Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 52 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola worth booking?
Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola is a 4-hour experience in Banff, Canada, from $226 per person. It scores 68 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 52 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 68 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (52)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $226 per person
Wildlife below, the whole Rockies above. This half-day tour explores the quiet back roads of Banff National Park, stopping at lakes, viewpoints, and wildlife corridors where animals are most active, while your guide shares the history and ecology of the park. Then the Banff Gondola carries you up Sulphur Mountain for views across six mountain ranges. We spot wildlife on 95% of departures from May to October. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep are the regulars, with bears in season. ★ Banff's top-rated tour provider, with 5,000+ five-star reviews and four Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards. Highlights: ◆ Banff Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain ◆ Elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and seasonal bears ◆ Quiet back roads and lake viewpoints ◆ Banff history and wildlife insight from a local guide Why book with Radventures: ▸ Max 10 guests in a premium van, never a coach ▸ Banff-born, independently owned ▸ 1% of every booking protects the places you explore
What you get
About this experience
Wildlife below, the whole Rockies above. This half-day tour explores the quiet back roads of Banff National Park, stopping at lakes, viewpoints, and wildlife corridors where animals are most active, while your guide shares the history and ecology of the park. Then the Banff Gondola carries you up Sulphur Mountain for views across six mountain ranges. We spot wildlife on 95% of departures from May to October. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep are the regulars, with bears in season. ★ Banff's top-rated tour provider, with 5,000+ five-star reviews and four Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards. Highlights: ◆ Banff Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain ◆ Elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and seasonal bears ◆ Quiet back roads and lake viewpoints ◆ Banff history and wildlife insight from a local guide Why book with Radventures: ▸ Max 10 guests in a premium van, never a coach ▸ Banff-born, independently owned ▸ 1% of every booking protects the places you explore
What's included
Included
- Comfortable, premium transportation
- Banff Gondola Admission
- Hot drinks (hot chocolate, coffee, or tea) & sweet treat – winter only
- Polaroid souvenir
- Fresh water refills (BYO bottle)
- Small group experience (max 12 guests)
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off at select Banff locations
Not included
- Guide gratuities (optional)
What you'll see and do
Banff National Park
Your local guide tailors the itinerary for each tour. Every day, we connect with other tour operators and Banff locals to gather wildlife sightings, and factor in seasonal weather and bus tour schedules, so you get the most authentic experience of the day, without the crowds. The stops listed below are just some of what you'll see on this tour.
Pass by without stopping
Head up Mount Norquay, home to Banff's first ski resort, to one of our favourite viewpoints over the town of Banff and the mountains that surround it.
15 minutes here
Lake Minnewanka
Keep an eye out for bears, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, coyotes, foxes, and other wildlife as we travel deep into Banff National Park to the glacier-fed waters of Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake.
30 minutes here
Hoodoos Trail
Take a short walk to one of Banff National Park's red chair spots, with sweeping views of the hoodoos and the Canadian Rockies as they stretch across the Bow Valley.
20 minutes here
Surprise Corner
Look up through the alpine forest on Tunnel Mountain to the Fairmont Banff Springs, the famous local hotel that looks like a castle in the sky.
15 minutes here
Bow Falls
Visit Bow Falls, the backdrop for a famous scene in the 1954 Marilyn Monroe film "River of No Return."
15 minutes here
Banff Gondola
Ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for sweeping 360° alpine views.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the Bus loading Zone outside Fairmont Shops by turn circle. Pickup times (15 min after tour start): Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:45pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:45pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:45pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:45pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:15pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:15pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times (10 min after tour start): Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:40pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:40pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:40pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:40pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:10pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:10pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the front of the hotel. Pickup times (5 min after tour start): Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:35pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:35pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:35pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:35pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:05pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:05pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the Bus Zone on Elk Street, by the roundabout across from the Station, next to the Banff sign. Pickup times: Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:30pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:30pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:30pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:30pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:00pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:00pm Please be ready 10 min before.
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times: Summer (5 min before tour start) May 1 – Jun 31: 4:25pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:25pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:25pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:25pm Oct 1 – 12: 2:55pm Winter (5 min before tour start) Oct 13 – Apr 30: 12:55pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times: Summer (10 min before tour start) May 1 – Jun 31: 4:20pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:20pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:20pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:20pm Oct 1 – 12: 2:50pm Winter (5 min before tour start) Oct 13 – Apr 30: 12:55pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Meeting point
Banff
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times: Summer (10 min before tour start) May 1 – Jun 31: 4:20pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:20pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:20pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:20pm Oct 1 – 12: 2:50pm Winter (5 min before tour start) Oct 13 – Apr 30: 12:55pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Meet at the Bus loading Zone outside Fairmont Shops by turn circle. Pickup times (15 min after tour start): Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:45pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:45pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:45pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:45pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:15pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:15pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Ends at
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times (10 min after tour start): Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:40pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:40pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:40pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:40pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:10pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:10pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Ends at
Meet at the front of the hotel. Pickup times (5 min after tour start): Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:35pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:35pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:35pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:35pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:05pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:05pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Ends at
Meet at the Bus Zone on Elk Street, by the roundabout across from the Station, next to the Banff sign. Pickup times: Summer: May 1 – Jun 31: 4:30pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:30pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:30pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:30pm Oct 1 – 12: 3:00pm Winter: Oct 13 – Apr 30: 1:00pm Please be ready 10 min before.
