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4 Best Luxury Tours to Banff, Canada

With world-famous stunning rocky mountain scenery, a vacation to Banff National Park is a bucket list trip for many travelers. Planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Banff is easy when a luxury tour operator takes care of all the details. Make your trip to Banff relaxing and memorable by traveling in style with one of these four luxury tours to Banff.

With these four luxury tours to Banff, you will not only see some of the most scenic spots in Banff, but you will also enjoy accommodations at some of the most iconic hotels in Canada. All four of these luxury vacation tours to Banff include a stay at the award-winning Banff Springs Hotel.

Guests of a luxury trip to Banff will enjoy stunning Lake Louise scenery in fall
Lake Louise Larch Trees in Fall

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The 4 Best Luxury Tours to Banff

* Although every effort has been made to provide complete and accurate information, please confirm all tour details with the tour operator prior to booking.

1. Spirit of the Rockies Tour

The Spirit of the Rockies tour showcases the best mountain scenery in British Columbia and Vancouver. This 10-day luxury tour includes a 2-day train ride through the mountains from Vancouver to Alberta, where you explore Banff and Jasper – the top two national parks in Canada.

Rocky Mountaineer - the luxury train to Banff Canada
Photo: Rocky Mountaineer

The Spirit of the Rockies tour not only showcases the best coastal and mountain scenery in Western Canada, but it also includes stays at five of the most iconic luxury hotels in the region.

A luxury trip from Vancouver to Banff is a great way to see the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Lions Gate Bridge – Vancouver, BC

Spirit of the Rockies Itinerary

  • Day 1: Your luxury tour to Banff begins this evening in Vancouver, BC.

  • Day 2: Enjoy a guided tour of Vancouver in the morning, with plenty of free time to explore this scenic city in the afternoon.

  • Day 3: Board the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train and travel eastward towards Banff into the interior of British Columbia. Spend the night in Kamloops, BC.

  • Day 4: Your train journey continues up-and-over the Continental Divide enroute to Banff National Park.

  • Day 5: A tour around the town of Banff includes scenic stops at Surprise Corner, Tunnel Mountain and Bow Falls.

  • Day 6: Get your cameras ready on Day 6 as you visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise – two of the most scenic spots in Banff National Park. Enjoy a guided heritage walk at Lake Louise.
Getting to Banff from Vancouver on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer Train
Rocky Mountaineer Train
  • Day 7: Enjoy a drive on the Icefields Parkway – one of the most scenic roads in the world. Take a tour of the Athabasca Glacier aboard an Ice Explorer vehicle.

  • Day 8: The amazing mountain scenery continues from Jasper to the Sun Peaks resort near Kamloops, BC.

  • Day 9: Travel to Whistler, the most famous ski resort in Canada. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring this spectacular Olympic mountain resort.

  • Day 10: A special start to your day with a private breakfast at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Watch for pods of killer whales as you take a BC Ferry through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. Enjoy guided sightseeing through Victoria.

  • Day 11: Enjoy a free morning in Victoria, before a visit to the special Butchart Gardens.

  • Day 12: Your tour ends with a return ferry trip to Vancouver.
Explore Whistler, BC while on a luxury tour from Vancouver to Banff
Whistler, BC

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

Luxury Tours to Banff with stays at the Banff Springs Hotel
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Of all the luxury tours to Banff featured here, the Spirit of the Rockies tour has the finest selection of luxury accommodations in Western Canada.

2. Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Tour

Spend an amazing week exploring the top Canadian national parks in the Canadian Rockies. Travel in style on the Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Tour with stays at luxury Fairmont hotels in Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise.

The view of Mount Rundle from the Vermillion Lakes is a popular stop on luxury Banff tours
Mount Rundle – Banff National Park

Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Tour Itinerary

  • Day 1: Your luxury Banff tour begins in Calgary, Alberta.

  • Day 2: Enjoy a guided walk at Lake Louise – one of the most spectacular locations in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

  • Day 3: Sit back and soak in the scenery along the Icefields Parkway – one of the most scenic drives in the world. Stop for a visit to see the vibrant blue waters of Peyto Lake. Explore Jasper National Park in the afternoon.

  • Day 4: Relax on a scenic cruise on Jasper’s Maligne Lake.
A good Banff tour will include a visit to the Athabasca Glacier for a ride on an Ice Explorer
Ice Explorer – Athabasca Glacier – Jasper National Park
  • Day 5: Drive back to Banff National Park along the Icefields Parkway. Get up close to a glacier on an Ice Explorer at the Athabasca Glacier.

    
  • Day 6: Take a scenic drive around Tunnel Mountain and Bow Falls. Meet with a Canadian Mountie for stories and a photo opp.

    
  • Day 7: Your luxury Banff tour ends with a drive back to Calgary.

