Banff Highlights & Wildlife | Award-Winning Small Group Adventure
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Banff, Canada
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Up your odds of seeing Banff’s best wildlife with this small-group tour. Your guide, knowledgeable about the area, will follow the most recent wildlife sightings and customize the itinerary to meet your needs, taking you to the most active nature spots. You might spot bears, coyotes, elk, bighorn sheep, foxes, and more. That's if you can draw your eyes away from the mountain vistas along the way.
- Explore Banff's Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake by private minibus
- With your guide, up your odds of seeing bears, foxes, coyotes, and so much more
- Enjoy upscale modern transportation with large panoramic windows, perfect for safe wildlife viewing and photography.
- Have a personalized experience in a capped-group
What's Included
- Small group guarantee (Max 12 guests)
- Upscale, modern & spacious transportation with large panoramic windows
- Water refills (please BYO water bottle)
- Pick up and drop off at the Banff Train Station
- Dusk/sunset tour time to escape the crowds and maximize chances of seeing wildlife!
- Complimentary hot chocolate, tea or coffee at a stunning viewpoint (winter only)
- Expert local guides
- Hotel Pick ups in Banff
- Guide gratuities (not mandatory but greatly appreciated)
- To inquire about adding the Banff Gondola please contact Radventures before booking
- Park Pass
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pickup times may shift by 5 to 10 minutes depending on group size, so please be ready a little early. To keep your day running smoothly, be sure to select your pickup location before the tour. We can only collect guests from a confirmed pickup point.
Itinerary
Banff National Park (Pass By)
1
Mount Norquay Road
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Lake Minnewanka
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Hoodoos Trail
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Surprise Corner
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Bow Falls
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Children 8 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
- Call 4034939556 for any questions.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Evagelia_B
This tour is a must do if you are in Banff! We had Taylor as our guide and he was great. He mentioned he’s been doing tours for over a decade and with the amount of knowledge he had it was clear!
This tour takes you to a few different locations in search of wildlife, but you get to enjoy the views as well. Some of the highlights were Bow Falls and the Norquay outlook.
When it comes to wildlife we saw a coyote in a field and over 60 elk!! It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.
This tour was unforgettable and something I recommend to anyone who is in town!
Reviews
4.7
based on 860 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Tana_S, Jun 2026
Our tour guide Emily was bubbly and informative giving us lots of interesting facts. We seen an abundance of wildlife and stunning views. Great way to see the area around Banff.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Emily's got that bubbly thing down to an art form. Glad the wildlife showed up and the views did their thing too. Great way to spend a day, agreed.
LAURENCE_J, Jun 2026
Good experience. The guide was really friendly and knowledgeable. We were lucky with an early sighting of a bear. Lots of long-horn sheep. And towards the end some elf from a distance and deer. The stopping spots and views were good regardless of whether we saw animals in all locations or not. I'd recommend taking the tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the recommendation! An early bear sighting alongside plenty of longhorn sheep, elk and deer is a great result, and we're so glad the stopping spots and views delivered regardless of whether every location had wildlife on show. We'd love to welcome you back for another good experience soon!
Susan_F, Jun 2026
Very informative tour guide. Saw lots of wildlife. A great experience I would recommend it to anyone that loves wildlife
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the great recommendation! Lots of wildlife and an informative guide is a brilliant combination and we're so glad it made for such a great experience. We'd love to welcome you back for another adventure in the Rockies soon!
David_T, Jun 2026
We had a great time with Emily and found a lot of wildlife including bears, elk, deer, long horned sheep and mountain goats. We also got to see plenty of the Banff scenery.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much! What a wildlife lineup, bears, elk, deer, longhorn sheep and mountain goats all in one outing is a truly brilliant result. We're so glad Emily made it such a great time and that the Banff scenery delivered alongside the wildlife. We'd love to welcome you back for more adventures soon!
Alison_M, Jun 2026
It was amazing. I would highly recommend this excursion. We saw a mom bear with her cubs, elk, goats, and squirrels.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much! A mom bear with cubs, elk, goats and squirrels is a fantastic wildlife outing and we are so glad it was such an amazing experience. We'd love to welcome you back for more adventures in Banff soon!
Denna_L, Jun 2026
Excellent experience. Very knowledgeable guides! Saw amazing scenery and the guides went way above and beyond to stop to see wildlife. This experience was definitely worth doing.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much! Going above and beyond to stop for wildlife sightings is something our guides genuinely love to do and it is wonderful to hear it made such a difference to your experience. Stunning scenery and a team that really cares, that is exactly what we aim to deliver every time. We'd love to welcome you back again soon!
