I like fun and this was definitely a fun time. From boarding to leaving the ship ride was about an…read more1 hour and a half. My wife and friends enjoyed the whole experience. For me, anything or event that encourages picture taking is perfect. The views on Lake Minnewanka were perfect. This should be on everyone's 'must see / do list' Remember you are in a National Park, so you must get a parking pass for the park...or you WILL get a ticket. Luckily... we came by bus tour. No cars to worry about. The staff at the Lake are amazing from the moment you arrive. You can hike trails, rent canoes or kayaks or take the boat ride. Dress warmly, as it gets cold in the winter months and the water is NEVER warm! Our wonderful guide made sure to explain that to us. There was a nice vibe between the crew and visitors. Another nice piece to this trip. This was simply relaxing and what else could you be looking for on a vacation than to do something that puts a smile on your face and allows you to sit back and relax. It was nice to stand outside the back of the boat and enjoy the view. Their only restriction was to keep the count no higher than eight. Even with a full boat it worked out just fine. I can't recommend this delightful boat tour enough and encourage all to take it if time permits. KUDOs to the team at theLake Minnewanka Cruise

I think i expected more of a speed boat than a tour boat when I booked it so was a bit…read moredisappointed, but it wasn't a bad way to spend an hour. Lake Minnewanka is beautiful and we took this cruise on the most gorgeous day. We had 8 people on our boat tour, which seemed to be less than usual. Our tour guide told us all about the lake and some fun banff stories for about 30-40 minutes, then we stopped for about 5-10 min to take pics on the deck and then rode back in silence. It was a beautiful hour on the lake, but i found myself wishing we used that time to walk around town or do another hike instead. We were told parking at Lake Minnewanka is impossible (like all parts of Banff), but we did get pretty lucky with a spot right away. We also ate lunch at their snack shack which wasn't anything special (hot dog for me and a ginormous slice of pizza for my husband), but convenient. Overall, a fine experience since the weather was so gorgeous, but not one I'd repeat if back in Banff.

So much fun! I was in Banff with my running group and they booked a few excursions for us. After…read moreexploring the Town of Banff, we walked over here to the Canoe Club to load up in one of their canoes for the afternoon. The Banff Canoe Club rents canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards. They operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. Their rates are affordable and they are conveniently located on the edge of town by Bow Ave. After some brief instructions, a group of us headed out on the beautiful Bow River. The ride was peaceful and we had amazing views of Mount Rundle and other surrounding mountains on our three hour trip. We also saw some wildlife along the way. Our guide was great at giving us a history lesson about Banff National Park and all of the landmarks that we were seeing. Banff Canoe Club supplies you with everything that you need for the ride. I had a blast and highly recommend this company if you are visiting Banff and looking for some outdoor fun.

Located on the Bow river just outside of downtown Banff, this is probably the most convenient and…read moreaffordable rental place in Banff national park. They offer canoe and kayak rentals and tours. We rented a kayak and explored the Bow river, Echo Creek and Vermillion lakes for hours. Personally prefer this much more to waiting in long lines or crammed with other tourists at spots like Lake Louise or Moraine lake.

My wife and I had an excellent experience for her birthday with Claude and Stacey at Kananaskis…read moreOutfitters. Great conditions and ideal temperatures. Even though the stargazing conditions were somewhat at risk, they turned out great! The conversations was amazing for all of the group and Claude and Stacey's knowledge and explanations were top notch. I will be recommending to friends, family and clients.

Kananaskis Outfitters is one of the only companies that rents canoes in the area on site rather…read morethan for self-transport. Since we do not have a roof rack, this was a must. You can find them in the Barrier Lake parking lot starting at 10am until 6pm every day renting out canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Getting there early is a must. All items are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. We got there at 9:30am on a Tuesday morning and there were already two groups ahead of us in line. The rental fee for a canoe also includes paddles and lifejackets. Everything is cleaned between customers and the boat was in good repair. My only complaint in regards to safety was ironically with the safety discussion. The staff member decided to give a group talk rather than one-by-one which was fine but she encouraged us all to group up close. There were more than 20 people present and some of them were not respectful of social distancing. I ended up having to move a fair distance away to feel safe.