Optional Tour Activities

This luxury Banff tour gives guests the opportunity to go on a guided walk through Maligne Canyon in Jasper.

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

A stay at the Chateau Lake Louise is a highlight of many luxury tours to Banff
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

3. Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer Train

How can you make the Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies tour even better? Add a train trip from Banff to Vancouver on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer train!

Take a train journey through Banff National Park on the Rocky Mountaineer
Bow River – Banff National Park

Great Resorts + Rocky Mountaineer Tour Itinerary

The first 6 days of the Great Resorts of the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer tour are identical to the luxury Banff tour described above. Instead of going home, your journey continues westward by train on day 7:

  • Day 7: Board the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer train in Banff. Relax and enjoy the stunning Rocky Mountain scenery as you pass over the Continental Divide. Spend the evening with free time in Kamloops.

  • Day 8: Your luxury train ride from Banff to Vancouver concludes with a journey along the Thompson River and Fraser Canyon. Explore Vancouver in the evening.
Take a train journey through Banff National Park on the Rocky Mountaineer
  • Day 9: Enjoy a free day sightseeing in Vancouver. Sitting between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, Vancouver is Canada’s most beautiful city.

    
  • Day 10: Your luxury Banff tour ends in Vancouver after breakfast.
Luxury tours from Vancouver to Banff allow guests to enjoy the sea and the mountains
Vancouver, Canada

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

Ramsay Bar at the Banff Springs Hotel - Deals, specials and packages can be found with these tips
Banff Springs Hotel – Banff National Park

4. Secrets of the Rockies and Glacier National Park Tour

A 10 day luxury tour which visits the five best Rocky Mountain parks in Canada and the United States.

Waterton Lakes National Park is a beautiful stop on a luxury tour to Banff
Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada

Secrets of the Rockies Tour Itinerary

  • Tour Day 1: Begin your tour in ‘Cowtown’. Calgary, Alberta is renowned for its cowboy culture and is the gateway to Banff National Park.

  • Tour Day 2: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump on your way to Waterton Lakes National Park.

  • Tour Day 3: Cross into Montana to visit the awe-inspiring Glacier National Park. Enjoy a drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the most scenic drives in the United States.

  • Tour Day 4: Back into Canada, drive through the beautiful Sinclair Canyon in Kootenay National Park on your way to Banff National Park.

  • Tour Day 5: Tour the Banff Townsite, with a stop at Surprise Corner for amazing views of the Bow Falls and the Banff Springs Hotel.
Combining Glacier National Park with Banff National Park is an excellent option for a luxury tour of the Canadian Rockies
Lake McDonald – Glacier National Park, Montana
  • Day 6: Spend the morning at Moraine Lake, one of the most stunning locations in Banff National Park. Explore the beautiful shores of Lake Louise in the afternoon.

  • Day 7: Soak in the stunning scenery along the Icefields Parkway on your way to Jasper National Park. Stop along the way to enjoy a tour of the Athabasca Glacier in a specially designed Ice Explorer.

  • Day 8: Spend a day exploring Jasper National Park. Enjoy a leisurely walk through Maligne Canyon and a relaxing scenic cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.

  • Day 9: Enjoy one last day traveling through the incredible Rocky Mountain parks of Jasper and Banff on your way to Kananaskis Country.

  • Day 10: Bid farewell to the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains before driving back to Calgary.
A stop at Moraine Lake is a must on all luxury tours to Banff
Moraine Lake, Banff National Park

Optional Tour Activities

This luxury Banff tour gives guests the opportunity to go on a Kananaskis helicopter tour, up the Banff Gondola, a Jasper float trip and a Mt. Assiniboine Helicopter Tour.

Luxury Accommodation Included With Tour

Luxury Banff tours will often stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Chateau Lake Louise from Plain of Six Glaciers Hike

The Best Tour Stops on Luxury Tours to Banff

Banff National Park

Canada’s first and most famous national park. Enjoy stunning Rocky Mountain scenery with visits to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and more.

Many luxury tours to Banff will include a visit to Lake Louise
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

Top Banff Luxury Tour Stops:

Moraine Lake: Chances are that if you’ve seen a promotional picture for Banff National Park, it was taken at Moraine Lake – the Jewel of the Rockies. Resting beneath the Valley of the 10 Peaks, the beauty of Moraine Lake is beyond description.

Banff tours typically visit Moraine Lake, one of the most scenic spots in Banff, Canada
Moraine Lake – Banff National Park

Lake Louise: If any place could wrestle the title of “most scenic place in Banff National Park” away from Moraine Lake, it would be Lake Louise. Surrounded by rocky peaks and resting at the foot of the massive Victoria Glacier, the vivid turquoise waters of Lake Louise must be seen to be believed.

