Banff & Jasper tour from Calgary: Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Walk on glass 280 meters above the Sunwapta Valley
A 12-hour scenic tour from Calgary, Banff or Canmore through Banff and Jasper National Parks, with stops at Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and the Columbia Icefield. You ride through the Icefields Parkway, walk the glass-floored Skywalk platform overlooking glaciers and canyons, and see the Athabasca Glacier up close. A guide in English, Punjabi or Hindi leads the route. Air-conditioned transport, snacks and water are included.
Options for this experience
3 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Banff and Jasper highlights
- Visit Lake Louise
- Stop at Crowfoot Glacier viewpoint
- Enjoy Bow Lake scenery
- View Peyto Lake from platform
- Relax at Waterfowl Lakes
- Pause at Saskatchewan River Crossing
- Explore Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre
- Experience Columbia Icefield Skywalk
- Tour Athabasca Glacier
- Crowfoot Glacier Entry included 20m
- Bow Lake Entry included 30m
- Peyto Lake Entry included 45m
- Columbia Icefield Skywalk 1h
- Athabasca Glacier 1h 30m
What’s included
- Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
- snacks and pop.
- water bottles.
- live guide in English, Punjabi or Hindi.
- scenic shuttle to the Skywalk platform.
- interpretive exhibits on geology, wildlife and Indigenous history.
Times
- Every day 08:00 09:30 09:50
Before you book
Operated by Banff Trip
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts from your hotel in Calgary, Banff or Canmore and heads straight into the Icefields Parkway, the 230-kilometer route that threads through both national parks. You stop first at Lake Louise, the turquoise glacial lake framed by Victoria Glacier and the Fairmont Chateau, then move on to Crowfoot Glacier, a hanging glacier visible from a roadside viewpoint where one of its three "toes" has melted away over time. The route passes Bow Lake and Peyto Lake, each a different shade of blue depending on the glacial silt flowing through them, and Saskatchewan River Crossing, where three rivers meet in a wide valley surrounded by peaks.
The centerpiece is the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a glass-floored platform jutting out 280 meters above the Sunwapta Valley. You ride a scenic shuttle from the Discovery Centre, walk through exhibits on geology and Indigenous history, then step onto the platform to look straight down into the canyon while glaciers and waterfalls spread across the horizon. The Athabasca Glacier, part of the same icefield, sits across the valley: a river of ice over 6 kilometers long that you can see from the Skywalk or approach on foot. Winter travelers (October 15 to May 2) also stop at Johnston Canyon to see frozen waterfalls and snow-draped cliffs.
Book your Skywalk and any glacier activity tickets in advance with a time slot between 2:30 and 3:00 PM. Summer demand often sells out at the counter. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and snacks, pop and water bottles come with the tour. Your guide speaks English, Punjabi or Hindi throughout the day. The return to your starting point takes the afternoon, arriving after a full day in the mountains.
Is this one for you?The fixed afternoon time slot (2:30–3:00 PM) for the Skywalk is what fits the glacier stops and the full Icefields Parkway into a single 12-hour day from Calgary. Book your tickets in advance, as summer demand fills the counter slots quickly.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Punjabi and Hindi.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 15 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the Columbia Icefield Skywalk like when you step onto it?
The Skywalk is a glass-floored platform suspended 280 meters above the Sunwapta Valley, so you can look straight down into the canyon below while viewing glaciers, waterfalls and rugged cliffs across the alpine landscape. The walkway is accessible and safe, and an interpretive path before it covers geology, wildlife and Indigenous history of the region.
How close do you get to the Athabasca Glacier on this tour?
The Athabasca Glacier is visible from the Skywalk platform across the valley. The tour also includes a short trail to the glacier's toe, where interpretive signs explain its retreat over time. If you book an Ice Explorer ticket separately in advance, you can ride onto the glacier itself and touch the ice.
What lakes does the tour stop at along the Icefields Parkway?
You stop at Lake Louise, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Waterfowl Lakes. Each is a glacial lake with turquoise or blue-green water, and each offers short walks and photography from viewpoints or the lakeshore.
Is lunch included in the 12-hour tour?
Lunch is not included, but the tour provides snacks, pop and water bottles throughout the day. The Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre has a café and dining options if you want to purchase a meal during the stop.
Do I need to book the Skywalk tickets separately?
Yes, you must purchase Columbia Icefield Skywalk tickets in advance with a time slot between 2:30 and 3:00 PM, as summer availability often runs out at the counter. Any Ice Explorer glacier walk tickets should also be booked ahead.
Banff & Jasper tour from Calgary: Columbia Icefield Skywalk
12h · EN +2
from CA$ 89 per person
≈ US$ 65 in your currency
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