5 BEST Moraine Lake Tours: Which One to Book!

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Trying to figure out the best way to get to Moraine Lake? I’ve been there – Moraine Lake is super popular and we aren’t the only ones jonesing to get there!

Since closing the road to public vehicles, you can now only reach the lake by shuttle or tour. The Parks Canada shuttle is really hard to get a booking and you’ll likely be standing in line for hours, which is not how I prefer to spend my time!

After visiting more times than we can count, we’ve learned that taking a tour to Moraine Lake is the most convenient way to visit. Below, we’ve picked out the best tours available, so you can easily book and go!

The BEST Tours of Moraine Lake

1. Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Icefields Parkway full-day tour (departing from Banff or Canmore)

Embark on a HUGE adventure to some of the most magical places in the Canadian Rockies with this full-day tour. It all starts with a 20-minute stop to soak in the beautiful views of Lake Minnewanka before moving on to spend an hour at Lake Louise, arguably one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country!

This is a great opportunity to snap some epic photos of the lake and learn more about its fascinating history from your friendly guide. This tour is operated by a family-run company, and we could see the genuine passion shining through as the guides share their knowledge and experience. It really took our tour experience to the next level.

Further along in the tour, we loved the ride along the jaw-dropping Icefields Parkway, a journey filled with views of breathtaking mountain vistas that has earned a reputation as one of the most scenic drives in the world! Oh, and did we mention there are 1-hour stops at Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake included in the itinerary too?

With a maximum of 22 people per tour, there’s a good number of people to chat and get to know without it being overcrowded, which helps you really immerse yourself in your surroundings. There’s also pickup and drop-off from Banff and Canmore included in your ticket, with the driver able to reach all hotels, Airbnbs, and even campgrounds!

There’s a reason this tour is our top choice – check out 500+ 5-star reviews here!

It’s worth noting that if you’re staying in Canmore and haven’t already purchased a Parks Pass, you’ll need one to enter Banff National Park. These can be purchased as a day pass for $11 CAD for adults or you can buy a 12-month pass online which covers over 80 destinations around Canada.

We think this tour is an awesome value at $195 CAD per person as it lasts between 8–9 hours. Not only does it last the whole day, but you’re sure to make some great memories and spot plenty of Banff National Park’s amazing wildlife along the way!

This tour is popular and will likely sell out – book your tickets ahead of time here.

2. Sunrise tour to Moraine Lake, including Lake Louise (departing from Banff)

Not only is Moraine Lake easily one of the most beautiful places in Banff (and maybe even in all of Canada), but seeing it at sunrise, as the orange glow bounces down from the mountain peaks and onto the turquoise lake, really is unlike anything else I’ve seen before.

But as public parking has now been banned at Moraine Lake and the first Parks Canada shuttle arriving after sunrise, it’s easy to wonder how exactly you can get there at the crack of dawn. One of the only ways to get to Moraine Lake in time for sunrise is by taking this Earlybird Explorer tour to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, which as far as we know is the only sunrise tour running at this time.

It’s best to try to get to bed early, as pickup is at 4 am! To help warm you up and get you ready for the day, the tour also includes complimentary coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and head torches to navigate in the dark.

We really like the fact that this is a small group tour, with a maximum of 12 people. There are no buses full of people that crowd up the shoreline, which is the last thing you want with such a magical moment.

We had an hour to take in the stunning sunrise (as well as a million photos!) and grab breakfast at the nearby cafe. Then, we headed to Lake Louise! It’s still very early in the day when you arrive, so the crowds won’t have gathered just yet – which is my favorite time to visit. It’s also a great time to get out there on the water, as you’ll have about 1 hour and 30 minutes to explore.

If you fancy taking a paddle, the Fairmont Château Lake Louise offers canoe rental from late May/early June until October. For those who prefer to stay on dry land, there’s plenty to explore! There are a few hidden trails at both lakes like the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail and the Rockpile trail, both of which can be completed in the time you’ll have. Feel free to ask your guides to help point out where to start.

This tour lasts for 7 hours, far beyond sunrise, and includes transportation, your local guide, and tea/coffee – perfect for an early start time! Tickets for this incredible opportunity to see the sunrise at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise cost $287 CAD per person.

You can book this sunrise tour in advance here with 24-hour FREE cancellation!

3. Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Yoho National Park tour (departing from Banff or Calgary)

This scenic full-day tour combines a visit to the beautiful Louise and Moraine Lakes with an exciting trip to Yoho National Park, a gateway to glassy lakes, spectacular forests, and wooded trails. Yoho also tends to be a lot less crowded with tourists than Banff National Park!

The tour gets off to an amazing start with a 2-hour visit to Lake Louise, giving you plenty of time to take in the views and go for a walk around the lake. If you’re here in the winter, the tour also includes free snowshoeing right on the lake – one of our top Lake Louise winter activities and something we try to do every year!

