Explore with me, Banff National Park!

Ultimate itinerary to spend one week (or more!) in the beautiful Banff National Park!

Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Morraine Lake beckons with its ten majestic peaks

A little History!

Banff National Park, established in 1885, has a fascinating history rooted in its early days as a haven for railway workers. Followed by its designation as Canada’s first national park, its evolution from a recreational retreat for the elite to a globally renowned conservation area highlights its enduring significance in preserving the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Banff National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains on Alberta’s western border with British Columbia in the Alberta Mountain forests ecoregion. By road, the town of Banff is 128 kilometres (80 mi) west of Calgary and 401 km (249 mi) southwest of Edmonton.

This was my first visit to the “Great White North”, and I am so grateful that Banff is the place I started my Canadian exploration with. In my itinerary of five days, we covered three National Parks in the region: Banff National Park, Jasper National Park (to the north) and Yoho National Park (to the north-west). This itinerary is perfect if it is your first time to Banff, as it is more catered towards visiting all the popular attractions, marveling at the spectacular scenery and the vibrant turquoise lakes in the region.

Drive from Canmore to Banff; the Canadian Rockies start to mesmerize you with their sheer size

So without further ado, let’s begin our Banff adventure:

My Banff Itinerary – Quick Overview

Day 1 – Fly into Calgary, quick stop at Canmore (for lunch), end the day with a lake cruise

Day 2 – Lake Louise, Morraine Lake, Lake Louise Gondola, end the day with a family-friendly hike at Johnston Canyon

Day 3 – Yoho National park (Half-day): Canoe at Emerald Lake, Takkakaw Falls, end the day with exploring the town of Banff

Day 4 – Drive to Jasper National Park, visit the mesmerizing Columbia Glacier, quick stop at Athbasca Falls and Peyto Lake

Day 5 – Take the Banff Gondola upto top of the Sulphur mountain, drive back to Calgary, fly back home

Day 1: Fly into Banff, and cruise the “Lake of the Spirits”

(A) Fly-in to Calgary:

First thing first, Canada’s summer lasts between months of June to September, with shoulder months of May and October. We planned to visit in the first week of July, during one of the busiest weekends for travel (America’s Independence Day weekend). Combine this with Canada’s high tourist season, we knew before-hand that this trip is going to be swamped with tourists just like us. Hence, majority of my itinerary is catered towards starting the day early, so it avoids getting stuck in traffic, and increases the chances of finding parking spots without causing any further delay.

We booked a morning flight on WestJet airlines to fly into the nearest airport to Banff, Calgary International Airport (YYC). WestJet is a budget airline to AirCanada, and has extensive domestic and international connectivity around British Columbia and Alberta regions of Canada. We found an affordable direct connection from SFO to Calgary, and faced no issues during the flight.

After clearing customs, and collecting our bags, we then headed to pick up our rental car. Quick note about customs in Canada: although the lines move fast, make sure to give yourself an hour to clear the security lines or for any unexpected baggage delay. We experienced our first bout of crowds at the rental car center, where there were probably hundreds of people cramped into a small stretch of desks.
There are multiple car companies here so your options are plenty. We had rented a massive Wagoneer from Enterprise car rental for five days, and the check-in process was smooth and efficient. My company of six loaded up our bags, fastened our seat belts, played few devotional songs to thank the lord for getting us safe to Canada, and started our drive to go grab some lunch!

(B) Lunch in Canmore:

Distance between Calgary to Canmore: approx 75 miles (120 km) –> Time: approx one hour 20 mins

Since we all had an early start to our day, we headed out to Canmore directly to grab lunch. There are plenty of food options here, but we grabbed lunch at: Rocky Mountain Flatbread company, which is an award-winning pizza restaurant. There farm-to-table philosophy is to use local organic produce and support farmers around the region. Food was 10/10 and I highly recommend all their pizzas!

The town of Canmore offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and small-town charm

(C) Lake Minnewanka evening cruise:

Once we gobbled up the pizzas & picked up grocery, we drove 20 minutes to Lake Minnewanka parking lot.