Lucy_D, Jun 2026
The guides were lovely and sweet and had so much knowledge about the area and its wildlife, as well as some amazing stories. They took the time to show us hidden gems as well as assist people with mobility issues. Was my favourite and most personal feeling tour in Banff
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! Making every guest feel genuinely looked after, including those with mobility needs, is something we care deeply about and it is so lovely to hear it came through so clearly. Hidden gems, amazing stories and that personal feeling that sets a small group tour apart from the rest, that is exactly what we set out to create every single time. We'd love to welcome you back for another favourite Banff experience soon!
Patricia_M, Jun 2026
Georgia was wonderful and very informative. She did a great and personal outstanding job showing us around. Very patient and helped amazingly to find wildlife.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much! Georgia's patience and personal approach to every tour are what make her such a wonderful guide, and we're so glad it came through so clearly for you. We'd love to welcome you back to explore more of Banff's wildlife and scenery again soon!
Iain_C, Jun 2026
This was a great tour with our driver/guide Bea who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic throughout the entire evening as we made our way around the outskirts of Banff looking for wildlife in the minivan.
We also stopped at various points and Bea was able to talk about each the area.
Although we did not see any bears we saw plenty of other wildlife including elk, deer, sheep etc
Overall a fantastic tour with Bea
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for this fantastic review! B's enthusiasm and knowledge really do make every mile of the tour worthwhile and we're so glad it came through so clearly throughout the evening. The bears were keeping themselves to themselves on this occasion but elk, deer and sheep is still a great result! We'd love to welcome you back for another adventure in Banff soon, bears next time!
Janet_W, Jun 2026
Julia and Nolan were warm and friendly. They took us to beautiful sites and we were able to see lots of wildlife, including Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Mule Deer, White Tail Deer and Red Squirrel. They gave very interesting information along the way and made sure we were all comfortable. I highly recommend this adventure.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful recommendation! Bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white tail deer and a red squirrel is a brilliant wildlife lineup and we love that Julia and Nolan made everyone feel comfortable and well looked after throughout. We'll make sure they both see your kind words and we'd love to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Sally_J, Jun 2026
Excellent guide and evening seeing animals and great sights. Very knowledgeable on top places to visit
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much! A great evening of wildlife and stunning sights with a knowledgeable guide is exactly what we set out to deliver every time. We'd love to welcome you back to Banff again soon!
Saffron_S, Jun 2026
Had such a good time doing the wildlife tour with Max! He was incredibly knowledgeable and kept things fun and entertaining the whole time. We managed to see a great range of wildlife and beautiful Banff locations.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much! Max has a real gift for keeping things fun and engaging while packing in a huge amount of knowledge, and we're so glad that came through for you. A great range of wildlife and beautiful Banff locations is exactly what we aim for on every tour. We'd love to welcome you back again soon!
Brandy_C, Jun 2026
Aaron was a fantastic guide! We saw a bear and two cubs, big horn sheep, elk, deer, and some small animals. He was very funny and full of great information. We highly recommend the tour!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the fantastic review! A bear with two cubs, bighorn sheep, elk and deer all in one evening with Aaron keeping everyone entertained throughout, that is a seriously impressive outing. His ability to combine genuine knowledge with great humour is what makes his tours so memorable and we're so glad it delivered for you. We'd love to welcome you back again soon!
Claudia_N, Jun 2026
We were lucky to see every animal, but the high light of the trip was our guide James.
James was so knowledgeable and obviously loves his job.
Would recommend 10/10
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Every animal AND James as your guide, that's a perfect outing right there! 😄 Thank you so much for the 10/10, James will be absolutely thrilled to hear he was the highlight. His love for what he does really does shine through on every tour and we're so glad it made such an impression. We'd love to welcome you back again soon!
Darren_T, Jun 2026
Unfortunately we found little to no of wildlife - probably not the fault of anyone as it was a bitterly cold and wet night so maybe the wild life was trying it stay dry and warm in the forests and not roadside.
Our tour guide Gareth was awesome and tried his best to find wildlife and keep us entertained. 100 out of 100 to him.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
100 out of 100, we'll take that on a bitterly cold and wet night! 😄 You're spot on, the wildlife were almost certainly tucked away somewhere far warmer and drier than the roadside, and we can't blame them! What matters on those nights is the guide, and we're so glad Gareth kept spirits high and made it an entertaining evening regardless of the conditions. That's a mark of a truly great guide. We'd love to welcome you back on a kinder night to see what Banff's wildlife really has to offer!
garyklabunde, May 2026
Our guide Simon was friendly and knowledgeable of both the local area and wildlife. His love of nature was apparent and infectious.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for such a lovely review! Simon's love of nature really is infectious, it's one of those things that transforms a tour from a sightseeing trip into a genuine connection with the landscape and its wildlife. We're so glad it came through so clearly for you and hope to welcome you back to Banff again soon!
