Columbia Icefield Tour with Glacier Skywalk
Description
Visit the Athabasca Glacier on a massive ice explorer on this 3-hour excursion. Walk along the frozen sheet of ice and fill your water bottle with pure snowmelt, then venture out along the glass bottomed Glacier Skywalk for incredible views along the cliff's edge. See two amazing attractions outside of Banff in one fun-filled adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
No trip to Jasper is complete without a visit to the famed Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Canadian Rockies. Jaw-dropping views of towering mountains, rocks, ice and pure white snow as far as the eye can see. From the Discovery Centre, you will board a specialized Ice Explorer that will take you down a frozen roadway to the Athabasca Glacier. Along the way, your driver will provide commentary about glaciers, their impact upon the local ecosystem, and the environmental changes rapidly transforming these massive scenic wonders. Once you reach the Athabasca Glacier, you will have the opportunity to hop out, walk along the glacier and even fill up your water bottle with pure, pristine snowmelt. Once the tour is complete, you will head over to the Glacier Skywalk, where you will walk along the glass bottom walkway out over the cliff's edge. After stopping to appreciate the incredible view and capture a few photographs, it's back to the Discovery Center.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date
- Infant Tickets are free but are required for Attraction
Reviews(1,929)
Neil Evans was a great guide. So knowledgeable about glaciers and the geology and history of the area. We didn’t have great weather on the glacier but otherwise it was a great day. We had quite a bit of difficulty establishing our pickup location with trip advisor. We were told we would be picked up at Douglas lodge when I booked it but then got a message that we were going to be picked up at Canalta. It was difficult to reach someone but we eventually found a phone number and got it changed to Douglas lodge again
I went in the glacier tour as part of a day trip from Banff booked through Discover Banff tours. At the glacier they have a large visitor center with a restaurant, Starbucks, and large gift shops. At your scheduled time you get in the Ice Explorer vehicles for the short ride onto the glacier. You get around 20 minutes to walk around on the ice in a roped off area. It is very crowded with ice explorers arriving and departing every few minutes. It was cool to be standing on a glacier. They take you on another bus to the skywalk. It was very crowded as well but the views were good. There were a few mountain goats on the ledge. Another bus then takes you back to the visitor center. Good tour but super commercialized and crowded.
The name is misleading, they do not pick up from Banff which is 162km away from the meeting point. The tour guide does not respond to messages in a timely fashion either. Customer service is poor.
Stole my money. I booked this trip on July 4th at 2:50 PM in Montreal for 2:15 on July 5th. They charged me for the 2:15 PM trip in July 4th. They stole my money. I did t receive a response to emails or virtual agent correspondence. Was left on hold for over an hour when I called and then line wa disconnected. This is a sham. I would give zero stars if possible
It was a beautiful drive getting to the Icefields, and it was sort of a once in a life time experience to be standing on top of a glacier where it all starts.
Well organised and well operated excursion. Car parking is good, the visitor center works well and the glaciers tour is fun. The drivers and guides were all charming and amusing. Shout out for Lars who made our visit. The sky bridge is a great add on and a recommended visit.
Wonderful experience - transfer service exceptional- guides Ruth & Stu fantastic- v highly recommended
Hello delwynstephen, Thank you for taking time to leave a review. We are happy to hear that you had a Wonderful experience with fantastic guides like Ruth and Stu! Thank you for recommending us and we hope to welcome you back again soon. Nathaniel Cherry Assistant Guest Experience Manager
Tour package was very informative. Enjoyed the upfront and personal experience with a glacier. Tour guide was very informative.
Hello janwH9074ON, Thank you for taking time to leave a review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed the personal and informative experience on the Columbia Icefield Adventure with help from our guides. We hope to welcome you back soon. Nathaniel Cherry Assistant Guest Experience Manager
The Columbia Icefield and Skywalk are breathtaking, but what made this tour exceptional were our guides, Cody and Collin. Spending eight hours on a bus could feel like a long day. Somehow, they made it feel like it was over in the blink of an eye. Their chemistry was effortless—they played off each other naturally, were genuinely funny, incredibly knowledgeable, and created an atmosphere where the entire bus felt connected. What impressed me most was Cody’s ability to make every guest feel important. He took the time to speak with everyone individually, learned a little about each person, checked that they were comfortable, remembered details, and somehow managed to keep us all laughing throughout the day. He happily took photos for guests, made thoughtful recommendations, and even gave me an impromptu “facial” after a splash of glacier mud—something we’ll still be laughing about long after this trip. The entire day was exceptionally well organized. We never felt rushed, always knew what was happening next, and could simply relax and enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada. Great tours take you to amazing places. Great guides make you remember how they made you feel. Cody and Collin did exactly that. Thank you for making an unforgettable destination into an unforgettable experience.
Hello spb-Ottawa! Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a memorable experience at the Columbia Icefield and Skywalk. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Cody and Collin. Their knowledge, humour, and genuine care for our guests make all the difference, and we're delighted they helped make your day and experience so special. Thank you for visiting and we hope to welcome you in the future! Nathaniel Cherry Assistant Guest Experience Manager
I have never in my life had a more disappointing day during a vacation. This was a complete waste of time and money. First you drive your ass 2.5 hours from banff to this glacier. You then are greeted with a Starbucks and gift shop. Then you get on a bus to drive across the street to get on one of these silly glacier trucks that drives you 2 miles and hour to the ice field. Ooh, ahhhh, its ice. Its also the size of a postcard that you get you schlep around on for 30 minutes until they crawl you back to the bus that then takes you the the Skywalk. Skywalk was the whip cream on top of the sh1t sundae you were served at the glacier. Oh and dont forget, you get to drive 2.5 hours back to banff to contemplate how you could have possibly paid any money for this crap let alone $150 in Canadian funny money. If you take this trip, you should have your head examined. If you enjoyed this trip, you should be committed.