Tours to Banff often include a stop at Lake Louise to view the Victoria Glacier
Victoria Glacier – Lake Louise

Surprise Corner: A popular viewpoint in the Town of Banff where you can see both the Bow Falls and the world-famous Banff Springs Hotel.

A Banff tour often stops at Surprise Corner, to get the best view of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Surprise Corner – Banff, Canada

Bow Falls: A wide and powerful waterfall along the Bow River.

The Bow Falls are one of the top things to do near the Banff Springs Hotel

Peyto Lake: A glacier fed mountain lake along the Icefields Parkway with incredibly vibrant blue water.

The incredible blue color of Peyto Lake is often seen on a luxury Banff tour
Peyto Lake – Banff National Park

Jasper National Park

Sharing the same incredible mountain scenery as Banff (its neighbor to the south), Jasper is Canada’s second most visited national park.

best luxury tours to jasper and banff

Top Jasper Tour Stops:

Icefields Parkway: The road which connects Banff and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway has been named one of the Top 10 Scenic Roads in the World.

The Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic roads in the world. Many luxury tours to Banff transit this road between Banff and Jasper National Park
Icefields Parkway

Athabasca Glacier: The most visited glacier in North America, the Athabasca Glacier is one of the six toes of the massive Columbia Icefield.

Many of the best Banff tours include a stop at the massive Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park
Athabasca Glacier

Maligne Lake: The largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, Maligne Lake is home to Spirit Island, one of the most photographed spots in Jasper National Park.

Many luxury tours to Banff and Jasper include a cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island

Maligne Canyon: A short interpretive hike around deep & narrow limestone canyon.

Many luxury tours to Banff and Jasper will stop for a walk around Maligne Canyon in Jasper, Canada
Maligne Canyon – Jasper National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park

A stunning rocky mountain Canadian National Park hugging the Canada / USA border. Waterton is best known for its beautiful chain of lakes surrounded by rugged mountains.

Some comprehensive luxury tours to Banff will include a visit to the beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta
Waterton Lakes National Park – Alberta, Canada

Kananaskis Country

Nestled in-between Calgary and Banff is Kananaskis Country, a collection of Alberta provincial parks. This mountain park has mountain scenery rivalling Banff National Park, without the crowds, making it popular with locals.

Many luxury tours to Banff will visit Kananaskis Country - a beautiful collection of Alberta mountain provincial parks
View from Wind Ridge Hike in Kananaskis Country, Alberta

Glacier National Park (Montana, USA)

A stunning rocky mountain national park in Montana, USA. Together, Glacier National Park and Waterton National Park are the world’s first International Peace Park.

Some luxury tours to Banff will cross the Canada/USA border to visit Glacier National Park in Montana
Lake McDonald – Glacier National Park – Montana, USA

Top Glacier National Park Tour Stops:

Going-to-the-Sun Road: A scenic mountain road through Glacier National Park. This winding mountain road crosses the Continental Divide through Logan Pass.

Many luxury tours to Banff will visit Glacier National Park in Montana to drive the Going to the Sun Road
Going to the Sun Road – Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Kootenay National Park

A hidden gem, the Kootenay National Park joins the Banff and Jasper national parks as a component of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

Some luxury tours to Banff will include a drive through Sinclair Canyon in Kootenay National Park
Sinclair Canyon, Kootenay National Park

Calgary, Alberta

A cosmopolitan city of 1.3 million people, Calgary is the gateway to Banff National Park. Calgary was the host city of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and is home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede.

Luxury Banff tours typically begin and end in Calgary, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Top Calgary Tour Stops:

Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump: This dramatic buffalo jump used by the Blackfoot people is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The UNESCO listed Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is a stop on some luxury Banff Tours
Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump

Kamloops, BC

A charming small mountain city within the British Columbia interior. Sun Peaks is a pedestrian-only, European style village in the mountains near Kamloops.

Luxury tours to Banff on the Rocky Mountaineer will stop in Kamloops, BC
Kamloops Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver, BC

Surrounded by the ocean and towering mountains, Vancouver is Canada’s most beautiful city.

Starting a luxury vacation to Banff from Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada

Whistler, BC

A co-host city of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Whistler is a stunning mountain resort just two hours north of Vancouver.

A gondola ride at Whistler resort on a tour from Vancouver to Banff
Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Victoria, BC

Known for its outdoor activities and Victorian architecture, Victoria enjoys Canada’s mildest climate.

Many luxury tours from Vancouver to Banff will stop in Victoria for a visit to Butchart Gardens
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Top Banff Springs Hotel Deal
Are you an Albertan looking for a staycation in the Rocky Mountains? The Banff Springs Alberta resident rate offers locals up to a 30% discount on room rates!

Not from Alberta? See even more Banff Springs Hotel deals.

More About the Fairmont Banff Springs

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Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hoping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.