Banff 4 Lakes Tour: Lake Louise, Moraine & Emerald Lake

Five mountain lakes, one day: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake or Bow Lake, Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge, and Peyto Lake

A full-day tour of Banff and Yoho National Parks visiting four glacier-fed lakes — Lake Louise, Moraine Lake (Jun–Oct) or Bow Lake (Nov–May), Emerald Lake, and Peyto Lake — with pickup from Calgary, Canmore or Banff, a multilingual guide, crampons, and hot drinks. The small-group format keeps the pace unhurried and the guide available for questions at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour of Banff and Yoho Lakes

• Pick up from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff
• Pass by Castle Mountain
• Pass by Mount Rundle
• Pass by Cascade Mountain
• Pass by Vermilion Lakes
• Visit Lake Louise and enjoy ice skating
• Visit Moraine Lake (Jun to Oct) or Bow Lake (winter)
• Pass by Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park
• Lunch break for 1 hour
• Visit Emerald Lake
• Visit Natural Bridge
• Visit Peyto Lake
• Return to starting point

The Experience

You get picked up from Calgary, Canmore or Banff and spend the day moving through the Canadian Rockies in a climate-controlled vehicle. The route passes Castle Mountain, Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain on the way to Lake Louise, where the turquoise water sits against the Victoria Glacier. In winter, the lake freezes solid enough to skate on; in other seasons, the historic lodge overlooks the water from the shore. From there, the tour moves to either Moraine Lake (open June through early October) or Bow Lake (the winter alternative), both fed by glaciers and both known for their vivid turquoise color.

After lunch, you cross into Yoho National Park to see the Spiral Tunnels — an early 20th-century engineering solution carved into the mountainside to handle the steep grade of Kicking Horse Pass. If timing works, you can watch freight trains navigate the tunnels in different directions at the same time. Then comes Emerald Lake, whose green water comes from glacial rock flour suspended in it, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The Natural Bridge stop shows 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 bridge from below. The day ends at Peyto Lake, another glacier-fed lake whose brilliant blue comes from the same glacial sediment that colors the others.

Your guide speaks English, Chinese or Cantonese and stays with the group throughout. Crampons are provided for icy sections, and in winter you get a hot drink to carry between stops. The tour runs 10 hours total, including drive time, so plan for a full day away from town.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from Calgary, Canmore or Banff.
• multilingual guide in English, Chinese or Cantonese.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• crampons for icy terrain.
• bottled water.
• hot drink in winter.
• lunch stop.
• GST.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Rockies Journey

Is this one for you?If you're arriving in Calgary or staying in Canmore without a rental car, this tour picks you up and handles the full day's driving and route — you don't navigate the mountain passes or plan the stops yourself. The small-group format means your guide can linger where you want and answer questions at each lake, rather than moving a large coach through on a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can I book this tour if I'm staying in Canmore instead of Banff or Calgary?

Yes. Pickup is available from Canmore, Calgary or Banff, so you choose the location that suits your accommodation.

What's the difference between visiting Moraine Lake and Bow Lake on this tour?

Moraine Lake is open from June through early October; Bow Lake becomes the stop from late October through May. Both are glacier-fed lakes with turquoise water, and Bow Lake is one of the largest in Banff National Park.

Is Emerald Lake really green, or does it look different in winter?

Emerald Lake's vivid green color comes from glacial rock flour — tiny sediment particles — suspended in the water year-round. In winter the lake freezes and snow blankets the landscape, but the green remains visible where the ice is clear.

What happens at Natural Bridge in winter?

When the Kicking Horse River's waterfall freezes solid, ice spikes form that let you walk out onto the frozen river and see the Natural Bridge rock formation from below — a view you cannot get in other seasons.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

Most stops are a short walk from the parking area. Moraine Lake is only a brief walk from the lot; Emerald Lake and the other sites are similarly accessible. Crampons are provided for icy sections, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included as a one-hour stop during the day. Bottled water and a hot drink (in winter) are provided, but other meals and personal expenses are not covered.