BANFF: Visiting This Incredible Place? Here is the Ultimate Guide.

Lake Louise Banff - Alberta, Canada

Here is the ultimate guide for visiting Banff in Alberta, Canada. It’s an incredible place that you’ll wish you had traveled to years ago. 

BANFF VISITING GUIDE – ITINERARY SUMMARY

Day 1 — Travel day
Day 2 —Travel day / Calgary / Banff
Day 3 —Lake Louise: canoes and Tea House hike
Day 4 —Columbia Icefield Adventure Tour & Skywalk
Day 5 —Johnston Canyon
Day 6 —Travel (onto Glacier National Park?)

Travel Day (Day 1)

For us, this first day was all drive, drive, drive. It was an epic road trip. 20 hours in all. Straight through. Phew, what a haul! I think if I did it again, I’d fly into Calgary and then drive the remaining 90 minutes to Banff

But, adventurous as we are, we tackled this journey with another family in a 14-person passenger van.

Trip Tip: check on border crossing times

Only certain U.S. – Canadian border crossings are open 24 hours. Fortunately, we learned this the day right before we left for our trip, so we made an adjustment in our route. Had we not, we would have been sleeping in the van at a border crossing waiting for it to open at 8:00 a.m.! 

If you need it, click here for a list of times for all the states’ border crossings.

Calgary & Arrive in Banff (Day 2)

If you have time to make a brief stop in Calgary, it’s definitely worth it. We simply did a short hike up to an overlook (see picture below), and then walked across a bridge into the city, got some ice cream, and then continued on to Banff.

View of downtown Calgary

In Banff, we stayed in a cute, rustic cabin at the Johnston Canyon Resort

Cabin at Johnston Canyon Resort - Banff visiting guide

So, yeah, nothing fancy, but with a view like this, who could complain?!

Mountain view at resort - Banff visiting guide

The town of Banff is very charming and looked like it had some amazing places to stay too. And, for those whose vacation budgets allow for it, a room at the Fairmont Chateau hotel on Lake Louise sure would be a treat.

Fairmont Chateau Hotel on Lake Louise - Banff visiting guide

Lake Louise & Tea House Hike (Day 3)

No question about it, you have to go to Lake Louise. The water is SO blue (much more so than in this picture) and the scenery is just breathtaking. Honestly, in no way does this picture do it justice. 

Lake Louise in Banff

Banff Visiting Guide Must-Do: Rent a canoe on Lake Louise

Rent a canoe and enjoy an hour paddling on the lake taking in the views. You will literally have to pinch yourself several times as you look around at where you are blessed to be at that moment.

Canoes on Lake Louise - Banff visiting guide

Next, hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. I’d plan to spend about 4 to 5 hours to get there and back. There are many stops along the way to soak in spectacular views of Lake Louise.

Lake Louise on trail to Tea House - Banff

This other lake (below) along the hike was a pleasant surprise, and a beautiful oasis to stop for a rest.

Lake on hike to Tea House - Banff

At the Tea House, it’s a great place to have a snack, cup of soup or dessert, and a hot or cold beverage. It’s so remote and off the grid – yup, no electricity – so they take cash only. Every time, the staff carries all supplies up and back down the mountain with them.

Tea House near Lake Louise - Banff

Another option is the nearby Lake Agnes Tea House, but unfortunately, we did not have the time to visit. 

Columbia Ice Field Adventure Tour & Skywalk (Day 4)

On this day, head up near Jasper National Park and take the Columbia Icefield Adventure Tour (90 minutes from Lake Louise). It includes a ride on the gigantic Ice Explorers to the Athabasca Glacier, and admission to the glass-floored Skywalk

I know my family will remember these cool experiences for years to come!

Don’t wait, though, to experience them yourself. This glacier, and many others around the world have been slowly disappearing with the climate fluctuations.

Trip Tip #1: Dress warm

It was a hot July day where we boarded the Ice Explorer, but then we were freezing in our shorts up on the glacier. Duh! What were we thinking?! Glad we brought jackets and sweatshirts at least. Most people had mittens and warm hats; we were the fools in shorts! 

Trip Tip #2: Bring water bottles

The melting glacier provides streams of water where you can collect water and drink it. We all just had to try it. Surprisingly, it was ice cold and deliciously pure.

