Alberta
Best of Banff: Our Mountain Heritage
Program No. 13178RJ
Delve deep into Canada’s history as you visit Banff National Park, and take expert walks through the Canadian Rockies to learn about artists and outdoorsmen.
Participant Reviews
Based on 56 Reviews
SHOWING
Fantastic trip! The pace was just right, and the guide was terrific. We really enjoyed this trip.
— Review left December 11, 2025
An exquisite location with crisp, cool air. Very comfortable motor coach to take us to pristine glacial lakes, geological sites and a gondola ride to Sulphur mountain for a spectacular view. I especially liked the visit to the Whyte museum to see the pioneering women and their mountain climbing equipment. Food was varied and delicious. Enough free time to pursue individual interests. Our guide, Michelle Lepointe was a delight.
— Review left November 19, 2025
The program in Banff was wonderful! The scenery was breathtaking, and tour leader Sharon made sure everyone was having a great time. Her insight and personal stories made this a very special trip!
— Review left September 28, 2025
The Best of Banff is an outstanding program filled with education and beautiful scenery. The group leader, Brenda, was fabulous and everyone in our group enjoyed the program. Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, and Lake Louise were my favorite lakes, and the mountains were unique and beautiful. I liked the pace of this program, and every activity provided a meaningful experience. I highly recommend this program.
— Review left September 27, 2025
A great way to se parts of North America that are simply stunning!
— Review left September 22, 2025
Simply an excellent program! Sharon is a caring, organized, knowledgeable, and adaptable leader. The name "Best of Banff" is an apt description. Sharon made sure we participated in a variety of experiences to make this a trip I'll never forget!
— Review left September 15, 2025
This is an amazingly beautiful location and the people are so very welcoming and friendly. The group leaders and staff were extremely knowledgeable. The memories of this trip will be something I will always cherish.
— Review left September 13, 2025
Fantastic “bucket list” achieved. Beautiful scenery! Awesome leaders and guides. Will definitely do other trips with RS.
— Review left September 1, 2025
Banff is a stunningly beautiful place. Words cannot do the mountains, lakes, and forests justice. We cannot thank the Canadians enough for ensuring this beauty for the next generations.
— Review left August 30, 2025
Banff is great for those looking for amazing mountains, glaciers and fossils.
— Review left August 25, 2025
Great group leader, enjoyed the group and the sites were really interesting. Highly recommend this tour!
— Review left August 16, 2025
Banff is a beautiful place with so much geological history. I would encourage anyone who has been thinking of traveling to Banff to go with Road Scholars. You will see and learn things about the area that you would miss if traveling on your.
— Review left August 11, 2025
Jaw-dropping scenery, geological history that you can actually comprehend because it’s taught by expert and FUN guides, and efficient access to multiple stunning landmarks. It’s best seen as an active “highlights” survey of the region. We could never have achieved this on our own- with one person gripping the steering wheel on mountain roads, while the other stares at the GPS. Instead, we relaxed and gazed out huge windows of the bus. So grateful for this trip!
— Review left July 19, 2025
Banff and the Canadian Rockies has been on my bucket list for 45+ years, and Road Scholar did not disappoint. Fun, educational, and all of the guides and presenters on the trip were friendly, knowledgeable and well-organized.
— Review left July 13, 2025
The Best of Banff tour is an excellent way to explore and learn about a beautiful area of Canada! Our leader, Greg, is personable and knowledgeable. I thank Road Scholar for putting together this excellent tour!
— Review left July 12, 2025
Banff met all of our expectations. Besides the fantastic geology of the Rockies we had the best tour leader and other presenters of information. We plan to go back to Banff and explore more. Perhaps our tour leader also freelances!
— Review left July 12, 2025
If you have never considered a Road Scholar trip, You should, it was awesome. I highly encourage it. Tyler Breneman.
— Review left July 12, 2025
Our Best of Banff trip was amazing! Brenda, our guide, was warm, compassionate, animated, and informative. She made the trip fun and personal. We learned so much about an area we had on our bucket list for years. Thank you for a great experience!
