Add dates

Icefields Parkway

Icefields Parkway: Our most recommended tours and activities

Banff: Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield Parkway Tour

1. Banff: Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield Parkway Tour

Discover the Athabasca Glacier on a guided tour from Banff. Journey along the scenic Icefields Parkway and climb into an Ice Explorer vehicle to explore the awesome glacier. Experience breathtaking views of the Sunwapta Valley as you step across the Glacier Skywalk. Get picked up from your Banff hotel in a modern mini bus by your friendly guide. Departing from Banff, your guide will welcome you on the tour with an overview of where you'll be headed as you sit back and enjoy the ride along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most stunning scenic drives. Benefit from a tour where you don’t have to navigate or watch the road. Sit back, relax, and focus on the amphitheater of mountains towering above as you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife at the edges of the forest. Stop at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre and board an Ice Explorer vehicle. Drive onto the Athabasca Glacier, learn about its history, and take some free time to soak up the views. Touch this ancient sheet of ice and even drink pure, cold water straight from the glacier. Head to the nearby glass floor Glacier Skywalk and follow the 1-kilometer walkway that leads to a platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918-foot drop. Witness the giant glaciers perched above you and admire the views of the spectacular Sunwapta Valley spread out below. Enjoy a scenic stop for a hearty packed lunch of a sandwich, juice, fruit, chips, and brownies. Visit iconic landmarks along the Icefields Parkway such as Bow Lake, the headwaters of the mighty Bow River before heading back to Banff.

Icefields Parkway Explorer | Frozen Bubbles, Glaciers & More

2. Icefields Parkway Explorer | Frozen Bubbles, Glaciers & More

Journey along the famous Icefields Parkway, the undisputed world heavyweight champion of scenic roads, where jaw-dropping scenery is punctuated by more than 100 ancient glaciers, waterfalls cascading from dramatic rock spires, and frozen lakes set in sweeping valleys. Stop at the awe-inspiring Abraham Lake, where your local expert guide will show you where to find the lake's famous frozen ice bubbles, a natural phenomenon that you ice-skate or walk on. This tour also includes an easy (1.5km return) snowshoeing hike to the jaw-dropping Peyto Lake viewpoint, where you can gaze upon the vastness of the Canadian Rockies deep in the backcountry of Banff National Park. Along the way, make stops at all the well-renowned must-see spots as well as some spots that only locals know about.

From Banff: Icefields Parkway Guided Tour

3. From Banff: Icefields Parkway Guided Tour

Go on a journey along the famous Icefields Parkway, the undisputed world heavyweight champion of scenic roads, where jaw-dropping scenery is punctuated by more than 100 ancient glaciers, waterfalls cascading from dramatic rock spires, and turquoise lakes set in sweeping valleys. Along the way, you'll make stops at all the well-renowned, must-see spots as well as some spots that only locals know about. Enjoy a small group guided tour as your expert local guide will be on hand to provide you with all the amazing local insights you can imagine, and you’ll be able to hit the trails for some short, mellow hikes to explore the best viewpoints and scenic vistas at your own pace without the constraints of a big bus tour schedule. Hear stories from your guide and all the great local insights you could desire with a combination of on-road guiding mixed with in-destination solo exploring, allowing you to experience the best of each stop on the tour at your own pace.

Jasper: Transfer to Banff/Lake Louise w/ Columbia Icefields

4. Jasper: Transfer to Banff/Lake Louise w/ Columbia Icefields

Your journey through two of Canada's most renowned national parks: Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, commences the moment your friendly driver/guide meets you at your hotel or approved accommodation. Departing the picturesque mountain town of Jasper, you will travel the Columbia Icefields Parkway, truly one of the most scenic roadways in the world. Take in the magnificent scenery and make several stops along the route to appreciate the region's breathtaking beauty. Along the way, highlights include Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefields, the Weeping wall, Petyo Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, Saskatchewan Crossing and Lake Louise. You will also partake in a delicious picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint during this journey. At the Columbia Icefields you will take part in a Glacier adventure to Athabasca Glacier as well as experience the Glacier Skywalk for vistas over the Sunwapta Valley. This interpretive tour is designed to provide the optimum in guide and passenger interaction. Small vehicles and group sizes are guaranteed in order to make your journey in this stunning environment memorable. Have your camera ready, as this remote region of the world provides you with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

Banff or Lake Louise to Jasper: One-Way Sightseeing Tour

5. Banff or Lake Louise to Jasper: One-Way Sightseeing Tour

Your mountain adventure starts when your driver guide meets you at your accommodation. Your journey through two of Canada's most renowned national parks: Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, starts with incredible views surrounding the town of Banff and a stop at shimmering Lake Louise. After departing Lake Louise, you will travel the Columbia Icefields Parkway, truly one of the most scenic roadways in the world. Take the magnificent scenery and make several stops along the route to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of the region.  Highlights include Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Petyo Lake, Saskatchewan Crossing, the Weeping wall, the Columbia Icefield, and the Athabasca Falls. During this journey, you will also partake in a delicious picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint. At the Columbia Icefields you will take part in a Glacier adventure to Athabasca Glacier as well as experience the Glacier Skywalk for vistas over the Sunwapta Valley. This tour is designed to provide the optimum guide and passenger interaction. Small vehicles and group sizes are assured to make your journey in this stunning environment memorable. Have your camera ready, as this remote region of the world provides you with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

