We chose Hop on Hop Off because of the flexibility. They have many stops and you can choose how to…read morespend your day. Many others only give you an hour per stop but we had so much time to do what we wanted. Bonus, the tour guides Lewis and Dominique are amazing! They help you customize your day. They are also a wealth of knowledge. I enjoyed the stories they told while on the bus. I highly recommend taking this tour!

If you're looking to explore just about all of Banff's greatest sights in one day...then this is…read morethe PERFECT tour for you. Not to mention you get to do it all without having to worry about driving or parking! If you're not already sold, which you should be, then keep reading along for all the tour highlights. Our two tour guides were Dominique and James and our bus drivers were Bobbie and Jeff. All of them were absolutely delightful. Dominique and James were extremely knowledgeable about Banff, it's history, it's wildlife, and the surrounding areas. They kept the bus rides entertaining and lively. Jeff and Bobbie were great animal spotters and helped us to see a fox on the morning drive and two elk on our return trip. I also spotted a black bear on the morning drive. We opted to do the full day excursion, leaving on the first bus and returning on the last. This was perfect for us to get able to see everything we wanted to. Started the day at Johnston canyon where we hiked to the top of the falls. This was a quick turnaround time so not everyone was able to make it to the top, but still a beautiful spot even if you don't go all the way up. Once done here we continued on the Bow Valley Parkway and took a stop to take in the views of Castle Mountain...an absolutely majestic sight! Next we were onto the Lake Louise ski gondola, where we rode the gondola to the top and had lunch. There was probably enough time to hike, but not enough time to have a leisurely lunch and hike. We opted for the leisurely lunch as we didn't want to have any bear encounters. Here we did see a black bear as we rode the gondola back down. Next up was Moraine Lake, due to one of the buses getting stuck behind a train we stopped in Lake Louise to pick up some others that we're heading to Moraine Lake, but it was a quick trip. At Moraine Lake we had about an hour, enough time to walk up the rock pile, enjoy the view for some time, and walk the shoreline a little bit. Next stop was Lake Louise, we were here for just under an hour. We walked around the shoreline and enjoyed some time in the fairmont hotel. This route didn't give us enough time to hike here, but they did have another schedule you could follow if you wanted to spend more time doing the hikes here or possibly even canoe. After a stop back at the Lake Louise ski gondola to pick up the last of the group, we headed back to town. It was truly an amazing experience and I'm so happy we booked it. We visited Banff without a car and there's no way we would've been able to see some of these places had we not done this tour. So happy this exists and would definitely book it again if I ever visit Banff again.

Extremely Disappointing Experience - Safety Should Never Take a Back Seat…read more My family visited the Columbia Icefield this year, and I returned for my second visit after a great experience last year. Unfortunately, this visit was very different and raised serious safety concerns. Our group had 13 people. When it was time to return from the glacier, 9 family members plus five other guests were left behind on the ice by our driver, Chad, without warning. I had already told the driver that there were people who had yet to board, and as the vehicle pulled away he could see our group waving, including children aged 5 and 11, yet he continued driving. We were stranded on the glacier for 90 minutes, exposed to cold conditions with no clear communication or emergency response. During this time, we repeatedly asked other Ice Explorer drivers for help. Despite several buses having available seats, multiple drivers refused to take us, even with young children visibly cold. It appeared that strict scheduling prevented them from assisting stranded guests, even in a clear safety situation. After 90 minutes, one compassionate driver finally stopped and brought our family back. We are very grateful to that individual for preventing an even worse outcome. This raises serious concerns about procedures and training. No guests should be left on a glacier due to scheduling constraints. A simple head count, final check, or empowering drivers to assist stranded guests could prevent this from happening again. We came back because of a great prior experience, but this visit has left us questioning whether guest safety is truly the top priority--or whether operational efficiency and profit are being placed ahead of basic safety processes.

We booked a tour with Columbia Icefield Adventures online. The process was smooth…read more On the day of our tour, we drove from Banff up to the icefield area near Jasper. The drive was a trip highlight. We did many stops along the way to enjoy the mountain views. The tour was awesome. You get on a bus which takes you to the glacier mobile and up to the glacier you go. What a unique experience. Our driver was knowledgeable and answered many questions. After you return to the bus, you are taken to the skywalk which is a glass bottom walkway over a gorge. So cool. I had almost as much fun watching people who were nervous about stepping on the platform as I did looking into the gorge. Parking at the icefield was a nightmare. We ended up parking in the RV lot or we would have missed our timeslot. It was also unfortunate that the digital tickets did not have your timestamp on them as we held up the line looking for confirmation of our timeslot.

5 stars for Gabriel who was our evening Wildlife tour guide. He was so awesome, knowledgeable and…read morefun and we saw lots of wildlife local to the area. Highly recommended, with several choices on where to pick up/drop off before and after. My family and I really enjoyed the entire evening!

This tour is wonderful! We saw elk, big horn sheep, coyotes, and deer. It was a light snow day…read morefor our tour so views were limited, but the driver/tour guide made the entire trip very enjoyable. Chloe was knowledgeable and friendly, she helped make the tour very fun and memorable!

