Which Extended Time option should I choose?

It depends on how you'd like to spend your day. Choose 1.5 hours at Moraine Lake and 3.5 hours at Lake Louise if you're planning to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House or rent a canoe at Lake Louise. Choose 3 hours at Moraine Lake and 2 hours at Lake Louise if canoeing at Moraine Lake is your priority. If Moraine Lake is the main reason for your visit, choose the 5-hour Moraine Lake option, which gives you the entire day there and does not include a stop at Lake Louise.

Is there enough time to rent a canoe?

Yes, but it depends on the option you choose. The 3-hour Moraine Lake and 5-hour Moraine Lake options provide the best opportunity to rent a canoe. At Lake Louise, canoeing is also possible with both the 2-hour and 3.5-hour options, although wait times vary because rentals operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House?

Yes. The 3.5-hour Lake Louise option is specifically designed for guests who want to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The return hike typically takes 2 to 2.5 hours, leaving time to enjoy the lake before returning to the shuttle.

Does the 5-hour Moraine Lake option include Lake Louise?

No. If you choose the 5-hour Moraine Lake option, you'll spend your entire visit at Moraine Lake and will not visit Lake Louise. It's the perfect choice for guests who want to canoe, hike, or fully explore Moraine Lake without watching the clock.

Are canoe rentals included in the tour price?

No. Canoe rentals are operated by third-party concessionaires at both lakes and are not included in your tour price. Rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted.

What if I don't want to hike or canoe?

That's perfectly fine. Many guests choose the Extended Time Tour simply because they want more time to explore at their own pace. Wander the lakeshore, enjoy a picnic, photograph the scenery, relax with a coffee, or simply sit back and take in the views.

Can I change my timing option on the day of the tour?

Yes. If you'd like to switch to a different Extended Time Tour itinerary, simply let your guide know at the beginning of the tour. You can switch between any of the three Extended Time options: 1.5 hours at Moraine Lake + 3.5 hours at Lake Louise 3 hours at Moraine Lake + 2 hours at Lake Louise 5 hours at Moraine Lake only Please note that this applies only to the Extended Time Tour . It is not possible to switch to the Classic Morning Tour itinerary with 1.5 hours at each lake .

Can I combine the timing options? For example, 3 hours at Moraine Lake and 3.5 hours at Lake Louise?

No. The three timing options are fixed and cannot be combined. Each itinerary is carefully planned to coordinate pickup and return times, so it's not possible to mix and match the time spent at each lake.

Tours

Parks Canada Pass Required

This tour is for people who want to experience the lakes, not just check them off a list.

Maybe you've dreamed of paddling a canoe across Moraine Lake. Maybe hiking to the Lake Agnes Tea House has been sitting on your bucket list for years. Or maybe you simply want enough time to wander, take photos, and enjoy the scenery without constantly checking your watch.

You choose how to spend your day:

1.5 hours at Moraine Lake + 3.5 hours at Lake Louise for hiking to the Lake Agnes Tea House, renting a canoe, or exploring Lake Louise at a relaxed pace.
3 hours at Moraine Lake + 2 hours at Lake Louise for guests who want to canoe or hike at Moraine Lake while still enjoying time at Lake Louise.
5 hours at Moraine Lake for those who believe one visit simply isn't enough. Rent a canoe, hike Larch Valley or the Consolation Lakes Trail, explore the shoreline, or just find a quiet rock and wonder why your mortgage couldn't have included a lake like this.

Whichever option you choose, we schedule your visit during the hours when the lakes' famous turquoise water is at its most vibrant.

This is our most popular tour for a reason. It gives you time to experience the Canadian Rockies instead of rushing through them. Because if you've travelled halfway around the world to get here, spending just one hour at Moraine Lake feels a little unfair.

Expedited access to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
NO waiting in lines! Convenient pick-ups at many locations - most are within a 1- 5 minute walk from any accommodations in Canmore, Harvie Heights and Banff. Pickup Locations
Comfortable transportation in a modern 14-passenger van with air conditioning, a high ceiling, and large panoramic windows.
Travel through a wildlife corridor and a wildlife habitat for animal sightings (not guaranteed but seen on almost all trips).
Knowledgeable guide to share insights about Banff National Park, its wildlife, history, and landscapes.
Access fee to Moraine Lake is included in the price.
You can leave your belongings in the van while you explore.
No multiple transfers/shuttles, no changing buses or drivers - your friendly guide stays with you for the entire journey.
Complimentary use of umbrellas in case of unexpected weather.

Parks Canada Pass (required for all guests; purchase online in advance at parks.canada.ca)
Canoe rental at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise (approx. $160/hr, first-come first-served at both lakes)
Bear spray for hiking beyond the lakeshore
Food and drinks (available at both lakes; long queues in peak season; bring your own lunch)
Hiking guide (guides stay at the lake area; they do not accompany guests on trails)
Gratuity (not mandatory; greatly appreciated)
Child safety seat. Required for children under 6 and under 18 kg by Alberta law. Bring your own, or request one when you book ($40 CAD fee).

