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Offered languages
- English
Wildlife below, the whole Rockies above.
This half-day tour explores the quiet back roads of Banff National Park, stopping at lakes, viewpoints, and wildlife corridors where animals are most active, while your guide shares the history and ecology of the park. Then the Banff Gondola carries you up Sulphur Mountain for views across six mountain ranges.
We spot wildlife on 95% of departures from May to October. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep are the regulars, with bears in season.
★ Banff's top-rated tour provider, with 5,000+ five-star reviews and four Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards.
Highlights:
◆ Banff Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain
◆ Elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and seasonal bears
◆ Quiet back roads and lake viewpoints
◆ Banff history and wildlife insight from a local guide
Why book with Radventures:
▸ Max 10 guests in a premium van, never a coach
▸ Banff-born, independently owned
▸ 1% of every booking protects the places you explore
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Itinerary
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Banff National Park (Pass by)
Your local guide plans each day's route on the day. Every morning, we check in with other guides and Banff locals on recent wildlife sightings, then factor in the weather and the busiest times at each stop. That way you're heading where the animals are, and arriving when it's quieter. The stops below are a sample of where the tour may go, finishing with the Banff Gondola.
Admission ticket free -
1
Wind up Mount Norquay, home to Banff's first ski hill, to a lookout over the whole town. From here you can see Mount Rundle, Cascade Mountain, and Sulphur Mountain, where you'll ride the gondola later in the tour. Bighorn sheep are often spotted on the road up.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Lake Minnewanka
Follow the Minnewanka Loop, one of the best roads in the park for spotting elk, deer, and bighorn sheep, and in season, bears. Stop at Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park, then Two Jack Lake, with Mount Rundle rising behind it.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Hoodoos Trail
Take a short walk to the Hoodoos, tall spires of rock carved by wind and water over thousands of years. Grab a seat in one of Banff National Park's red chairs and look out over the Bow River and Mount Rundle as the valley stretches east.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Surprise Corner
From Surprise Corner, look across the Bow River to the Fairmont Banff Springs, the "Castle in the Rockies," with Sulphur Mountain rising behind it. It's one of Banff's classic photo spots, and a preview of the mountain you'll ride the gondola up.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Bow Falls
Stand beside Bow Falls, where the Bow River drops in a wide run of rapids just below the Fairmont Banff Springs. Marilyn Monroe filmed scenes here for the 1954 film River of No Return.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Banff Gondola
Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain in about eight minutes, climbing to the summit at 2,281 m. At the top, walk the ridgetop boardwalk to Sanson Peak and take in 360-degree views over the town, the Bow Valley, and six mountain ranges.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children 8 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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