Johnston Canyon (Day 5)

Before you leave town, take the time for a morning hike in Johnston Canyon. Our resort had the ideal location; we walked right out the door from our cabin and onto the trail. And, even if you stay elsewhere in Banff, this is a brief stop/hike worth your time. It’s gorgeous!

Catwalk, Lower Falls, Upper Falls

As the pictures show, an early part of the trail is on catwalks that overlook Johnston Creek. About 30 minutes into the canyon, follow the signs to go in the tunnel for a super close up vantage point of the Lower Falls

The hike to the Upper Falls is about an hour one way, and takes you through the forest and out of the canyon.

After leaving Banff, head into the U.S. to Glacier National Park, which is 5 hours south. I have an itinerary for Glacier too. Highlights include Going-to-the-Sun Road, Avalanche Lake, Logan Pass, and St. Mary’s Boat Tour.


More time in Banff?

  • Moraine Lake – a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park. The Rockpile Trail is a commonly visited place by tourists.
  • Jasper National Park – 3 to 4 hour drive from Banff, but I’ve heard it’s worth every bit of time to get there.
  • Banfflots to do in the actual town, which is about 40 minutes south of Lake Louise.
  • Hot springs – these heated pools are advertised all over, and on the way to Glacier.

Pin this itinerary for later!

Banff Ultimate Travel Guide and must-see sights

More Banff visiting guide ideas.

What do YOU recommend for a Banff visiting guide? Kindly, include your tips in the comments section below

And, be sure to follow “Whoa, What a View” on social media to see the comments from other travelers about their favorite parts of Banff.


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Tags: Banff, Canada, Columbia Icefields, Glaciers, Itinerary, Lake Louise, Travel
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Comments

  1. Very well-written itinerary with lots of great detail! The first picture of that lake made me actually say “wow!”

    1. Reply

      Thanks, Paul! This picture just doesn’t do this area justice; it is breathtakingly beautiful!

  2. Reply

    Banff is one of the places that we have always dreamed of going. One day!! Thanks for all of the information! We will definitely come back to your post when we decide to visit!

    1. Reply

      Great, I hope you’re able to book a trip there soon. You won’t regret it!

  3. I visited Canada over 40 years ago and went to some of the places you have mentioned in the post. But it was a long time ago and I was very young – this post has brought back a lot of happy memories… and a desire to return! Thank you for this itinerary – with the suggestions for extra days as well. The area is stunningly beautiful and, now I’m older, we could do some serious hiking too!

    1. Reply

      Yes! You must return, Mitch, to make more memories! 🙂

    • Jack (Nomad Tactics)
    • October 10, 2021
    Reply

    This looks like a great itinerary to follow. I would make sure I check this out again when I plan to go to Banff…

    1. Reply

      Thanks, Jack! I hope you can book a trip to Banff soon. You’ll love it!

  4. Reply

    Banff, Jasper Park etc is on my list of a week’s trip to the area. I furst saw the skywalk when it announced its opening and it has attracted me to get there to expereince it for myself. Staying at the Fairmont Banff has always been a dream but I doubt I could afford their prices! Those catwalks are defo what I would want to do, they look like a spectacular way to see inaccessible locations and I’m sure the scenery here is wonderful.

    1. Reply

      The SkyWalk was awesome! Well worth the drive up into Jasper National Park from Banff. Yeah, I won’t likely ever stay at the Fairmont either due to the crazy high prices, but spending the day canoeing on Lake Louise and hiking nearby was magical enough for me.

  5. Reply

    The more and more I see and read about Banff, the more I want to visit. Thank you for this wonderful itinerary. Great post!

    1. Reply

      Thank you! It is indeed a magical place that I tell EVERYONE to visit!

    • Anna
    • November 13, 2021
    Reply

    Lovely itinerary!

    1. Reply

      Thanks for reading, Anna!

  6. Reply

    This is a great content, banf is really a must-see and must-visit place for nature lovers. The Banff trip was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I was completely captivated by exploring this magnificent part of nature. Walking amidst mountains, lakes, and waterfalls, breathing in the fresh air, and soaking in the breathtaking views was truly enchanting.

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