The next stop will either be at Moraine Lake or Vermillion Lakes, depending on the time of year. We were lucky enough to visit between June and October, when the tour heads to Moraine Lake, however the wonderful Vermillion Lakes, with the famous Mount Rundle in the background, are also super pretty.

Dan and I were really excited about the Yoho portion of the trip, where the tour takes you to the incredible Emerald Lake, which, as the name suggests, is a beautiful green lake, surrounded by lush and dense forests. Although gorgeous year-round, it’s really lovely during the summer months, as this is when the glacier runoff causes the water to go an even more vibrant green.

Pickup for this tour is available in Calgary or Banff, with a maximum of 50 people per tour. This really makes it perfect for larger groups and families who are looking for a scenic tour with multiple attractions!

Tickets cost $160 CAD for adults and include roundtrip transportation, national park fees, and your wonderful guide! It also includes snowshoeing during the winter. This tour doesn’t run every day of the week, so be sure to check your schedule and the tour’s availability before you book!

Reserve your spot in advance here and access FREE cancellation options 24 hours before you go.

4. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake full-day tour (departing from Banff)

If you only have a couple of days to spend in Banff, there’s still time to fit in a visit to the two most famous lakes! This half-day tour of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake will take you to some of the best spots to see and photograph in the park so you’ll have plenty of pictures to remember your trip by.

This is a small group tour, with a maximum of 24 participants per guide, so the entire experience doesn’t feel crowded, and you won’t have to fight for space to see those gorgeous views – just how we like it! While this isn’t a formal wildlife tour, it does give you an incredible opportunity to explore both lakes, and who knows, you may even spot an animal or two!

We know from experience that parking at Lake Louise can be incredibly difficult (and it’s now impossible at Moraine Lake). That’s why we really appreciate tours like this one, which saves so much time and hassle having to sort out driving and parking.

There’s no individual hotel pickup within Banff, the tour instead meets at a central meeting point downtown. This tour costs $113 CAD per person and has multiple departure times. It is only available from June to October, so be sure to plan accordingly to fit this tour into your Banff itinerary!

Check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews and book this tour in advance here.

5. Hop-on hop-off bus tour (departing from Banff)

For unrivaled flexibility and a fantastic selection of stops, you really can’t go wrong with this Banff hop-on hop-off bus tour.

Leave your parking worries behind and hop aboard a classic yellow school bus, with stops at Banff, Lake Louise, the Lake Louise Gondola, Moraine Lake, Samson Mall, and Johnston Canyon! We really enjoyed that you can tailor your experience exactly how you like – if you don’t fancy stopping at one particular place, you can simply skip it.

The bus departs Banff at multiple times starting at 7:45 a.m., with the final bus returning at 6 p.m. We highly recommend getting an early bus like we did, as this gave us the full day to explore before returning home!

If you like hikes around Banff that aren’t too challenging and are still really rewarding, head over to Johnston Canyon, which has free entry as well as two amazing waterfalls to explore. We were also really surprised by just how impressive the views were from the Lake Louise Gondola – we recommend purchasing tickets online here before you go to skip the queues!

This is one of our favorite bus tours in Banff, combining the knowledge of a guide with the freedom to explore as you please. As you hop from stop to stop, you’ll be treated to some pretty entertaining commentary from the onboard guides, as they share funny stories, crazy facts, and other helpful tips.

A single-day ticket is $85 CAD and the bus runs from June through September. There’s also a total of 48 seats on the bus, which means plenty of space to bring friends, family, or both! Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of exploring Banff at your own pace, it’s like a choose-your-own-adventure book!

Book this hop-on hop-off bus with FREE cancellation options!

Other Things to do While You’re in Banff

Banff is chock-full of so many amazing activities and things to do, it’s impossible to put them all down on one list! To save you some time, here are some of our favorite activities that are always included in our Banff itinerary:

• Ride the Banff Gondola – Four gondolas in Banff provide some pretty spectacular views. While we’d have a hard time choosing a favorite, a ride up the Banff Gondola never lets us down! Not only is it a great way to see some amazing wildlife, but you’ll find a host of things to do at the top, including a lovely café, shops, and even a theater! The best way to get Banff Gondola tickets is to book ahead in advance here.

• Hike Johnston Canyon – One of the stops on the Banff hop-on hop-off tour, Johnston Canyon is famous for its picturesque location and magnificent waterfalls. It’s also one of the easier hikes in the Banff area, making it super accessible for most people.

• Look for wildlife – Banff is home to some pretty incredible wildlife. You might just spot elk, bears, deer, foxes, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and more! The best chance you have of seeing the most critters is on a wildlife tour in Banff. We really liked this small group tour where the guides tailor the itinerary to recent wildlife spottings and you get to see highlights of the national park along the way.

• Explore Banff town – It’s easy to get immersed in the beauty of the natural countryside, but there are also a ton of things to do in Banff town too! Bear Street is where you’ll find tons of boutique shops and cute cafés, and from May to the beginning of October the farmer’s market is held in Central Park, bringing with it amazing local produce and some unique souvenirs too!

