Banff, Alberta
Canadian Rockies icon, turquoise lakes, glaciers, and elk on the main street
- Best Time to Visit: June–September; late September for larches and fewer crowds
- Distance: 1.5 hours west of Calgary via Trans-Canada Hwy 1
- Recommended Vehicle: Charter Coach (40–56 passenger)
Banff, Alberta, Alberta, Canada
Banff National Park was established in 1885 around the Cave and Basin Hot Springs the first national park in Canada and the third in the world. The town of Banff at 4,537 feet sits in the Bow River Valley, flanked by Cascade Mountain, Mount Rundle, and Tunnel Mountain, with the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel completed in 1888 in a Baronial Scottish style visible on the slopes above. Lake Louise, 40 miles north, is considered the most beautiful lake in Canada by popular consensus: a turquoise water filled by Glacier melt below the Victoria Glacier, with the 1890 Chateau Lake Louise hotel visible from the shore. Moraine Lake, accessed by a frequently-congested road in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, is the more dramatically framed of the two lakes the Rockpile viewpoint above its shore was the former image on the Canadian $20 bill. The Icefields Parkway (93 north) connects Banff and Jasper through 143 miles of continuous mountain wilderness, passing the Athabasca Glacier on the Columbia Icefield, which visitors can walk on with guided equipment. Fall (mid-September through October) brings larch gold to the valley slopes and significantly fewer crowds than summer.
Why Banff, Alberta
Moraine Lake Rockpile
Ten Peak reflection in turquoise glacial melt formerly on the Canadian $20 bill, deservedly so.
Lake Louise Shorewalk
Victoria Glacier rising above aquamarine water, with the 1890 Chateau hotel on the far shore.
Banff Gondola Summit
Sulphur Mountain gondola rises 2,292 feet above the townsite panoramic views of six mountain ranges.
Larch Valley (October)
Mid-September to mid-October: larch trees turn gold in the hanging valleys the best fall color in Canada.
Cave and Basin Hot Springs
1885 historic site and the origin of Canada's national park system - thermal pool and museum.
Elk and Wildlife
Elk regularly graze on Banff townsite lawns; bears and wolves roam the park year-round.
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Suggested stops and timing — customizable to your group's pace and interests.
Day 1 — Banff Townsite Arrival
Day 1 — Banff Townsite Arrival
Fly into Calgary (1.5 hrs from Banff) or drive from Vancouver (10 hrs). Arrive Banff townsite. Walk Banff Avenue. Evening: Banff Gondola sunset ride.
- Banff townsite (Banff Ave)
- Bow Falls viewpoint
- Banff Gondola
- Cave and Basin NHS
Day 2 — Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
Day 2 — Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
Early departure for Moraine Lake (Rockpile viewpoint by 7 a.m. if possible road closes when lot fills). Continue to Lake Louise shorewalk and Chateau lake view. Return via Bow Valley Parkway wildlife.
- Moraine Lake Valley of Ten Peaks
- Lake Louise shorewalk
- Chateau Lake Louise
- Bow Valley Parkway
Day 3 — Icefields Parkway Day Trip
Day 3 — Icefields Parkway Day Trip
Drive north on Hwy 93 (Icefields Parkway) to the Columbia Icefield. Walk to the Athabasca Glacier terminus or book an ice-walk with a guide. Return south through the Mistaya Canyon turnout.
- Peyto Lake overlook
- Mistaya Canyon
- Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre
- Athabasca Glacier walk
The right vehicle for Banff, Alberta
Trans-Canada Highway 1 and the Icefields Parkway are full-sized highways accommodating coaches. Note: Moraine Lake Road has restricted large-vehicle access (bus-size vehicle shuttle required at peak season) check Parks Canada seasonal policies.
Banff, Alberta Gallery
Also Explore Nearby
Plan your Banff, Alberta group charter today
Our team knows Banff, Alberta inside out — from parking logistics to seasonal tips. Tell us your group size and dates and we'll design the perfect itinerary.
Request a Charter Quote