From Calgary: Airport Transfer to Banff & Lake Louise

6. From Calgary: Airport Transfer to Banff & Lake Louise

Enjoy a safe and reliable shared transfer between Calgary Airport and the areas of Banff and Lake Louise. Travel safely with ease in a licensed vehicle with a professional driver and get to your destination conveniently and safely. Benefit from air-conditioned vehicles maintained to high hygienic standards. Let your driver navigate you through the traffic smoothly. Enjoy a hassle-free ride without worrying about hotel shuttles or expensive taxis. Be transferred between your hotel and the airport in Calgary, and enjoy the views of the majestic Canadian Rockies as you drive.

Canadian Rockies 7–Day National Parks Group Tour

7. Canadian Rockies 7–Day National Parks Group Tour

Day 1: Seattle to Kamloops Kamloops British Columbia is abundant with stunning scenery and great wildlife . Cougars, bears, elk, and more inhabit the Thomson River Valley. Stop for a short walk and picnic at Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park.  Day 2: Yoho National Park Explore trails around the magnificent Emerald Lake or simply relax in the lakeshore cafe and enjoy the views. Drive along the Kicking Horse Pass across the Continental Divide into Alberta. Enjoy panoramic vistas of peaks exceeding 10,000 feet on Rogers Pass at the summit in Canada's Glacier National Park en route to Banff, your night stop. Day 3:  Banff National Park - Lake Louise Lake Louise is an alpine lake known for its stunning turquoise glacier-fed waters, surrounded by high peaks and overlooked by a stately chateau. Multiple hiking trails lead to the Lake Agnes Tea House for bird's-eye views of the lake. Take a hike to the Plain-of-Six-Glaciers, take it easy exploring the lakeshore or choose to canoe on these pristine waters. Visit Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet, for some epic photos. Day 4: Icefields Parkway Spend the day driving and exploring the Icefields Parkway. This drive offers endless vistas, jagged mountains, glaciers and wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy short walks, views of Bow Glacier and Peyto lake, take an optional helicopter flight over the Columbia Icefield, or strap on some crampons and step out onto the Athabasca glacier. Day 5: Jasper National Park Enjoy Canada's largest National Park, Jasper. Marvel at the snowcapped summits and beautiful lakes in this true wild mountain wilderness. Jasper offers an abundance of wildlife sightings, jagged mountain peaks, alpine lakes and numerous hiking and biking opportunities. Choose to visit Miette hot springs, or hike/bike the famous trails around stunning lakeshores. After a full day of activities, follow the Yellowhead Highway, hugging the mighty North Thompson River to your night stop of Cleawater BC. See the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson (the highest point in the Canadian Rockies) and maybe catch a glimpse of the infamous peak en route. Day 6: Whistler and Vancouver On to the alpine resort of Whistler, nestled at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Today is yours to explore all that Whistler has to offer. Enjoy spectacular scenery and incredible photo opportunities as you explore this ski town, home of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Drive the spectacular Sea to Sky highway for your evening in Vancouver. Day 7: Vancouver and Seattle This morning, tour Vancouver, including the waterfront, Gas lamp district, Chinatown, and Stanley Park. Head to Seattle for a your evening downtown or drop off at the departure hotel.

Icefields Parkway: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour

8. Icefields Parkway: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour

Discover the incredible Icefields Parkway with this smartphone audio tour between Lake Louise and Jasper. Let your audio guide transform this beautiful scenic drive into a sight-seeing, fact-finding, trivia-answering, family-friendly adventure. With your phone or tablet at your guide (download instructions found on your confirmation voucher), start from either Jasper or Lake Louise, and end at the other. Enjoy the same tour experience in either direction. Watch as your audio guide point out must-see sights, attractions, breathtaking mountains, and glaciers that you pass along the journey. Learn about the area's early pioneers, animals, geography, and the historical events that led to the highway’s creation. Take in the panoramic views of Lake Hector and Bow Lake, and stop for easy trails in Banff National Park. Explore the Columbia Icefields and the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center. See the majestic Dolomite and Bow Peaks, Mount Amery, Mount Murchison, and Mount Wilson. Take in the gorgeous Sunwapta Falls where the water flows from the melting Athabasca Glacier. Hear about the people and events that made the area famous like Mary Shaffer Warren, Bill Peyto, George Simpson, and the Palliser Expedition. Easily navigate your tour and enjoy entertainment suitable for all ages. Stay laughing and engaged with your friends or family along the way with trivia fun. Hear fun audio clips that play automatically as you drive using a live GPS map. Try out multiple-choice trivia questions about the sights at each point of interest you pass. With no time constraints, enjoy the freedom to stop anywhere and take your time exploring.