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.

This was SO MUCH fun. Unbelievable scenery. The guides were totally fantastic. The dogs are super…read morecute and loveable.

BE AWARE - DISHONEST BUSINESS OWNER!!! Received a call at 6:30am the morning of our schedule…read morefishing trip with Anders of Banff Fishing Unlimited. He said the trip was being cancelled due to weather, which seemed very strange because we were only 20 minutes away in Banff Springs and it was a spectacular day with the sun coming up, still air and a perfect weather forecast. He actually said "there are white caps and the waves are crashing over the dock and it was too dangerous". We decided to take a ride up to Lake Minnewanka since we were all dressed and showered. We discovered that there was no such weather problems and that all the other boats were out on the lake catching fish . See photo of my 3 boys and how perfect the lake was. The weather was flawless! This was extremely disappointing as it was my birthday and I was on vacation with my family and the boys were all looking forward to fishing. As a business owner, I understand things happen out of your control, but fabricating a story because your employee never showed up for work is NOT OK! Ruing my birthday and disappointing my kids (we all went to be early the night before) is unacceptable.

We woke up at 7 AM and were at the Lake Minnewanka dock by 8 AM filled with some Tim Horton's…read morecoffee and breakfast sandwiches. I found Banff Fishing Unlimited online and booked a private 4-hour charter for $400. Our fishing guide was a boisterous Alberta native that has been fishing on Lake Minnewanka for over 30 years. The views were gorgeous and the boat itself was roomy, perfect for fishing. We moved to a few different spots all the while spotting some male rams and a bald eagle. You could tell our guide really knew what he was doing. We caught 5 whitefish each (10 total). The national park allows you to keep only trout (not sure why you can't keep whitefish, really wish I'd asked) so we had to release all our whitefish but it was still a great experience. We are beginner fishermen and had an absolute blast. To read more about our adventures, visit Type A Travel blog.

We put personal floatation devices on and 15 of us got on each raft and floated down the Bow River…read morefor an hour. The men were very clear, competent, helpful & personable. The rafts were very comfortable, slow moving, and we remained dry. It was a sunny breezy beautiful 80° day. The water is glacier fed and about 35°. We passed hoodoo's and fabulous rock formations on the banks of the river. The landscape was spectacular!

This was an enjoyable experience. For those looking for some blood pumping excitement of class 3 or…read more4 rapids or some super crazy "wild adventurous rapids that are super fun but makes you think you can possibly die" class 4 or 5 rapids, this isn't for you. However, if you're okay with a float and chill peaceful informative experience where you have the opportunity to view the Bow River from a different perspective, see the Banff Springs Hotel, Mt. Rundle and some other cool mountains from various viewpoints as well as some hoodoos without having to hike to them in Banff, this is right up your alley! It's perfect for all ages from the young up through the seniors. While I have experienced class 3-5 rapids and enjoyed it, this class 1 rafting was very welcoming. It's a very peaceful trip that encompasses information about the wildlife, the landscape and history of the area. Our guide, Andrew ( I think that's his name) was awesome, informative and very entertaining. He was hilarious and laidback which added to the experience. Because it's a calm float, waterproof/water resistant clothing or shoes aren't required. Just wear comfortable clothing (specifically shorts or pants depending on the weather). There is no guarantee of seeing wildlife on this tour, nor is it advertised as a wildlife sightseeing tour. But, if you do - consider yourself blessed. They have all the info you need on their website. If your question is unanswered they are highly responsive via phone or email. The entire trip from start to finish is an hour. After the raft portion is complete, you are transported back to the starting point via bus. If you're worried about the depths of the river, it only ranges from 5 inches to 5 feet max in depth (don't quote me on those exact depths) per our guide. There were some super shallow portions. The guide is the only person that is paddling, so you're free to enjoy the views without worry. Since there is no shade, be sure to wear sunglasses, a hat and some sunscreen. Of course, if you feel like your guide did an outstanding job feel free to tip!

