The Hidden Gems Day Trip: Marble Canyon, Johnston Canyon & more
Badge of Excellence
Calgary, Canada
- 8 to 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Spend a delightful day exploring the sights of Banff National Park on this full-day trip. A great way to squeeze in visits to all the sights and natural wonders around Banff, including Marble and Johnston Canyons, without having to worry about organizing your own transport. Your guide can help you gain a deeper understanding of these phenomenal landscapes.
- Discover the beauty of Banff National Park on a day trip
- Choose pickup from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff
- See natural wonders like Bow Falls and Johnston Canyon
- Includes transportation, national park fees, and tour guide
What's Included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional Driver / Tour Guide : English
- National Park Pass ( May 1 - Jun 18 and Sep 8 - Oct 12, 2026)
- Meals & All Personal Expenses such as laundry, phone & travel insurance.
- Any additional expenses due to force majeure factors.
- Tips are greatly appreciated
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Banff National Park
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Johnston Canyon
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Marble Canyon
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Bow Falls
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Surprise Corner
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Lake Minnewanka
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Two Jack Lake
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Banff Avenue
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Arrival time in Banff may vary depending on schedule, traffic and weather conditions.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 55 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
Naghman_M
Ahmed was an excellent tour guide . He was courteous, informative and enthusiastic. He kept us entertained for the entire trip. Amazing photographer ! The views were breathtaking . The Johnston canyon had amazing waterfalls and waterways. Marble canyons scenery and water gave us a great experience . We captured beautiful photos here with Ahmed’s help. 2 jack lake was lively and was one of our favorite stops . We will definitely be returning and hope to see our tour guide again. Thank you for the great day …….. a note to the tour company . Please schedule your timings based on the season and population of tourism . Schedule at Johnston canyon was tight and we would have like to stay longer . We had a small group so our tour guide was able to make up for lost time and was very efficient . Larger groups may have a harder time here .
Reviews
4.4
based on 63 reviews
MaryJ_W, Oct 2025
Plan to enjoy enjoy very good food along with the great views from the train ride! Wear stretch pants! Have the camera ready at any moment. Things pop up unexpectedly and the views are memorable!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello MaryJ,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the views and the food on your trip. Great advice about the camera and stretch pants!
Hope to welcome you aboard again soon.
Kind regards,
The Westar Travel Team
Nicolette_C, Sep 2025
All of the places are stunning and beautiful but the itinerary was not followed due to the tour being late from the morning and the rest of the tours were deducted time. Lunch was supposed to be 1.5 hrs but reduced to 1hr and the rest of the tours were deducted 5 mins each so we only stayed 10 mins per lake which is very very short
Carl_B, Sep 2025
Ahmed was a very informative and entertaining guide. All our stops were awesome. We definitely would use or recommend in the future.
Patricia_E, Sep 2025
We had a really great tour day with Bryce. He had great information and stories to share with us the whole day. We learned a lot and saw amazing views at all stops. Incredible day, highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear Patricia,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great tour day with Bryce. It's fantastic to know that his stories and knowledge added so much to your experience, and that you enjoyed the incredible views at each stop.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and are so glad we could be part of a memorable day. We hope to welcome you on another adventure with Westar Travel in the future!
Warm regards,
The Westar Travel Team
Jonathan_L, Aug 2025
This tour is very thorough and takes you to a lot of places in Banff if it is your first time. The tour guide was very professional, knowledgeable and polite. I was able to take great pictures while both in the tour vehicle and at the destinations.
What I thought could be improved was I was told the pickup spot would be outside a specific hotel and when I went there nobody was waiting there because they had already picked up other people from somewhere else. If pick up at your hotel was an option I should have been told that clearly. The Johnston Canyon section of the tour was cut short and required more time allocated to it to explore the cave considering the long line-up there.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Hello Jonathan,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and were able to capture some great photos along the way. It's wonderful to know our guide made a positive impression with their professionalism and knowledge.
We also really appreciate your feedback about the pickup location and the Johnston Canyon stop. We're sorry for any confusion regarding the pickup — clear communication is important to us, and we’ll be reviewing this to ensure instructions are as accurate and helpful as possible. We also understand how popular the cave at Johnston Canyon can be, and your suggestion to allow more time there is definitely noted.
