Banff: Sunset & Stargazing - 2hr Walking Tour
4.5

Banff: Sunset & Stargazing - 2hr Walking Tour

By Banff & Canmore Tours
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Ages 8-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Headlamps and Lanterns Included
  • Professional Certified Guide
  • Ice Cleats Included *when required


Start:
  • Cave and Basin National Historic Site, 311 Cave Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
    Please meet your guide outside at the Cave and Basin Parking Lot near the glass building. There is free parking at this location. Your guide will have a brown hat and white van. Please arrive 10mins before departure.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 155849P10

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travellers with back problems
    • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travellers can participate
    • The tour departure time changes seasonally you will be contact 8-24hrs prior via Viator Message if there is a change in departure time. We depart around sunset seasonally.
    • Outdoor footwear is required. Trails are used by horse and human. Rated Easy: Walking Distance 5km / 3.5mi.
    • This tour departs if partially cloudy. Refunds offered up to departure time for any extreme weather events Cold/Rain/Snow.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 155849P10

    From
    C$93.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 311 Cave Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1K2, Canada
      Please meet your guide outside at the Cave and Basin Parking Lot near the glass building. There is free parking at this location. Your guide will have a brown hat and white van. Please arrive 10mins before departure.
    • Pass by
      Banff National Park
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Banff & Canmore Tours
      110
      Canmore, Alberta, Canada
      Joined in June 2019
    • ChattyAbby
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Family in Canmore
      We loved Canmore and Banff. We stayed in Canmore and found that to be just as cute and accessible to great activities as Banff. It was also less congested and super close to Banff so we could still take in all the Banff sites. We went as family of adults and enjoyed biking around Canmore and the many trails.
      Written January 27, 2025
    • Deborah T
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Breathtaking views!
      We had Jacob as our guide through the trails with his many tales! He’s very knowledgeable about the area, trees, plants, wildlife and the history. He also knows where to take amazing pics 😊 thank you for a memorable time!
      Written November 20, 2024
    • Z1768JAflorc
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Girls Trip 2024
      Jacob was amazing! He was very patient with our group. He was very honest about the first tour that we had booked with him and accommodated the tour for us to be able to see views and get our hike in. His stories are super interesting so please listen to what he is saying.
      Written November 18, 2024
    • treehugger2018
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A great fall hike!
      Ben was a knowledgeable and engaging guide, and we thoroughly enjoyed the hike that began at the Banff Gate Mountain resort and ended up in a stunning mountain meadow surrounded by mountains on 3 sides. Ben did a great job pointing out the local flora (we didn't see much fauna) along with their ecological and historical importance. He also emphasized safety (e.g., make sure you have bear spray, especially during the fall season), and that hiking should above all, be fun! Thanks, Ben!
      Written October 8, 2024
    • 290harrisonl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Ben is the best guide.
      Ben is the best! Absolutely recommend going and going with Ben! Learned so much and appreciated Ben answering all of our Banff and Canmore questions.
      Written August 3, 2024
    • jperfsr
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Guide made all the difference
      Ben was amazing. The hike with the gorgeous scenery was worth the price alone but his knowledge about the plants and trees along with the history of the area made it all the more memorable. Thanks again Ben !
      Written July 11, 2024
    • Catherine Mary J
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Canmore Trails & Tails Tour
      Jacob took us on a wonderful historical tour. We learned quite a bit about the growth and history of Canmore. Jacob was extremely knowledgeable, pleasant and informative. We would definitely recommend his tour & company
      Written June 29, 2024
    • 897janicec
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Delightful 2 hour hike with experienced guide
      We had a delightful hike with our knowledgeable guide Ben. He took us on trails that were tailored to our skill level and told us a lot about wildlife and native plants. It was exactly what we wanted.
      Written June 6, 2024
    • jamierF5424PV
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great hike
      Our guide was great and provided lots of good information. He made it interesting and fun. Although we couldn’t go to the planned hiking destination (due to the ice melting, it made the trail unsafe) he offered either a full refund or another great hiking location. Of course we took him up on the other location and it was great.
      Written May 9, 2024
    • haileyg417
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      MUST BOOK TOUR EXPERIENCE
      10/10 recommend this tour!!! Jacob knows so much about the area and was flexible on the day of to take us to different spots to make sure we had the best time possible! It was a small group (me, my fiancé, one other person) and we had a fantastic time!!! It was BEAUTIFUL weather (we went in march). Jacob had ice cleats for us to use because the weather was just cold enough that we would need them (and they came in handy!) I can't wait to come back in the summer and take another tour and see how different it looks! Do yourself a favor and book this tour!!! It's a guaranteed great time! He also has deals with local companies and gives you coupon codes... and those were also fantastic recs to eat!
      Written March 19, 2024
    • elliotc444
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excursion of a life time.
      The guide was absolutely amazing. Very knowledgeable and was able to provide an experience that you not be able to get on your own. Next time out we would most definitely book another excursion with Jacob.
      Written January 7, 2024
    • 52karyb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great time!
      We had a great time! We highly recommend this if it’s your first time to Banff. Jake curated a wonderful experience with excellent views. We learned a ton about the area including the local wildlife, history, and geology. Thanks again for making our honeymoon extra special!
      Written December 4, 2023
    • TMLB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Really Enjoyable
      There were only the two of us along with Jacob our guide on the walk. With his education in history, outdoors certifications and being raised in Canmore, Jacob had lots of interesting stories. We had lively conversation for the full two hours. It's an easy path. We were fortunate to see a bull Elk with his 'ladies' -- were very close, bedded down for the afternoon. Worth doing. I recommend.
      Written October 1, 2023
    • Erwin B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful & information!
      Excellent guide & introduction to the Kananaskis area including wildlife sightings! History of area also appreciated.
      Written September 22, 2023
    • brian k
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful country
      Had a wonderful time on this walk. The scenery was beautiful and the guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. We definitely recommend this to anyone who has an interest in exploring the wonders of the area.
      Written August 8, 2023
    See all 110 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles35 reviews
    Excellent
    27
    Very good
    4
    Average
    1
    Poor
    1
    Terrible
    2