— Review left July 8, 2025
Best of Banff was gorgeous, inspiring, educational and just plain fun! The guides were fantastic. 10 out of 10 from me!! I have done many other tour companies but Road Scholar has always been the best!
— Review left June 15, 2025
This trip was my first trip to Canada. We were very active every day, learned through lecture and experiences and w got to participate at the level that worked best for each of us.
— Review left June 6, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Banff. The scenery was breath taking and the weather was beautiful. I was a solo traveler but it was a great experience and I was able to meet new friends. Program was well planned and Sharon was an excellent group leader. She kept us on track but she was also attentive to special needs in the group & accommodated. Loved the picnics on our day trips!!
— Review left September 30, 2024
If you have ever had a desire to see Banff and the Canadian Rockies, don't miss this opportunity. I attended as a solo traveler (my first time) and had a wonderful experience.
— Review left September 27, 2024
As a lifelong US East Coaster living near the old, round shouldered Appalachian Mountains, the magnificence of the towering Rocky Mountains spearing the sky in every direction was breathtaking.
— Review left September 25, 2024
Good program
Road Scholar needs to create a phone app for better communications
— Review left September 21, 2024
The Banff program was well organized and informative. I learned much about a part of the world with which I was not familiar. Our group leader was excellent. She was organized, personable and approachable. The group members and its cohesiveness added to our overall experience.
— Review left September 15, 2024
The Best of Banff is a fantastic program. I was able to travel to 3 National Parks in Canada: Banff, Jasper, and Yoho. I learned a great deal about the geology and history of the Canadian Rockies. I met lots of nice people and made a few new friends. I would highly recommend this program. You may, however want to look into making your own air travel plans. Westar is an airline that most Americans do not know about and they have some better, more direct flights.
— Review left September 7, 2024
Canadian Rockies are breathtaking! Road Scholar made the journey a breeze!
— Review left September 2, 2024
Our group leader Michelle was wonderful. The local experts interesting and knowledgeable . The Rundlestone lodge was dark and outdated. Pool and small bar were closed.
Our room had an inside window with view of chairs near the hot tub.Lodge about 15 mins or more walk to downtown Banff. The food at the group dinners was mediocre .First night dinner eggplant was raw.Our pleasant travel group of 22 was diverse from all over the United States. The itinerary was good .Had a balance of tours and free times. Disappointed didn’t get up close to Icefield after traveling all the way on the parkway
— Review left September 1, 2024
A great way to see spectacular mountains and lakes while someone else does the driving and planning. A good mix of programming and free time. It was nice to have one home base to get plenty of time to explore Banff.
— Review left August 24, 2024
Our trip to Banff was a wounderful experience and we would strongly recommend traveling with Road Scholar anywhere. You will surely see and learn more traveling with them than on you own. Great Bang for the Buck!
— Review left August 18, 2024
What a wonderful experience! An incredible tour with excellent guides and informative field trips.
— Review left July 29, 2024
Road Scholar provides informative, awesome adventures and they take care of all of your needs and expectations throughout the entire trip - don't get no better than that!
— Review left July 16, 2024
I am a first time traveler with Road Scholar and it was a wonderful, educational and friendly trip. I highly recommend it!
— Review left October 25, 2023
Best of Banff: Our Mountain Heritage, is a beautiful trip. Anyone that likes the outdoors and some relatively light activity will love this area.
— Review left October 2, 2023
I had wanted to visit Banff and Lake Louise for a couple of years. When the RS trip appeared, I jumped at the opportunity! The trip and all the side excursions exceeded my expectations!
— Review left September 30, 2023
If you want to see beautiful scenery I would highly recommend Best of Banff: Our Mountain Heritage
— Review left September 17, 2023
I thought I might be one of only a few single women on the trip but there were as many singles as couples, I believe. Some participants were from my regional area and some at my particular stage in life. Especially those at my stage or beyond were very willing to share their experiences with me.