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Lake Louise and Lake Moraine with YaNNick (with two N's)! Very…read morereasonably priced and well worth every penny. You will learn so much more than don't ng your own research.Very informative with interesting facts, best parking spot in the whole park at Lake Louis (he knows people). Willing to answer our typical tourist questions, and told us so much about the area. He even overlooked the fact that I accidentally got my feet in the lake! Thank you, "Johnny"!

Our family had a lovely horse drawn sleigh ride experience in Alberta here near Kananaskis outside…read morethe Banff area. The ride is about 30 minutes but went by quickly - we were given two blankets each one to sit on to stay warm and a second to cover us up. You can for easily 4 adults across in a row (maybe 6 rows?) - very charming and peaceful ride into the snowy woods! When we returned we had hot coffee and hot chocolates waiting for us! Definitely a must for any families or couples!

Came here for a 2 hour trail ride with my family. It was one of my favorite activities while…read morevisiting Canada for the holiday. We were a party of 4 and went with another group of two. They assigned us to our horses and gave us instructions on how to direct our horses and hold the reigns. I'm a first time horse rider and was nervous, but once we started I got more comfortable and enjoyed it! The trail was a little muddy and goes up and down hills but it's amazing to see what these horses can do. The views were breathtaking and the weather was perfect. Chloe, our leader on the ride, was great. I appreciated that she made sure to have us stop for photos. I would definitely come back. Your butt might be sore afterwards :)

We had a terrible experience with Discover Banff Tours and would never book through them again…read more We booked a dog sledding excursion for 6 people, including our family and our friends visiting from San Diego. We paid nearly $1,400 in full for 2 sleds, submitted all required guest information right away (weights, ages, etc.), and even received an email confirming that everything had been received and that we were fully confirmed for Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Then on Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the excursion, they called asking for the same information all over again. We told them we had already submitted it and had the confirmation email to prove it. After putting us on hold, they came back and admitted there had been a miscommunication on their end and that the person who handled our booking failed to enter our information properly. Because of their mistake, our reservation was given away to someone else. So after taking our money, confirming our booking, and making us think everything was locked in, they left us with no dog sledding tour and no real solution on the only day that worked for our group. They did offer us Friday, but that did absolutely nothing for us because we leave Thursday and our friends fly home Wednesday. That is exactly why we booked this in advance the previous Friday. The kids were already excited for this experience, and we were left scrambling at the last minute trying to find another company because of their mistake. The only thing they could really offer was a refund or to push other excursions we had no interest in. That's not customer service -- that's damage control after they failed to do their job correctly. This was extremely unprofessional, careless, and a huge inconvenience during a family trip. Avoid the middleman and book directly with the actual dog sledding companies.

We had a terrible experience with Discover Banff Tours and would never book through them again…read more We booked a dog sledding excursion for 6 people, including our family and our friends visiting from San Diego. We paid nearly $1,400 in full for 2 sleds, submitted all required guest information right away (weights, ages, etc.), and even received an email confirming that everything had been received and that we were fully confirmed for Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Then on Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the excursion, they called asking for the same information all over again. We told them we had already submitted it and had the confirmation email to prove it. After putting us on hold, they came back and admitted there had been a miscommunication on their end and that the person who handled our booking failed to enter our information properly. Because of their mistake, our reservation was given away to someone else. So after taking our money, confirming our booking, and making us think everything was locked in, they left us with no dog sledding tour and no real solution on the only day that worked for our group. They did offer us Friday, but that did absolutely nothing for us because we leave Thursday and our friends fly home Wednesday. That is exactly why we booked this in advance the previous Friday. The kids were already excited for this experience, and we were left scrambling at the last minute trying to find another company because of their mistake. The only thing they could really offer was a refund or to push other excursions we had no interest in. That's not customer service -- that's damage control after they failed to do their job correctly. This was extremely unprofessional, careless, and a huge inconvenience during a family trip. Avoid the middleman and book directly with the actual dog sledding companies.