Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore with Banff's top-rated tour operator down backroads teeming with wildlife, plus the selection of Banff’s best viewpoints and secret spots.
Along the journey, you’ll be wowed by local tales and the fascinating history of Banff’s indigenous and European past as well as fun facts about the local wildlife, as we explore Banff’s backroads travelling through forests, mountain passes and wildlife corridors that bears, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, lynx, cougars, coyotes, foxes, deer and more call home.
Thanks to the small group and tour vehicle size, the access to areas of Banff that we have and the expert local guides insider knowledge, we see wildlife on 95% of the daily summer departures.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children 8 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
What To Expect
Banff National Park
Your expert local guide will tailor make the itinerary for each tour. Every day, we connect with other tour operators and Banff locals to gather information about recent wildlife sightings and consider seasonal weather conditions & big bus tour company schedules to ensure that you're getting the best, most authentic experience without the crowds! The destinations listed below are just some of the amazing stops you'll make on this tour.
Ascend up Mount Norquay, the home of Banff's first ski resort and visit our favourite viewpoint showcasing the town of Banff and the big mountains that surround it.
Options
Summer
Pickup included
Winter
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Banff Gondola Admission
Hot drinks (hot chocolate, coffee, or tea) & sweet treat – winter only
Polaroid souvenir
Hotel pick-up in Banff
Comfortable, upscale transportation with panoramic windows
Small group experience (max 12 guests)
Fresh water refills (BYO water bottle)
Guide gratuities (optional)
National Park Pass
Pickup points
Fairmont Banff Springs
405 Spray Avenue Banff Canada
Peaks Hotel and Suites
218 Lynx Street Banff Canada
Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa
521 Banff Avenue Banff Canada
Canalta Lodge Banff
545 Banff Ave Banff Canada
Moose Hotel and Suites
345 Banff Avenue Banff Canada
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
24 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great evening
marykb2014,Jul 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Liam was great. Very knowledgeable and friendly
Great way to explore Banff
H3298DUmattm,Jul 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was very informative and Liam was a great guide!
Banff National Park stands the test of time.
carolinemK2125TN,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fabulous tour with the lovely Emily who was very knowledgeable about the location and the animals.
A perfect experience with an outstanding guide
X6162RIalang,Jun 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00TL;DR: EVERYTHING about this tour was exceptional! From the moment our amazing guide, Gabi, picked us up we knew we were in for a great tour. The small group made it very easy to feel personally engaged as we weren’t lost in the crowd. The fact that Gabi was talking WITH us and not TO us made it even better. As we drove through town, even on our way to pick up additional guests, she was already giving us excellent content and helping us to gain an appreciation of what we were to see. Throughout our journey to each of our stops, Gabi gave great information and insights while allowing us to also just take in and appreciate the immense beauty of the majestic scenery. She had a keen eye for spotting wildlife and making sure we had ample opportunities to observe and photograph. While sites to be seen from the top of the gondola ride were magnificent and largely self-explanatory, Gabi circulated throughout the observation areas, making sure to interact with each of the guests on the tour - answering questions and just engaging in conversation. By the time we ended the tour, we felt that we had not only gained a deeper appreciation of Banff but established a connection with our excellent guide. A truly wonderful tour that we would recommend to anyone! (And if you get Gabi, BONUS!)
Awesome wildlife and scenery
Becgr,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide Marnie was amazing, full of facts and history about Banff. We went to beautiful locations and managed to see quite a bit of wildlife. Elk, a big horned sheep and baby, a bald eagle and a coyote with pups. Definitely worth it. A great way to see Banff and its wildlife.
Scenic Banff on steroids.
Resort562591,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a must do if you are in Banff for a day or two. The evening time is fantastic as it’s not as busy in many of the places you visit and more chance for that amazing photo or spotting wildlife. Gareth our guide was superb! He had so much local knowledge, history, animal information and just generally knew his stuff. He was very attentive and continuously checked in with us to see if we were happy, wanted more time and offered to take lots of photos at the great spots he took us to. Highly recommend!
Great guide, nice views, comfortable journey
Anu Kriti W,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Very comfortable tour. Georgia knew plenty of stories about the places we were visiting. As story fiends this was the best part for us. The tour was our first one after arriving and gave us a good overview of the area as well. We got lucky and saw a little bear family :) wildlife is a luck thing. This tour doesn't go hunting for wildlife sightings but drives along roads where there's a higher chance of seeing wildlife. There was some miscomm regarding the pickup. Over the tripadvisor chat we had agreed upon a location different to what was on the pickup list. Had we not called radventures, we're not sure if we would've still been picked up. So do ensure signals aren't crossed when arranging the pickup or if you find yourself waiting at the location after a few minutes. Georgia was still so fantastic even after the miscommunication.
Best way to see the best of Banff
ayyar,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Terrific outing, especially If you're not in town long; this is a great way to cover a lot of ground and take in breathtaking vistas in comfort. Our savvy and thoroughly entertaining guide, Liam, a careful driver on the mountain roads, made sure we made the most of it. He had a story - well, usually more than one - for every turn and at every stop, and answered questions not just patiently but enthusiastically. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, of course, but we spotted mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, and a little fox trotting cheerfully down the road. The gondola ride, offering spectacular views, was the highlight, of course. We would have been happy to spend more time at the excellent mountaintop facility, with its 360-degree terraces and fascinating indoor displays; do dress for substantially cooler temps than at ground level.
Do this tour when you are in Banff
Go49629771169,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00James took us on a terrific tour of the area around Banff with gorgeous views, interesting facts and plenty of animals (including a bear). James was very personable and genuinely seemed to enjoy conducting the tour.
Great tour of Banff with vistas, wildlife and gondola
Alexandro G,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was amazing. Our guide, Georgia, was incredibly knowledgeable and you could tell loved the park. She knew so much about the area and the animals. I would definitely recommend this tour. We saw elk, Big Horn White Sheep, deer and chipmunks.
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