Moraine Lake & Lake Louise Tour from Calgary: Small Group

Stand at two of the Rockies' most photographed lakes and let the guide handle the drive.

A full-day guided tour of Banff National Park departing from Calgary, Banff or Canmore, visiting Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (or Marble Canyon in winter), Bow Falls and downtown Banff with a small group of no more than 24 people. Your guide leads the stops, handles the route and helps you find the best angles for photos. Pickup and drop-off are included from your chosen departure point. Meals and park admission are not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Moraine Lake1h
2. Bow Falls15m

Explore Banff National Park highlights

• Pick up from Calgary, Banff or Canmore
• See Three Sisters Mountain and Rundles
• View lake after Kananaskis before Canmore
• Visit Moraine Lake and climb Rockpile
• Explore Chateau Lake Louise Hotel and lake
• Stop at Bow Falls for photos
• Photograph Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
• Enjoy free time in downtown Banff
• Return to Calgary

The experience

The day starts with pickup from Calgary, Banff or Canmore. You choose the meeting point at checkout. From there, the route moves through the park's main attractions: Lake Louise first, where you'll see the historic Chateau Lake Louise Hotel and the glacier-backed lake itself, then Moraine Lake, where the water sits so impossibly blue it looks unreal. The road to Moraine Lake has been closed to public vehicles since 2023, but the tour holds a special permit to access it. Between June and mid-October, Moraine Lake is the stop. Outside those months, the itinerary swaps it for Marble Canyon, where you can walk across suspended catwalks and past frozen waterfalls with provided ice crampons. Either way, you're standing in front of something most visitors never reach.

The guide points out the Three Sisters peaks and Rundle Mountain on the drive, stops at a viewpoint after Kananaskis, and spends time in downtown Banff so you can eat, walk around or just sit. Bow Falls (the river that appears in old Hollywood films) gets its own photo stop. The guide helps you frame shots and knows which angles work best. Thousands of photographers come to these lakes every year, and the guide knows why. The whole day runs 8 to 10 hours round-trip from Calgary.

Small group size is guaranteed: no more than 24 people on any departure. That matters when you're trying to move through a popular park without feeling like you're in a crowd. The guide speaks English and works with all fitness levels, so the pace is set for the group as a whole, not for speed or difficulty.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your choice of Calgary, Banff or Canmore.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• visits to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake or Marble Canyon (depending on season), Bow Falls, the Three Sisters peaks and downtown Banff.
• ice crampons if Marble Canyon is the stop.
• small group of maximum 24 people.

Options for this experience

3 options

Banff Pick-upGuide in English · 09:20Pickup at Banff Caribou Hotel: departure at 9:20 am. Please be ready 15 minutes before departure. Starting point: Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa, 521 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1H8, Canada

Canmore Pick-upGuide in English · 09:00Pickup at Canmore Grande Rockies Resort: departure at 9:00 AM. Please be ready 15 minutes before departure. Starting point: Grande Rockies Resort - Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, 901 Mountain St Unit 110, Canmore, AB T1W 0C9, Canada

Calgary Pick-upGuide in English · 07:45Pickup at Coast Calgary Hotel: departure at 7:45 AM. Please be ready 15 minutes before departure. Starting point: Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel & Suites by APA, 610 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0K1, Canada

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:45, 09:00 and 09:20

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 17 years)

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h 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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Banff Everyday Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in one day without driving yourself: the small group size and fixed itinerary mean the stops are arranged, the route is handled, and you can focus on the views instead of navigation. If you're visiting in winter (October through May), expect Marble Canyon instead of Moraine Lake, which is a different experience but still requires the special permit the tour holds.

Traveler reviews

4.96★★★★★★★★★★

450 verified traveler reviews

5 ★438

4 ★10

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years).

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 Marble Canyon on this tour?

Moraine Lake operates from June 1st to October 13th each year. Outside that window, the tour visits Marble Canyon instead, where you can walk on suspended catwalks and past frozen waterfalls with provided ice crampons. Both are in the park, both require special access, and both are the main photo stop of the day.

Do I need to pay for park admission separately?

Yes, park admission is not included in the tour price. You'll need to arrange that separately or pay at the gate when you arrive.

Can I be picked up from somewhere other than Calgary, Banff or Canmore?

Pickup is available from Calgary, Banff or Canmore only. You choose which location at checkout, and the guide will meet you there and drop you back at the same spot.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring food?

Meals are not included. You can eat in downtown Banff during the free time there, or bring your own food for the day.

What if I'm not a strong hiker? Can I still do this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You don't have to climb or hike to see the lakes. You can stand by the shore, walk the accessible areas, or stay near the parking areas. The guide works with the group's pace.