Beyond the Scenery: Delving into Banff's History on a Guided Sightseeing Tour

Hidden within Banff National Park are some of the most breathtaking natural wonders seen on this side of the globe. If you’re visiting Banff for the first time, you might miss them! That’s why Banff Adventures offers Guided Sightseeing Tours that reveal some of the Canadian Rockies’ best-kept secrets. 

Keep reading to learn what Banff Adventures’ guided Banff tours are all about! 

Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Sightseeing Tour

The Discover Banff & Its Wildlife sightseeing tour is Banff Adventures’ quintessential complete orientation to everything you need to know about Banff, Alberta and the wildlife we share these lands with. 

The tour starts bright and early at 8:30am and lasts three hours, bringing you back to town just in time for lunch! Children 5 years old and younger have free admission. 

Banff Adventures offers a hotel pick-up and drop-off service and hot chocolate and snacks partway through the tour. We provide binoculars and spotting scopes for wildlife watching, but if you have a pair of binoculars, you are welcome to bring them along!

Banff is a World Heritage Site

The seven parks of the Canadian Rockies are considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of the incredible natural biogeographical diversity in the Rocky Mountain’s relatively untouched lands. 

On this Banff tour, you will experience the extraordinary grandeur of the Canadian Rockies and learn the rich history of Banff National Park. One of the best stories you’ll hear is about the 11,000-year-old human history of Bow Valley and how it changed after three railway workers discovered the Cave & Basin, which is now a National Historic Site.

Wildlife Watching

The best time of day to catch Banff’s famous wildlife awake and active is just after dawn or in the early morning, which is why the Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour departs at 8:30am! Using binoculars and spotting scopes, you might be able to spot some of Banff’s furriest inhabitants. 

The Banff Adventures guide will teach your group about Canadian wildlife behaviour, their habitats, and especially their winter survival adaptations. The grizzlies and black bears will be hibernating in the middle of winter, but the other wildlife are active in the chilly winter. 

Keep your binoculars close and your eyes peeled for elk, moose, deer, coyotes, bighorn sheep, falcons, owls, and so many more!

Historically Significant & Scenic Landmarks

Diverse wildlife and environment aren’t the only things Banff has to offer! This guided tour takes you along some of Banff’s most historically significant landmarks, like the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Bow Falls. Visit the Hoodoos Viewpoint, Surprise Corner Lookout and the frozen glacial Lake Minnewanka. 

To keep you warm, we serve hot chocolate and maple cookies at one of the scenic stops! Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, and consider picking up a pair of rental ice cleats from Banff Adventures’ store on 211 Bear Street to keep you steady in icy conditions. 

Ready For an Epic Winter Adventure?

Contact Banff Adventures today to book your Discover Banff & Its Wildlife Tour or learn more about other Banff tours.