Banff
Recommended Tours

add to Travel Bag (NEW)

Guided Tours
With spectacular and stunning beauty, Banff and the surrounding area is a perfect place to explore nature's beauty, both in winter and summer. A large number of touring companies have sprung up to cater to those who want more than great skiing and snowboarding in Banff. From classic to more extreme tours, from 2 hours to 2 weeks, there is a guided tour to suit every taste.

For hiking, White Mountain Adventures provides comfortable walks as well as more strenuous hikes. People who want to take it easy but also want a long hike should check out the Canadian Rockies Tour while hardcore hikers may enjoy the Rockwall Highline Hike offering a more intense trip. To get up close and personal with glaciers without expending any effort, try Columbia Icefield Snocoach Tours where a specially equipped vehicle drives you onto the glaciers themselves. Or for a different kind of water tour, take a Lake Minnewanka Boat Tour where heated boats show off the majesty of Lake Minnewanka. There are a number of tours for rafting, kayaking, and other more active boating adventures. Rainbow Riders Adventure Tours Inc. is great for families as is Rocky Mountain Raft Tours which offers canoe rental in addition to rafting. Inside Out Experience has kayak, float trips and whitewater rafting overnight adventures some of which can be combined with horseback riding. If you want only horseback riding, Holiday on Horseback has trail rides of differing length. Animal lovers will also enjoy viewing the area on dogsled; check out either Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours or Howling Dog Tours. Other wintertime-only tours include snowshoe and cross-country skiing led by White Mountain Adventures. For those who like extremes of height, go underground with Canmore Caverns Ltd for a little spelunking or ride high in the sky for aerial views from a helicopter with Alpine Helicopters Ltd.

Downtown Banff
Exploring downtown Banff might best be done by simply wandering around this beautiful town nestled in the mountains. With an area of less than one square mile, it is easy to hit every nook and cranny. For those who just want to hit the highlights, make sure to spend time on Banff Avenue.

Start at the northern part of Banff Avenue, around Moose Street. Amble down Banff Avenue stopping in at specialty stores abound. Skiing enthusiasts should check out Canadian Ski Museum West to get a sense of local ski history as well as the development of skiing through the ages. Continue down Banff Avenue and if you are feeling out of contact with the world, stop in at the Cyber Web Cafe to check the news online or send some emails.

Take some time to explore the area around the intersection of Banff Avenue and Caribou Street. There are excellent eateries such as the always busy Evelyn's Coffee Bar, Aardvark Pizza and Sub , or Pump and Tap Tavern for some British fare and a happy hour starting at 1p. But save room for dessert because the Fudgery serves up fudge, caramel apples, and a number of other sweet treats. While munching, make sure others experience the tastes of Banff by shopping at Taste of the Rockies and pick up some edible souvenirs for the people back home. Or continue down Banff Avenue and stop in at Kabin Fever for the more traditional souvenirs of the t-shirt and postcard variety.

Art buffs should take a right on Buffalo Street to Bear Street and check out the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies for a celebration of Rocky Mountain heritage. Returning to Banff Avenue, feel free to browse in the Banff Book and Art Den for an excellent selection of Canadian literature. Cross the water and turn right on Cave Avenue. Stop in at the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum to learn about the Plains Indians. Farther down Cave Avenue is Cave and Basin National Historic Site with caves, springs, and wildlife, a great place to spend an afternoon wandering the trails, if it isn't too cold that is!