30m
- Banff Avenue Entry included 1h
- Banff Gondola 1h
What’s included
- Pickup and drop-off from Calgary, Canmore or Banff.
- multilingual guide in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
- bottled water and hot drinks in winter.
- air-conditioned vehicle.
- crampons for winter ice walks.
- Every day except Tuesday 07:00 08:20 08:30
- Tuesday 07:00 08:20
Information
Full-day Canadian Rockies tour from Calgary, Canmore or Banff with guide, water and hot drinks included.
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Calgary, Canmore or Banff, then heads into the Canadian Rockies. You'll pass Castle Mountain and Cascade Mountain on the drive to Emerald Lake, where the water's vivid emerald color comes from glacial rock flour suspended in it. From there, the route goes to Natural Bridge, an impressive rock formation spanning the Kicking Horse River: in winter, when the waterfall freezes, you can walk onto the frozen river and see the formation from below.
Lake Louise comes next, a glacial lake with turquoise water and the Victoria Glacier as backdrop. After lunch in Banff Town (1 hour to eat or explore shops and galleries), the tour splits by season: from June through early October you visit Moraine Lake, a short walk from the parking lot to a turquoise-blue lake ringed by the Valley of the Ten Peaks. In winter, Johnston Canyon replaces it: a hiking trail with frozen waterfalls and snow-covered paths that works for all fitness levels. The route back passes Vermilion Lakes, which reflect Mount Rundle.
Banff Town offers an optional stop at the Banff Gondola (ticket separate), a scenic ride to Sulphur Mountain's summit with views across the Bow Valley and the Rockies. The remaining time on the tour is spent driving, so you're not standing around between stops. Your guide speaks English, Cantonese or Mandarin and travels with the group the whole day.
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 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's the difference between visiting Moraine Lake and Johnston Canyon on this tour?
Moraine Lake is open June through early October and sits in the Valley of the Ten Peaks: a short walk from the parking lot to the turquoise-blue water. Johnston Canyon replaces it in winter and offers a hiking trail with frozen waterfalls and snow-covered paths suitable for all fitness levels.
Can I add the Banff Gondola to this tour?
The Banff Gondola is optional and available during the one-hour stop in Banff Town, but the ticket is not included in the tour price. You buy it separately if you want to ride to Sulphur Mountain's summit.
Where does the pickup happen?
You choose your pickup location at checkout: Calgary, Canmore or Banff. The tour returns you to the same location at the end of the day.
Is lunch included in the tour?
Lunch is not included. You have one hour in Banff Town to eat at a restaurant or café on your own, or you can skip the meal and use the time to shop or walk around.
What's included in the tour price?
The tour includes bottled water, hot drinks in winter, an air-conditioned vehicle, and the guide's services. Crampons are provided in winter for walking on ice.
Operated by Rockies Journey. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Lake Louise, Moraine Lake & Emerald Lake tour from Banff
10h · EN +2
from CA$ 79 per person
≈ US$ 57 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.