Hop On Banff: An Alternative to Explore Banff National Park with Ease

As you may or may not know, I don't have a driving license. And living in a national park without a driving license is actually quite cumbersome as I need to fully rely on public transportation. Additionally, some of the popular attractions, let alone the hidden gems, here in Banff National Park can only be reached by own transportation.

So, I am truly thankful with the Hop On Banff's existence. Hop On Banff is basically a hop-on hop-off bus service which helps visitors maximize their time in Banff National Park. They start and end in The Town of Banff with a few stops at key attractions such as Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise Summer Gondola, Lake Louise Village, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake. They have set schedules but you are free to plan your stops. The hosts also will help you plan your day if you're truly clueless about what to do.

I first learned about Hop On Banff service last summer when I went to Moraine Lake for the first time ever! At that time, it cost me CAD 10 to return from Lake Louise Village to Moraine Lake. I think it was decent because the only other option to go to Moraine Lake at that time was by taxi which probably will cost me around CAD 20 - CAD 25 one way.

This summer, I requested a day pass, worth CAD 55 (including tax) as I want to see if it's actually possible to go and explore all the stops. I stopped at all stops except Lake Louise Village because there was nothing in the village. My itinerary for that day was like this;

Town of Banff → Johnston Canyon → Lake Louise Gondola → Moraine Lake → Lake Louise → Town of Banff'

The verdict?
It is possible to see all places above but it can be a tight schedule, especially if you're not fit enough. Also, you may have to skip your hiking plan if you want to see all the places. Or, you may have to skip a few places if your goal is hiking.

Is it worth the CAD 55?
Absolutely yessssss! Especially if you don't have a driving license like me. If you do have a driving license, it is still going to be worth your money as you don't have to worry about driving and parking. Parking in the Banff National Park can be a pain in the ass, especially during summer, so you may want to consider Hop On Banff as your alternative :)