The 14 Winter Tours in Banff That Earn Their Price

1.Athabasca Glacier Snow Trip from Banff

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 394 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $291Our pick

Travel from Banff along the Icefields Parkway with a professional guide, stopping at Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake before riding an Ice Explorer across Athabasca Glacier. Lunch, the Glacier Skywalk, and pickup are included. Guides such as Neil, Georgia, Jake, and Chloe are praised for clear stories and strong local insight.

“This tour was worth every penny. The glacier was amazing! And our guide (I don't trust my memory but I believe his name was Spencer) was so knowledgeable about the area - wildlife, plant life, and history. He also provided excellent recommendations for other things to do and places to visit during the remainder of our stay in Banff.”

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2.Family Friendly Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 237 reviews · 40 min · from $39Best value

Meet your driver at Banff Trail Riders Stables for a 40-minute horse-drawn sleigh ride through mountain meadows. You will hear local stories, watch for elk and deer, and see Rundle and Cascade mountains from under a wool blanket. Guides such as Grace, Emily, Brooklyn, and Nat have been praised for their warm, informative approach. In thin snow, the sleigh may become a wagon.

“The guides are very friendly and excellent with kids. They were very informative. Overall an absolutely wonderful experience.”

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3.Abraham IceBubble, Peyto, Bow Lake with Snowshoeing& Icewalk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 146 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $74

Spend 6 to 8 hours exploring the Rockies by minibus, with stops at Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and seasonal Abraham Lake or Sunwapta Falls. Crampons, a hot drink, blankets and photo help are included. Guides such as Tony, William and Edward adjust the route when winter roads change.

“William, our guide, was fantastic! Definitely ask for him. Our December tour was well planned and shifted as the conditions required. We experienced a Winter Wonderland!”

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4.Abraham Ice Bubble/Sunwapta Falls,Snowshoeing,Icefield, Bow&Peyto

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $68

Set out from Banff at 7:00 am for a full day along the Icefields Parkway. You may see turquoise Bow and Peyto lakes, Abraham Lake’s winter ice bubbles, glaciers, and major waterfalls. Guides such as Kenneth, Lam, and Ray provide local facts, photo help, hot drinks in winter, and crampons when conditions require them.

“Had a great experience. Offered pick-up and drop-off straight to my hotel. Ray, our guide, was absolutely lovely and very informative. Would definitely recommend this tour, especially if you are travelling without your own car.”

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5.Banff, Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon – Winter Wonderland Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $180

Spend eight hours with a Radventures guide visiting Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, and the Bow Valley Parkway. You’ll have time for frozen waterfalls, lakeside walks, optional skating or snowshoeing, hot drinks, and local stories. Guides such as Rae, Simon, Michael, and Tess are known for helpful pacing and great photo stops.

“Our tour happened to be on Banff’s coldest day of the year, and I’m honestly really glad it wasn’t canceled. IMO, it’s a tour best for international visitors or those who want to sight see without a rental car. Some details; Tour guide: Michael was great! Easy going, good driver. Pick up: you can ask for your hotel pick up, which I hadn’t known about. Pros: group tour, good guide, safe, a lot to see in one day Cons: van could use some improvements. Very cold, struggled to heat up. Also would be nice to include hand warmers on days that crazy cold for the cost of the tour.”

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6.Discover Lake Louise and Yoho In Winter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $186

Travel from Banff to Lake Louise and Emerald Lake with a guide such as Emma, Anik, Timothy, or Hugh. Walk the frozen Lake Louise shoreline, see Natural Bridge, enjoy lunch at Emerald Lake Lodge, and warm up with hot chocolate, maple cookies, and s’mores. Hotel pickup and a small group of up to 24 make the day easy.

“We had a good laugh snow shoeing . The scenery was beautiful . Had a hot chocolate in the ice bar at the lake .”

