Columbia Icefield Tour & Glacier Skywalk (Canmore Departure)
Starts atCA$ 365US$ 273€ 239£ 205A$ 394
Duration: 11.5 Hours
Age: All Ages
Departure: 7:10am
Season: May-Oct
Guaranteed departure. This tour runs as scheduled with no minimum group size — book with confidence, it won’t be cancelled for low numbers.
Overview
The Columbia Icefield is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the Canadian Rockies and a must-see on a journey from Canmore. Covering over 325 square kilometers along the famous Icefields Parkway, this massive icefield feeds several glaciers, including the iconic Athabasca Glacier. Visitors travelling from Canmore experience an unforgettable drive through Banff and Jasper National Parks before arriving at this incredible glacial landscape.
Highlights
The best parts of the tour for most people include the following:
Columbia Icefields Glacier Adventure and Skywalk
Icefields Parkway
Mountain Picnic Lunch
Crowfoot Glacier
Glacier Lakes (Peyto and Bow Lake)
Comfortable round-trip transportation from CanmoreTour Details
Tour Duration
11.5 Hours
Departure Time
7:10am
Age Required
All Ages
Season
May-Oct
Included
- Hotel pick up and drop off (Canmore)
- Glacier Skywalk
- Ice Explorer
- Small group size (up to 24 guests per guide)
- Professional certified guide
- Hands on interpretive tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the tour?+
The tour begins at 7:10am in Canmore and brings you back to Canmore around 6pm , approximately 11 hours.
What does the tour include?+
The full day tour includes transportation from most hotels in Canmore on a guided bus tour along the scenic Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefields Centre, where you will climb aboard the Ice Explorer to visit the Athabasca Glacier and walk on the glass floor Glacier Skywalk. The tour has numerous photo opportunities, including picturesque glacier-fed Bow Lake and scenic Peyto Lake (when access permits) or lower Waterfowl Lake.
A picnic lunch is included with your choice of menu options. Please note that lunch is not included for infants.
Where is our pick up and drop off from?+
We pick up from most hotels in Canmore and the Samson Mall in Lake Louise, and you can select your preferred pick-up location during the booking process. For drop offs in Canmore, our guide will ask you on the way back where you would like to be dropped off either in town or at your hotel.
What should I wear/bring?+
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 Canmore, 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.
How long is the drive from Canmore?+
The drive from Canmore to the Columbia Icefield is around 4 hours. On this tour, there will be a connection in Banff, so you will venture into the town of Banff on this tour.
How long are we on the glacier for?+
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.
Does this tour run in winter?+
Unfortunately the tour does not run in winter, as conditions are too harsh to travel on the glacier.
Will I see wildlife on the tour?+
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.
What is the cancellation policy?+
There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change, cancel, or refund your booking up to 24 hours prior to your tour (or up to 7 days prior for group bookings).
Should I tip my guide?+
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.
How does the Canmore pickup work?+
Guests departing from Canmore will be picked up at their selected Canmore meeting location and transferred to Banff, where they will meet their guide and join their tour. The transfer from Canmore to Banff is approximately 50mins, depending on traffic and road conditions.
Will I stay with the same guide for the entire day?+
No. Guests departing from Canmore will travel to Banff on a transfer service before meeting their tour guide. Once in Banff, you will join the guided tour and spend the duration of your tour with your Discover Banff Tours guide.
After the tour ends in Banff some tours will have free time in Banff, after which you will transfer back to Canmore using the return transportation service.
How does the Banff to Canmore return option work?+
Guests begin the day by joining the guided tour in Banff. At the conclusion of the tour, you will be transferred from Banff to Canmore.
Please note that the sightseeing portion of the experience is operated separately from the Canmore transfer service, so a vehicle change may be required in Banff before departing for Canmore.
Booking Terms
- 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 (3 and under) are free of charge, but this does not include any food.
- Photo ID may be required for identity verification.
- By participating in a tour with Discover Banff Tours, guests are acknowledging that they understand that we may take video and photographs of them during their tour. These videos and photographs may be used in promotional materials including, but not limited to, social media.
- Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 4 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tour.
What Our Guests Are Saying
Real, verified reviews from guests who explored the Canadian Rockies with us.