Banff Tour with Gondola & Lake Cruise - roundtrip from Banff

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Banff, Canada

6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Get a quick immersion in the stunning environment surrounding the city of Banff on this tour. Discover natural attractions like the hoodoos, strange rock pillars twisted by millions of years of wind, and take in fantastic views on a Banff Gondola ride up to Sulphur Mountain. You can also upgrade to include a cruise on placid Lake Minnewanka. This Banff sightseeing tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off.

Take a ride on the Banff Gondola up to the top of Sulphur Mountain at an elevation of 7,486 feet (2,281 meters)
Travel along Tunnel Mountain Drive to see Cascade Mountain, Mt Rundle and Bow Falls
Upgrade your tour to include a cruise on Lake Minnewanka
Round-trip transport from Banff hotels included

What's Included

Banff Gondola
Lake cruise (starting mid May)
Pickup and/or drop-off at multiple locations
Air-conditioned vehicle
Local taxes

Gratuities
Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Fairmont Banff Springs 8:05 am pickup Banff Caribou Lodge 8:05 am pickup Elk + Avenue Hotel 8:15 am pickup

Operating hours
.8:30 am

Itinerary

This tour of the spectacular natural landscape surrounding the city of Banff is the perfect introduction to this famous Canadian resort town and Banff National Park.

Begin your tour with hotel pickup, and then proceed along to Sulphur Mountain. Here you will make an ascent to the top of Sulphur Mountain aboard the Banff Gondola, which ferries passengers to the peak of the 7,486-foot (2,281-meter) mountain. Snap a few photos and then head back down. Next continue to Tunnel Mountain Drive, where you can enjoy views of the town, Mount Rundle, Cascade Mountain and Bow Falls. Along the way, you’ll also have a chance to view the hoodoos, a series of interesting rock pillars shaped by countless years of wind and water.

End your day at Two Jack Viewpoint and Lake Minnewanka, and then head back down the mountain for drop-off at your hotel.

Optional upgrade:If you’d like to continue the fun, select the tour option that includes a cruise on nearby Lake Minnewanka.

Brewster Sightseeing (Pass By)

Banff Gondola

1 hour 20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sulphur Mountain (Pass By)

Bow Falls (Pass By)

Tunnel Mountain Drive (Pass By)

Lake Minnewanka

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Infants must sit on laps
Duration ranges from 4.5 hours to 6 hours
Prior to your travel date, your hotel details must be provided to the local tour operator so they may arrange your pickup. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will be required to call and advise them of this information directly. The contact details will be on your voucher once you have a confirmed booking

Not wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 52 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

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Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Mary_R

It's not cheap, but it's worth it. The trip is laid out well, and it gives you a good feel and lay of the land in Banff. The Gondola was great- even though I don't like heights. The view was quite something. The boat tour was informative and interesting. Our guide Kirsty was fantastic! As we're our two guides on the bus- Dustin and Andrew. Lunch was pleasant. Good variety for the small buffet. It would be nice to have "real" baked good for dessert though. Not mass produced ones.

Reviews

4.7

based on 168 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Fun Tour

Micki_F, Sep 2025

We saw a lot of sites we would not have seen solo and had great guides that were very knowledgeable and patient

Super

Franca_Y, Sep 2025

Smooth transitions. Great excursion. If you’re lucky you will get Mike the driver- an actual local. The gondola and cruise were fantastic

Good tour, despite poor advance communication

anita_r, Sep 2025

Brewster was unresponsive (I was on hold for 2 hours before finally getting a call back) and Viator was unhelpful in answering questions. The tour operator and Viator should provide an itinerary of the tour in advance. Conflicting information was provided regarding departure time from the meeting point as well as lunch plans. While the tour description says no food/drink provided, a full lunch buffet actually was provided. All this aside, Ben and Andrew were great tour hosts and I’d recommend them for future tour opportunities.

Great way to kick off your stay in Banff!

Jason_K, Sep 2025

Bus tour that starts in Banff, works through a few local sites (drive by castle, stop at garden) then winds out to the gondola, plenty of time to take boardwalk to weather station for epic views, food/coffee/gifts at the top of Sulphur MT. Then a stop for lunch before heading to Lake Minnewanka for a 1.5 hour cruise. Ben the bus driver, Andrew the guide, Kenji the captain, and Hayden the boat guide were all amazing! Back to Banff by 4pm.

Worth it.

Mary_R, Sep 2025

The tour pretty much...

Malick_G, Jul 2025

The tour pretty much covered the Banff and the narration by Mike & Jack was wonderful. Both of them were really caring

Fabulous experience!

Debbie_G, Jul 2025

Highly recommended with fun surprises at each turn😄 Gondola experience was beyond expectations and boat tour so interesting and fun! Sam and driver were just the BEST! McKenzie and Jenna made Minnetanka a perfect delight.

One item too many.

Nick_D, Jun 2025

It’s a long day and the boat ride just wasn’t needed really. There was a fair amount of padding to make it a full day tour

Frighteningly invigorating and stunning

MarieAnne_B, Oct 2024

First time on a gondola this size. It was frighteningly invigorating. Staff were extremely patient, helpful and friendly.