Thanks again for joining us — we hope to welcome you back for more exploring in the Rockies!
The Westar Travel Team
Bradley_A, Aug 2025
Had a great day trip experience.Our guide Bryce was very knowledgeable friendly and seemed like he enjoys what he does.We got to see some amazing views. Highly recommend
Naghman_M, Aug 2025
Ahmed was an excellent tour guide . He was courteous, informative and enthusiastic. He kept us entertained for the entire trip. Amazing photographer ! The views were breathtaking . The Johnston canyon had amazing waterfalls and waterways. Marble canyons scenery and water gave us a great experience . We captured beautiful photos here with Ahmed’s help. 2 jack lake was lively and was one of our favorite stops . We will definitely be returning and hope to see our tour guide again. Thank you for the great day …….. a note to the tour company . Please schedule your timings based on the season and population of tourism . Schedule at Johnston canyon was tight and we would have like to stay longer . We had a small group so our tour guide was able to make up for lost time and was very efficient . Larger groups may have a harder time here .
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear Westar Guest,
Thank you very much for leaving such a positive review and the useful feedback!
I'm pleased to share that we have already taken onboard the feedback about timings and increased the time allocated to Johnston Canyon in particular for future groups.
Thank you once again for taking the time to share your comments with us so that we can improve.
Kind regards,
Russell
Rebecca_B, Aug 2025
Amazing!! It was more than we hoped for in the Rockies. Our guide knew all the spots I Lake Morraine
William_V, Jul 2025
Vincente was a fabulous guide. He was very knowledgeable, kind, and considerate to all. We would highly recommend Vincente.
Karen_G, Jul 2025
Punctual, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the tour experiencer far more than we thought we would.
Titilola_A, Jun 2025
This company sold us tickets that was supposed to take us Banff Gondola. It was clearly written on the description of the trip That we were going to pay for that ride but the tour guide would give us 90 minutes to complete the activity. However, the tour guide was given a totally different instruction and we could not get on the cable ride. We were not taken to Gondola. The tour guide offered to get us to Gondola but the company would not commit to getting us home from Banff. It was disappointing.
Cari_L, Jun 2025
Great way to see both lakes and the canyon! We enjoyed our day and Patrick was very helpful. Highly recommend.
arthur_g, Oct 2024
The tour was the best I have ever been on. Simon was great, he introduced himself on Thursday and gave us the meeting place and time. We met with the tour on Friday and we set off to Banff. Simon spoke in English and Mandarin and kept us all informed of all the attractions we drove by. We had timely stops and restroom breaks as we progressed. Banff was great and the attractions we paid for fit the billing. We are really pleased with the tour and will recommend it to friends and family also.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for traveling with Westar Travel, that is really our pleasure to provide you a nice
and memorable trip in the amazing Rockies!
Sankara_D, Aug 2024
This trip was very well organized. Our guide Amber, was very informative and friendly. She is a thorough professional with a very kind and helping nature.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for traveling with us, hope to see you again :)
rkmills, Aug 2024
We were very disappointed in the van. It was dirty, old and my seatbelt was broken. The tour guide was nice and friendly but had a very strong accent so it was hard to understand him. The stops were good and on time but we saw many nice tour vans and ours was by far the worst. We could never recommend this tour as a result.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Dear valued customer,
Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the condition of the van and the broken seatbelt. Your safety and comfort are our priorities.
We're glad you found our guide friendly, but we regret the language barrier. We appreciate your comments and will work to improve our vehicle quality.
Westar Travel.
Adrian_B, Aug 2024
A fantastic tour with Lisa from Westar. Luckily not too hot and not too smokey. Most of the bus had Chinese tourists and it was fun hearing Lisa tell stories in English and Mandarin.
The Banff Gondola was fun but lots of people. Loved the Fairmont In for lunch.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thank you for traveling with us, hope to see you again :)
Jessica_B, Jun 2024
It was the best tour! Michael is the best. Tour guide ever!
The tour was great! Gondola’s experience was awesome.
I didn’t eat in the buffet in the Fairmount hotel, however, we ate in the Fairmount terrace. We bought a sandwich and lemonade enjoying the view.
The rest of the places were unbelievable! Take this tour, you won’t regret!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for traveling with Westar Travel, that is really our pleasure to providing you a nice
and memorable trip in the amazing Rockies!
