Looking to better prepare yourself before your Canadian holiday? Use the frequently asked questions below to better understand our geographies, climates and travelling customs.
Pets are allowed in certain Pursuit hotels in Banff and Jasper. Additional fees, restrictions and a limit of two pets per room apply.
In Banff, pets are allowed at the Elk & Avenue Hotel.
Pets are not permitted at the Mount Royal Hotel.
In Jasper, pets are allowed at Chateau Jasper, The Crimson, Lobstick Lodge, Marmot Lodge, Forest Park Hotel, Pyramid Lake Lodge and Miette Mountain Cabins.
Pets are not permitted at the Glacier View Lodge.
Pets are permitted at select Pursuit attractions:
For the safety and comfort of all guests, pets are not allowed at any other Pursuit attractions.
The best way to reach our hotels and attractions is by using Google Maps, Apple Maps or other reliable mapping tools. These tools provide you with up-to-date directions, real-time traffic information and the most efficient routes, making your journey as smooth as possible.
No car? No problem! Brewster Express offers transportation from the Calgary International Airport (YYC) or downtown Calgary to Banff year-round, as well as to Jasper from May through October, with additional pick-ups in Canmore and Lake Louise.
Brewster Sightseeing also offers tours that include admission to top attractions, such as the Explore Banff, Icefield Parkway Discovery and Golden Skybridge, Lakes & Landscapes tours.
Parking at Elk + Avenue Hotel and Mount Royal Hotel is available at a rate of $10/night with offsite overflow parking available for $10/night. Underground parking is available at Elk + Avenue and Chateau Jasper for vehicles under 6'1". Our front desk agents will advise on available parking and alternative options upon check-in. Limited free parking space at The Crimson. Additional street parking is available. Please note that there is a charge from May to October.
By Car: We recommend using Google Maps, Apple Maps or other reliable mapping tools for up-to-date directions, real-time traffic information and the most efficient routes. The drive to Banff takes around an hour and a half from Calgary, three and a half hours from Jasper and a little under four hours from Edmonton.
By Bus/Shuttle: Brewster Express offers comfortable seats, large viewing windows and expertly guided trips between Banff and Calgary. Pick-ups are available at several downtown Calgary hotels, as well as in Canmore and Lake Louise.
Brewster Sightseeing also offers Banff tours with pickups from Calgary, Canmore and Lake Louise, including the Explore Banff and Mountain Lakes tours.
By Plane: Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the closest major airport to Banff. After landing, you can rent a car from one of the major on-site retailers or ride with Brewster Express, offering service directly from the airport.
By Train: Guests looking to experience the Canadian Rockies by rail can book a train journey with Rocky Mountaineer — a luxury travel experience offered April to October.
By Car: We recommend using Google Maps, Apple Maps or other reliable mapping tools for up-to-date directions, real-time traffic information and the most efficient routes. The drive to Jasper takes around four hours from Edmonton and just under five hours from Calgary.
By Bus/Shuttle: From Edmonton, you can catch the daily service from SunDog Tours and Transportation year-round.
Brewster Express offers service between Calgary and Jasper from May through October. Additional pick-ups are available in Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise.
By Plane: Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is the closest major airport to Jasper. After landing, you can rent a car from one of the major retailers on-site or ride with a shuttle company, such as SunDog Tours and Transportation, from the airport.
You may also choose to land at Calgary International Airport (YYC). From here, you can rent a car for the five-hour drive to Jasper through the Canadian Rockies, or ride with Brewster Express during the summer months and soak in the stunning views.
By Train: Guests looking to experience the Canadian Rockies by rail can book a train journey with Rocky Mountaineer — a luxury travel experience offered April to October.
Dining reservations are available on OpenTable 30 days in advance at Farm & Fire and Brazen in Banff, as well as Terra, Aalto, Hearthstone Lounge and Silverwater Grill in Jasper. Altitude, located at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, is also available for reservations via OpenTable during its operating season (May to October).
Reservations at Sky Bistro are available 90 days in advance. From October through March, reservations can be made as a Sky Experience package, which includes Banff Gondola admission. À la carte reservations are available year-round through OpenTable and do not include Banff Gondola admission.
Hotel bookings can be modified over the phone more than 72 hours prior to your stay. Please have your confirmation number ready when you call. Modifications are subject to availability.
Attractions visits, including any Pursuit Pass bookings, can be modified using the “Modify Booking” button found in your confirmation email. Please note that all attraction purchases are non-refundable.
Hotel bookings can be cancelled by calling our reservations team or the hotel directly. In accordance with our Terms & Conditions, lodging cancellations within 72 hours of your scheduled stay will result in a cancellation fee. Please have your confirmation number ready when you call.
Cancellations can be made using the “Modify Booking” button in your confirmation email. Please note that our Cancellation Policy states that attraction bookings, including Pursuit Pass purchases, are non-refundable.
Cancellations for transportation and Open Top Touring, must be made 90 minutes before your departure time in order to receive a refund. Cancellations for Brewster Sightseeing tours must be made 24 hours prior to departure.
If you anticipate a late arrival, please contact us directly at the relevant attraction or tour operator phone number. If your booking is within the hour, we encourage you to continue to the attraction or transportation centre and we will do our best to accommodate. Adjustments are subject to availability.
Please note that the rates are subject to a 5% Goods and Services Tax, 4% Tourism Marketing Levy, a 2% Tourism Improvement fee in Banff and a 3% Tourism Improvement fee in Jasper. All taxes and fees are subject to change.
