This 6-day guided trip covers four days of hiking in the Canadian Rockies. We start and finish in Banff and stay in a 3-star hotel in Banff or Canmore for all five nights. Each day we take a private van to a different corner of the range: Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, the quieter valleys of Kananaskis Country, glacier views along the Icefields Parkway, and Kootenay’s Marble Canyon followed by the alpine meadows of Sunshine. Hikes run 3–4 hours at a steady, unhurried pace. Daily breakfasts, most lunches, two dinners, gondola tickets, and all in-tour transport are included, and groups are kept to 12 people or fewer.
Arrive in Banff and settle into the hotel, ringed by the rugged peaks of the Canadian Rockies. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner and orientation, a chance to meet other hikers in the group, go over the week ahead, and breathe in that first hit of crisp mountain air.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
We’re up early for the drive to Moraine Lake, where the Ten Peaks mirror perfectly in still water at sunrise, one of those sights that earns the early alarm. From there, we head to Lake Louise for a 3-hour hike through forested slopes and alpine meadows, gaining around 400 m (1,300 ft). Optional afternoon extras include canoeing on the lake or afternoon tea at the Fairmont, and public buses run regularly between Lake Louise and Banff for anyone who wants to linger.
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch
Distance: 10 km (6 mi), 3 hrs
Elevation: +400 m (+1,300 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Today we head into Kananaskis Country, quieter and less visited than the national parks nearby, and just as spectacular. Our likely destination is Picklejar Lakes: 10 km (6 mi) of trail through open alpine meadows and past a string of serene mountain lakes, with 600 m (2,000 ft) of elevation gain. After the hike, we round out the day with a local experience, either a cozy mountain lodge or a character-filled ranch, depending on the season. One heads-up: the access roads here can be winding, so anyone prone to motion sickness may want to come prepared.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Distance: 10 km (6 mi)
Elevation: +600 m (+2,000 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
We wind north along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s great scenic drives, stopping at Peyto Lake for its turquoise water framed by rugged peaks. Today’s hike is a moderate 3-4 hour climb of around 400 m (1,300 ft), opening up unobstructed views down onto the Athabasca Glacier and the vast Columbia Icefield. Bighorn sheep are regular company up here. Your guide fills the day with stories about the region’s geology, history, and wildlife, and there’s plenty of time to stop, look around, and take it all in.
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch
Hiking: 10-12 km (6-7 mi), 3-4 hrs
Elevation: +400 m (+1,300 ft)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Our morning starts in Kootenay National Park, just over the Continental Divide into British Columbia, with a walk through Marble Canyon. It’s an easy 1.6 km (1 mi) trail along a narrow turquoise gorge carved through white and grey limestone. Afterwards, we ride the gondola and chairlift up to Sunshine Meadows, where the landscape opens above 2,400 m (7,900 ft) into sweeping alpine terrain: wildflower meadows, clear lakes, and big views across the Divide. Marmots and pikas dot the path. We’re back in Banff by late afternoon for a farewell dinner to close out the week together.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Hiking: 5-8 km (3-5 mi)
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
After a relaxed breakfast, we say goodbye and head home. If you’d like to stay longer in the Rockies, your guides are happy to help plan a few extra days in Banff or Calgary.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons:
Not included:
In order to join this Banff hiking tour, good fitness is required as well as comfort being active on your feet several days in a row. The most you’ll hike within a day is up to 10 km (6 mi), with up to 600 m (2,000 ft) of elevation gain.
The hiking is varied rather than extreme, and the terrain is moderate throughout. You’ll only carry a daypack, since private transportation moves the group between trailheads and you’re back at the hotel each night. No technical skills or previous mountain experience are needed, just a willingness to keep moving and enjoy the views.
If you’d prefer to hike with a women-only group, check out our All-Women Hiking Tour in the Canadian Rockies—same itinerary, different experience with like-minded women.
Clothing:
Gear:
Optional:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes:
Min. age requirements:
This Banff hiking tour is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.
The starting point of your Banff hiking tour is Banff. To get there, most people fly into Calgary Airport (YYC). From there, you can take a shuttle service, public transport, or rent a car to reach Banff.
Airport transfers aren’t included, but your guides can arrange them at an additional cost. Just leave a note at checkout if you’re interested.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.