We had selected the entry time of 4:30 PM, and I would recommend to check-in at least 15 minutes early. As the cruise slots book up early, and if you miss your selected time, they may or may not be able to accommodate you on the next cruise, depending on the rush.

Lake Minnewanka, located in Banff National Park, is the largest lake in the Canadian Rockies, spanning approximately 21 kilometers in length

The name, derived from the Stoney Nakoda First Nations language, translates to “Water of the Spirits” or “Lake of the Spirits,” reflecting its historical and spiritual significance to Indigenous peoples. Surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and dense forests, Lake Minnewanka offers a serene and picturesque setting. In addition to its natural allure, Lake Minnewanka features remnants of a submerged village dating back to the early 20th century, offering a glimpse into the region’s history and the impact of human settlement in the area. We cruised along the lake for about an hour, where the boat staff were extremely informative, telling us stories about the importance of the lake to the indigenous tribes and European settlers, from centuries alike.

The lake is often overlooked as compared to more popular ones, but I believe this cruise presented us a perfect way to acclimatize ourselves to the beauty of the park, and get us ready for the vacation ahead. Due to our early start to the day, this felt very relaxing and I cannot recommend it enough!

Money-saving tip: Lake Minnewanka cruise is included in the Pursuit pass (I have spoken about this in detail below!)

After we de-boarded, we spent an hour or so wandering the lakeshore. We then grabbed ice-cream at a snack shop near the parking lot called the Black Anchor Snack Shop. It was my first time having these two flavors: Maple Walnut + Espresso Chocolate. Perfect snack for a warm sunny day!

After the nice ice-cream treat, we then headed to our Airbnb in the town of Banff, around 15 minutes away. We checked-in, rested for a bit and freshened up to head into the main town!

(D) Dinner in Banff town:

Banff has plethora of options for food, no matter which cuisine. To our surprise, Indian cuisine was the highly recommended one here, due to a significant Indian immigrant population from 1970s. Almost every restaurant had an hour waiting time, so we grabbed dinner at the first restaurant we could find!

Saffron Indian Bistro was conveniently located few steps away from the bus-stop. The menu was exactly what we were looking for, and the prices were fairly reasonable too. All in all, good food and I would recommend their interesting appetizers for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian folks!

We then headed back to our Airbnb, changed into comfortable pajamas, and headed to bed, because the next day was going to be the most important of all!

Day 2: Two Lake Combo + Lake Louise Gondola; End the day at Johnston Canyon

(A) Lake Louise + Morraine Lake:

We had an early start to our day, so grabbed our morning coffee at one of the few coffee shops in town that was open at 6 AM, Banff National Perk. Great coffee options and mocha was very chocolate-y, just as I like it. We then headed to Lake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola, the pickup point for Lake Louise shuttle.
Drive distance from Banff town to the Summer Gondola parking lot: 60 km (around 38 miles) –> approx 45 minutes

We reached the parking lot by 7:15 AM, which to our surprise, was already half-full. There are pick-up points marked for each shuttle, and since ours was Morraine Lake Bus Company, we stood in line for our turn, boarded the shuttle and made our way to Lake Louise.

The lake’s mesmerizing color is attributed to rock flour, finely ground rock particles carried into the lake by meltwater from surrounding glaciers

From the car park, it takes about 10 minutes to reach Lake Louise. We spent about an hour walking around the Lake Waterfront, overlooking the Fairmont Chateau. Gorgeous views along the way!

We then headed back to our shuttle stop and boarded to be driven to Morraine Lake. The staff are super prompt with time, so make sure you stick to the time limits provided to you. We reached Lake Morraine in about 15 minutes. Keep your eyes out for any wildlife spotting. With good weather, you might be lucky to spot some mountain goats or even black or grizzly bears!

