If you want to see cool stuff in the Canadian Rockies, in a cool bus, then book a trip with Rugged Peaks Touring Co.
This article may read like a PR piece, but the tone is hard not to stray into that space when you have had such a memorable day, visiting the iconic lakes of the Canadian Rockies, in absolute comfort, whilst simultaneously being entertained by Andreas, the owner-operator of Rugged Peaks Touring Co.
To visit the most famous lakes in Banff National Park, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, Parks Canada, who manage the park, have implemented a ticketing system. In April, there were 40,000 pre-bookable tickets available. These were sold within an hour of release and although Parks Canada will release additional tickets at 8 am MDT, two days prior to departure, for the majority of travelers, this causes a problem because they also sell out within minutes, leaving you at risk of not visiting these iconic sites.
To overcome this supply and demand challenge, Parks Canada has allowed private tour companies to operate and take guests to these locations. Therefore, if you are on a schedule, booking with a private tour company is the only sure way to guarantee seeing these sites and this is what happened to me. Enter Rugged Peaks Touring Co.
About Rugged Peaks Touring Co.
As mentioned, Rugged Peaks Touring Co. is locally owned and operated by Andreas. Based in Canmore, 20km outside of Banff National Park. Andreas has lived in the Rockies for 35 years, with many spent living at Lake Louise and as became apparent on the tour, there isn’t a hike in that area he hasn’t completed. What is interesting about Andreas’ story is that when he arrived in his early 20s from Germany, to work at Château Lake Louise, he was expecting to only stay for two or three years, but after falling in love with the mountains that turned into thirty plus. He explained that after the first year, there was “no going back home to Germany.”
Travel in style
You will be taken to view these sites in style. First and foremost, there was no mistaking who Rugged Peaks Touring Co were when they arrived. Their sleek black tour bus, decked in red and white branding, was eye-catching and set them apart, making it really easy to find them in the parking lot, after each stop at the different lakes.
Inside the tour bus, the interior was immaculate with USB ports to charge your devices, a high ceiling which meant you weren’t bent over double when getting in and out, and with space for 14 people, our group of 8 didn’t feel cramped.
With large windows and in an elevated position, it meant that you had excellent visibility of the mountains and any wildlife that you may encounter, more on that later.
With seat belts fastened, no additional guest to collect and complimentary water in hand, it was off to our first stop of the day Moraine Lake.
About the tour
Rugged Peaks Touring Co offers a variety of different tours but I opted for their 6-hour Famous Lakes & Banff National Park Tour. The trip could be split into three main components, Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and the Bow Valley Parkway.
Moraine Lake
Starting at 9am, I was picked up at my door in Canmore, where the first stop an hour later was Lake Louise Village. This gave us an opportunity to use the washroom before heading to Moraine Lake, where facilities are limited.
The drive to Moraine Lake is majestic. From the turnoff up to Lake Louise, this 12-kilometer road is closed to cars, so is quiet. However, cyclists were out in force as a result of my previous article, Cycling to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
En route, we saw the aftermath of a winter avalanche that would have covered the road, had it not been recently cleared and with the winter snow in full melt, streams were in full flow. As the road noticeably ascended, Andreas was now in full Tour-Guide mode and was pointing out the names of individual mountains, which were too many for me to remember, and I was in awe of his capability to retain such information.
Upon arrival at Moraine Lake, we were given 90 minutes to explore. Due to the volume of visitors, estimated to be 8000 per day to Moraine Lake, Andreas noted that the parking area can get so busy, there can be times when he is unable to park and has to simply drop the guests and return later to collect. Fortunately, Andreas was able to find parking and so accompanied us to the famous lookout point where the iconic images of this lake are captured, explaining how the lake was formed as we went.
It was special to see the lake still partially frozen, with access to Moraine Lake being only available from June 1st as a consequence of winter conditions making it inaccessible for much of the year with access only via skis during the colder months, with the road closing in October.
The 90 minutes gave us plenty of time to walk the shoreline of the lake and take pictures of Canada’s iconic bird, the loon, which was enjoying the areas of unfrozen water. 90 minutes would give you the opportunity to hire a canoe, but prices are roughly $160 CAD an hour, it’s not a cheap activity.
Next stop was Lake Louise.
Lake Louise
Despite it being early season, Lake Louise was busy with 12,000 people visiting daily. With 90 minutes on the clock, we had more than enough time to take pictures and go for a short walk along the shoreline.
Having worked at the famous Château Lake Louise as a chef, Andreas had many personal anecdotes to share, including the time he had a somewhat ghostly experience. Andreas recalled the time when he was working alone in a kitchen when he heard a nearby piano playing. Upon investigating, there was no one there!
It’s nice learning about the names of the mountains, but it’s these personal anecdotes that add an extra dimension to the tour. Andreas even showed us Lake Louise’s own water treatment plant, and he explained that water is taken from the lake, which is glacier fed, treated at the onsite processing plant, meaning that all the water that the guests drink at the famous Château is actual glacier water.
After Lake Louise, we had a short stop at Lake Louise Village for some refreshments before heading along Highway 1A, or the Bow Valley Parkway as it is known.
Bow Valley Parkway
It was here that we encountered a black bear peacefully eating in the afternoon sun. With large windows, everyone had the opportunity to see the bear, as we slowed down to take a few pictures. The trip was also interspersed with sightings of mule deer and a lone bighorn sheep, with Andreas informing us that they are mostly seen on the road past Johnston Canyon, but that is currently closed for cars, but will open later in the season.
We returned slightly after 3pm, making this trip slightly longer than advertised but no one was complaining considering the incredible things we had seen and that is another key point to note, that at no point did we feel rushed, which is not always the case with excursions like this.
Costs and value
This 6-hour tour cost $165CAD for adults and $145CAD for children which is excellent value compared to other activities in the Canadian Rockies.
What people don’t realise is that Parks Canada charge what is called a “Moraine Lake Road Access Fee” for everyone on the tour bus and some private tour companies pass this cost on to the customer, in contrast Rugged Peaks Touring Co include that cost in the price of the ticket which makes them one of the most cost-effective companies offering such a tour. Also, an added extra is this was as close to a door-to-door service as possible where they pick up at a number of hotels in Canmore and Banff, meaning you won’t have far to travel and if you are at those hotels, it is a literal door-to-door service.
To book, simply visit their website by clicking here.
Summing up
Booking a tour with Rugged Peaks Touring Co. is an excellent and cost-effective way to experience two of the most iconic lakes in Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. A top spec tour bus and knowledgeable local guide resulted in one of my most memorable days in the Canadian Rockies and most importantly, it was a lot of fun. With the weather getting hotter and guests flooding the park in their droves, I anticipate a busy summer for Rugged Peaks Touring Co.