Fiona_K, May 2026
Great tour really friendly and very informative amazing sites and lots of wildlife great spots for photos
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much, sounds like a brilliant outing all round! Friendly guides, great wildlife and the best spots for photos, that's exactly what we love to hear. We hope to welcome you back to Banff again soon!
Aaron_N, May 2026
We had a lot of fun. We didn't see a lot of animals on that particular day (cold and snowy), but our guide was great and we saw some beautiful country side. We'd do it again.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, and we love the attitude! Cold and snowy days in the Rockies come with their own kind of magic, and we're so glad the scenery delivered even if the wildlife were keeping warm somewhere. A great guide and beautiful countryside, that's a solid foundation for a great outing regardless. We'd love to have you back on a warmer day to see what else Banff has up its sleeve!
Susan_D, May 2026
A most enjoyable evening with our guide, Aaron. After a weekend of snow, rain and cold, we were grateful for a sunny evening to get a fabulous view of the mountains surrounding Banff. Spotted whitetail and mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep (ewes and young adults) just off Mt. Norquay Road. It was a great way to see some of the real “locals” in such beautiful settings. Aaron also shared some of the history of Banff as we viewed the Fairmont Banff Springs from a distance at “Surprise Corner”, the golf course in town, and people who have been in the area for thousands of years and the European settlers who came less than 200 years ago. The small group size was very nice as well.
Response from Host, May 2026
What a wonderful and detailed review, thank you so much! A sunny evening after a weekend of snow and rain in Banff is a real treat, and it sounds like the Rockies rewarded you beautifully. Whitetail and mule deer, elk and bighorn sheep just off Mt. Norquay Road is a fantastic haul, and we love that Aaron wove in the rich human history of the area alongside the wildlife, from the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home for thousands of years to the European settlers and iconic landmarks like the Fairmont Banff Springs at Surprise Corner. That layered storytelling is what makes his tours so memorable. The small group size making it all the more personal, exactly as it should be. We'd love to welcome you back again soon!
Darcy_B, May 2026
We saw so many animals and our tour guide Gareth was so nice, welcoming, knowledgeable, and made the trip even better! Lots of beautiful stops. Perfect tour!
Response from Host, May 2026
Perfect tour — we'll take that! 😄 Thank you so much. So many animals, beautiful stops and a guide who makes everyone feel genuinely welcome, that's exactly the experience we set out to create every single day. Gareth will be so happy to read this. We hope to welcome you back to Banff again soon!
Linda_G, May 2026
We saw a black bear within 5 minutes of our tour. Also saw many elk, deer, ravens, loons and a coyote hunting a ground squirrel (fortunately he missed). Our guide, Gareth, was very good.
Response from Host, May 2026
A black bear within five minutes, what a way to start a tour! 🐻 And a coyote vs. ground squirrel standoff where the squirrel came out on top, Banff wildlife really does have a flair for the dramatic. 😄 Elk, deer, ravens, loons and a coyote all in one outing is an exceptional list. We're glad Gareth was there to make the most of every sighting. We hope to welcome you back for another wildlife-packed adventure soon!
TeresaK_H, May 2026
Fantastic evening tour, company was very efficient from booking to tour itself. Guide - Aaron was brilliant with a good sense of humour, very knowledgeable. Went out of his way to make the tour a success. We saw elk sheep deer chipmunk . The scenery was wonderful
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled the whole experience felt seamless from start to finish, and Aaron will be absolutely delighted to hear he made such an impression. His humour, knowledge and determination to make every tour the best it can be are exactly what we look for in our guides. Elk, sheep, deer AND a chipmunk, that's a brilliant evening of wildlife watching! 🦜🐿️ We hope to welcome you back for another Banff adventure soon!
Melinda_N, May 2026
Using the site was easy and the chat feature for help worked well. Efficient to book and get reviews
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! We're really glad the booking process was smooth and that the chat support did its job. We hope the experience itself lived up to expectations — we'd love to welcome you back for another adventure in Banff soon! 🏔️
Jordan_J, May 2026
Aaron was amazing, it was his first tour back for the season so he was pumped which just made all the difference. So much to see and he knew some great spots. Really enjoyed our afternoon :)
Response from Host, May 2026
This made us smile so much, thank you! Aaron's energy is infectious at the best of times, and we love that it came through so clearly for you. 😄 There really is something special about sharing the Rockies with someone who genuinely can't wait to be out there. So glad you enjoyed the afternoon and we'd love to welcome you back again soon!
