Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper for three generations
6 days from Calgary to Edmonton for grandparents, parents and children 6 and up: three nights in Banff, two in Jasper, Moraine Lake without a 4 am start, a hot-spring afternoon and a walk on the Athabasca Glacier.
6 days · Calgary to Edmonton · up to 12 guests
Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks Photo: Andrea Belvedere, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moraine_Lake_-_36964910112.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- Calgary to Edmonton
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4 h on day 6No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Easy
Easy walks of up to about 1.5 hours on paved or packed paths at 1,400 to 2,100 metres, with benches and turn-back points; a few steps onto the Athabasca Glacier at about 2,000 metres. The Upper Falls at Johnston Canyon and the climb to Lake Agnes are options, not plan. Every day has a sit-down option for anyone who wants to rest, and no leg between stops is over about 2 hours of driving.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 950 (estimated price)
- Season
- Late June to late August
Highlights
Why this trip
- Moraine Lake on a 7:30 am Parks Canada shuttle, nearly three hours later than the sunrise trips
- A family canoe on Lake Louise below the Victoria Glacier
- An afternoon in the hot pools of the Banff Upper Hot Springs
- The Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk
- A morning cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island
- Elk beside the road around Jasper and the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
- Three nights in Banff and two in Jasper, with dinner at about 5:30 pm
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 950 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4 h, on day 6.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Calgary to Banff and the gondola
Calgary airport to Banff, about 145 km and 1.5 hours
- Early welcome dinner
- Stay in Banff
- Drive about 1.5 h
Fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC), landing by about 11:30 am, and your See Sight Tours guide meets the family in the arrivals hall. We drive west on the Trans-Canada Highway, about 145 km and an hour and a half, with a comfort stop in Canmore so nobody sits too long, as the prairie turns to foothills and then to the grey wall of the Front Ranges. We reach Banff by about 2:30 pm, check in to the hotel, your base for three nights, and the children can stretch their legs on Banff Avenue. At about 4 pm, while everyone still has energy, we ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. A boardwalk with steps and benches runs along the summit ridge to a stone weather station built in 1903; grandparents can stay at the upper terminal building, which has the same view of the town, the Bow River and Mount Rundle.
Evening
At about 5:30 pm we sit down together for an early welcome dinner, where the guide explains the week.
Included
- Pick-up at Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
- Welcome dinner at about 5:30 pm
Easier option: Stay at the gondola's upper terminal building, with the same view, instead of the summit boardwalk.
More active option: Walk the full summit boardwalk to the old weather station on Sanson Peak.
Free time: Free time in Banff before the gondola
Johnston Canyon and the hot springs
Banff to Johnston Canyon and back, then the Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Breakfast
- Stay in Banff
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
After breakfast we drive about 30 minutes up the Bow Valley to Johnston Canyon and start walking at about 8:30 am, before the car park fills. A paved path and steel catwalks fixed to the limestone walls climb gently about 1.1 km up the narrow canyon, with the creek racing below, to the Lower Falls, where a short tunnel through the rock brings you right up to the spray. Children love the catwalks; the path has railings the whole way, and the walk is about an hour there and back at an easy pace. Anyone keen can carry on with the guide to the taller Upper Falls.
Afternoon
We are back in Banff for lunch on your own along Banff Avenue, then in mid-afternoon we go up to the Banff Upper Hot Springs, an outdoor pool of warm mineral water facing the mountains, for an hour or two of soaking while the grandparents sit on the terrace or join in.
Evening
Dinner is on your own tonight, with suggestions from the guide.
Included
- Guided walk to the Lower Falls of Johnston Canyon
- Entry to the Banff Upper Hot Springs
Optional experiences
- Lake Minnewanka cruise
- One-hour trail ride with a Banff outfitter, for riders old enough
Easier option: Walk part of the canyon path and wait at a viewpoint, or stay in Banff for a slow morning and join for the hot springs.
More active option: Continue to the Upper Falls with the guide, about 5 km there and back from the car park.
Free time: Lunch and an hour free in Banff
Moraine Lake and a canoe on Lake Louise
Banff to the Lake Louise Park and Ride, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise by Parks Canada shuttle, back to Banff
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Banff
- Drive about 1.5 h
Personal vehicles are barred from the Moraine Lake road, so we leave the hotel at about 6:45 am, drive 45 minutes to the Lake Louise Park and Ride and board a Parks Canada shuttle at about 7:30 am, booked for the group.
Morning
It is still early, but nearly three hours later than the 4 am sunrise trips, and the lake is calm. A short walk along the shore gives the view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks; the climb up the Rockpile, with steps and a good trail, gives the famous one, and the guide waits at the bottom with anyone who prefers. The Lake Connector shuttle takes us on to Lake Louise, where families paddle out in canoes below the Victoria Glacier, with life jackets for everyone.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal at the lake, then you choose: the flat shoreline path, or the climb to the Lake Agnes Teahouse with the guide. The shuttle returns us to the Park and Ride and we are back in Banff by about 4 pm, with time for a rest, or the hotel pool if there is one.
