8:30am
Departure Time
5.5 Hours
Duration
All Ages
Age
Leisurely
Activity
Year Round
Season

Experience the picture perfect viewpoints of Banff before soaring up summit Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola for 360-degree views over Banff. 

YouTube video
YouTube video

This small group tour is the perfect introduction to Banff and includes some of Banff’s most scenic and historically significant highlights such as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, Surprise Corner Lookout, and Banff’s largest lake, Lake Minnewanka. Plus, enjoy hot chocolate or fresh water (depending on the time of year) and maple cookies at one of the scenic stops.

You’ll then be transported to the base of Sulphur Mountain and ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain at 7,486 feet. At the summit, marvel at the unsurpassed view of Banff, the Bow Valley and a 360-degree view of six scenic mountain ranges. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world when you are standing on the spacious main level observation deck. After your download on the Banff Gondola, our guide will transport you back to your Banff hotel.

It’s a great tour for seeing wildlife, so don’t forget your camera! And ask as many questions as you like, our guides are Banff experts and love to share their knowledge.

Included
  • Water or Hot Chocolate
  • Banff Gondola ticket
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
  • Small group size (up to 24 guests per guide)

Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola Reviews


4.5
3691+
4.4
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4.6
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The best parts of the Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola for most people include the following:

1

Bow Falls

Water crashes over ancient limestone creating a spectacle of sound and sight.
2

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

The Castle of the Rockies is the railway’s contribution to the building of Canada.
3

Surprise Corner

A higher view of Bow Falls and the majestic Banff Springs Hotel.
4

Hoodoos Lookout and Bow Valley viewpoint

What is a hoodoo? Understand the lay of the land.
5

Lake Minnewanka

See the largest lake in Banff National Park.
6

Banff Gondola

Take an eight-minute journey in a modern, fully enclosed four-passenger gondola cabin up to a jaw-dropping mountaintop experience at 2,281 metres (7,486 feet).
Included
  • Water or Hot Chocolate
  • Banff Gondola ticket
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
  • Small group size (up to 24 guests per guide)

Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola Reviews


4.5
3691+
4.4
219+
4.6
453+

How long is the tour?

The tour begins at 8:30am and returns around 2:00pm, approximately 5.5 hours in total.

The tour includes transportation from most hotels in Banff on a guided three-hour bus tour to see some of the local highlights such as the iconic Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls and Lake Minnewanka. You’ll then be transported to the base of Sulphur Mountain where you’ll ascend the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain with around an hour of free time before descending back to the base where your guide will transport you back to your hotel. The tour includes your Banff Gondola ticket, several sightseeing stops, including a refreshment break with maple cookies and hot chocolate or fresh water (depending on the time of year), and hands on interpretive tools.

We pick up from most hotels in Banff, and you can select your preferred pick-up location during the booking process. For drop offs, our guide will ask you on the way back where you would like to be dropped off either in town or at your hotel.

You are welcome to meet us at any of our pick up locations in Banff to join the tour, and a popular central downtown meeting point is the public bus parking area behind the Mt Royal Hotel (the hotel address is 138 Banff Avenue).

Most guests choose to self-drive into Banff, although please note that you will need to find parking in Banff that exceeds the duration of the tour. Please refer to the Town of Banff website for general parking information, or the banffparking.ca website for live parking availability. For guests staying in Canmore, you can also use the Roam bus service and disembark at the Banff High School. The closest pick up point to the Banff High School is across the road at the Elk and Avenue Hotel.

Only half your time is spent on the bus, and at every stop you will have the opportunity to get off the bus and stretch your legs. All of the viewpoints are a short walk, including the observation deck at the Banff Gondola. If you wish to explore further there are several scenic hiking trails lead away from the summit complex. One of the most popular is the self-guided interpretive 1km Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk to Sanson’s Peak on which you can follow in the footsteps of Norman Sanson, who walked to the top of the mountain about every week for 30 years to check the weather.

There is a chance of seeing wildlife on the tour and we often spot animals, however we do not guarantee seeing wildlife on any of our tours. Our guides have a lot of knowledge about the animals within the park and can fill you in about them if you see any wildlife or if you have any questions.

The gondola ride is approximately eight minutes each way. You’ll have around an hour at the Banff Gondola summit.

Step out into a jaw-dropping mountaintop experience at an elevation of 2,281 metres (7,486 feet) and stroll along the ridgetop boardwalk where the views get better with every step. Then warm up in the newly transformed, state-of-the-art summit facility with new restaurants, interactive interpretive exhibits, a multi-sensory theatre and a breathtaking 360-degree rooftop observation deck.

The modern, fully-enclosed gondola cabins each comfortably fit four adults. A young child or baby may be possible to make five.

Tips are not expected, but are certainly appreciated. If you think your guide did a wonderful job and would like to indicate that with a tip, it will be graciously accepted.

There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 24 hours outside your booked tour (up to 7 days for group bookings).

Included
  • Water or Hot Chocolate
  • Banff Gondola ticket
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
  • Small group size (up to 24 guests per guide)

Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola Reviews


4.5
3691+
4.4
219+
4.6
453+
  • All children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
  • Photo ID may be required for identity verification.
  • By participating in a tour with Discover Banff Tours, guests are acknowledging that they understand that we may take video and photographs of them during their tour. These videos and photographs may be used in promotional materials including, but not limited to, social media.
  • Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 4 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tour.
Included
  • Water or Hot Chocolate
  • Banff Gondola ticket
  • Maple cookie snack
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Professional certified guide
  • Hands on interpretive tools
  • Small group size (up to 24 guests per guide)

Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour with Banff Gondola Reviews


4.5
3691+
4.4
219+
4.6
453+
Summer views from the Banff Gondola
Discover Banff and Its Wildlife with Discover Banff Tours
See Elk on the Discover Banff and Its Wildlife Winter Tour
Discover Banff and Its Wildlife with Discover Banff Tours
See wildlife on a Banff winter tour with Discover Banff Tours
Winter Banff Gondola in Banff National Park
Ride up to Sulphur Mountain summit in a comfortable gondola cabin at the Banff Gondola
Discover Banff and Its Wildlife view from Surprise Corner
See Banff's top sightseeing spots on the morning Discover Banff and Its Wildlife Tour
Interpretive tools at the Patch on Mount Norquay
Take photos of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel from Surprise Corner on the Discover Banff and Its Wildlife Tour
Discover Banff Tours Sightseeing Coach Bus
Banff Sightseeing Gondola Ticket

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