Lake Louise: Day Trips and Tours from Banff

Lake Louise is nestled among the Canadian Rockies and attracts millions of visitors to its picturesque shores each year. With dazzling blue waters, powdery slopes and a fairytale hotel, you’ll be able to see why the lake has exploded in popularity over recent years.

A day trip to Lake Louise from Banff enables you to explore the sheer beauty and enchantment of this Canadian paradise, with an assortment of activities.

Here's all you need to know about Lake Louise, one of the most exciting day trips from Banff.

How to get to Lake Louise from Banff?

Lake Louise is located within Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The park is situated in southeastern Alberta and stretches over 600 kilometers. It is just over 60 kilometers between Banff and Lake Louise.

From Banff to Lake Louise by car

The easiest way to make the journey to Lake Louise from Banff is to drive. By car, you can reach the lake in around 45 minutes, following the Trans-Canada Highway — also known as Highway 1 — in a northwesterly direction.

From Banff to Lake Louise by public transport

If you don't have access to a car, you can make the jaunt to Lake Louise via the Roam bus network, which is a public service that leaves from Banff and transports tourists to many of the most famous locations in the national park. In order to reach Lake Louise, you should take bus Line 8X or 8S, both of which run regularly.

Guided tour to Lake Louise from Banff

Another option is to book a guided excursion to Lake Louise and enjoy the astounding scenery without organizing anything. You may meet your guide in the center of Banff town on the morning of your tour. Alternatively, some day trips offer a convenient hotel pickup and drop-off service. These tours typically last between 4 and 8 hours, leaving from Banff between 8 AM, and 9 AM.

How much does the entrance ticket to Lake Louise cost?

While there is no specific entrance fee for Lake Louise, the body of water sits in the Banff National Park, which charges visitors a daily fee to visit.

• Adults: CA$10.50 (US$8)
• Children under 18: Free
• Seniors aged 65+: CA$9 (US$7)

Alternatively, you can purchase a family/group pass, which costs CA$21 (US$15) and covers the entrance fee for up to seven people traveling into the national park in the same vehicle.

What is the typical itinerary?

All Lake Louise day trips have their own unique itineraries, depending on the other sites you’ll be visiting or the activities on the agenda. However, you’ll usually start your day relatively early in Banff town center and begin your short journey toward Lake Louise. Some excursions travel straight to this iconic lake, while others begin at Lake Minnewanka.

Either way, once you arrive at Lake Louise, you’ll have time to look around independently. Here, you can participate in the variety of activities on offer, which ranges from sleigh rides to hiking and snowshoeing. While some Lake Louise day tours run at a leisurely rate, you can expect those that visit a myriad of destinations to be more fast-paced.

After taking in the sights and sounds of Canada’s most famous lake, you may return to Banff, where your Lake Louise day trip ends. Alternatively, your excursion might continue on to other locations, such as Moraine Lake, Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint or Icefields Parkway.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Lake Louise?

There are a number of different day trips to Lake Louise available, depending on the season you visit and the activities you wish to participate in.

Guided full-day tours to Lake Louise from Banff

A day tour to Lake Louise is an action-packed affair, which starts by journeying to Lake Minnewanka — the largest body of water in Banff National Park. Once a thriving ski resort, the village that was located on the shores of the lake is now submerged in water, only visible to scuba divers.

Moving on, you’ll explore Lake Louise, known for its radiant blue waters, as well as the charming hotel that sits upon its shores. Travel the short distance to Moraine Lake to stretch your legs with an energizing hike, before taking a scenic drive along Icefields Parkway. Other destinations you’ll visit before returning to Banff are Bow Lake and Peyto Lake, along with the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint.

Snowshoeing tour to Lake Louise from Banff

Those who plan their visit to Lake Louise during winter can participate in a snowshoeing tour — the cold weather alternative to hiking. Traveling to the lake, you’ll stop to admire the views at Castle Lookout, which stretch over dense pine forests and into the Canadian Rockies of the Banff National Park.

With a professional on hand to help you get used to this way of moving, you’ll don your snowshoes and start your guided walk around the lake, discovering its sensational scenery, and unique geology.

