Planning a trip always sounds so simple—visit a few parks, check some museums, or maybe stop by the zoo. But once you start mapping it all out, it gets overwhelming fast.
Even just exploring Calgary, the city I’ve literally lived my whole life in, was tough. I found myself stuck on an online checklist, focused on ticking boxes rather than enjoying the experience.
Eventually, I started trying guided tours, and that was only when I was finally able to really enjoy. There was no need to rush from one stop to the next, and I got to experience the city in a much more meaningful way.
If you’re planning a trip soon and wondering how to make the most of your time, these are the tour companies in Calgary I’d recommend. They helped me reconnect with my city, and they might just do the same for yours!
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1. Alberta Blue Sky Tours
– Media credit: albertablueskytours
Website: https://albertablueskytours.com/
Address: 1400 Kensington Rd NW #206
Contact Details: +1 888 949 9987 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $$$
For those looking for sightseeing tours throughout the Canadian Rockies, I recommend Alberta Blue Sky Tours. Their professional guiding services in that area are second to none.
For groups of 10 people or fewer, they offer a total of five small group day tour packages. Each tour will take your group to the wonders of Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise. They’re great deals if you guys have limited time during your visit.
But if you’ll stay for a week or two, go all out and book one of their private multi-day tour packages! You guys can opt for a four to seven-day tour. Some of the spectacular sights you’ll see are the Rocky Mountains, Drumheller, and the Badlands.
Pro Tip:
Their private tour packages are customisable, so don’t hesitate to request some places before or during the trip that you’d like to explore.
2. Banff Journey
– Media credit: banff.journey
Website: https://banffjourney.org/
Address: 500 4 Ave SW #2500
Contact Details: +1 403 975 7280 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $
Banff Journey is the ideal tour agency to talk to for budget-friendly trips within Banff. For only $159, you’ll have a wonderful journey within Calgary and beyond!
They offer two tour packages with ever-changing itineraries depending on the season. I find their tours great for solo travellers who want to make friends while discovering fantastic places at the same time.
One of the tours will take you to the must-visit destinations in Banff National Park, such as Johnston Canyon, Banff town, and more. The other one will bring you to the various renowned lakes in Canada, including Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake, and many more.
Pro Tip:
They offer a private tour upon request, so go for it if you want a personalised experience. If you want to see Moraine Lake, don’t book a tour during the winter season, as it’s temporarily closed to the public.
3. Pedal Pub Calgary
– Media credit: pedalpubcalgary
Website: https://www.pedalpub.com/calgary-ab/
Address: 1417 9 Ave SE
Contact Details: +1 403 472 5697 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $$
Pedal Pub Calgary offers a unique pub-hopping experience, perfect for adventurers who want to drink a bit while exploring the city. Each tour lasts for two hours, enough to get you warmed up before a full night out with your gang.
They offer public tours for up to eight people, which I find suitable for solo travellers and couples who are tired of watching movies at a theatre. You can choose to hop on the Beltline East, Beltline West, or Inglewood tour.
Their private tours are ideal for group celebrations, particularly for a birthday party. For these tours, they use a bigger bike that can accommodate up to 15 people, more than enough for your whole crew.
Pro Tip:
Feel free to ask the driver to either slow down or speed up for a more enjoyable experience.
4. Westar Travel
– Media credit: westartravel
Website: https://www.westartravel.com/en/
Address: 3320 14 Ave NE 6 -#8
Contact Details: +1 403 201 8525 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Pricing: $$
With over 15 years of regional expertise, Westar Travel can give you a memorable trip to the Canadian Rockies and beyond. Their tour guides are professional enough to make you feel like you’re a local of the city.
I was very impressed by their bilingual tours. They have tour guides who can speak both English and Chinese fluently throughout the tour, giving tourists an inclusive experience. What’s even better is that they’re available in eight multi-day trips.
For a day tour, they offer a walking trip to Calgary, particularly in the historic Heritage Park and the downtown area. Aside from that, they also have day trips to the parks of the Canadian Rockies and more.
Pro Tip:
Contact them as early as possible if you’re planning to book a multi-day tour, as these tours sell out quickly, especially during peak season.
5. Toonie Tours
– Media credit: toonietours
Website: https://www.toonietours.ca/
Address: 151 8 Ave SW
Contact Details: +1 866 643 1847 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – 9:30 AM to 9 PM
- Tuesday and Wednesday – 9 AM to 9 PM
- Thursday to Sunday – 9:30 AM to 9 PM
Pricing: $
If you want to explore without spending too much, except for a little gratuity, Toonie tours offers a range of free walking tours. Their Calgary free walking tour will uncover the city’s rich history, including its railways, hidden skywalks, and more.