Included
- Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake and the Lake Connector to Lake Louise
- A canoe on Lake Louise, weather permitting
- Sit-down lunch at Lake Louise
Optional experiences
- Tea at the Lake Agnes Teahouse
Easier option: Stroll the flat Lake Louise shoreline path, up to about 2 km each way, and stop wherever you like; skip the Rockpile steps at Moraine Lake.
More active option: Hike to the Lake Agnes Teahouse with the guide: about 7 km there and back with about 400 m of climbing, 2.5 to 3 hours with tea. Bring some cash.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Banff
Activity: We leave the hotel at about 6:45 am. Shuttle seats are booked in advance for the group; a later shuttle depends on reservations, and the time is confirmed with your final itinerary.
The Icefields Parkway and the glacier
Banff to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway, about 290 km, in five short legs
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Jasper
- Drive about 4 h
Today we drive the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, about 290 km and three and three-quarter hours at the wheel, spread across the whole day so no leg is longer than about an hour and a quarter. The first stop is Bow Lake, where the Crowfoot Glacier hangs above the water, then Bow Summit, where a short paved path leads to the viewpoint over the glacial blue of Peyto Lake.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal at the Columbia Icefield. Afterwards we join the Columbia Icefield Adventure: an Ice Explorer, a huge all-terrain bus with big windows, crawls down a steep moraine onto the Athabasca Glacier, and you step out to walk on the ice. It is cold, so everyone needs a warm layer and a hat. Next is the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored walkway out over the Sunwapta Valley, which grandparents can view from the solid path if they prefer.
Evening
Our last stop is Athabasca Falls, a few minutes from the car park, before Jasper, check-in and an early dinner together.
Included
- Stops at Bow Lake and the Peyto Lake viewpoint
- Sit-down lunch at the Columbia Icefield
- Columbia Icefield Adventure: Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk
- Athabasca Falls
- Dinner at about 5:30 pm in Jasper
Easier option: Stay on the Ice Explorer platform close to the bus, and see the Skywalk from the solid walkway before the glass section.
More active option: Walk further across the marked area of the glacier, and the full Peyto Lake viewpoint path.
Activity: The drive time excludes stops; we stop at least every 75 minutes.
Maligne Lake and a lakeside afternoon
Jasper to Maligne Lake and back, about 48 km and 1 hour each way
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Jasper
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
After breakfast we drive the Maligne Road into the valley east of Jasper, where elk often graze beside the road and the children can count them from the windows. We pause at Medicine Lake, which drains through sinkholes in its bed into an underground river, so by late summer it can shrink to mudflats; it makes a good story for the guide. At Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, we board a morning cruise to Spirit Island, a small tree-covered island that is a sacred place for the Stoney Nakoda, with a short stop on shore for photos.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal by the lake before we drive back to Jasper. The afternoon is free and close to town: the guide can take anyone who wants to the paved loop and small beach at Lake Annette, or to the town pool at the Jasper Activity Centre (entry paid on the day), while others rest at the hotel.
Evening
At about 5:30 pm we gather for a farewell dinner.
Included
- Medicine Lake viewpoint
- Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island
- Sit-down lunch at Maligne Lake
- Farewell dinner at about 5:30 pm
Optional experiences
- Jasper SkyTram up Whistlers Mountain
- Entry to the Jasper Activity Centre pool
Easier option: Stay on the boat's covered deck during the cruise, and spend the afternoon resting in Jasper.
More active option: Walk the Mary Schäffer Loop at Maligne Lake before lunch, about 3 km on a good path.
Free time: Afternoon free in Jasper
Jasper to Edmonton airport
Jasper to Hinton, Edson and Edmonton International Airport, about 380 km and 4 hours
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
A last breakfast in Jasper, then we leave at about 8:30 am on the Yellowhead Highway, following the Athabasca River out of the mountains past lakes and gravel flats where bighorn sheep and elk are sometimes seen near the road. This is the longest drive of the trip, about 380 km and four hours, so we break it into three legs. After about an hour we stop in Hinton to stretch on the Beaver Boardwalk, a flat wooden walkway over wetlands at the edge of town.
Afternoon
Another hour brings us to Edson for a sit-down lunch. The last leg, about two hours through the forest and farmland of central Alberta, reaches Edmonton International Airport (YEG) at about 2:45 pm, so please book a flight leaving after 4:30 pm. Finishing in Edmonton means we never drive the Icefields Parkway twice, and it is shorter than the run back to Calgary.
Evening
Families who want an extra night in Edmonton or the Rockies can ask us to arrange it.
Included
- Stop at the Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton
- Sit-down lunch in Edson
- Drop-off at Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
Easier option: Stay near the start of the boardwalk, where there are benches.
Activity: The one day at about 4 hours of driving, in legs of 1, 1 and 2 hours.