Keeping my fingers crossed during our entire stay; thankfully blessed with sunny weather as the sunlight impacts the turquoise-y color of Morraine Lake

(B) Lake Louise Summer Gondola:

We made our way back to the gondola parking lot by 1 PM, and headed to entrance of Lake Louise Summer Gondola. This is a scenic 14-minute ride each way and ascends from the base area near Lake Louise to a viewpoint at an elevation of approximately 2088 meters (6850 feet). As you glide smoothly up the mountainside in the enclosed gondola cabins, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the turquoise-blue waters of Lake Louise below.
Quick tip: If you are not afraid of heights, I would recommend to opt for the open chair, rather than the closed gondola. I promise you, the view is worth the thrill!

That is Lake Louise at the back! The view is absolutely phenomenal and the photos do no justice to the view of Canadian Rockies

We grabbed lunch at Lake Louise Railway Restaurant, which is designed in a distinctive mountain chalet style. Food options were plenty, and the portion size was decent too. Built in the late 19th century as part of the CPR’s transcontinental railway, the Lake Louise station played a crucial role in connecting the eastern and western parts of Canada, and it continues to remain a historic landmark.

(C) Johnston Canyon:

The Canyon carves its way through limestone cliffs, offering visitors a mesmerizing journey along its canyon walls, where turquoise waters rush through narrow passages and over cascading waterfalls. The two popular trails here are Lower and Upper Johnston Falls. They are well-maintained with catwalks and bridges. and pretty shaded too with gorgeous views of the canyon along the way.

For dinner, we picked up some warm pastas from the Old Spaghetti Factory (check out their menu). Highly recommend their pesto pastas.
After the calming hike, we headed back to our stay, hogged our food away and called it a day! Couldn’t have asked a day with better weather. 🙌🏽

Day 3: Yoho National Park + explore Banff town

(A) Canoe at Emerald Lake:

Alright, we are already half way down the trip! Today was all about exploring our second National Park in the region: Yoho. (Funnily, my life mantra is YOLO!)

We stopped for breakfast at a much-recommended breakfast cafe in Lake Louise Village Market, called Trailhead Cafe.
Must-try: Their veggie bagels and breakfast wraps are filling and delicious, and their coffee definitely hits the spot!! 10/10. 🤩

We fueled up well on breakfast here, because our next stop was Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. And we needed all that energy for our fav activity here: Canoe!
The drive from Banff town to Emerald Lake is 93 km (around 60 miles) and it takes about an hour. The parking lot is pretty big, so finding parking should be easy.

Nothing short of spectacular. Don’t let the mild popularity fool you from skipping a visit to this lake!

(B) Takkakaw Falls: Stroll around the base of this majestic natural wonder

A short drive from Emerald Lake (about 30 minutes away) lies Canada’s second tallest waterfall: The Takkakaw Falls. Fed by the melting Daly Glacier, the falls thunder down a steep cliffside, creating a misty spectacle that can be seen and heard from a distance. The name “Takakkaw” is derived from the Cree language, meaning “it is magnificent”.
Visitors to Takakkaw Falls can experience its awe-inspiring beauty up close via a short walk from the parking area. As you approach, you’ll feel the cool mist and hear the powerful rush of water, surrounded by lush greenery and towering mountain peak. The walk is barely a mile, but it offers a cool respite from the heat.

Takakkaw Falls cascades gracefully from a height of 254 meters (833 feet), making it one of the highest waterfalls in North America!

Meeting of the rivers confluent

About 10 minutes driving back from the waterfalls, the spot above is a very pretty detour we found serendipitously. This is called Meeting of the Rivers Confluent, where two rivers, namely Kicking Horse River at the top and Yoho River at the bottom merge, each with different rock flour composition, giving them their distinctive milky and clear color respectively. Don’t you love it when you come across such natural beauty by happenstance?!

The entire stretch of Trans-Canda highway contains multiple of these animal crossing bridges. Adorableeeee!

(C) Stroll through the charming streets of small-town Banff:

We then used remainder of the day exploring the Banff town. This is also the main commercial centre of the park located in the Bow River valley. The town has multiple art galleries, gift shops, athletic gear and higher-end travel gear stores like Patagonia and Hershel Supply Co, multiple coffee shops, restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores.

