• Banff - The evening starts with a convenient pickup in Banff or Canmore. As the town lights fade away, the guide provides an overview of the night’s sky conditions and highlights the specific celestial objects chosen for viewing, based on the current lunar cycle and planetary alignment.
• Lake Minnewanka - Upon arrival at the designated dark-sky location, away from light pollution, guests can enjoy hot chocolate and a cozy blanket while the professional telescope is set up. Over the next two hours, participants will alternate between “Deep Space” views (such as Saturn’s rings, Moon craters, and galaxies) and “Wide Sky” learning, as the guide uses a high-powered laser to point out the constellations of the Northern Hemisphere.
• Canmore - After packing up the equipment, the journey back to civilization begins. This 20-minute drive offers the perfect opportunity to ask the guide any “big picture” space questions. Guests will be returned to their original pickup location, hopefully with a newfound appreciation for the vastness of the Canadian Rockies and the universe above.

• Small group experience — maximum 14 guests
• Flexible cancellation – cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
• Hot chocolate and tea
• Professional astronomical telescope with expert guide
• Guided tour of the night sky with high-powered laser pointer
• Round-trip transport from central Canmore and Banff pickup points
• Weather guarantee – if conditions are unsuitable, choose between free rescheduling or a full refund
• A photo of what you saw through the telescope, emailed the next day
• Warm blankets for each guest

• Gratuities (optional, appreciated)
• Personal warm clothing — toque, insulated jacket, warm boots recommended
• Food or snacks (feel free to bring your own)
• Travel insurance

Peer through the eyepiece to witness the rings of Saturn — not a photograph, but the actual rings, distinct enough to count. This is part of a three-hour guided stargazing tour centered around that breathtaking moment.

Starting with a central pickup in Canmore or Banff, the guide takes you on a twenty-minute drive north, away from city lights, to a dark-sky location near Lake Minnewanka selected for its optimal sky clarity that evening. Step outside and behold the Milky Way stretching across the sky, a luminous river of stars, not just a faint blur. The guide sets up a professional telescope, allowing you to observe Moon craters with remarkable clarity, Jupiter accompanied by its four largest moons, and — depending on the season — star clusters and a galaxy whose light began its journey before humans walked the Earth.

Between these awe-inspiring views, relax under a blanket with hot chocolate as the guide uses a laser to point out constellations. No prior astronomy knowledge is required. This is the only dedicated telescope tour in Banff National Park, with group sizes limited to 14. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, there’s no charge.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.