    Jodi L
    Clearwater, FL47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Friends
    Amazing experience! Our guide, Jacob, was incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. Although walking into the woods at night was initially a little daunting, we felt completely safe with our guide. We learned about the stars, wildlife, and the majesty of banff - but we also laughed and celebrated this unique experience, all due to the talent of our guide. A guide can make or break a walking tour, and Jacob absolutely made this a memorable experience for our group. Highly recommend this tour for those looking for an experience that’s a different from anything else offered. A must do!
    Written October 13, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks Jodi, Your group was a lot of fun! Thank you for being on time with a large group (not easy). All the best - Jacob
    Written October 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    west c
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Couples
    Overall was an enjoyable experience.

    The host was a bit rude when we were 2 or 3 minutes late asking if we wanted to complete the liability waiver quickly or turn around and try another day.

    I understand it was a sunset tour but the host should have requested a start time of 10-15 minutes earlier to provide a small buffer. For example, 7:40pm instead of 7:50 so if someone arrives 7:53 you aren’t berating them in front of the rest of the group.

    Besides the unnecessarily aggressive start, did our best to shake it off and enjoy
    Written September 22, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We honor all guests that communicate with us appropriately and arrive on time. They are our priority. Late comers will be turned away if they effect the tour schedule. It is a timed event. We are glad the group enjoyed the tour!
    Written October 5, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ashley C
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Family
    Jacob was an excellent tour guide! He called the morning of our tour to make sure we were okay walking through some mud due to previous rain- even offered a refund if we wanted. He also adapted the start time to maximize our time with the sunset and stargazing and timed everything wonderfully. Jacob definitely does his research beforehand and checks to make sure it won’t be too cloudy and is very knowledgeable. He has a great personality and we felt extremely safe being in the backcountry at night with him. He supplied headlamps and jokes to last the night! The sky was absolutely unreal- we really enjoyed this adventure.
    Written September 9, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    You are awesome people! I wish you all the best in 2024!
    Written April 25, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Renee L
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Friends
    First, it was quite dangerous to walk up to cave and Basin from banff town through the forest in the twilight, we also saw some elk flighting when we walk by. The service operator should mention no public transportation at that time and suggest traveler go there with car.

    Second, bad communication. The guide changed the meeting time without notice us in any form, we also saw another group of people didn't receive notice and wait for the guide in dark.