Speaking about the food scene here, it is a delightful fusion of local flavors and international influences, catering to a diverse range of tastes and preferences. Recently, there’s been a growing trend towards sustainability, with many restaurants focusing on farm-to-table concepts and supporting local producers. Whether you’re craving a hearty mountain meal after a day of hiking or seeking a fine dining experience with a view, Banff’s food scene promises a gastronomic journey that complements its natural beauty and cultural charm.

Cascade of time garden is a terraced garden, right across the Bow river. It features diverse trees, landscaped paths and sitting areas. Perfect for a picnic!

I cannot end the day without two MAJOR restaurant suggestions. Grab a beer (or two!) at the St.James’s Gate Irish Pub and make sure to try their Sticky Toffee Pudding cake (it is served with ice-cream, caramel sauce & berries). Sooo yummy! Secondly, Magpie & Stump is a Mexican restaurant located in the heart of town, and you have my word that the shrimp tacos are one of best dishes on the menu. We reached here for dinner, and just in time for their happy hour at 10 PM too. Make sure to check out their tequila and cocktail options. Other MUST-try dishes are a massive plate of cheesy nachos and hearty plate of quesadillas.

Day 4: Drive to Jasper National Park & embrace the majesty of Columbia Glacier

This was a long day, and the most educational of them all. It includes driving across the most enthralling road joining Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N). This scenic highway stretches approximately 232 kilometers (144 miles) through the Canadian Rockies, with notable stops like Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, multiple Glaciers along the road and wildlife spottings too!

Biggest highlight on the Icefields Parkway are the multiple glaciers in the area like Columbia, Stutfield and Dome

(A) Columbia Icefield & Athbasca Glacier:

But our highlight of the day was the Columbia Icefield, located around 162 km (around miles) from Banff town. The drive is about 2 hours and beautifully scenic the entire route.

Fun fact: If you live in North America, you would have drank atleast one glass of water coming from the glaciers of Columbia Icefield!

Of the seven glaciers in the region, we visited the second largest of them all: the Athbasca glacier, via guided tours on the Icefield Explorer vehicles.
This is a striking and accessible glacier within the Canadian Rockies, offering visitors a chance to explore a magnificent glacial environment.

Athbasca glacier from the visitor center!

Fun fact: Only 23 Icefield Explorers are commissioned in the entire world, of which 21 are present on Columbia Glacier. The other two are located in Antarctica!

Athasbca glacier, second largest of the seven glaciers fed by the Columbia Icefield

(B) Columbia Icefield Skywalk:

This is an impressive observation platform, located five minutes away from the Athbasca glacier. The Skywalk features a 360-degree glass-floored observation platform that extends out over the Sunwapta Valley. This design provides visitors with unobstructed, panoramic views of the surrounding glaciers, mountains, and valleys. The skywalk experience is enhanced by interpretive displays and information panels that provide insights into the geology, ecology, and history of the region. You can spend about an hour taking in the views, and make sure to ask all your necessary questions to one of the many informative guides here!

(C) Lunch recommendations:

After soaking in the views on the Skywalk, we caught our bus back to the visitor center for lunch. There are three options here for food:
– Light eats: grab a light sandwich & coffee at Starbucks next to the gift shop.
– Dine-in: Two restaurants on the first floor called Altitude and Chalet. Both offer a decent menu, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. We went for the latter, grabbing some parfaits, pizza slices, fries and Thai fried rice. A little pricey, but best we could get in such a remote location.
– If you are traveling from bigger towns, a cheaper option is to plan ahead and pack travel-friendly food to sustain, as the nearest town north is Jasper (which is another 100 km or 60 miles away).