From Banff: Icefield Parkway Scenic Tour with Park Entry

9. From Banff: Icefield Parkway Scenic Tour with Park Entry

The Sightseeing tour can be booked starting from Banff. We will pick you up from your Hotel or Airbnb location. The first stop will be Lake Louise, you will have time to take a photo and enjoy the enchanting view of the lake and its glacier background. We will have an exit to Icefield Parkway and the next stop will be Crowfoot Glacier for a stop. Bow lake and Bow Summit/Peyto Lake are popular attractions in the parkway so expect the crowd at this location. We will continue driving and have a short hike to Mistaya Canyon, Howse Pass, and end at The Crossing (Saskatchewan Crossing). The Icefield Parkway drive has a very high chance of seeing wildlife so just be ready with your camera to snap a photo, as a rule, we will always keep our distance from the animal for our safety as well as not to disturb the animal on their natural habitat.

Canada 7–Day National Parks Camping Tour from Seattle

10. Canada 7–Day National Parks Camping Tour from Seattle

Day 1: Seattle to Kamloops Kamloops British Columbia is abundant with stunning scenery and great wildlife . Cougars, bears, elk, and more inhabit the Thomson River Valley. Stop for a short walk and picnic at Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park. Spend your evening under the stars with your provided camping equipment. Day 2: Yoho National Park Explore trails around the magnificent Emerald Lake or simply relax in the lakeshore cafe and enjoy the views. Drive along the Kicking Horse Pass across the Continental Divide into Alberta. Enjoy panoramic vistas of peaks exceeding 10,000 feet on Rogers Pass at the summit in Canada's Glacier National Park en route to Banff, where you will spend your night camping. Day 3:  Banff National Park - Lake Louise Lake Louise is an alpine lake known for its stunning turquoise glacier-fed waters, surrounded by high peaks and overlooked by a stately chateau. Multiple hiking trails lead to the Lake Agnes Tea House for bird's-eye views of the lake. Take a hike to the Plain-of-Six-Glaciers, take it easy exploring the lakeshore or choose to canoe on these pristine waters. Visit Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet, for some epic photos, before setting up camp. Day 4: Icefields Parkway Spend the day driving and exploring the Icefields Parkway. This drive offers endless vistas, jagged mountains, glaciers and wildlife viewing opportunities. Enjoy short walks, views of Bow Glacier and Peyto lake, take an optional helicopter flight over the Columbia Icefield, or strap on some crampons and step out onto the Athabasca glacier. Spend you evening camping under the night sky. Day 5: Jasper National Park Enjoy Canada's largest National Park, Jasper. Marvel at the snowcapped summits and beautiful lakes in this true wild mountain wilderness. Jasper offers an abundance of wildlife sightings, jagged mountain peaks, alpine lakes and numerous hiking and biking opportunities. Choose to visit Miette hot springs, or hike/bike the famous trails around stunning lakeshores. After a full day of activities, follow the Yellowhead Highway, hugging the mighty North Thompson River to your night stop of Cleawater BC. See the base of 12,972-foot Mount Robson (the highest point in the Canadian Rockies) and maybe catch a glimpse of the infamous peak en route to your camping location. Day 6: Whistler and Vancouver On to the alpine resort of Whistler, nestled at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Today is yours to explore all that Whistler has to offer. Enjoy spectacular scenery and incredible photo opportunities as you explore this ski town, home of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Drive the spectacular Sea to Sky highway for your evening at a hostel in Vancouver. Day 7: Vancouver and Seattle This morning, tour Vancouver, including the waterfront, Gas lamp district, Chinatown, and Stanley Park. Head to Seattle for a your evening downtown or drop off at the departure hotel. Please note: there is a mandatory food kitty payment of $100 USD to cover camp meals as follows — 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 evening camp meals. Please advise the local supplier of any dietary requirements.

11 activities found
Sort by:

Other Sightseeing Options in Icefields Parkway

Want to discover all there is to do in Icefields Parkway? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Icefields Parkway

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,023 reviews

Couldn't have been happier with the service provided to and from Lake Louise. I received a personal text from the driver the night before the pick up. He explained our pick up time and location. He even sent a picture of the bus, so we would know what to look for. Both of the drivers showed up on time and the bus was clean and as warm as possible in -33 weather. It was a pleasure meeting both drivers. They were professional, courteous, friendly and they shared some great stories about themselves and the area. What a great experience that made our trip easy and relaxing.

Added interest to our trip and pointed out items of interest that we may have missed. Unfortunately the day we drove was of poor visibility so we couldn't see alot of the mountains and other items of interest however it was still good to listen and learn about the area and then answer the quiz questions that was put to us. Added a bit more fun to the trip as well as past the time of travelling. I think that it is a great idea and would definitely look for other guides like these when travelling.

We had an awesome time on our trip. Surprisingly, this 11 hour trip seemed to fly by... never once feeling bored or tired (well maybe a little tired on the last leg of the trip driving back). Our guide was very knowledgeable on most everything the guest threw at him. The short trip to and from the actual glacier was fun as our guide Simon was quite entertaining himself (he was from New Zealand... wife loves accents LOL). Highly recommend this trip.

Eli was an excellent tour guide! We had the most wonderful day and learned so many new things about the area. Great experience!

Great experience. Our guide Tim was very knowledgable and had loads of anecdotes to pass on. Would thoroughly recommend.