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7.Snowshoeing Tour to the Paint Pots

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $81

Travel from Banff to Kootenay National Park for an easy 3-kilometer snowshoe along the frozen Vermilion River and through pine forest to the Paint Pots. Guides such as Georgia, Ray, Rob, and Neil add local stories, hot chocolate, maple taffy, and optional hill sledding. The route suits beginners, though snow can hide the mineral pools.

“Amazing views along the drive and the walk! Easy to do and a lot of fun. Our guide (Rob) was very informative and friendly. Plus nothing like a little hot chocolate mid hike!”

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8.Snowshoeing Tour in Kootenay National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 37 reviews · 4 hours · from $79

Join a certified guide from Banff for a four-hour small-group trip to Kootenay National Park. You’ll learn snowshoeing on an easy 3-kilometer trail, cross the frozen Vermilion River, visit the Paint Pots, hear about Indigenous history and the fur trade, then enjoy hot chocolate, maple taffy, and a crazy-carpet slide.

“The experience was a lot of fun and a very beautiful location to snowshoe. Our guide Gina was so lovely, had a great sense of humour and was very interesting to listen to, would recommend this experience to anyone!”

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9.Banff Winter Tour Featuring Mountaintop Dinner and Banff Gondola

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $173

Spend about six hours touring Banff’s winter viewpoints before riding the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for Nightrise and a hot buffet at Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen. An on-board host such as Taylor or Elizabeth adds stories along the way. Pickup is offered from selected Banff hotels, with groups capped at 19.

“What a surprise to have activities we all could participate in and enjoy a snack as well. Places we didn't expect to go to. Our host, Elizabeth, was an absolute delight.”

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10.Banff National Park: Sunshine Meadows Snowshoeing Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 14 reviews · 4 hours · from $102

Ride from Banff to Sunshine Village, then take the gondola and chairlift toward Sunshine Meadows for 2.5 hours of guided snowshoeing. You’ll walk through deep powder with a small group of up to 11, using provided snowshoes, hand-warmers, hot drinks, and cookies. Guides such as Nicolas and Michael add useful mountain knowledge along the way.

“Our guide, Nicolas, along with the snowshoeing was absolutely fantastic. Truly a memorable time.”

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11.Winter Tour with Dinner & Nightrise at Banff Gondola

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 6 hours · from $168

Spend six winter hours touring Banff in an open-top vintage car with an English-speaking host, stopping at Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, Banff Avenue, and other photo spots. Finish at Sulphur Mountain with Banff Gondola admission, the Nightrise light experience, and a hot buffet dinner at Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen.

“Best tour in Banff, the open top vehicles are amazing! Elizabeth was the best guide and made the adventure so amazing!! highly reccomend”

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12.Banff Performance Ski Rental Including Delivery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 2 to 14 days (approx.) · from $142

Book beginner ski, boot, and pole rentals in Banff and choose the delivery time and lodging location. A technician arrives for an in-room fitting, usually the night before skiing, with service available from 7:30am to 9pm. Your gear is later collected from the hotel, saving a trip to the rental shop.

“Very knowledgeable staff, very quick and punctual service, very friendly staff. Convenient service to and from your hotel”

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13.Cross Country Skiing Lesson with Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 5 hours · from $146

Meet your English-speaking guide at Lake Louise at 10:30 AM for a five-hour beginner or refresher lesson. You will practice falling, standing, gliding, and stopping, then ski on a guided tour around the lake. The group is limited to four, but skis, boots, and poles are not included.

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14.Winter Wonderland; Lake Louise & Johnston Canyon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 8 hours · from $175

Spend eight winter hours with Radventures guide-led from Banff to Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon. Skate on the frozen lake, walk snowy trails, and view icy falls, with hot drinks, cleats, poles, and hotel pickup included. Skates and snowshoes cost extra, and guide Tyler is among the local experts who may lead the day.

“amazing tour, the tour guides were awesome and made us feel so comfortable and taught us so much ! 10/10”

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