Jose Urzua

Review of Discover Banff Tours

Definitely one of the best experiences I have had....

Definitely one of the best experiences I have had. Hugh, Aaron, and Anick were great guides. They all had unique personalities that made them either really funny or great people to start a conversation. Without their help, I would have been either slipping and sliding down the mountain or been missing out on the interesting facts they provided along the tour.

I booked the Johnston Canyon Ice Walk, Snowshoeing and Dog Sledding/ Lake Louise respectfully. The gear they provided was definitely a plus because I was not aware of the importance of it until I saw it in action. Every moment I was there was well worth soaking their knowledge. I don't usually experience there types of activities back home in Los Angeles so having someone to guide us along made all the difference.

The highlight of the Johnston Canyon Ice Walk was seeing all the ice hanging from the rock walls due to water seeping out from them. It gave them a nice blue tint because of how dense it is. Hugh was making sure the entire group was safe because there were parts where ice developed along the trail. You could tell our group felt safe having him around.

Snowshoeing provided the cardio I needed for skipping the gym and eating too much the 5 days I was in Banff. The views were beautiful, especial since it was snowing the time I was there. It felt like pillow stuffing coming down from the clouds. Aaron made some Maple Taffy half way through our tour. It was my first time rolling one up in the snow and after eating it, I was impressed how good it came out since it was my first time trying it. I will definitely need to try it in my fridge with a block of ice since I stocked up on maple syrup become coming back.

Lastly the Dog Sledding/Lake Louise was another unforgettable experience I will never forget. Anick was on time at our hotel. She is really a good conversation starter and had a lot to say about the surrounding environment. She even stopped for us to see the wildlife which was really generous of her. Once we got to the dogsledding location, we had time to spend some time with the animals. They really enjoy people scratching behind their ears. Once we got in the sled and left, you can hear nothing but peace and quiet. I recommend layering up because the cold air gets to you when you are not actively moving. Once we were done, Anick took the time to show us around the Fairview hotel and the activities they had going.

Overall, it was a great experience booking there tours with Discover Banff Tours. I would definitely book again. I would like to give a heads up to other people planning to book. Please be outside your hotel at the time they provide in your email. They have a schedule to pick everyone up at the time they provided and if one person is running late then it is not fair for everyone else who are on time. They want everyone to enjoy the activities with the given time allowed. Other than that, you will have many memories to tell your friends back home.