Fred was hands down the best tour guide we've ever had! He…read morereally made our first day in Banff special and unforgettable. We loved his enthusiasm and the super interesting way he conveyed the history of the incredible sights we saw on this tour. We also loved the authentic dress, jazz music, and whole atmosphere. I can't say enough good things about Fred, please give that man a raise!

It was fine. Just not what I expected and I don't understand why the seating was assigned the way…read moreit was. ‍ I think I just had higher expectations. So, my experience. ~2 Families of 3 in 2 rows of 4 seats, 1 couple in the back row of 4 seats, someone reviewing our driver took up 3 seats in the back by herself, while 4 adults, 2 couples, not together, were all crammed in one seating area that seats 4. So I guess it could have been worse and the vehicle completely booked, but at least then the seating would have made sense. There was also a couple open seats in the front but who knows maybe due to the broken window and or safety laws they are not used. Idk. ~The photos and reviews I've seen, I expected to be standing up and or out of the vehicle more. We mostly just drove by places. If you are on the right, you can roll down your window and try to take pictures, most of what they point out is on the right. If you're on the left, your window doesn't go down and if you're packed in, you can't really move around too much. ~I believe we were able to stand up 2 times. ~We got out of the vehicle once, we're treated to champagne glasses of a local sparkling water. ~I was looking forward to the view of the Fairmont Hotel but we drove by so fast it wasn't worth trying to get my camera ready so be prepared for that photo if you're looking forward to it. ~Listening to the history of the area was nice but it would probably be more comfortable on a bus tour. If you just want to cruise around in a cool open top vehicle, you're good! Enjoy!

FAbtastic tour of the lakes with Hans and Macie! Great people, knowledgeable and super friendly!…read moreHighly ecommended to all!

Amazing bus and drivers. I've never been on such a comfy bus that was roomy, spacious and clean…read more Hands down the best tour bus experience. The drivers went out of their way to accommodate everyone and make the experience unforgettable. They have outlets for your phone or in my case I brought my heating pad and the plug proved so helpful. The drivers were excellent drivers especially with snow etc. The bathroom on the bus was clean too. I sat back and relaxed with this tour and loved all the detailed stories. One of the pictures of a bear they have on some of their buses is famous is those parts and I loved how they honored her story.

I searched around to find the best price on ski and snowboard rentals for our week in Banff and…read morethis was the best price. The quality did not disappoint either as they used a third party to fulfill our rental. We were unaware of this so went to the Banff Adventures office at first, and then was directed to the shop just down the street. I was happy that we were allowed to get fitted the day before our rental started and that they delivered the gear to our hotel free of charge. They also picked it up from our hotel when we were done. The third party was very reputable and I wrote a separate review for them. I would use Banff Adventures again for my rentals!

My friend and I bought the "Best of Banff" adventure package well in advance of our trip. The price…read morewas so reasonable for all that we were able to do. We were so excited to ride the Banff Gondola, Horseback ride along the Bow River and Kayak on the Bow river as well. The first issue we encountered was when my friend's flight was delayed on her way to Canada and we had to push all of our scheduled activities back a day. The service at Banff adventures was excellent- we had to call a few different times to move things around but each time the attendant was patient and super helpful in helping us to reschedule our experiences. The day of our experiences, we were able to pick the times of our Gondola ride and the kayak but the Horseback riding was the only activity with a hard time. We chose to ride the Gondola first and it was so easy to check-in and ride up the Gondola. The view was spectacular and so peaceful. At the top there was a super cute cafe, which was a nice touch. We didn't eat there but it was nice to know it was there. Next we headed to our Horseback riding appointment. We arrived early so we had time to sign our waivers, get weighed and fitted for our helmets before the safety speech was given. We were each assigned a horse and given a few minutes to get acquainted with our steed. This wasn't my first rodeo, so I was ready to get on the trail right away. Once we were on the trail, it was smooth riding. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and we were given opportunities for photos with our horses at the end of the ride. Finally, we went over to the Canoe place for our kayaks. It was easy to sign in and get our kayaks. We were given our life jackets and a quick lesson in kayaking. The weather was sunny and warm which made for a perfect day out on the water. The Bow river was especially calm on this day so we really enjoyed our float up river. Overall, each activity was the perfect little adventure. Everything was within a 10-20 minute car ride of each point so it was easy to navigate. We had an amazing day. We would absolutely buy this tour again.

Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours exceeded my expectations and provided me with a bucket-list experience…read morethat will be a lasting memory. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Motorhead (retired sled dog). He was so friendly, sweet, and engaging. The shop space is open and offers a slue of gift shop items and rentable gear (snow boots and snow pants are a must!). Clean bathrooms are available because once you get to the top of the mountain, there are only porta-potties. I loved my dog team (Ghost, Poblano, Ivar, Mayday, Gomez, and Kannicky). They are definitely professionals and they commit to running. However, when we had some breaks, they were very sweet and enjoyed positive affirmation and pets. Driving the sled is more physically intense than I expected. You will need to do some running up the hill with the dogs. However, the thrill of the experience, wind in your hair, and breathtaking views is beyond words. In my experience, Snowy Owl treats their dogs well. I appreciate their use of colored collars to signal whether the dogs are shy or overly friendly. One of my tour guides for another excursion affirmed this sentiment as well and spoke of them in high regards. This is a must-do experience (expensive, but well worth it). Also, 2 printed photos available at the end for $50 canadian dollars. They will also transfer a digital file and I found this to be well worth it.

Surprised my girlfriend with the summer dog carting tour out of Boundary Ranch and it was awesome…read more 14 dogs showed up and they were all so sweet and lovable. The workers were friendly and knowledgeable. We got to pet the dogs, go for a ride, unharness them, and give them treats! It was all so great. We didn't care it was raining or we were getting muddy.

Arrived to Calgary around 6pm with plans to rent a car and drive to Banff but plans changed due to…read morethe weather. I do not have experience driving in snow and it was announced the roads were bad. I spotted a booth for Banff airport and was quickly able to book transport from the airport to the hotel in Banff.. Steve was our driver. He was lovely. He provided information regarding sites in the area. The bus/van was clean and comfortable. I definitely recommend.

It was our first time in Banff and we decided not to drive around. Banff Airporter provided a…read morehassle-free, point-to-point transportation from Calgary Airport to our Banff accommodation and back. The instructions were transparent and the drivers were friendly, helpful, and on time. The bus and sprinter shuttles were clean and comfortable. This will be our go-to transportation provider from Calgary to Banff.

I do not recommend this taxi service. We booked a few days in advance to take us from Harvey…read moreHeights in Canmore to St Mary's Church in Banff for a wedding. I called to book the cab to and from for 6 passengers. I called the day before to confirm the pick up time and also the morning of the wedding. The response I got from the owner was "you don't have to keep beating a dead horse". I thought this was rude and unprofessional. But this is only the beginning of the rude behaviour. The morning of the pick up another taxi company drove up to the property we were staying at. It was a van that seated six people so we just assumed it was our taxi ride. We all jumped in and we were off to the church on time for the wedding. However, what we didn't realized was that it wasn't the taxi company that we booked (i.e. Three Sister's Taxi). Apparently, this happens a lot in Canmore (i.e. taxi companies take each others business). When Twin Sisters showed up to pick us up we were already gone. The company then left us several phone messages. However, because I was at a wedding I had my phone turned off. After the wedding no taxi showed up to pick us up even though we had booked Twin Sisters for the return drive back to Harvey Heights. They thought that we scammed them. We tried to explain that we were picked up and we were now waiting for our driver to take us back. But they refused to believe us! After much convincing they finally agreed to pick us up. When the owner showed up he literally grabbed the phone out of my hand as I was trying to explain to him what happened. Dave, needless to say we used another company to take us to the Banff Spring for the reception and that company was great! I will be leaving them a positive review.

I was told by the owner Dave it wasn't unprofessional for the dispatch to ignore calls. Apparently…read moreI was just one of 21 missed calls, I understand being busy but the professional thing to do is answer the phone and let your customers know the wait times are extremely long instead of ignoring them or more specifically sending them to voice-mail.

Mark Unrau, owner of Rocky Mountain Photo Adventures, picked up my wife and I promptly at 4 a.m. at…read moreour hotel in Banff and drove us a few miles to a lake at the base of Mount Rundle. For approximately the next three hours, Mark patiently showed me how to best use my Nikon and walked me through how to shoot a good landscape photo. Although Mark obviously is a highly skilled expert, he was never patronizing. He was always personal and professional. I recommend him highly.

When I was going to be in Banff for a conference, I arranged two consecutive private morning…read moresunrise workshops with Mark Unrau, owner of Rocky Mountain Photo Adventures. Right from the start, I was impressed with Mark's communication-- prompt, professional, and friendly. He picked me up both mornings from my lodge at 5:30am and took me to THE most gorgeous spots. We didn't stay clumped up with the rest of the photographers, as he knows the best spots away from the others so you can really focus (and get unique shots). I'm a hobbyist photographer who knows the basics, but I came away with a new appreciation for taking time to properly compose an image, working with a variety of filters to manage morning light, and understanding the ins and outs of long exposure shooting. I've been on many photo workshops in the past, and oftentimes the teacher is distracted by their own camera and capturing their own images while also trying to teach. This is NOT Mark. He does not bring out his camera (although he has ALL the equipment you could ever need) and gives you his 100% undivided attention. Mark is a truly gifted and passionate teacher who takes the time to learn about his student and their level of expertise, meets them where they are, and then extends their skills to improve their photography far beyond what I could have imagined. He's also an all around nice guy, who remains available to you after the workshop for questions, follow-up etc. I truly enjoyed my time with him and couldn't recommend him highly enough. Oh, and the shots I captured were truly breathtaking-- Thanks Mark!