Winter
8+
Age
May-Oct
Season
Combo Package; saddle up for a riverside ride, soar up to a mountain summit and cruise Banff’s scenic and historical Lake Minnewanka.
Included: 1 Hour Bow River Horseback Ride (various times available)
Take a guided horseback ride along the tranquil Bow River and past the historic Cave and Basin, the birthplace of Banff National Park where craggy rock walls surround pools of bubbling thermal water. It’s Banff’s most popular horseback ride!
Included: Banff Sightseeing Gondola (various times available)
Sit back and relax in a four passenger, modern glass enclosed gondola as you soar to the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff. You’ll marvel at the unsurpassed view of Banff, the Bow Valley and a 360 degree view of six scenic mountain ranges from 2,281 metres (7,486 feet) above sea level from the observation deck, and can even enjoy a glass of wine or a meal.
Included: Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise (various times available)
Take to the water on Banff National Park’s largest lake, Lake Minnewanka, on a 1 hour interpretive boat cruise under the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Activities in this package can be taken on the same day or on different days.
The best parts of the Bow River Horseback Ride for most people include the following:
1
Bow River
Your horse will guide you along the tranquil Bow River – an area home to wildlife in amongst the thick marshes and grassy meadows, with unspoiled views of the magnificent Rocky Mountains.
2
Cave & Basin Hot Springs
Pass by the historic Cave and Basin – the birth place of Banff National Park. Here craggy rock walls surround pools of bubbling thermal water.
The best parts of the Banff Gondola for most people include the following:
1
Ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain
Take an eight-minute journey in a modern, fully enclosed four-passenger gondola cabin over the treetops up to a jaw-dropping mountaintop experience at 2,281 metres (7,486 feet).
2
Mountain top dining and facilities
The state-of-the-art summit facility has restaurants, interactive interpretive exhibits, a multi-sensory theatre and a breathtaking 360-degree rooftop observation deck.
The best parts of the Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise for most people include the following:
1
1 hour interpretive boat tour
Interpretive guides will share stories of native folklore and the submerged village of Minnewanka Landing while you survey the shoreline for big horn sheep, bald eagles and the occasional bear.
2
Devil's Gap
The highlight of the tour is the Devil’s Gap; a glacial path carved through Lake Minnewanka from the foothills of the Rockies.
The tour is a one hour horseback ride. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour start time.
The tour is a one-hour horseback ride along the Bow River and past the historic Cave and Basin site. You will be provided with a brief riding instruction, a helmet, a friendly horse, and lead and tail guides riding at each end of the small group.
Please meet at Warner Stables, the big red stables located at the end of Sundance Road in Banff. When you arrive, please check-in for your ride at the office in the east barn which has signs for ‘Warner Stables’ and ‘office’. The stables are located approximately a five minute drive or a 20 minute walk from downtown Banff, and there is plenty of free parking at the site.
Please see the below map for the location of Warner Stables:
Please ensure that you arrive 30 minutes before the ride is scheduled to depart.
You must wear sturdy, closed toed shoes enclosed to the ankle and long pants are best for riding. Please note that sandals of any kind are not permitted. Helmets are provided and are mandatory for all riders and mosquito repellent is highly recommended.
No experience is necessary and if you’ve never been riding before then we’ll be sure to pair you with the perfect horse so you can enjoy a comfortable ride. Our guides will also provide a brief riding instruction prior to the ride.
Guests cannot bring a backpack on the horse.
Horseback rides run rain or shine, so please dress for the weather. Please do not wear a rain poncho, as they can flap in the wind and spook the horses.
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).
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.
The Gondola Station is located at the end of Mountain Avenue in Banff, about a five minute drive from downtown. Detailed driving directions will be included with your booking confirmation.
Alternatively guests can catch the Roam Transit bus ($2 each way) or a taxi.
The gondola operates throughout the day from until 9:30pm or 10:30pm (seasonal variation), with the latest upload time of 8:50pm. Please note your requested upload time in the booking notes.
Plan on arriving 20 minutes prior to your departure time, and please ensure you are in line 10 minutes prior to your departure.
The gondola ride is approximately eight minutes each way. The suggested total visit time is 1.5 – 2 hours.
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.
Several scenic hiking trails lead away from the summit complex. One of the most popular is the self-guided interpretive 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.
The modern, fully-enclosed gondola cabins each comfortably fit four adults. A young child or baby may be possible to make five.
You may encounter some of the local wildlife including Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, golden mantled ground squirrels, hoary marmots, Clark’s nutcracker and the Canada (Gray) jay.
The last ride up the gondola is one hour prior to close, and last ride down is 30 minutes prior to close. Operating hours vary throughout the year.
Banff Gondola tickets have a 48 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 48 hours prior, and are set for specific days and times. If you would like to change your upload time once purchased, please phone the number on your ticket.
Many of our guests think so! Yes! It’s a fun, educational tour with some of the best views of the Rocky Mountains and views of wildlife from the shoreline. Learn all about the native folklore, the submerged village of Minnewanka landing and the interesting Devils Gap.
The Banff Lake Cruise is a unique sightseeing boat tour exploring Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park. Your voyage will be an approximate one hour interpretive cruise with an experienced captain and an entertaining guide who will introduce you to the rugged paradise, native folklore and geology of the area.
The lake cruise operates during the day, throughout the day in season on the posted cruise times. Lake Minnewanka is open starting the 2nd or 3rd week of May, and it closes in early October around, typically around the 10th of October. It depends on the weather and seasonal climate change.
Please meet at the Lake Minnewanka Boat Docks 30 minutes before your preferred activity time. The lake is located approximately a 15 minute drive from downtown Banff and detailed driving instructions will be included in your booking confirmation.
Alternatively, the Roam Transit bus runs seasonally from downtown Banff to Lake Minnewanka.
Although wildlife such as bald eagles, big horn sheep, wolves and grizzly bears frequent the Lake Minnewanka area, they can be difficult to find and so it cannot be guaranteed that you will see them.
Generally, no. The cruise boats are covered, but there may be a bit of water spray if the windows are open when the boat picks up speed.
It’s always a good idea to dress in layers with a waterproof jacket as weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. It is always a little colder at the lake, however all the cruise boats are heated and covered. It’s recommended to bring sunglasses, a hat, closed-toe shoes and sunscreen.
Lake Cruise tickets have a 48 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 48 hours prior, and are set for specific days and times. If you would like to change your upload time once purchased, please phone the number on your ticket.
No, but you do need a Banff National Park pass to get access to the lake or to book a Banff Lake Cruise.
- Activities in this package can be taken on the same day or on different days.
- The minimum age for this package is 8 years. Children aged 17 and under must be accompanied on the ride by a legal guardian.
- The maximum weight per person is 230lbs / 104kg, fully dressed (your weight may need to be verified on our scales).
- Riders must check in at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
- Riders must wear fully enclosed shoes (no heels).
- Each rider must be able to speak and understand fluent English.
- Riders must be in good physical condition.
- Helmets are mandatory and to be worn by all riders.
- Every adult needs to sign a waiver form for the horseback ride. A waiver must also be completed by the legal guardian of any child under the age of 18.
- Photo ID may be required for identity verification.
- Reservations are required to guarantee your timeslot for the Banff Gondola and Lake Cruise. Please show the bar-code voucher for entry, for the specified time reserved.
- Tours for the Banff Lake Cruise are weather permitting, particularly early and late season departures.
Refunds are not issued if guests are disqualified from participating due to not meeting these requirements.
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