Layers and a waterproof outer layer – 9 hours in the mountains means conditions will change
Appropriate hiking footwear for anyone planning to hike (Tea House and Larch Valley are uneven terrain)
Bear spray for hiking beyond the lakeshore
Snacks and lunch – you're out all day; food available at the lakes but queues can be long
Water – We provide refills; just bring your own bottle.
Cash – the Lake Agnes Tea House is cash only
Parks Canada pass – required; not included in the tour price
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Bug spray (summer months)

White passenger van parked on a road beside trees, side view.

Step 1: Pickup

Your guide collects your group from your pickup location within a 15-minute window: 8:00 to 8:15 AM in Canmore and Harvie Heights, 8:30 to 8:45 AM in Banff. Please be ready before the start of your window.

Colorful canoes on Moraine Lake with pine trees and rocky peaks reflected in the water

Step 2: Moraine Lake

Depending on the option you choose, you'll spend 1.5, 3, or 5 hours at Moraine Lake. With 1.5 hours, you'll have plenty of time to hike the famous Rockpile, stroll the lakeshore, and take in one of the most photographed views in the Canadian Rockies. While a few guests have managed to rent a canoe, we don't recommend planning on it, as canoe rentals operate on a first-come, first-served basis and wait times can be unpredictable.

The 3-hour option gives you a much better opportunity to queue for a canoe while still having time to explore the Rockpile and lakeshore before continuing to Lake Louise.

The 5-hour Moraine Lake option is for guests who want to experience Moraine Lake to the fullest. Rent a canoe, hike the Lakeshore Trail, Consolation Lakes, or Larch Valley, enjoy a picnic, or simply find a quiet spot and soak it all in. This option spends the entire five hours at Moraine Lake and does not include a visit to Lake Louise.

Person in a canoe on Lake Louise, paddling toward snowy mountains at sunrise

Step 3: Lake Louise

Depending on the option you choose, you'll spend 2 or 3.5 hours at Lake Louise.

With 2 hours, you'll have time to stroll the lakeshore, hike to the Fairview Lookout, or, if the canoe rental queue is reasonable, rent a canoe and paddle on the lake.

The 3.5-hour option gives you time to experience Lake Louise beyond the shoreline. Hike to the historic Lake Agnes Tea House (about 2 to 2.5 hours return), rent a canoe at a more relaxed pace, explore additional trails, or simply enjoy a leisurely lunch with one of the most iconic views in the Canadian Rockies.

A bull elk with large antlers standing in a forest clearing, trees blurred in the background.

Step 4: Wildlife Corridor

Most tours head straight home.

We take the scenic route.

Instead of returning on the highway, we travel through part of the Bow Valley Wildlife Corridor, the original road through the valley where bears, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and wolves still move between the mountains.

Keep your camera close. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but they happen on most of our tours, making the journey home feel like one last adventure before we drop you back at your original pickup location.

Which Extended Time option should I choose?
It depends on how you'd like to spend your day. Choose 1.5 hours at Moraine Lake and 3.5 hours at Lake Louise if you're planning to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House or rent a canoe at Lake Louise. Choose 3 hours at Moraine Lake and 2 hours at Lake Louise if canoeing at Moraine Lake is your priority. If Moraine Lake is the main reason for your visit, choose the 5-hour Moraine Lake option, which gives you the entire day there and does not include a stop at Lake Louise.
Is there enough time to rent a canoe?
Yes, but it depends on the option you choose. The 3-hour Moraine Lake and 5-hour Moraine Lake options provide the best opportunity to rent a canoe. At Lake Louise, canoeing is also possible with both the 2-hour and 3.5-hour options, although wait times vary because rentals operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Can I hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House?
Yes. The 3.5-hour Lake Louise option is specifically designed for guests who want to hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The return hike typically takes 2 to 2.5 hours, leaving time to enjoy the lake before returning to the shuttle.
Does the 5-hour Moraine Lake option include Lake Louise?
No. If you choose the 5-hour Moraine Lake option, you'll spend your entire visit at Moraine Lake and will not visit Lake Louise. It's the perfect choice for guests who want to canoe, hike, or fully explore Moraine Lake without watching the clock.
Are canoe rentals included in the tour price?
No. Canoe rentals are operated by third-party concessionaires at both lakes and are not included in your tour price. Rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted.
What if I don't want to hike or canoe?
That's perfectly fine. Many guests choose the Extended Time Tour simply because they want more time to explore at their own pace. Wander the lakeshore, enjoy a picnic, photograph the scenery, relax with a coffee, or simply sit back and take in the views.
Can I change my timing option on the day of the tour?
Yes. If you'd like to switch to a different Extended Time Tour itinerary, simply let your guide know at the beginning of the tour. You can switch between any of the three Extended Time options:

1.5 hours at Moraine Lake + 3.5 hours at Lake Louise
3 hours at Moraine Lake + 2 hours at Lake Louise
5 hours at Moraine Lake only

Please note that this applies only to the Extended Time Tour. It is not possible to switch to the Classic Morning Tour itinerary with 1.5 hours at each lake.
Can I combine the timing options? For example, 3 hours at Moraine Lake and 3.5 hours at Lake Louise?
No. The three timing options are fixed and cannot be combined. Each itinerary is carefully planned to coordinate pickup and return times, so it's not possible to mix and match the time spent at each lake.

Get in touch

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Extended Time Tour: Hike, Canoe, Wildlife

What to Expect on the Extended Time Tour