Planning 5 days in Banff National Park? This carefully crafted 5-day itinerary showcases the best of the Canadian Rockies through expertly guided tours combined with insider tips for exploring on your own.
Planning 5 days in Banff National Park? This carefully crafted 5-day itinerary showcases the best of the Canadian Rockies through expertly guided tours combined with insider tips for exploring on your own.
Check out tours in banffDay 1: Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola
Begin your adventure with our Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola. This perfect introduction includes Banff’s most scenic highlights like the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, and Lake Minnewanka. The tour concludes with a ride up Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola to 7,486 feet, where you’ll enjoy 360-degree views of six mountain ranges. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and maple cookies while our expert guides share their local knowledge.
Evening recommendations: Dine at The Bison Restaurant for farm-to-table Canadian cuisine or try Tooloulou’s for Cajun flavours. Browse Banff Avenue for local souvenirs and outdoor gear at Monod Sports, the oldest gear shop in town.
Find A Summer TourDay 2: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Tour
Visit the crown jewels of the Canadian Rockies with our Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Tour. Lake Louise’s turquoise waters and mountain backdrop create the perfect postcard scene, while Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks offers the iconic view featured on the former Canadian $20 bill. Our guides explain the fascinating geology behind these stunning glacial lakes.
Additional activities: If you’d like to explore either lake further but aren’t comfortable hiking alone—or simply prefer some company—you can upgrade to our Signature hikes. These guided hikes visit a different scenic area each day, including Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
Visit Lake Louise & Moraine LakeDay 3: Columbia Icefield Adventure
Experience ancient ice on our Columbia Icefield Tour along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Stop at breathtaking viewpoints, including Peyto Lake, before reaching the Columbia Icefield. Walk on the 1,000-year-old Athabasca Glacier and brave the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk suspended 918 feet above the valley.
Pack essentials: This full-day tour covers significant elevation changes, so bring layers and comfortable walking shoes. The Peyto Lake viewpoint offers one of the most photographed scenes in the Rockies.
Columbia Icefield Parkway full-day tourBanff's Best Deals
Day 4: Wildlife Adventures
Choose between two incredible wildlife experiences. Our Evening Wildlife Safari offers the best opportunities to spot elk, deer, bighorn sheep, bears, and mountain goats during the golden hour when animals are most active. Alternatively, join our Grizzly Bear Tour to meet Boo, a magnificent grizzly with paws the size of hubcaps, in the world’s largest enclosed grizzly bear habitat. This unique experience includes a visit to Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake and a visit with lunch at the Golden Skybridge—Canada’s highest suspension bridge at 130 metres (426 feet). Your grizzly bear sighting on the tour to Kicking Horse is guaranteed!
Morning suggestion: Before your wildlife tour, enjoy a relaxed breakfast at Whitebark Cafe and take the easy Fenland Trail (2 km loop) for possible beaver and bird sightings.
Wildlife toursDay 5: Flexible Exploration
Use your final day for personalized exploration or revisit favourite locations. Consider a private tour to customize your experience based on weather and interests.
Recommended activities:
- Johnston Canyon (2.7 km to Lower Falls): Easy Walk on the catwalks in the canyon; we recommend going early so you can avoid the crowds there in the summer.
- Tunnel Mountain (2.3 km): Short but steep hike rewarding you with panoramic Banff townsite views
- Cascade Ponds (1 km): Perfect for reflection photos of Cascade Mountain
- Shopping: Visit Banff Trading Post for authentic Indigenous handicrafts, moccasins & mukluks, or Wild Flour bakery for fresh pastry and coffee.
Dining highlights: Treat yourself to a farewell dinner at The Maple Leaf for Canadian specialties, or Nourish Bistro for healthy, locally sourced vegan options.
Wildlife toursWhy Choose Our Tours?
Use your final day for personalized exploration or revisit favourite locations. Consider a private tour to customize your experience based on weather and interests.
With over 25 years of experience since 1999, our small group tours provide personal attention and insider knowledge. We handle the mountain driving while you focus on the incredible scenery and wildlife encounters. If you have any questions, you can find our store on 215 Banff Ave in the Sundance Mall.
Ready to explore Banff? Book 7 days in advance and use code ONLINE2SAVE for special savings on your Canadian Rockies adventure.
Banff Tours