Banff and Lake Louise, Canada: trips from £199
Banff is Canada's first national park, where turquoise glacial lakes, the Icefields Parkway and three ski resorts sit 90 minutes from Calgary's airport.
Trips to Banff and Lake Louise from every city
Cheapest first, per person, return, taxes and fees included.
Just found · from San DiegoWorth it, if
Banff and Lake Louise
11 – 14 Dec 2026 · 3 nights
- $1,217 for two, all in, with 3 nights in Banff
- Elk + Avenue Hotel: 8.4 from 428 reviews, free cancellation
- Ski season: Lake Louise, Sunshine and Norquay on one lift pass
£917 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights £398 + hotel £462 + resort fee £57, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
£49 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
F9 + WS · with a stop · 21h 45m
The catch: The $264 fare has one stop and takes 21h 45m on the way out, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you want snow and a short mountain weekend; skip it if a 21h 45m overnight connection sounds rough.
Just found · from AtlantaLowest in 30 days
Banff and Lake Louise
3 – 8 Dec 2026 · 5 nights
- Nonstop on WestJet, 4h 50m
- £34 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Lowest in 30 days on this route
£1,128 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £544 + hotel £584, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £106
WestJet · nonstop · 4h 50m
The catch: Heads-up for these dates: Ski season; Sunshine and Lake Louise often run into May.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
Just found · from Atlanta
Banff and Lake Louise
11 – 16 Dec 2026 · 5 nights
- Nonstop on WestJet, 4h 50m
- £106 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- Elk + Avenue Hotel, rated 8.4 by 428 guests
£1,223 for two · 5 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £556 + hotel £666, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £106
WestJet · nonstop · 4h 50m
The catch: Heads-up for these dates: Ski season; Sunshine and Lake Louise often run into May.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
Just found · from Oklahoma CityWorth it, if
Banff and Lake Louise
3 – 7 Dec 2026 · 4 nights
- £117 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- Banff Ptarmigan Inn, rated 8.2 by 1,694 guests
- Free cancellation at Banff Ptarmigan Inn
£1,230 for two · 4 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights £714 + hotel £516, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about £181
F9 + AC · with a stop · 38h 13m
The catch: Not nonstop: 3 stops on the way, 38h 13m in all.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
Lowest fares to Banff and Lake Louise by city, last 30 days
| From | Lowest, 30 days | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | £179 | 2 |
| San Diego | £199 | 2 |
| Las Vegas | £240 | 1 |
| Atlanta | £272 | 6 |
| Salt Lake City | £292 | 3 |
| Chicago | £301 | 1 |
| Denver | £306 | 1 |
| Omaha | £308 | 2 |
| Reno | £334 | 1 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | £345 | 1 |
| El Paso | £355 | 2 |
| Kansas City | £355 | 2 |
| Boise | £357 | 1 |
| Oklahoma City | £357 | 3 |
| Orlando | £371 | 1 |
| Indianapolis | £470 | 1 |
| Tucson | £474 | 2 |
| Buffalo | £490 | 1 |
| Madison | £565 | 1 |
When to go
| Month | Season |
|---|---|
| January | best |
| February | best |
| March | best |
| April | avoid |
| May | avoid |
| June | best |
| July | best |
| August | best |
| September | best |
| October | fine |
| November | avoid |
| December | best |
- December, January, February, March, April: Ski season; Sunshine and Lake Louise often run into May.
- September, October: Larch trees turn gold around Lake Louise in late September.
- January: Ice Magic festival and skating on frozen Lake Louise.
April, May, November: Shoulder season: lakes still frozen or thawing, the Moraine Lake road and high trails closed, ski hills winding down.
Where to stay in Banff and Lake Louise
- Banff townsite: Walkable base with the most hotels, restaurants and the Bow River trails.
- Tunnel Mountain: Lodges and condos on the hill above town, a short bus ride to Banff Avenue.
- Lake Louise: The Château on the lake and the village below it, closest to Moraine Lake and the ski hill.
- Canmore: Mountain town just outside the park gates with better-value hotels and condos.
- Kananaskis: Nordic spa and lodges in the quieter valley between Calgary and Banff.
What to do in Banff and Lake Louise
- Shuttle to Moraine Lake for sunrise
- Drive the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield
- Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
- Ski Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay on one lift pass
- Canoe on Lake Louise in front of the Château
- Ice walk through Johnston Canyon in winter
Good to know
| Airports | Calgary International (YYC) |
|---|---|
| Passport from United States | Passport needed |
| Price level | upscale |
| Time zone | America/Edmonton |
| Kind of trip | national-park, lake-mountain, ski, nature, road-trip |
Banff and Lake Louise in pictures
Questions about Banff and Lake Louise
When is the best time to visit Banff and Lake Louise?
June, July, August, September, December, January, February and March. April, May, November: Shoulder season: lakes still frozen or thawing, the Moraine Lake road and high trails closed, ski hills winding down.
Do I need a passport for Banff and Lake Louise?
Passport needed: travellers from the United States need a valid passport for Banff and Lake Louise; check the expiry rule of the country before you book.
What is the cheapest flight to Banff and Lake Louise right now?
Banff and Lake Louise from San Diego, 11 – 14 Dec 2026, from £199 per person return, is the cheapest trip we have published; the full list is on this page.
How expensive is Banff and Lake Louise on the ground?
Banff and Lake Louise is upscale by US standards: plan about £98 per person per day for food, getting around and tickets.
Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.