Where to Stay in Banff

Banff National Park is full to the brim with great hotels and hostels – it’s pretty exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming when deciding where to stay! Of course, cost is a big factor when deciding on your accommodation, as well as comfort and all the amenities on offer.

From hotels in Banff town to ones that are a little more out in nature, we’ve put together a list of our favorites for each budget category:

Fairmont Banff Springs – $$$

The Fairmont Banff Springs is easily the most luxurious hotel in Banff. As you can expect, it’s not cheap but the place is simply incredible – it seriously looks like a castle! If you’re visiting Banff on a honeymoon then this should be the hotel you choose.

Inside the hotel, you’ll find 11 restaurants, 14 shops, a bowling alley, bars, a top-rated spa, a couple of pools, and so much more. With so much to do in this one-of-a-kind luxury hotel, you’ll honestly feel like you’ll never want to leave!

Rooms here at the Fairmont start from around $600 CAD a night, but can exceed the $1-2k CAD range in peak season. For the best deals, it’s best to book as far ahead as possible! You can check prices and room availability online here.

Banff Rocky Mountain Resort – $$

For those with a mid-range budget, the Banff Rocky Mountain Resort has a beautiful swimming pool, hot tub, and gym, and all the rooms come equipped with kitchenettes or full kitchens. We’d say this is the perfect option for families since two and three-bedroom units are also available.

The hotel is also in a good location that’s just a 5-minute drive away from town, so it’s a great place to enjoy the wonderful peace and quiet of the Banff countryside!

Rooms here average around $500-600 CAD per night in the high season, but dip as low as around $129 CAD in the low season. You can check availability and book Banff Rocky Mountain Resort online here.

Banff Inn – $$

Rooms at the Banff Inn have a very affordable price tag, but are also chock-full with all the amenities you could want to have a great stay! This way, you can splurge on those once-in-a-lifetime tours and experiences that make a trip to Banff so memorable.

The hotel is located right on Banff Ave and all rooms are air-conditioned. Inside, you’ll find a hot tub, steam room, and sauna, as well as a restaurant and bar – perfect for a little bit of relaxation after a long day out exploring Banff.

Rooms here start at $143 CAD, but don’t forget to book the Banff Inn well in advance as this is one of the most popular hotels in Banff!

Samesun Banff Hostel – $

For folks looking to save some cash while having a blast in Banff, it’s worth checking out the Samesun Banff Hostel. It’s a great place for backpackers or anyone who’s fine with making some new friends and doesn’t mind sharing a dorm. But if you’re keen on privacy, keep in mind that there aren’t any private rooms available here.

A bed in a dorm here starts from around $45 CAD, including breakfast, and can be booked on either Booking.com or Hostelworld.

Important info: Accommodation in Banff can be tricky. For starters, you need to book well in advance if you want to have a large selection. I suggest booking a place ASAP! Using Booking.com is great too because lots of hotels offer free cancellation so just lock in a place (or two) for now and make the final

Renting a Car in Alberta

If you’re arriving in Alberta via plane then I can’t recommend getting a rental car enough! Canada is a large country and traveling between cities and even just getting out to some of the best places to visit in Alberta requires transport. Although you can use public transport, on some occasions, it means your trip will not only require more time but more planning.

Renting a car will definitely make exploring all of the fun things to see and do in Alberta easier.

Car rental in Canada isn’t super cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either, especially if you get a budget car. The cheapest car with pickup and drop-off in different locations is around $100 CAD per day. The price does vary though depending on the time of year and the type of car that you rent. For car rentals, I use the website DiscoverCars.com. It’s a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. In fact, I’ve used them all over the world including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Read our honest review of Discover Cars here for more details!

Check availability and prices on Discover Cars here!

Another popular option is to rent a campervan or motorhome (only for the brave in winter). Using Motorhome Republic you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. Having a motorhome is a stunning way to see Canada, and you can often camp for free or very cheap in the most beautiful places imaginable! Check out my review of Motorhome Republic here for tips before you book.

And if you’re planning to camp but don’t want to splurge on a huge RV, we highly recommend Smile Campervans. Based in Calgary, this local company provides compact campervans fully equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and affordable road trip adventure!

In fact, Smile Campervans has actually given us a special discount code for our readers! Use the code DESTINATIONLESSTRAVEL at checkout to get 5% off your campervan rental! Click here to browse availability, prices, and book with our discount code!

Thanks for reading!

We love Moraine Lake and know that you will too! Although it’s busy it’s worth a visit. Taking a tour is one of the best ways to experience everything that Moraine Lake has to offer, and we hope this blog has helped shine some light on some of the top options out there!

Feel free to leave a comment below and tell us what you’re planning to do on your next trip to Banff and Moraine Lake. Be sure to check out our other Banff and Canada blogs as you plan your travels. Here are some of our favorite areas and things to do below:

9 Alternatives to Parking at Moraine Lake

6 BEST Lake Louise Tours from Banff

9 BEST Hikes that Start from Moraine Lake

Where to Stay in Banff for Skiing