The EcoFee program helps us operate more sustainably throughout the Canadian Rockies.
A small EcoFee is added to each attraction admission ($1 per ticket), transportation journey ($1 per leg of the trip) and lodging stay ($2 per night, per room) in the Banff Jasper Collection. These fees contribute to an EcoFund (managed in partnership with GreenStep), which in turn supports long-term stewardship projects at our properties and within our communities.
You can learn more about EcoFees, EcoFund and Pursuit’s Promise to Place on our Impact page.
From June 20 through September 2, 2025, no park pass is required to enter Banff, Jasper or any other national park, national historic site or national marine conservation area operated by Parks Canada.
From September 3, 2025, onwards, Parks Canada requires all adult visitors (18 years old and older) to buy a permit for the duration of their stay in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. This includes iconic locations such as Lake Louise in Banff and the Columbia Icefield in Jasper.
Passes are available as Day Passes or Discovery Passes, both of which can be purchased online or in-person at a visitor centre.
While we can't guarantee it, wildlife sightings are common when visiting any of Canada's national parks, including Banff National Park and Jasper National Park.
Weather in the Canadian Rockies can vary greatly from day-to-day, and even hour-to-hour. We recommend packing for the season you're visiting in, with comfortable clothes that can be layered to accommodate shifts in weather.
Summer: Average daytime temperatures in the summer are around 22°C (72°F) in both Banff and Jasper.
Fall: The average daytime temperatures in fall are around 10°C (50°F) in Banff and Jasper.
Winter: Conditions vary greatly in the winter, though average lows sit around -15°C (5°F) in both Banff and Jasper.
Spring: Average daytime temperatures in spring are around 10°C (50°F) in Banff and Jasper.
Please note that conditions are always changing in the mountains. We recommend checking live webcams at attractions before visiting. Forecasts for Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise and the Saskatchewan River Crossing (near the Columbia Icefield) are also available on the Environment Canada website.
Canada encompasses six of the world's 24 time zones. From east to west, they are: Newfoundland Standard Time Zone, Atlantic Standard Time Zone, Eastern Standard Time Zone, Central Standard Time Zone, Mountain Standard Time Zone and Pacific Standard Time Zone.
Banff National Park, Jasper National Park and Golden, B.C., are all in Mountain Standard Time.
Driving is on the right-hand side of the road. Pedestrians have the right of way, and in most cities and provinces (including Alberta and B.C.), you can turn right at a red light.
Four-way stops are also common in Canada. These crossroad intersections include stop signs in all four directions. The driver that arrives at a full stop first proceeds first. If two drivers arrive at the same time, the driver on the right proceeds first. If drivers arrive at the same time going opposite directions, turning vehicles yield to vehicles going straight.
Most major highways in B.C. require winter tires by law from October 1 to April 30. Winter tires are not mandatory in Alberta, though they are highly recommended during the snowy season.
A 5% Goods and Services tax (GST) is levied on most goods and services throughout Canada. B.C. also charges an additional 7% Provincial Sales Tax (PST). There is not PST in Alberta.
These taxes are generally not included in the price labels of things in shops but levied at the check-out counter. Taxes can be reclaimed on certain articles.
A passport valid until at least the day after you return from Canada is required.
International visitors to Canada (not US citizens or US permanent residents) must carry a valid passport and, if required, a visa. Visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for a full listing of countries whose citizens require visas to enter Canada.
All other visitors should contact their Canadian consulate or embassy to learn what documents are required.
To learn more about Canadian customs regulations, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.
Each child under 18 years of age must have their own passport, identification such as a birth certificate, proof of citizenship or student visa. A letter of permission is required from the parents of any children accompanying travellers who do not have legal custody of the children. If only one parent is travelling with the child, a letter of authorization from the other custodial parent is required allowing the child to be taken out of the country. If this is impossible, we recommend carrying a letter from a solicitor or a death certificate if applicable.
Customs officers are often looking for missing children and may ask questions about the children who are travelling with you.
Gifts valued at CA$60 CDN or less each may be brought into Canada duty free and tax free. If you bring in gifts worth more than CA$60 CDN, they will be subject to duty on the excess amount. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and advertising materials do not qualify as gifts.
You can bring in limited quantities of alcohol if you meet the minimum age requirements of the province or territory where you enter Canada (see below). These items must accompany you on your arrival. Minimum ages for the importation of alcoholic beverages are 18 years for Alberta, Manitoba and Québec and 19 years for Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador. For more information on bringing in alcohol and tobacco to Canada, please visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.
Many agricultural items are restricted or prohibited entry to Canada. Canadian law requires that you declare all agricultural products you bring into Canada to customs officers when you arrive, whether it is by land, water or air. Permission is required to import plants to Canada, except for houseplants from the United States. See the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for more information. Handguns and weapons, such as mace and pepper spray, are prohibited from entering Canada. In addition, some fruits, vegetables, honey, eggs, meats, dairy products and plants from other countries cannot be brought into Canada. For more information, please consult the Canada Border Services Agency website.
Travellers with disabilities in Canada have more options and resources for exploring the country than ever before. Visit Canada's Persons with Disabilities Online website for information on accessibility in Canada.
Make more memories in the Canadian Rockies this year with a Pursuit Pass. Save big by booking iconic Banff, Jasper and Golden attractions together, including lake cruises, glacier adventures and sky-high suspension bridges.
Find your perfect pass and start planning today.
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