Canada · NATIONAL PARKS
21 reviewed
Canadian seasons are short and the good national park tours fill up inside them. Here are the 15 best, with current prices and what makes each different, so you can book before the window shuts.
Sail Maligne Lake with a guide to Spirit Island for glacier views, wildlife spotting chances, and history of Jasper and its Indigenous peoples.
“Sam and Seb were excellent guides. A really enjoyable tour.”
Small-group Banff National Park day tour with Lake Louise and seasonal stops, guided insights, crampons, and hotel pickup from Calgary or nearby.
“Great guided tour with Angel. He was very thorough with every information on the places we visited. Lake Louise was gorgeous. Angel was very helpful in taking our photos. He also provided suggestions where to go for lunch snd Park Distillery and Brewery was a great restaurant.”
Ride snowmobiles through Whistler’s British Columbia backcountry, with training, a guide, frozen lakes, and Coastal Mountain views.
“Had a great time! We couldn't do the whole trip we wanted due to Avalanche conditions, but the company refunded a portion of our money and the guide found ways to keep the trip a blast, AND we returned SAFELY. Several times the guide and company had to work through awkward situations/ problems and they did a great job of rolling with punches and finding alternate solutions. If you are adventurous or a competent sledder, would recommend Eric as a guide.”
Small-group Banff tour with pickup to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, Valley of Ten Peaks viewpoint, and guided history under 5 hours.
“We were scheduled for a public tour but ended up having a private tour because only our party showed up! Our guide, Cal, made the experience absolutely amazing. From the moment we met, she was extremely knowledgeable, answering every question with impressive detail and sharing fascinating insights we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Her passion for the tourism industry, people, and nature really shone through and made the experience even more engaging. Cal was also super friendly and approachable, which made the entire tour feel comfortable and relaxed, like spending time with an old friend. She went above and beyond, taking extra time to show us hidden gems and personalizing the…”
3-hour morning or evening wildlife watch in Jasper National Park with hotel pickup and an experienced guide on a comfortable minibus.
“Our guide Kelli was so great !! We saw some elk, deer and we had the chance to see a bear! Kelli put the bus in some really good place to let us take picture and enjoy this find. In addition, we had some explaination about the town, the forest and the wildlife.”
Small-group Banff day trip from Calgary with Lake Louise, Moraine Lake in summer, wildlife stops, and guided photo moments. $64.34.
“This was a great trip taking in lots of scenic places including many lakes and mountains. Our favourite was Lake Moraine which had stunning blue water. Patrick, our guide,was a fun guy who gave us lots of information and stories on the way. Plenty of stops for restroom and snack breaks all day. Met some lovely people on the bus as well. This trip was excellent although the great weather helped!”
A guided 2-hour Whistler snowmobile tour through Brandywine and Callaghan valleys, with gear, scenic stops, and a warm cabin break.
“Amazing experience! Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful and our guide, Nate, was awesome! A perfect way to celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday and Christmas Eve. Thank you!”
A 1-hour horseback ride along Banff’s Bow River with calm horses, helmet guidance, and Cave and Basin sights for $78 per person.
“Jade and Steph were fantastic guides! The one hour Bow River ride was a great experience for our family of five.”
Spend 10 hours with a local guide in Banff National Park from Calgary, seeing Johnston Canyon, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
“I was very satisfied with everything. The driver spoke very well and clearly about the features of the places along the way. He was polite and attentive. I would recommend this tour to others.”
Jasper day trip to Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake, with Spirit Island photos by cruise in season or a guided hike option.
“Guide picked us up late and dropped us off early. Drove fast to get to the boat ride since we were late. Should have added another stop and spent more time at scheduled stops.”
Full-day Banff and Yoho national parks loop from Calgary, with major lake and canyon stops like Moraine, Lake Louise, Emerald, and more.
“What a great experience to see three glacial lakes, mountain scenery, and a bit of Banff for a reasonable price. Ivan, our guide/driver, was very informative.”
A 1-hour horseback ride in Banff featuring Bow Falls views and Spray River crossings near the Fairmont. Beginner friendly, calm horses, helmet included.
“This place is beautiful. The horses are well-trained and handled very professionally. The staff are friendly and kind, and they genuinely care about the horses’ comfort, which I think reflects great animal friendliness. However, the listing mentioned that parking is included, but when I asked where to redeem the parking ticket, they told me that they do not offer free parking. I’m not sure if this is a mistake on the platform or something else—I just hope the next person is aware of this.”
Beginner-friendly 2-hour grade 2 rafting on Jasper’s Athabasca River with 360 views, wetsuits, and a licensed guide. $80.
“The activity was great! The guides were kind, patient and had a good sense of humor! Molly, our guide, explained everything quite well, so the rafting went easily and we had a lot of fun! We surely recommend this activity!”
Paddle Banff’s Bow River in a big canoe with a guide. Watch wildlife, learn local native stories, and end with light refreshments.
“Great experience and peaceful with a great and knowledgeable tour guide Fergus. It was such a nice experience seeing the river from this perspective especially with a knowledgeable and experienced tour guide.”
Easy 2-hour Jasper National Park rafting on the Athabasca River, Class 2 thrills, expert guide stories, and a comfy 25-foot oar raft.
“Great guide, Joel! Very knowledgeable & funny. We had a blast!”
