Banff: Icefields Parkway, Glaciers & Waterfalls Day Trip

What happens when you drive 233 kilometers into the Canadian Rockies in one day?

You get picked up from your hotel in Banff, Calgary or Canmore and spend ten hours driving the Icefields Parkway with a small group and a multilingual guide. In summer you see Athabasca Glacier, Peyto Lake and three waterfalls. In winter you see frozen Abraham Lake with ice bubbles or alternative winter stops. Hot drinks and crampons (winter) or bottled water (summer) are included, and you return by evening. Just bring your own lunch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Icefields Parkwaypass by
2. Crowfoot Glacierpass by
3. Bow Lake15m · entry included
4. Peyto Lake30m · entry included
5. Athabasca Glacier30m
6. Nashville Riverfront Park45m · entry included

Explore Canadian Rockies highlights

• Pick up from Calgary, Canmore or Banff
• Pass by Cascade Mountain
• Pass by Vermilion Lakes
• Pass by Castle Mountain
• Drive along Icefields Parkway
• View Crowfoot Glacier
• Stop at Bow Lake
• Stop at Peyto Lake
• Pass by Waterfowl Lakes
• Visit Abraham Lake (winter) or alternative sites
• Visit Athabasca Glacier (winter alternative)
• Visit Sunwapta Falls (winter alternative)
• Visit Athabasca Falls (winter alternative)
• Return to pick-up location

The experience

You start early from Calgary, Canmore or Banff and spend the next ten hours moving through some of the most photographed landscape in North America. The Icefields Parkway, Highway 93 North, is the spine of the day, and it's ranked among the ten most picturesque highways in the world for a reason. Your guide handles the driving while you watch Cascade Mountain, Vermilion Lakes and Castle Mountain slide past the windows. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the group stays small enough that the guide can actually talk to you instead of broadcasting to thirty people.

In summer (March through November), you stop at Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake, then Peyto Lake, where the water is so turquoise it looks photoshopped: that color comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the meltwater. You'll see Athabasca Falls, which isn't tall but is genuinely powerful, and Sunwapta Falls, fed by the Athabasca Glacier itself. In winter (December through mid-March), the route shifts. Abraham Lake freezes and reveals thousands of white bubbles trapped beneath the ice. They form from methane released by decomposing organic matter on the lake bed, and the best window to see them is mid-January to early February. If conditions don't allow Abraham Lake, you get alternatives like the Weeping Wall at Cirrus Mountain or Tangle Creek Falls instead. The itinerary adjusts for weather, and the operator tells you in advance if anything changes.

Bring your own lunch. There's no lunch stop built in, so pack something you'll actually want to eat. In winter, hot drinks and crampons are included. In summer, you get bottled water. The guide is multilingual, and if you're traveling with infants or small children, specialized seats and stroller space are available. By the time you're back in Banff or Calgary, you've seen glaciers, turquoise lakes, waterfalls and the kind of mountain scenery that makes you understand why people move to Alberta.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup from Banff, Calgary or Canmore, an air-conditioned vehicle with a multilingual guide, entry to all stops along the Icefields Parkway, bottled water in summer or hot drinks and crampons in winter, and hotel drop-off.
• GST is included.
• You'll need to bring your own lunch.

Options for this experience

3 options

Calgary pickupGuide in English, Cantonese or Chinese · 07:00Pickup begins at Delta Hotels Calgary Downtown, 209 4 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0C6, Canada

Canmore PickupGuide in English, Cantonese or Chinese · 08:20The departure point is the Legacy Trail Parking Lot, Canmore, AB T1W 3A2, Canada

Banff pickupGuide in English, Cantonese or Chinese · 08:30Meeting point: Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa, 521 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1H8, Canada

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:20 and 08:30

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish, Cantonese and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Rockies Journey

Is this one for you?This tour works well if you want to see the major Icefields Parkway highlights (glaciers, turquoise lakes and waterfalls) without renting a car or navigating the 233-kilometer route yourself. The fixed 10-hour schedule and small group size mean you get both the sights and actual interaction with the guide, which is what makes a long drive feel like a day out instead of a commute.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Cantonese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 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's the difference between the summer and winter versions of this tour?

Summer (March–November) focuses on Athabasca Glacier, Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and waterfalls like Sunwapta Falls. Winter (December–mid-March) features Abraham Lake's frozen ice bubbles (best mid-January to early February) or alternative stops like the Weeping Wall or Tangle Creek Falls if weather prevents lake access.

How long is the full tour?

Around 10 hours total from Banff, including travel time along the Icefields Parkway.

Where does pickup happen?

Hotel pickup is available from Banff, Calgary or Canmore, with drop-off at the same location.

Is lunch included?

No. You need to bring your own lunch. There are no meal stops on the itinerary.

What's included in the tour?

Pickup and drop-off, multilingual guide, air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water (summer) or hot drinks and crampons (winter), and GST.

What if the weather is bad?

The itinerary may change depending on conditions. The operator will inform you in advance of any adjustments.

Is this tour good for photography?

Yes. Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, the glaciers and waterfalls are all major photo stops, and the small group size means the guide can work with your pace.