How Far In Advance Should You Book Your Tours?

When should I book my activities in Banff?

So you’ve booked your flights to Banff, your hotel room and your airport shuttle… things are starting to shape up for an exciting trip. However, you might be wondering, ‘Should I book my Banff tours and activities in advance or wait until I get there?’

While you could wait until you arrive in Banff and may still be able to book on tours at the last minute, there are a lot of advantages to booking in advance.

Here at Discover Banff Tours we recommend booking at least a week in advance. And keep in mind, for most tours, you can cancel up to 48 hours before the tour starts. So, there is no harm in booking something even if you think you might change your mind on the activities you want to do when you get to Banff.

Here are a few other factors to consider when determining when to book.

What time of year is it?

Banff experiences its peak season in the summer when the weather is warm and again in the winter when the skiing is good. However, even in the slower season the activities still fill up quite quickly.

You can always call and ask the tour company whether or not that particular tour fills up during the time you plan on visiting. This will help you to avoid disappointment when you arrive. Many people contact Discover Banff Tours to reserve something at the last minute, only to find out it’s been booked up for days.

How popular is the activity?

It is recommended to book ahead for the most popular activities in Banff, such as horseback riding or whitewater rafting, dogsledding and ice walks. These activities will fill up quickly. This is even more true during the peak tourist seasons – so call and book if you don’t want to miss out!

For these popular activities you should book at least a week in advance, but it doesn’t hurt to book earlier if you know it is something you really want to do.

How much would you like to save?

In some cases you can make the activity easier on your wallet if you book far enough in advance. Many tour companies will offer discounts for early bookings. For example, at Discover Banff Tours we offer up to 20% off activities if you book your excursions at least a week in advance.

Discover Banff Tours owns many of the tour and activity companies in Banff, which means that when you book in advance through us you will get the best price – guaranteed. You can also arrange combo tour packages that will combine different activities for the best value price.

Plan at home & relax when you get here

When you have already arranged and booked all of your tours and transport in advance, you will be able to sit back and relax as soon as you arrive. You won’t have to worry about spending your precious time in Banff calling and booking tours – you can simply show up and be whisked away on an adventure.