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Columbia Icefields Parkway Day Tour

5.0

Tour Code: 200131

Live ~~per person~~

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Departure City

Banff

End City

Banff

Duration

11 hours

Language

English Live

Guide Type

Guided Tour

Group Size

Standard Group Tour

Activity Level

Moderate

Highlights

• Venture onto the Athabasca Glacier on the Ice Explorer, followed by a jaw-dropping walk along the Glacier Skywalk
• Travels halfway along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, recognized as one of the top drives in the world passing numerous Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and emerald lakes
• See the headwaters of the mighty Bow River at Bow Lake, and scenic Peyto Lake (when access permits) or lower Waterfowl Lake
• Enjoy a hearty lunch with your choice of sandwich at a stop along the Icefields Parkway, rated as one of the most scenic highways in the world
• Crowfoot Glacier - One of the day's many up close glacier views

Itinerary

Travel along the world famous Icefields Parkway Highway and see, touch and even taste an ancient glacier on this thrilling full day Icefields adventure.

Sit back and enjoy the ride along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most stunning scenic drives. Because you don't have to navigate or watch the road, this tour lets you to focus on the amphitheatre of mountains towering above. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife at the edges of the forest.

Dig into a hearty mountain picnic and take a photo stop at Bow Lake, one of the largest glacier-fed lakes in Banff National Park, against the backdrop of the Crowfoot Glacier. You’ll also visit scenic Peyto Lake (when access permits) or lower Waterfowl Lake along the Icefields Parkway, a stunning glacier lake set against Mt Chephren.

Climb aboard the Ice Explorer (a six-wheeled behemoth of a vehicle) and drive across the surface of this glittering sheet of ice. Getting thirsty? You'll have a chance to drink pure, cold water straight from the glacier.

Walk the glass floor Glacier Skywalk, hanging from the edge of the Sunwapta Valley at 918-foot (280 m), for unparalleled views of the canyon below and mountains around you.

Departure Time: 8:00am
The tour begins at 8:00am in Banff (or 9:00am in Lake Louise) and brings you back to Banff around 7pm (or Lake Louise at 6:15pm), approximately 11 hours.

Choose from the following lunch options:
* Chicken Club Wrap: mayo, chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato on a tortilla wrap
* Roast Beef Sandwich: premium roast beef slices with lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese and horseradish mayo on a kaiser bun
* Vegetarian Wrap: tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, lettuce and hummus on a tortilla wrap
* Green salad with chicken (gluten-free): romaine lettuce, tomato, green onion, cucumber and diced chicken with french dressing
* Lunches also include fruit, juice, salted potato chips and two bite brownies.

Visiting Attractions

Lake Louise

Columbia Icefield

Peyto Lake

Canadian Rockies

Columbia Ice Explorer

Athabasca Glacier

Meeting & Transfer Info

What’s Included

Includes

Hotel pick up and drop off
Glacier Skywalk
Professional certified guide
Ice Explorer
Hands on interpretive tools
Alpine Picnic Lunch
5% GST

Excludes

Service Fee for tour guide/driver
Airfares or related transportation between your home and departure city
All personal expenses including hotel room service and meals
Entrance fees & optional tours (Prices vary from season to season; only the price at the ticket booth / box office is final)

Special Notes

Cancellation Made Within 5 days prior to departure, No Refund
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
Early and late season road / trail closures may limit access to some areas.
Infants (5 and under) are free of charge, but this does not include any food.
Photo ID may be required for identity verification.
Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 4 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tour.
You are welcome to meet us at any of our pick up locations in Banff to join the tour, and there is free parking at the Fenlands Centre in Banff for up to 12 hours. Guests parking here can select their pickup location as the Banff Train Station (in front of Main Entrance), located 600 metres from the Fenlands Centre. Guests staying in Lake Louise can meet at the Samson Mall in Lake Louise. Most guests choose to self-drive into Banff, although please note that you will need to find parking in Banff that exceeds the duration of the tour.
While for a large portion of the tour you will be on the bus, it can snow, rain, hail or shine any month of the year at the Icefields and so we suggest to prepare for unpredictable weather and dress in layers with hats, gloves and warm shoes. It is usually only a few degrees cooler at the Icefields as it is in Banff, although the glacier does experience some cold winds. For shoes, we would suggest closed toes shoes such as trainers or outdoor shoes. It is also recommended to take sunglasses as it can be very bright on the glacier.
The drive from Banff to the Columbia Icefield is around 3 hours.
The tour from the Columbia Icefield Centre is about an hour and 15 minutes, where there will be guided commentary all the way. You will have about 20 minutes on the glacier itself.
Unfortunately the tour does not run in winter, as conditions are too harsh to travel on the glacier.
There is a chance of seeing wildlife on the tour and the Icefields Parkway is a common area to spot animals, however we do not guarantee seeing wildlife on any of our tours. Our guides have a lot of knowledge about the animals within the park and can fill you in about them if you see any wildlife or if you have any questions.
Tips are not expected, but are certainly appreciated. If you think your guide did a wonderful job and would like to indicate that with a tip, it will be graciously accepted.

The time we mentioned in the itinerary is for reference only. Please refer to your guide on tour for the actual arrangement. The visiting order and duration might be changed according to actual and practical situation for better service.
This tour/activity is overseen by a select local operator in the region. Upon booking your tour or activity and after receiving confirmation, you will be issued an e-ticket detailing the local operator's name and contact information. If you require assistance finding a specific tour, please contact us for more information.

Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirement: If you have traveled to or transited through yellow fever-endemic regions including East African countries (excluding Tanzania) or South American countries, either before or after your trip, you may be required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. This requirement can apply not only for joining tours but also for certain flights or entry into specific countries. For more details, please refer to the official site: : Yellow Fever Risk Areas - Fit for Travel

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