Small-Group Banff & Lake Louise to Jasper Tour
Operated by Alberta Blue Sky Tours
Exclusive Full-Day Icefields Parkway Tour Description
This one-way tour takes you through some of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in North America. Following the spine of the Canadian Rockies, view a never-ending procession of mammoth mountains, jagged snowy peaks, and numerous glaciers. The entire day is spent surrounded by the majesty of Canada’s two most famous National Parks, Jasper and Banff. Sightseeing stops along this beautiful highway will include Lake Louise, Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield, the Weeping Wall, and Athabasca Falls.
From mid-May through early October, a 2-hour stop at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Centre will provide you with the opportunity to board an oversized Ice Explorer bus and travel onto the Athabasca Glacier overlooking the Sunwapta Valley. You may also choose to enjoy the interpretive exhibits at the Columbia Icefield Centre.
From mid-October to early May, the Icefields Parkway sees much less traffic and turns into a beautiful drive of solitude and wonder. You will still stop at many of the roadside stops listed above, however, the Columbia Icefield Glacier Centre and Ice Explorer excursion will be closed which will make for a shortened version of this tour allowing you to arrive in destination before sundown.
The itinerary on our Small Group Tours may vary from day to day as traveling with fewer guests allows our tour guides to be flexible and tailor the plans for the day based on the groups’ interests and fitness levels. Other scenic stops may also be substituted at the discretion of the tour guide due to weather, time of year, or wildlife viewing opportunities.
Joining Instructions:
This tour uses a sprinter van with group sizes of 10 or fewer people.
This tour is approximately 9 hours from mid-May to early October and approximately 7 hours from mid-October to early May.
Please be ready and out front of your hotel 5 minutes before the pick-up time noted on your itinerary. This tour is operated by Alberta Blue Sky Tours. No voucher is required to be presented to your driver-guide for the tour. If there are any issues connecting with your driver-guide, they will call you.
Please note that this tour may start in Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise. This tour may also be done as a return trip to these locations depending on your itinerary. If you are transferring between destinations, please bring your luggage with you as you will not be returning to your starting hotel. For those with the return option, staying an additional night in Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise after the completion of this tour, you will not need to bring your luggage.
If you have any specific questions about this particular tour, please contact Canada Rail Vacations: 1 888 589 3777
Please note that it may be cooler at the top of the Athabasca Glacier due to the elevation change. Packing an extra layer of clothes may make for a more enjoyable experience at the top.
*Please do not take advice from other travelers you may meet onboard the train as there are many tour operators offering similar sightseeing tours. Please do not get on board any bus unless the driver states that they work for, or have been chartered by Alberta Blue Sky Tours / Canada Rail Vacations.
*You may experience delays with pick-up and drop-off at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise due to ongoing construction. We have done our best to account for this additional time, but please be patient if your guide does not arrive precisely on schedule.
Interested in booking a small-group tour in the Rockies?
These Small-Group Tours (up to 9/10 people) are included for guests booked with Canada Rail Vacations as space permits.
For independent travelers with a free day in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper, check below for availability on one of these tours.