For art enthusiasts, they offer a combined street art and craft beer tour, perfect to experience some of Calgary’s local culture. The guide will take you to the city’s vibrant streets filled with striking murals, with a bonus of tour stops in two craft breweries.
For a family-friendly, personalised experience, I suggest booking one of their private bus tours. I see this as a great option for those travelling with their kids. Not only that, each bus tour can accommodate up to 56 people!
Pro Tip:
For cyclists, don’t miss your chance to explore the city on wheels by booking one of their bike tours!
6. RTB Tours & Shuttles
– Media credit: rtbtours
Website: https://rtbtours.ca/
Address: 2536 7 Ave NE
Contact Details: +1 855 595 1855 and [email protected]
Pricing: $$
For night owls, RTB Tours & Shuttles offers an evening tour in Calgary. This is great not just for people who are active at night, but also for those who have personal business affairs to attend to during the day.
History buffs shouldn’t miss their combined Drumheller and Badlands tour. In this tour, you’ll discover why Drumheller is considered Canada’s dinosaur capital through stunning prehistoric landscapes.
When it comes to vehicles, you have a choice to hop on their 54-seater bus, 28-seater mini buses, and vans with various seating capacities. It entirely depends on whether you’re travelling alone, with a partner, or with several friends.
Pro Tip:
They would likely offer a discount for a group of 10 or more people. Just inform them about the exact number of your crew when booking a tour. Sadly, children under six are not allowed to join the Drumheller tour.
7. Calgary Tours
– Media credit: calgarytours
Website: https://canada.calgarytours.ca/
Address: 814 Centre St N
Contact Details: +1 403 276 7816 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 6 PM
Pricing: $
The range of trips Calgary Tours offers in different areas in Canada is commendable. They can even take you to Yellowknife, known as one of the best spots in the world to see the aurora borealis.
They also offer a range of guided tours in the parks within the Canadian Rockies. Some of them are YOHO National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Waterton National Park. They’re truly a one-stop shop for exploring almost all the well-known parks in the area.
Aside from year-round tour packages, they also offer seasonal tour packages. They have tours for not just one, but for four seasons every year, which I find impressive.
Pro Tip:
They offer private tours in many countries from various continents, perfect for honeymoons, pilgrimages, and corporate trips.
8. YYCTOURS
– Media credit: calgary.foodie and yyctours.ca
Website: https://www.yyctours.ca/
Contact Details: +1 587 803 2337 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 8 AM to 8 PM
Pricing: $
If you want to know the full history and development of different kinds of alcohol in Calgary, I highly recommend YYCTOURS. This company provides a tour of the city’s brewery, distillery, and winery.
The brewery tour lasts for three and a half hours. The tour will have stops at three unique breweries in the city. You’ll have a free beer at each brewery.
The distillery tour will take you to two award-winning distilleries where you can indulge in locally made spirits and cocktails. The distilleries will even let you take a look at how they produce the drinks you just tasted.
Lastly, the winery tour can last between two and three hours. You’ll meet locals who passionately produce wines and grape-based spirits.
Pro Tip:
For those who don’t want alcohol tours, book their Calgary highlights or Banff area tours.
9. Banff Everyday Tours
– Media credit: banffeveryday
Website: https://banffeveryday.com/
Address: 5718 1a St SW #203
Contact Details: +1 825 445 1551 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Tuesday to Sunday – 7 AM to 8 PM
Pricing: $$
Banff Everyday Tours is the travel agency for you if you’re looking for different tours revolving around Moraine Lake. With them, you can be in this majestic spot either during sunset or sunrise.
Not only that, they also offer unique tours, such as a cave tour. Popularly known as the Explorer Tour, this tour will allow you to walk inside a cave in Canmore filled with breathtaking rock formations.
For a more adventurous tour, I highly recommend booking their bunker tour. The tour will take you to The Bunker, a historic site in the Canadian Rockies that was built during the Cold War era.
Pro Tip:
They offer public and private shuttle services from Calgary Airport to Banff or Canmore, and vice versa.
10. Alberta Food Tours
– Media credit: yycactivities and albertafoodtours
Website: https://albertafoodtours.ca/
Contact Details: +1 888 896 2169 and [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $$
Alberta Food Tours is hands down one of my favourites, just for the fact that they offer really good food tours. And they’re not just limited to Calgary, they also do other cities in Alberta.
Their iconic eats food tour is available every Saturday, designed for those who want to learn the city’s rich culinary history. The highlight of this walking tour is the stop at the chocolate bar maker, where you can get a free taste of a unique dessert.
If you still have energy to walk the next day, join the tour at the Calgary Farmers’ Market West on Sunday. The tour will have many food tastings from establishments within the market.
Pro Tip:
If you prefer to have a more independent experience, consider booking one of their self-guided tours.
