A Banff helicopter tour takes you into the Canadian Rockies in twenty to forty-five minutes: the three peaks of the Three Sisters above Canmore, Lake Minnewanka on the east side of Banff National Park, Mount Assiniboine and its glaciers, and on the longest flight a turn across the Continental Divide into British Columbia.
None of these flights leave from Banff town or Lake Louise. The five circuits on the Banff hub split between two pads, one in Canmore and one at the Nakoda base in Morley / Mînî Thnî. Pick the view you want first, and that tells you where to drive.
From the Nakoda base: the shortest Banff helicopter tours
- Banff Warrior Lookout 20-Minute Helicopter Tour, from CAD 229 per person. The entry flight on the hub. You see Mount Baldy, known as Enemy Warrior Lookout, Barrier Lake and the Kananaskis front as the circuit allows. You do not land on it.
- Banff Lake Minnewanka 30-Minute Helicopter Tour, from CAD 366 per person. You fly the eastern Front and the Ghost River, then along Lake Minnewanka, the Spirit Water, under Mount Costigan as the circuit allows. You see the lake from the air only; there is no boat trip.
From Canmore: the Three Sisters, Assiniboine and the Divide
- Banff Three Sisters 25-Minute Helicopter Tour, from CAD 356 per person. Hope, Charity and Faith, the Three Sisters, then the Spray Valley and the Sundance Range as the circuit allows, home through Stewart’s Gap. You do not land between the peaks.
- Banff Mt Assiniboine 35-Minute Helicopter Tour, from CAD 477 per person. The Three Sisters and Spray Lakes, then Mount Assiniboine, listed as the Matterhorn of the Rockies, and its glaciers, returning through Stewart’s Gap. You do not land at the lodge there.
- Banff Continental Divide 45-Minute Helicopter Tour, from CAD 607 per person. The Bow River, the Three Sisters, Assiniboine and its glaciers, then a turn across the Continental Divide past Aurora Mountain, Mount Alcantara and Mount Byng before Spray Lakes and Stewart’s Gap. You do not land in British Columbia.
The Canmore flights build on each other. Twenty-five minutes gives you the Three Sisters, thirty-five adds Mount Assiniboine, and forty-five adds the Continental Divide. If you want the big peak, the 35-minute flight is the shortest that reaches it. If you want the lowest price and a first look at the Rockies from the air, start with Warrior Lookout from the Nakoda base.
Before you go
- Canmore Heliport: 91 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, AB T1W 1N8, in the log building on the right of the car park. The 25-, 35- and 45-minute flights leave here. Parking is included.
- Nakoda base: 888 Nakoda Way, Morley / Mînî Thnî, AB T0L 1N0, in the log building outside the circular road around Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino, with parking inside the fence. The 20- and 30-minute flights leave here.
- Getting there: hotel pickup is not included in the from-price, and there is no helipad in Banff town or at Lake Louise on these listings. Arrive with time to check in; a five-minute safety briefing comes before the flight.
- Landings: these are sightseeing circuits in the air. The listings say you do not land on Warrior Lookout, between the peaks, at the lodge on Mount Assiniboine or in British Columbia.
- Minimum numbers: some circuits currently need at least two people, including the 45-minute flight. A solo seat may join a flight that is already going.
- Who can fly: weight limits are shown when you book, and seats are assigned for balance. Age limits are confirmed before payment. Wheelchair access is listed on these products.
- Weather and cancellation: if weather stops the flight, you are offered another time or a refund. Cancelling is currently a full refund at least 24 hours before departure.
Not sure which pad is closer to where you are staying, or which circuit fits your group? Email us at hello@flyovertheworld.com and we’ll help you choose.