Great Banff area tour

Marilyn_K, Sep 2024

The gondola was exciting. Walking/climbing to the weather station was a must-do. The view was beautiful. Boat cruise was nice. Captain was humorous. The Viator website for this Brewster tour said food was not included, but we had a pleasant, filling buffet. Unfortunately we took sandwiches which ultimately needed to be discarded. Might want to correct this information. Our bus driver, Michael, was a good driver, was very friendly and attentive, and his narration was excellent. Fun to share time with. Taylor was a fun person; helpful and friendly. She's good at her job too. Overall, I and my two adult daughters enjoyed this tour very much.

Gondola

Bradley_C, Sep 2024

The entire tour was excellent. Our driver Colin and host Grace were awesome. Great experience. Would reccomend this tour.

Perfect Day.

Stanley_B, Sep 2024

The tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The lunch was good and we even got tea and cookies. It was a really nice day!

Perfect tour!

Paul_A, Sep 2024

Perfect tour from beginning to end! The experience and lasting impression was well worth the money. Bus guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Boat tour guide made the lake tour fun and meaningful. Lunch was delicious! Highly recommend.

Beginner activities

KIKAOSEH_A, Sep 2024

I had a lot of fun. Recommend if you have no idea of activities to do in Banff. It is a bit pricey so be sure it's what you want.

Truly wonderful

Diana_O, Sep 2024

The tour host and driver were very knowledgeable and entertaining. Highlight of trip was seeing a Bear

Great Mountain Views!

Peter_W, Aug 2024

Great ride up Sulphur Mountain in the gondola with fantastic views around Banff. Interesting tour guide and driver comments on Banff and its history.

Well balanced trip with awesome scenery

Ian_C, Aug 2024

Excellent trip from start to finish with driver and guide full of useful information as we went along. The format from Cascade gardens through the gondola / water fall and lake cruise was well balanced and we never felt rushed. Good lunch too.

Gondola Tour

NancyJ_T, Aug 2024

Lake tour was not impressive. Some members fell asleep. Gondola was great! Beautiful views seen on the Gondola.

Visitor web site incorrect

Heather_S, Aug 2024

The tour was very good however on the Viator web site it said lunch and gratuity not included. This was incorrect as we found out after preparing the previous day a non perishable lunch. Morning tea and a cater included lunch were provided. We had to dispose of the food we had bought due to being on tour and no room to carry with us. Please update your Viator site!

Gondola and boat ride.

andrea_t, Aug 2024

Great tour. Guide , Geo and bus driver, Nas, were excellent!! Great lunch too. Skip the driving and search for parking places!

Could Have been Better

Gary_H, Aug 2024

Overall not recommended: 1. Scheduled day of excursion, we were in lobby of hotel waiting for our pickup. Tour Guide arrived, walked passed and did not ask who she was looking for. Went to the hotel desk and called our room. As we weren't in the room, tour guide simply left. We had to completely change our schedule for the next few days as we were left behind. 2. Excursion was ok, however, the gondola is something that could have been arranged via public transportation. Lake cruise was pretty bland.

Great day!!!

Peggy_W, Aug 2024

Great day!!! Learned a lot about what we were seeing too! Loved the gondola ride and the waterfall and the Lake Minnewanka boat ride! Well worth it!!!

Worth it

Pil_H, Aug 2024

Lake Minnewanka was worth the trip. Staff are helpful. You can beat the crowds when you take the early time slot

Best tour!

Thomas_B, Jul 2024

Awesome tour! John, our driver, and Sam, our guide were fun, informative, knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic tour of Banff, the Gondola, the Hoodoos, and Lake Minnewanka. Highly recommend!

The guides were excellent...

Ronald_F, Jul 2024

The guides were excellent as was the entire excursion. Very professional. I highly recommend Brewster Tours. 5 stars

Great tour around Banff

Nicole_K, Jul 2024

Great day exploring the town of Banff, the lake and lunch was included (standard buffet with hot food options). Driver & host were lovely and provided a lot of good information about Banff and the surrounding areas

Beautiful

Debra_C, Jul 2024

Enjoyed the gondola and time to explore, followed by sites and information around Banff. Very good included lunch. Ending with Lake cruise on Minnewonka. Guides were excellent. Mark and Hannah

Just enjoy yourself...but remember.....the company doesn't control the weather.

Steven_H, Jun 2024

What a great day!! Alex and Ciaran where quite the double act ....... was expecting a two stop trip but they gave us so much more. Coffee stop in the admin hall gardens, several photo stops and so much local information I felt I should have taken note. Plus those fun but oh so cheesy jokes.

Glorious Banff

Maureen_M, Jun 2024

Andy and Riley were very good. Knowledgeable and helpful. The tour of Banff was really interesting and the gondola was well worth a visit. We were blessed with a glorious day. As we did not realise lunch was included that was an added bonus.