Columbia Icefield Tour & Glacier Skywalk (Calgary Departure)
Starts atCA$ 385US$ 294€ 253£ 217A$ 410
Duration: 13 Hours
Age: All Ages
Departure: 6:00am
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 Calgary. Covering over 325 square kilometers along the famous Icefields Parkway, this massive icefield feeds several glaciers, including the iconic Athabasca Glacier. Visitors travelling from Calgary experience an unforgettable drive through Banff and Jasper National Parks before arriving at this incredible glacial landscape.
Please note that tours starting from Calgary and Canmore consist of a guided tour plus a shared group shuttle to Banff. The shuttle picks up guests for all of our tours once each morning — around 6:00am from Calgary and 7:10am from Canmore — and you will change vehicles in Banff to meet your guide for the day. The return shared group shuttle departs Banff at around 6:30pm.
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 Calgary
Realtime pick-up trackingTour Details
Tour Duration
13 Hours
Departure Time
6:00am
Age Required
All Ages
Season
May-Oct
Included
- Hotel pick up and drop off (Calgary)
- 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 total trip time including shuttles is about 13 hours.
What does the tour include?+
The full day tour includes transportation from most hotels in Calgary 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 selected hotels in Calgary. You can choose from the following options: Fairmont Palliser, Ford Tower, Harry Hayes Building - Loading Zone, The Westin Calgary Downtown, Acclaim Hotel by Clique Calgary Airport
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 Calgary, 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 Calgary?+
The drive from Calgary to the Columbia Icefield is around 5 hours. On this tour there is a connection in Banff, where you will change vehicles and meet your guide for the day. Please note that this excursion does not include free time in Banff.
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 72 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change, cancel, or refund your booking up to 72 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.
Is there one-way transportation from Calgary to Banff available?+
Guests departing from Calgary to Banff on the one way option will travel to Banff on a shared group shuttle. Upon arrival, you will change vehicles and meet your guide for the day. At the end of the tour, guests will be dropped off at their selected Banff hotel.
How does the Calgary return option work?+
Guests departing from Calgary will travel to Banff on a shared group shuttle. Upon arrival, you will change vehicles and meet your guide for the day. This excursion does not include free time to explore Banff afterward. At 6:30 p.m., you will join the shared group shuttle back to Calgary.
How much free time will I have in Banff before returning to Calgary?+
This excursion does not include any free time in Banff. After the tour at 6:30pm you will return back to your original destination by shared group shuttle.
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.