Janessa_L, Jun 2024
We really enjoyed our one day tour with this package we booked with Westar. Special thanks to our tour guide Simon whose very accomodating and volunteering to take pictures of us during the tour. I highly recommend them to those who plan to visit Banff.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for traveling with Westar Travel, that is really our pleasure to providing you a nice
and memorable trip in the amazing Rockies!
Matthew_B, Jun 2024
This tour took you to many places - Bow Falls, Gandola up Sulphur Mountain, Banff Springs Hotel, and Johnston Canyon. Traveled with my wife - both late 30s. The guide was courteous and did an excellent job making sure information was clear. Please note that the admission for the Gondola and the dinner at Banff Springs was not included and we had to pay an extra $66.15 for the gondola and $89.25 for the dinner each - totaling $310.80 for these extra activities + $264 for regular tour = $573.80 for 2 people. For this price tag - we were expecting more luxury. Here is where the tour was lacking. The tour bus was a large bus that seats over 4 people per row and over 30 rows for ~120 people very large. When we boarded the tour guide told us that it was a full bus - and we could not sit together. This seemed to be a planning misstep considering that we booked 3 months ahead of time. This was an inconvenience - but we went with it. It took a long time getting on and off the bus + if a passenger was late or went to use the bathroom we were waiting longer. All instructions were translated to Chinese. We did have a large contingent of Chinese tourists aboard and this was great for them - however, we were English first language and thought that we selected an English first language tour. Tour guide's English was good - but not great - it was obvious that with her mannerisms and lack of detail in description that this was her second language. I would have liked more time at Banff Springs to explore and Johnston's Canyon. We stayed in Banff and did not come from Calgary - however, the price was the same for everyone. We went on other tours during our stay and paid less and got more luxury. We should have been given a discount for staying in Banff. We expected more luxury for a price tag of $560. We were disappointed in the quality of this tour and expected more - not sitting together, large bus, no bathrooms, Chinese first language. I think there is better quality tours out there giving you the same viewpoints - and we should have shopped around more. My wife would not tell you a bad thing about this tour directly - her philosophy was just to make the most of it. The dinner at the restaurant at the Banff Springs was the best part. It was the only luxury part of the trip. Unfortunately the gondola ride to the top was very foggy. We were happy, together on vacation, laughed and smiled - and made some good memories - tour company shortcomings aside. I would recommend this tour for Chinese tourists staying in Calgary and wanting to come to Banff for a day and see the sights and go back to Calgary. Thanks for reading.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent tour experience. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the most of the tour with your family. Your comments will be taken into consideration as we continue to improve our offerings. Thank you!
Gloria, Jun 2024
It was a great trip with our fabulous tour guide, Lisa. She was very professional and knowledgable about the places.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you for traveling with Westar Travel. It was truly our pleasure to provide you with a pleasant and memorable trip in the amazing Rockies!
Muhammad_S, Oct 2023
The tour is good. Though there was a washroom in the bus, but we were instructed not to use it! Rest everything was ok
BALRAJ_T, Aug 2023
The trip up on the Gondola and the views from the top over Banff are exceptional. It was a clear day which helps. There were the added bonuses of tame ravens and mountain goats at the top. I skipped lunch at the Fairmont so no idea about that. Surprise Corner gives a great view of the hotel but Banff itself is skipped. You'll need a different excursion for that although it's a very plastic artificial touristy place. Johnstone Canyon was superb for the geology and views. Our guide Lisa was very pleasant and knowledgeable not to mention informative. Best regards to her.
MaCristina_T, Aug 2023
Great stops. Enough time to explore and enjoy scenery and take awesome pics Tour guide is on time for pick up
Felix_D, Jun 2023
Places were awesome and the food add on on this one is definitely worth it, Not like the Buffet at Lake Louise Resort. Gondola add on, also was awesome.
Tour Guide Ray was awesome and Bus Driver was Awesome as well!!!
Now this is why I gave it a 2 Star review. For secon day consecutive, Westlar Travel made this tour over 12/13 hour day trip, this because Westlar Travel coordinated outside Viator to pick up and drop off people from the Airport, to include waiting for people to go to their hotel and load their luggage, so disrespectful to the rest of the guests. This is a personal problem from other guests that had nothing to do with the tour. Other main reason, for the second time, the bathroom bus did not work and guy's from the tour were relentless on making stops for bathroom breaks. The stops at some hotels were lengthy becaus of other guests personal issues, making this trip more than 12 hours with just one meal, terrible, terrible!!!