(D) Athbasca falls:

If you keep driving north of Columbia Skyfield, in about 75 km (or 50 miles), you will first hear, and then sight the powerful flow of the Athbasca falls, surrounded by a dramatic rugged scenery. The waterfall is about 23 meters (75 feet) high and 18 meters (60 feet) wide. While not exceptionally tall compared others, the power of Athbasca falls and the surrounding landscape make it particularly impressive.
The falls are fed by the Athabasca River, which originates from the Columbia Icefield and flows through the Rocky Mountains. The water cascades over a cliff of hard quartzite rock, creating a powerful and thunderous effect. The entire area has flat trails to access multiple viewing decks, and makes for a perfect quick-stop along the Icefield Parkway.

Athbasca falls from multiple viewing decks

(E) Peyto Lake:

Quick stop on our way back from Athbasca to Banff, we pulled-over at this picturesque turquoise lake famously shaped like a wolf’s head or a bear’s paw when viewed from above. From the parking lot, there are a couple of trails leading to the accessible observation platform, which offers panoramic views of the lake and the surrounding mountainous landscape. This lake is also a famous spot for many film shoots (my favorite is a song sequence from a Bollywood movie called Koi .. Mil Gaya ❤️)

View of Peyto Lake from the observation deck; honestly takes your breath away with that pristine turquoise color!

Before ending our penultimate day of the vacation, we grabbed dinner at a very popular Indian restaurant in Banff, Masala Authentic Indian Cuisine. Everything on the menu looked great, but I would highly recommend their Aloo gobi, Dal Tadka and Kurmas. Delicious!!

Day 5: Elevate your view: Experience Banff’s majestic panorama

On our final day of the vacation, we grabbed breakfast at Coyotes Southwestern grill, in the town. Their menu is decent, but the best part was the wide range of options for freshly squeezed juice. I took a passion-fruit + orange (combined with ginger and lime extract). SO refreshing and good fiber intake first thing in the morning. The Huevos Rancheros and Egg Benedicts were good too. So definitely check out the restaurant if this entices you.

(A) Banff Gondola up to Sulphur Mountain:

Heading to the only attraction we visited this day, we drove 10 minutes to the entrance of Banff Gondola situated at the base of Sulphur Mountain. The ride up Sulphur Mountain takes approximately 8 minutes, offering breathtaking views of the Banff landscape as it climbs. The ascent provides a unique perspective on the surrounding peaks, forests, and the Bow River Valley.

Banff Gondola with enclosed cabins, can comfortably seat upto four people

Quick money-saving tip: Entry to Banff Gondola is included in the Pursuit pass (mentioned in detail below)!

Views along the Boardwalk to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, of the Banff Bow valley below

(B) The Snack Side of Life: Small eats with Big flavors

I am dedicating this last section for all my small treats recommendations in Banff. I believe amongst my restaurants suggestions on this post, this section deserves a special mention! This is just a small section, please feel free to explore as many delicacies as you can find walking around town.

How to save money on attractions around Banff?

(1) Banff National Park Pass:

First and foremost, you need a National Park Pass when entering a national park in Canada. Now, there are two options for this: Discovery Passes and Day Passes. We opted for the latter, because we only needed the pass for five days, but if you are frequent visitor to Canada or a resident of Canada, you can opt for the Discovery annual pass.

I will link the two websites from where you can purchase the passes: Parks Canada website OR Banff Lake Louise website. You can find more information here!
It is purchased per car (max of 7 people per group). Per day is $CAD 22 (or $USD 16).
So pretty cost-effective if you are traveling in a big group!

If you forget to book it prior, don’t fret! You can always buy the pass directly at the Banff park entrance. But make sure to ALWAYS display it on the dash of your vehicle while traveling in the national park.

(2) Pursuit Pass, Banff Jasper Collection:

The Pursuit Pass in Banff allows visitors to access a range of attractions and activities operated by Pursuit within Banff National Park and the surrounding areas. It typically provides bundled access to popular experiences such as the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka Cruise, Banff Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola, and other scenic tours and adventures nearby.

There are multiple attractions offered by Pursuit pass, but the one we opted for was: Pursuit Pass Rockies Lite.
The included attractions are: Banff Gondola, Columbia Icefield Explorer Tour, Columbia Icefield Skywalk, and an option of Lake Minnewanka Cruise.
Total cost: $CAD 266 per person (approx $USD 200).