Ends at
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times: Summer (5 min before tour start) May 1 – Jun 31: 4:25pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:25pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:25pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:25pm Oct 1 – 12: 2:55pm Winter (5 min before tour start) Oct 13 – Apr 30: 12:55pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Ends at
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times: Summer (10 min before tour start) May 1 – Jun 31: 4:20pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:20pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:20pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:20pm Oct 1 – 12: 2:50pm Winter (5 min before tour start) Oct 13 – Apr 30: 12:55pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Ends at
Meet at the front of the hotel on Banff Ave. Pickup times: Summer (10 min before tour start) May 1 – Jun 31: 4:20pm Jun 1 – Jul 31: 5:20pm Aug 1 – 31: 4:20pm Sept 1 – 30: 3:20pm Oct 1 – 12: 2:50pm Winter (5 min before tour start) Oct 13 – Apr 30: 12:55pm Please be ready 10 min before departure.
Options you can book
Summer
Winter
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Radventures
Know before you go
- 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
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 52 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
4 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
52 verified traveler reviews for Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Beautiful, fun, Interesting and exciting!
The wildlife tour with Nolan was excellent! This was the end of our weeklong visit to Western Canada and we can highly recommend this tour without hesitation! We saw quite a bit of wildlife along the way and ended at the Banff Gondola which was amazing!
Response from the operator: Thanks for ending your week in Western Canada with us. Nolan knows his wildlife, so glad you saw plenty along the way, and finishing at the Gondola is a good way to close out a Banff trip. He’ll be happy to read this.
via Tripadvisor
Fun tour worth the time and money.
Marny was an excellent guide. We got to see black bears, mule deer and a lot of elk, both cows and 3 bulls. The tour was very nice and the gondola ride was very nice.
Response from the operator: Black bears, mule deer, cows and three bulls and a gondola ride, that's a full dance card. Marnie will be pleased. Thanks for the kind words.
via Tripadvisor
Fun, shorts trip
This was our second excursion with Radventures and Tour Guide Tyler. It did not disappoint. We saw big horn sheep and elk. The gondola ride was amazing.
Response from the operator: Second time out with Tyler and it still delivered, that says a lot. Bighorn sheep and elk alongside a great gondola ride rounds out a strong day. Thanks for this, we'll pass it on to him.
via Tripadvisor
Great guide but bad weather for a view
Ellie was a great guide! She shared a lot of interesting information and knew great spots to see bighorn sheep and elk. The gondola was only ok because it was very cloudy due to weather, we couldn’t see much of anything from the top. The saving grace was Ellie got them to start the marshmallow toasting back up and we enjoyed some hot sugar.
Response from the operator: Cloudy conditions at the top of the Gondola are never ideal, but Ellie getting the marshmallow toasting going again as the save is a lovely touch, turning a disappointing view into a nice moment anyway. Bighorn sheep and elk spots along the way rounding it out. Thanks for this, we'll pass it on to her.
via Viator
Lovely guide
Natasha was a lovely guide, very helpful & made the trip enjoyable. We were lucky with the weather when we went on the gondola.
Response from the operator: Lovely and helpful with good weather for the gondola, sounds like a great combination. Thanks for this.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $226 to $370
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 18
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Radventures, who run 12 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 70.4.
See everything Radventures runsWhy this scores 68
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Banff.
How much does Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola cost?
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Prices start at $226 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Banff usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Banff is not rushed.
Is Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 68 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 52 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Banff, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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Around 18 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Banff can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Banff and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Banff within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Banff?
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On Outty we rank every Banff experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Hop-On and Hop-Off Banff Bus, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and the Icefields Parkway Full-Day Tour, Lake Louise Emerald Lake Natural Bridge Half Day Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Banff?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Banff?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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Included: Comfortable, premium transportation; Banff Gondola Admission; Hot drinks (hot chocolate, coffee, or tea) & sweet treat – winter only; Polaroid souvenir; and Fresh water refills (BYO bottle). Not included: Guide gratuities (optional). Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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Meet at the Bus loading Zone outside Fairmont Shops by turn circle. Pickup times (15 min after tour start): Summer: May. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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Across 52 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Banff Highlights and Wildlife Small Group Tour with Gondola?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Summer, Winter. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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