This is a Management issue of VIATOR and Westlar Travel, which it's customer service sucks, they will give you the run around just to not resolve anything. We're still waiting for the refund for our Buffet at the Lake Louise Resort which was terrible, and they're just giving us the run around to not refund our money. For these reasons we will definitely not book our future travels with either Viator or Westlar Travel.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hi Felix,
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding your recent tour experience with us. We sincerely apologize for any dissatisfaction you may have experienced during the trip. We understand that you had concerns about several aspects of the tour, and we appreciate the opportunity to address them.
Since this is a bus tour and we have the additional pick-up points in Banff. Thank you for bringing to our attention, we will review the situation and improve the arrangements.
Regarding the Ski Lake Louise Resort buffet, thank you for your comments, we have passed it to the supplier for improvement and to ensure the quality of the meals.
As for the bathroom on the coach, it was under reparation during your tour, and our tour guide had reminded the guests where the bathroom is at each stop.
We genuinely appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention. We hope that by addressing each issue, we have been able to rectify your concerns and provide a clearer understanding of the circumstances. Should you have any further questions or require additional assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at customercare@westartravel.ca. We value your feedback and will use it to enhance our services for future travelers.
Best regards,
Westar Travel Customer Care team
Suma_G, Sep 2022
The sights in Bannf that we saw were good however we had a chinese tour guide who spoke very little English. We couldn’t understand most of what he said. People in the bus were loudly talking in Chinese throughout the trip. Hence we didnt enjoy the trip.
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Thank you for your feedback. We are disappointed to know that you were dissatisfied with our tour service. Apologize for the unpleasant experience that you had.
All our tours are provided in both Chinese and English with bilingual guides. They speak both languages to give guests the best experience and knowledge about the attractions. The proportion of English and Chinese spoken on tour should be equal. However, it seems that this was not the case for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we will investigate it with the tour guide to ensure our future guest experience.
Thank you again for sharing the details of your trip with us. Should you have further concerns, please feel free to drop us a message at customercare@westartravel.ca
Sam_S, Sep 2022
Tour guide was nice, but I could not understand him well at all. He barely spoke up to explain what was going on/ where we were. The tour sites themselves were really not impressive imo, except for Johnston Canyon which was definitely pretty. You need to purchase multiple different things relating to trip separately/before day of - which is fine - but I never got an email or message telling me to do so, so I felt a bit flat-footed.
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Hello Sam,
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that our tour did not meet your expectations.
We will escalate your comment to our tour guide to seek for an improvement to bring better service to our customers. Rest assured that we will take your feedback seriously regarding the itinerary for a better experience.
Regarding our add-on activities arrangement, we require at least 7 days before departure so that we have sufficient time to arrange add-on activities for our customers. With your booking, as there are less than 7 days prior to your departure, we do not have enough time to arrange it for you. This is the reason why we didn’t inform you ahead of. Your understanding is highly appreciated.
If you would like to provide more details, please feel free to email us at customercare@westartravel.ca. Thanks again for taking the time to share your comment.
Leon_W, Aug 2022
Was almost stranded in Banff at the end of the tour, but saved by Simon and Lisa who arranged a safe return to Calgary
Reanna_M, Aug 2022
I booked this trip for a family of 4 in May 2022. The organization and staff were excellent! The Gondola in Sulphur Mountains were astonishing🥰 We had ample time to visit the locations arranged. Too bad we didn’t know about the tour originating in Calgary and then staying for a night in Banff so we could explore the area more. Would do it again next time!
Diane_C, Aug 2022
The gondola up sulphur mountain was very rushed having arrived there at 10.00am our guide Peter wanted us back down by 11.15.Given that we only had 20 mins o look round at the top. Bearing in mind it was costly to use the gondola. The rest of the trip was informative.
Denicia_A, Jul 2022
Had a great time. I would definitely recommend. All the sites were beautiful. The gratuity should be included in the price so the guide doesn’t wake you out your sleep for it.
From $80.38
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