Columbia Icefield Day Tour from Calgary: Ice Explorer & Skywalk

Walk on ice thousands of years old, then step onto a glass floor suspended above the valley.

A 10-hour guided tour from Calgary covers the Icefields Parkway with stops at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and Crowfoot Glacier, ending at Columbia Icefield where you can walk onto Athabasca Glacier or cross the glass-floored Skywalk high above Sunwapta Valley. The tour includes park entry, an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, bottled water and hotel pickup; the Ice Explorer ride and Skywalk entry are optional add-ons you can purchase on the day. Groups stay under 15 people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Columbia Icefield and Scenic Lakes

• Stop at Bow Lake for photos
• Visit Peyto Lake viewpoint
• Walk on Athabasca Glacier
• Optional ride on Ice Explorer
• Optional walk on Columbia Icefield Skywalk

The Experience

The day starts with a drive north on the Icefields Parkway, stopping first at Bow Lake where the water reflects the surrounding peaks and glaciers, then at Peyto Lake, shaped like a wolf's head and framed by soaring rock. These are photo stops where you stand and take in the view — the guide points out the landmarks and the geology. By mid-morning you reach the Columbia Icefield, the largest ice mass outside the Arctic Circle, and here the tour splits: you can walk onto the ancient Athabasca Glacier itself, feeling the ice under your feet, or add the Skywalk, a glass-floored platform suspended high above the Sunwapta Valley with panoramic views of the Rockies. Both are optional, paid separately at the gallery when you arrive.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and holds a small group — 10 to 15 people — so there's room to move and the guide can answer questions without shouting over a crowd. Your guide speaks English, Hindi or Gujarati depending on the departure, and they know the Rockies well enough to explain what you're looking at instead of just naming it. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and the driver handles all the logistics so you don't navigate or worry about timing.

Admission to Banff and Jasper National Parks is included, which means the stops along the Parkway don't require separate tickets. The whole day is 10 hours door-to-door, so plan for an early start and a late return. You'll need a moderate level of fitness for walking on the glacier and the Skywalk platform — it's not strenuous, but it's not a sitting tour either. Infants ride on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Calgary.
• admission to Banff and Jasper National Parks.
• air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide speaking English, Hindi or Gujarati.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• stops at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Crowfoot Glacier along the Icefields Parkway.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Scenic Shuttle Inc

Is this one for you?If your guide speaks Hindi or Gujarati, this tour is built around that language group, so the commentary and the pace work for you without translation. If you speak English, you'll be in a mixed group, but the guide covers the same ground for everyone in the vehicle.

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Top questions

What's the difference between walking on Athabasca Glacier and the Skywalk?

Athabasca Glacier is the ice itself — you step out onto thousands of years of compacted snow and ice, with views across the glacier field. The Skywalk is a separate structure, a glass-floored platform built on the mountainside above Sunwapta Valley, offering a different perspective of the landscape below and around you. You can do one, both, or neither; both cost extra and are optional.

How much time do you spend at each stop?

Bow Lake and Peyto Lake are photo stops where you get out of the vehicle for 15 to 20 minutes at each. Crowfoot Glacier is a viewpoint from the road. The Columbia Icefield is where you spend the most time — if you choose the Ice Explorer or Skywalk, you'll be there for a couple of hours; if you skip those, it's shorter.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, so bring food or plan to eat at the facilities near the Icefield. Bottled water is provided throughout the day.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English, Hindi, or Gujarati — you choose the language when you book, and the departure is organized around that group.

Do I need to book the Ice Explorer and Skywalk in advance, or can I decide on the day?

Both are optional and can be purchased directly at Icefield Gallery when you arrive, so you can decide after you see the conditions and how you're feeling. They're not pre-booked as part of the tour package.

What's the fitness level required?

You need at least a moderate level of fitness — there's walking on the glacier or the Skywalk platform, and the day is long, but it's not a climbing or technical hike. If you have mobility concerns, let the operator know when you book.