Melanie_L, May 2026
I highly recommend this tour! Our guide Nolan was phenomenal! He had so many fun facts, knew so much about the wildlife and history of Banff, and went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable and happy during the tour. We also had amazing luck with seeing wildlife! We saw a bear, lots of elk and bighorn sheep, loons, and mule and white-tailed deer! Not only did we see a ton of wildlife, but we also got to see some amazing spots in Banff, including Two Jack Lakes, Lake Minnewanka, and beautiful overlooks! We also had access to water and bathrooms during the tour and were able to get out and look around at the different stops, which was great. Highly recommend, and well worth the price!! 3 hours was the perfect length of time to see a lot animals while also not being stuck on a tour all day!
Response from Host, May 2026
What an incredible review, thank you so much!! A bear, elk, bighorn sheep, loons, mule deer AND white-tailed deer all in one afternoon is truly exceptional wildlife watching, and we're so glad Nolan was there to make the most of every sighting. His knowledge, care for guests and ability to find the gems of Banff, like Two Jack Lakes and Lake Minnewanka, is what makes him such a standout guide. We're thrilled the format, pace and practical touches all landed well too. Nolan will be absolutely over the moon to read this. We'd love to welcome you back for more! 🐻🦤🐏
Jeremy_M, May 2026
Liam was an amazing tour guide! He was very knowledgeable on where to find wildlife also had a ton of great facts of the area!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Liam made such a great impression, his passion for local wildlife and the area really does shine through on every tour. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments to him! We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon. 🐾
Lee_R, Apr 2026
Our guide Jeannie was informative, funny and for our trip lucky. The sun shone, we saw elk, mountain sheep, white tail deer and eagle. Sadly the elusive ‘Boss’ remained elusive. Fab afternoon. Recommend to all ages
Response from Host, May 2026
What a fantastic outing, sunshine, elk, mountain sheep, white-tailed deer and an eagle all in one afternoon! Thank you for sharing that with us. Don't worry, the Boss has a habit of keeping everyone on their toes, perhaps he'll make an appearance next time! We'll pass your lovely words along to Gini, who will be delighted to hear she brought the luck with her. Hope to welcome you back soon, all ages very much welcome! 💅🧑👵
Rebecca_B, Apr 2026
Small group, Rae was adaptive to current sightings and ongoing issues (we were informed about the current bear sightings and given good advice on what to do with our own, onward journey.) Rae was fun, knowledgeable and reacted well to the needs of the group. She is also a decent photographer. Would definitely recommend.
We saw Long horned sheep, Elk, White tails and a Golden Eagle.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for such a thoughtful review! Being adaptive to real-time sightings and keeping guests well-informed, especially with practical advice for onward travels, is exactly the kind of experience we want every guest to have. Rae will be thrilled to hear she earned praise for her photography skills too! Longhorn sheep, elk, white-tails and a Golden Eagle is a seriously impressive list. We'd love to welcome you back again, highly appreciated! 🦅
Keith_B, Apr 2026
Tyler was a great guide. Unfortunately there wasn’t a lot of wildlife activity and the weather wasn’t optimal, but he made the best of it and made for an informative and enjoyable tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for your kind words about Tyler, we really appreciate it. You're absolutely right that wildlife and mountain weather have a mind of their own sometimes, and we're sorry the conditions weren't on their best behaviour on your day! We're glad Tyler was able to make it informative and enjoyable regardless, that's a real mark of a great guide. We'd love the chance to welcome you back on a future visit and hopefully treat you to the full Banff experience!
Teresa_M, Apr 2026
We went to a lot of places surrounding the area of Banff. Our guide, Tyler, was very knowledgable and friendly. We had plenty of time to take pictures and explore each area before we went onto the next area.. Another highlight was getting hot chocolate because it was a cool day. We did not expect that on the tour and it was a very pleasant surprise. It was good value for the money we spent on the tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for such a lovely review! We're so glad Tyler made the day enjoyable and that there was plenty of time to soak in each spot, we really believe rushing between locations does the Rockies a disservice! And we love that the hot chocolate came as a surprise, a warm drink on a crisp Banff day is hard to beat. ☕ We're glad it felt like great value and hope to welcome you back for another adventure with us soon!
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