— Review left September 1, 2023
Quoting Bill Peyto, "..get far from the railroad tracks (trans Canada highway) as possible."
— Review left August 28, 2023
Extremely well done program. Stunning scenery!
— Review left August 12, 2023
In this program you get the gift of walking on a Glacier. I learned that they are a mile deep and will probably be gone within the next 25-30 years. It is an experience that feels so very expansive and thrilling that it's not to be missed!
— Review left August 7, 2023
Trip was very informative and fun. Accommodations and meals were good. Leader Jen Zimmer was very helpful and speakers were great. Only suggestion would be to have alternative arrival shuttle options available and provided ahead of time as airlines are getting progressively worse meeting flight schedules. This causes a lot of anxiety for travelers about missing connections and jeopardizing the whole tour. This is a very interesting and beautiful area and well worth a visit.
— Review left August 6, 2023
I enjoyed the whole experience and I hope to go on a Road Scholar trip again in my future.
— Review left July 24, 2023
This trip quickly surpassed all my expectations. The wonder and excitement never ceased, and I have marvelous images and memories etched in my brain.
— Review left July 18, 2023
This was my first Road Scholar trip and fullfilled a decades long desire to see Banff and Lake Louise. The thoughtfully planned itinerary, awesome beauty of the landscape, rewarding daily experiences, and especially the outstanding group leader all contributed to making the trip of a lifetime just perfect!
— Review left July 16, 2023
Traveling with Road Scholar offers so much more. Independently I would have looked and seen, but with our guides and local experts I learned! Thank you for a fabulous trip!
— Review left July 15, 2023
5 stars
I was closed out of this trip in 2022. It was worth the wait to visit Banff this year. The Canadian Rocky Mountain setting was beautiful. The weather the first two days was unseasonably cold, freezing temperatures in June. Other days the temperatures were in the 50s. It did not stop us from enjoying the area. Our tour leader, Brenda, rearranged two days’ itineraries to optimize our experience on the glacier and lakes with our time in Banff. It was Indigenous Peoples Day/ market day in Banff. We had the opportunity to enjoy the local festivities and better understand the culture. Our day on the glacier was the best in 2 weeks. Locally, the free bus service (passes provided by RS) helped us explore the area, saving steps to downtown Banff.
— Review left July 3, 2023
I really enjoyed the tour!
— Review left July 3, 2023
The trip was great, but don't fly Air Canada.
— Review left August 28, 2022
Everyone should see the beauty of the Canadian Rockies and this is a great way to do so!
— Review left August 28, 2022
We just returned from this wonderful trip. The Canadian Rockies were beyond description. Five days was just perfect for us. Everyone associated the trip was well informed, and we will be talking about our adventures for years.
— Review left August 27, 2022
This was my first Road Scholar trip and it was everything I hoped for. I've already booked my next Road Scholar trip.
— Review left August 25, 2022
Horrible trip. Did not get to do several items on the original itinerary because they were canceled. Consisted of bus rides with very quick stops. Very disorganized. Had to walk .5 miles to dinner most nights. Excessive amounts of walking (+3 miles to every day). Travel department was a nightmare.
— Review left August 12, 2022
We just finished the Best of Banff; Our Mountain Heritage. It was fantastic and I would highly recommend it!!!
Thanks go to Michelle, Greg, Thomas and Sam for making this such a wonderful experience!
— Review left July 16, 2022
This Road Scholar trip to Banff fulfilled my goal to visit this amazing place and learn about the mountains in the Banff National Park. I heartily recommend this trip to anyone who is curious and interested in mountain and glacier landscapes.
— Review left August 31, 2019
Everything about this program was top notch. The learning experience, the beauty of the area, and the small group makes it possible to get to know the other participants, and share stories and experiences. The program is top notch.
— Review left August 10, 2019
Very satisfied. Very helpful people when making arrangements. Couldn’t have been easier. Thanks to all.
— Review left July 14, 2019