- Calgarystart
- Banff3 nights
- Jasper2 nights
- Edmontonend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: July and August days in the valleys are often 20 to 25°C, but mornings are cool and it can be near freezing on the Athabasca Glacier, so pack layers for everyone. Afternoon showers are common, and smoke from distant wildfires can haze the views on some days. Elk are likely around Jasper; black bears, grizzly bears and bighorn sheep are possible but never guaranteed, and we watch from the vehicle when animals are close.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Grandparents, parents and children 6 and up travelling together
- Families who want the famous lakes without 4 am starts or long hikes
- Grandparents who walk well on paths but want a bench and an easy option every day
- Families who would rather unpack twice than four times
Not for you if you want
- Hikers who want a long or high trail every day
- Families with children under 6
- Anyone who wants sunrise at Moraine Lake: we arrive later in the morning
- Travellers who need fully step-free access at every stop; ask us first
Minimum age: 6
Most guests are 6 to 80
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Banff3 nights
- Jasper2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights in 3-star-plus hotels, twin share: 3 in Banff and 2 in Jasper
- Family rooms or connecting rooms requested for every family
Transport
- Pick-up at Calgary International Airport (YYC) and drop-off at Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- A minibus with a professional driver for the whole trip
- Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake and the Lake Connector to Lake Louise
- Maligne Lake cruise boat
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide from Calgary to Edmonton
Activities
- Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
- Guided walk at Johnston Canyon
- Entry to the Banff Upper Hot Springs
- A canoe on Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Columbia Icefield Adventure: Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk
- Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Athabasca Falls
- Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island
- Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton
- Parks Canada national park admission for every day of the trip
Meals
- 5 breakfasts
- 4 sit-down lunches, on days 3 to 6
- 3 dinners at about 5:30 pm: a welcome dinner in Banff, dinner on arrival in Jasper and a farewell dinner in Jasper
Not included
- Flights to Calgary and from Edmonton
- Visa or eTA
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities: Lake Minnewanka cruise, trail ride, Jasper SkyTram, Jasper Activity Centre pool, tea at Lake Agnes
- Personal expenses
- Extra nights before or after the trip
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 950 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the trip include?
Five hotel nights (3 in Banff, 2 in Jasper) with family or connecting rooms requested, a See Sight Tours guide and a driver from Calgary to Edmonton, the Banff Gondola, the Upper Hot Springs, the Moraine Lake shuttle, a canoe on Lake Louise, the Ice Explorer and Skywalk, the Maligne Lake cruise, park admission, and 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners.
Is this trip suitable for a 70-year-old and a young child?
Yes, that is who it is designed for. Walks are short and on paved or packed paths, every climb has an easy option written into the day, lunches are sit-down and dinners start at about 5:30 pm. The earliest start is day 3, leaving the hotel at about 6:45 am for a 7:30 am shuttle. The minimum age is 6.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, and children count as guests. A family of seven can fill a departure on its own. A family of six or fewer joins other guests on a departure, or books the private version to travel alone on a date you choose.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the Calgary pick-up to the Edmonton drop-off, and a professional driver drives the minibus, so the guide's attention stays on the family. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
Can we get family rooms or connecting rooms?
We request family rooms or connecting rooms for every family and confirm the room plan with your dates. Hotels are 3-star-plus, in walking distance of the Banff and Jasper town centres, and we name each one when we confirm. Ask if you need a cot or rollaway.
Is there a child price, and what about the single supplement?
A child price for ages 6 to 15 sharing a room with adults is quoted on request. A grandparent sharing with a grandchild pays the twin-share price, with no supplement. A room of your own is from CAD 950 more. Small group from CAD 5,610 per person, private from CAD 10,100.
How fit do we need to be?
If you can walk about an hour on a good path with stops, you can do every included part of this trip. The Johnston Canyon catwalks have railings, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise have flat shoreline paths, and the glacier walk is a few steps from the Ice Explorer. Lake Agnes and the Upper Falls are options.
When is the best time to go with children?
The trip runs from late June to late August, in the school holidays, when the Ice Explorer, the Maligne Lake cruise, the Lake Louise canoes and the Moraine Lake shuttle all operate. Lakes are fully thawed by then. July and August are the warmest months and the busiest, so we book shuttles and boats early.
Why don't we see Moraine Lake at sunrise?
Because sunrise means leaving Banff at about 4 am, which is hard on young children and grandparents. Personal vehicles are barred from the Moraine Lake road, so we leave the hotel at about 6:45 am for a 7:30 am Parks Canada shuttle from the Park and Ride, which still arrives before the late-morning crowds.
Is Jasper open after the 2024 wildfire?
Yes. The town, Maligne Lake, Athabasca Falls and the Icefields Parkway are open, and you will see burned forest on some drives. Maligne Canyon is still closed, so the Maligne day visits Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake instead. We recheck every stop before your departure.
Can we travel on our own dates?
Yes. Book the private version for your family only, on a date you choose, with the same guide, driver and plan. If you would rather travel independently, ask us from the dates section for a separate quote; that is an inquiry, not one of the trip styles.
How does booking work, and do we need visas?
Send your preferred dates as an enquiry. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. Visitors from outside Canada need a passport and, depending on nationality, an eTA or a visitor visa; each child needs their own passport and, if travelling with one parent, a consent letter.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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