Cross-country skiing day trip to Lake Louise from Banff

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more exhilarating form of exercise, you can opt for a cross-country skiing tour in Lake Louise. These excursions are beginner-friendly and you’ll be led by a professional who will teach you the basics of cross-country skiing, and how it differs from whizzing down the slopes.

This tour is personalized to your specific capabilities, so regardless of your level of experience, you’ll master new skills and learn different techniques, all against the backdrop of the spectacular Lake Louise.

4-Day tour to Lake Louise plus Banff National Park from Banff

Those with more time to spare can choose to explore Banff National Park for 4 days and discover a wealth of its most magnificent sights. You’ll visit a handful of the most famous and beloved lakes of Alberta, including Lake Minnewanka, and Lake Louise.

While on a day tour of Lake Louise, you’ll have the opportunity to try snow tubing, hop onto a sightseeing gondola or snowshoe your way across the frozen water of the lake itself. You’ll spend your days dipping in and out of thermal hot springs, admiring thundering waterfalls and hiking through limestone canyons.

How much does a day trip to Lake Louise from Banff cost?

The most budget-friendly day trip to Lake Louise is a snowshoeing excursion that costs approximately US$70 per person and lasts around 4 hours. Cross-country skiing tours cost around US$110 each and include an instructor but you’ll need to provide your own skiing equipment.

You can expect to pay US$140 per person for a day tour of Lake Louise, which visits several other sites within the national park, including Peyto Lake and Moraine Lake.

Alternatively, multi-day tours to Banff National Park, which include Lake Louise cost US$630 per person and include 3 nights of accommodation.

What will you see and do?

Lake Louise is one of the most famous spots in Alberta and across Canada for adventure enthusiasts to visit on a vacation to the northern town of Banff. The lake was originally named Ho-run-num-nay by the indigenous tribes, however, it was later renamed after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta who was one of Queen Victoria's six children.

The most remarkable feature of the lake is its color, which transforms as the surface melts to a vivid turquoise hue. This is caused by rock flour that is transported into the water through the glacial melt that occurs every year as the temperature rises in May and June, from the glaciers that surround Lake Louise. Several other bodies of water in the region also have this spectacular coloring during the summer, including the neighboring Moraine Lake, which can also be visited on a Lake Louise day tour.

The Fairmont Château Lake Louise is situated on the shores of the lake and has become an attraction by itself. While the hotel primarily provides accommodation to those wishing to escape the hustle, and bustle of daily life, tourists can also rent sports equipment, enjoy a meal or relax with a massage at the onsite spa.

There are a variety of hiking trails around the lake, all of which provide exceptional views over Banff National Park and are suitable for differing abilities. Summer activities include canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding, as well as rock climbing for extreme thrill seekers.

During the winter, you can tick off a bucket list experience by gliding across the frozen Lake Louise on ice skates. Ice fishing, ice climbing and dog sledding are all popular activities during this colder season. Alternatively, you can snowshoe or ski in the surrounding region.

What are the opening times?

It's possible to visit Lake Louise at any time of day, 365 days a year. However, if you need to go to the visitor center for any reason, you'll find it open from 9 AM to 5 PM from September to May and from 8:30 AM to 7 PM during the summer months.

When is the best time to visit Lake Louise?

The best time to visit Lake Louise depends on the types of activities you'd like to participate in and the views you'd like to see. If you head to the lake during the wintertime, you can expect plenty of snow and temperatures that dip as low as -20 degrees Celsius.

During January, there is an annual ice carving competition that occurs around the lake and draws in a plethora of artists, and spectators from across the world.

Alternatively, if you prefer hiking on dry ground, you should head to Lake Louise during the summer months, when daytime temperatures climb to around 21 degrees Celsius. In July and August, the weather is balmy, and the lake is its iconic vibrant blue color, however, crowds can be intense.

In order to avoid hordes of tourists, you may wish to consider planning your Lake Louise day trip for June or September.

Travel tips

• The weather at Lake Louise varies dramatically depending on the time of year and the time of day you go. Make sure you’re prepared for every eventuality with extra layers at all times.
• Most Lake Louise day trips require a moderate amount of walking. Wear hiking boots with a suitable grip and make sure you wear them in before your trip for maximum comfort.
• If you're an avid wildlife watcher, you'll find the park's resident animals at their most active during the spring and summer months.