    Thirdly, bad after-sales services. We email the services operator for above situation, they keep saying we are late and contract is binding so refuse to refund. And even lost contact after couple back and forth email.
    Written September 22, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We contacted who was listed as the lead traveler and confirmed the seasonal start time, as listed in the tour description. We found out after that the person booking was a third party family member and not the lead traveler. They had not told their family about the new start time they confirmed with us over email. They tried to reschedule but the tour was full the following day. We offered to postpone till another day. They demanded a refund and we said no. Review info about the Town of Banff location being dangerous is misinformation written by a third party person who writing on the behalf of others. It is not a first-person experience of the location.
    Written September 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    ChattyAbby
    76 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2024 • Couples
    Guide was nice enough and had knowledge but 20 minutes late. Some in the tour received a notice about being late but many, including us, did not. Mosquitos were swarming; thank goodness we had spray though they were still pretty bad. Night lamps attracted them and I don’t understand why they don’t use red lamps. It doesn’t start to get good dark until 11:15 so by the time you get good darkness, you’re back into more light polluted area. We would have been happy with a much later start to see more stars with advanced notice. No laser pointers can or are used to point out the stars which also makes it hard. There is a strict stay with guide expectation (safety of course) which made it hard on those who said they could do walk but were slow so buyer be aware. They decided not to continue walk. For night star viewing walks; this was not one of my favourites. For sunset walk, it was not that either. If you just want to walk a trail with a guide at night which has an element of mystery and get a few facts along the way, this is good and should be the expectation. I’m not sure whether to give 2 or 3 but it was a disappointment for us.
    Written July 14, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Two of the group members had major health and mobility issues and required assistance to walk only a few feet. We had to turn them away for safety issues. They had contacted us prior to booking and we told them but they booked anyway and tried to bully the guide into allowing them to go. It was unsafe and the guide had to make the call. We offered a refund but they tried to bully us with two negative reviews and were very rude to the booking agent and staff.
    Written January 9, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kathy
    Brooklyn, NY31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Overall, wonderfully unexpected and AMAZING experience. Forecasts were all clear, but strangely too overcast at start for a sunset. Jacob is an intrepid adventurer & we forged ahead safely in his company with hope in our hearts. In the end, we happily exchanged a sunset for what we got. He reassured us that we might get lucky and the astronomy gods were surely with us. Capturing reflections of pine trees & mountains in water was a great start. Letting eyes adjust to darkness gave us a treat when the clouds parted…so so many stars & The Milky Way. We ended our tour at the parking lot of Cave & Basin National Historic Site and that’s where our luck truly turned…we showed Jacob a photo with striking lights behind a mountain. Unbeknownst to us, we had captured the Aurora Borealis. Jacob showed us how to spot auroras with the naked eye. An iPhone 13 Pro Max and a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and an hour later we had captured our first images of the Northern Lights. Amazing! Highly highly recommend. Take a chance, take a hike to see a sunset and the stars…if you’re lucky maybe even more.

    Other notes: This hike was from Cave & Basin & mostly flat & partly paved. Rained recently, so hiking boots came in handy…only muddy in short spurts. Not buggy at all.
    Written August 29, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Deborah S
    Flushing, MI3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Family
    We were so happy that we were able to include this tour on our trip! It was a little touch and go earlier in the day as to whether the clouds would cooperate, but it ended up a go! We started the tour at a very easy place to find, singed our forms and off we went. It was an easy walk with frequent stops, interjected with local lore and park history, as well as night viewing tips and info. Our guides were great! Very friendly and knowledgeable and did all they could to help everyone enjoy the hike. At the conclusion they gave us extra tips on places to hike that were less crowded and other places where we could view the night skies without light pollution. I would recommend this hike highly to anyone who loves stargazing! Enjoy!
    Written June 8, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Smith
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2022 • Friends
    Absolute waste of time, money and effort. We were misguided by the pictures in the listing. The entire tour was disappointing and we didnt see anything. The tour guide made us walk through the country side and made up some stories that was totally unnecessary. Clearly no stargazing!

    Suggestion- please try to organize a telescope or some other equipment so that people can actually see the stars and no need to make them walk as the visibility is great at the parking lot (starting point itself).
    Written September 10, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We told the guests of the seasonal trail conditions before departing. The trails all over Banff were in the same seasonal condition. But two of the group members did not have appropriate shoes for walking. We had to turn them away with a refund. But the group member that did come was upset because they booked the tour and did not tell their group members about the walking requirement. Please note* sandals are not appropriate outdoor shoes for the Canadian Rockies. We told them prior and it is listed on the tour information.
    Written January 9, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    tinaNtravel
    San Jose, CA2,150 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2024 • Friends
    We met in the Cave and Basin parking lot. At that time of night the parking lot is pretty much empty except for those on this tour so they were easy to find. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes early, as requested, as the orientation and headlamps are handed out then and the tour starts walking on time. It was a simple easy walk on mostly flat, mostly paved ground and on some boardwalks. The guide was great. He pointed out what could be seen and also told a number of stories and told some jokes which made the entire trip quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, we were there end of May and the days were already quite long. So by 10pm, it wasn’t really dark enough yet to see some good night sky. By midnight it was finally dark, but by then the tour was almost over. I still enjoyed it and I am glad we went and I’d even do it again. Be sure to have a very warm jacket, gloves, hat – as the night can get very cold.
    Written July 11, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Janice M
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2022
    Jacob provided a balanced mix of entertaining local lore and information on the region and environment. He showed us areas of Banff that we might not have visited. His personal insights into the changing Banff environment were enlightening; knowledge he has gained through his lifelong tenure in the region and studies in other parts of the globe.
    It is important to note that the overall experience is completely dependent on atmospheric conditions which are in constant flux.
    Written October 21, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you!
    Written October 25, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Banff: Sunset & Stargazing - 2hr Walking Tour provided by Banff & Canmore Tours

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