Added bonus: We can choose our entry date and entry time beforehand. Due to the high travel season, this pre-booked facility with all tickets in one place gave us a peace of mind, so we could fully concentrate on other bookings too.
Please keep in mind that Banff is not an affordable place to visit. But, if the Pursuit Pass is a tad expensive for you, there is always an option to check the individual prices of the attractions you are interested in, and make the bookings individually.

(3) Entry to Lake Louise and Morraine Lake:

Let me talk about the two lakes separately.

Lake Louise is the one easily reachable by car. However, it is nearly impossible to get a parking spot in the summer.

Whereas, entry to Morraine Lake is completely shut off for personal vehicles during months June to October. The only way to reach this lake is by four shuttle companies that offer services from Lake Louise Gondola. These two lakes are the absolute main-attractions in Banff, if not the most crowded too. I would not recommend to wait till last minute for the booking. Plan ahead and book your shuttle in advance to avoid disappointment.

The four shuttle companies are: Fairview Limousine, Moraine Lake Bus Company, Mountain Park Transportation, or Ten Peaks Shuttle & Tours. 
Our group opted for Morraine Lake Bus Company, as we were particularly interested in one of their services:
Moraine Lake Bus (Outbound) w/ 1 Hr Stop at Lake Louise.

Cost: $CAD 99 (approx $USD 72).
Pick-up point: Lake Louise Gondola Parking lot. Ample parking spots.
Time we chose: 7:55 AM (be sure to arrive at least 20 minutes early).

Added bonus: We were allowed to choose our return time from Morraine Lake to the parking lot. We chose two hours as it was the perfect amount of time to walk around the lake and climb upto Rockpile Point to grab the instagram-worthy shot of Morraine Lake.
If opted for this option, this bus company also offers a discount entry ticket to Lake Louise Gondola ($CAD 15 off total ticket price). A total steal!
So in total (entry to both lakes + discounted ticket to Lake Louise Gondola) costed $CAD 160 (approx $USD 120).

Review: The entire process was very smooth. The shuttles were on-time, and throughout the drive, the staff even pointed out local tourism tips and suggestions for hikes around the lakes for photo ops. People on the other bus even ended up seeing a grizzly bear on the way back to the car! Incredible!!

Where to stay: Top recommendations

Now that we are in the last leg of my post, let me brief you on recommendations for your stay. I booked an Airbnb, hosted by Chris and his family, that was part of Hidden Ridge Resort in Banff. The resort is built with rustic exterior charm and each apartment is equipped with kitchens, fireplaces, private balconies and comfortable beddings. Check the Airbnb listing here.

Depending on your budget, number of travelers, and location, these are a quick summary of other equally well-rated hotels and lodges:

(1) Tunnel Mountain Resort – relaxed rooms & cabins with fireplaces, Wi-fi, plus an indoor pool too. They offer single bedroom and two bedroom apartments, which is a big plus!
(2) Buffalo Mountain Lodge – Mountainside lodging very similar in offerings as suggested above, with hot-tubs, restaurants and more.
(3) Samesun Banff – Simple hostel offering breakfast, plus a lively bar & kitchen.

Money-saving tip: If you don’t mind adding a bit of driving, there are plenty of stays to consider in Canmore town too, which is just 20 minutes away from Banff. The stays here are on the more affordable side, without compromising on the views.

There is no dearth of stays in Banff, my only tip is to book early, as room rates can fluctuate based on demand, and booking early helps you lock in lower rates before they increase closer to Banff’s busy summer. It also helps avoid last-minute stress, and allows for a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience, and the ability to plan the rest of your trip with peace of mind.

Has my Banff itinerary convinced you to book your next flight to this breathtaking gorgeous corner of the world? or you want to let me know how I did on my first blog post? Or the best of all, you followed my tips and have better recommendations? Either way, I would love your hear your thoughts. Let me know in the comments below, and I hope you have a banger of a vacation here! ❤️