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Columbia Icefields Parkway Canada
Discover Alberta Canada on our Caravan Canadian Rockies Tour and your fully guided vacation will include a guided tour of the Columbia Icefield.
As part of our Caravan Icefields Parkway tour (and weather permitting), you will also enjoy an all-terrain Ice Explorer ride across the easily accessible Athabasca Glacier, North America’s most visited Glacier!
Caravan Icefields Parkway
The only highway link between Jasper and Lake Louise in Alberta is the Columbia Icefields Parkway.
This 144-mile (232-km) stretch of Canadian highway runs along the Continental Divide past glacial ice fields, high mountain peaks, and the evergreen vastness of the Rock Mountains. Amazingly, runoff from the Columbia Icefield feeds into three separate oceans, the North Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Arctic Ocean!
Columbia Icefields Skywalk
Step onto the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a breathtaking glass-floored walkway perched 280 meters above the stunning Sunwapta Valley in Jasper National Park. This exhilarating attraction provides unparalleled views of glaciers, rugged mountain peaks, cascading waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings, the Skywalk allows visitors to experience the Canadian Rockies from a thrilling perspective. Informative interpretive displays share captivating insights about the area’s ecology, geology, and Indigenous history. Easily accessible from the Icefields Parkway, the Skywalk is a must-see stop for travelers seeking awe-inspiring scenery, photo opportunities, and an unforgettable connection with nature.
Visit the Columbia Icefield Canada with Caravan!
Call Toll-Free 1-800-227-2826
Athabasca Glacier Part of Columbia Icefield
Straddling the Continental Divide, the Columbia Icefield dates back nearly a quarter-million years. Part of it makes up Banff National Park and the rest is in Jasper National Park. Located in the Canadian Rockies between Alberta and British Columbia, the Athabasca Glacier is just one of Columbia Icefield’s six Glacier extensions.
Unfortunately, the Athabasca Glacier has been receding rapidly (nearly 1 mile) since the turn of the 20th century, which makes this a photo opportunity you definitely do not want to miss. Be sure to charge up your batteries and pack up your lenses for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand on top of this amazing Canadian glacier.
Athabasca Glacier Ice Explorer
This all-wheel-drive, tri-axle ice vehicle transports you safely up to Athabasca Glacier where you’ll step out onto glacial ice that could be as old as 200,000 years or more. Your guide will explain in detail how the 6-mile-long Athabasca Glacier was formed and the devastating impact that global warming has had on this magnificent Canadian Glacier.
A stroll on the Glacier Skywalk caps your trip, at a point where only glass separates you from the 918-foot drop to the Sunwapta Valley below. The wildlife, glacial streams, waterfalls, and magnificent mountain scenery will invigorate your senses on this Canadian journey of discovery.
Glacier-Fed Peyto Lake
In the Canadian Rockies, you will find numerous pristine high-altitude lakes that are fed by the clear, cold, crystal waters of Canada’s glaciers. One of these high-altitude, glacier-fed, emerald-green lakes is Peyto Lake (pronounced pee-toh). At half a mile wide and nearly 2-miles long, picturesque Peyto Lake is over 6,100 feet above sea level.
On this trip, Caravan stops for a photo opportunity at Alberta’s Peyto Lake in Banff National Park, which is best viewed from Bow Summit.
The emerald colour of Peyto Lake is due to suspended particles of glacial “rock flour” that pours into the lake during summer. The splendid turquoise color is a stunning contrast to the evergreen forests that surrounds this frigid mountainous reservoir.
Peyto Lake often graces the cover of illustrated books and is a highly sought-after destination for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers with a passion for the beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
About Caravan Tours
Still family-run and operated (since 1952), Caravan Tours is a second-generation, fully guided tour company. We offer fully guided tours throughout the United States, Central America, and Canada! Our goal has always been to be North America’s premier tour company for affordable fully guided tours.
On this Canadian Rockies tour, Caravan also takes our tour guests to visit Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes Park in Southern Alberta, both of which formed a union in 1932 to create the world’s first International Peace Park.
For more information about our Canadian Rockies & Glacier Park Tour which also includes a guided tour of Athabasca Glacier along the Columbia Icefields Parkway, please call Caravan Toll-Free.
- Call 1-800-Caravan (227-2826) to Book a Caravan Tour.
- Read our Tour Reviews page for more info about the Columbia Icefield Canada
2025 Hotels
2025 Hotels
Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are usually rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds.
Days 1, 8 • Calgary
Hilton Garden Inn Airport
Calgary is the gateway to the Canadian Rockies. The Hilton Garden Inn Airport is a five floor mid-rise hotel located in northeast Calgary near the airport. Each of the rooms has all the modern amenities – high speed internet, two phone lines, television, iron & ironing board and hairdryer. The Hilton Garden Inn Airport has room service, a fitness center, a self-service laundry, a restaurant and the Pavilion Lounge.
Days 2, 3 • Pincher Creek
Heritage Inn
Formerly an outpost for the Canadian Mounted Police and their horses, the town of Pincher Creek is nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. The Heritage Inn provides complimentary wi-fi access in your room and throughout the property. Enjoy the indoor pool, in-room coffee and tea, hair dryer, iron & ironing board, tv, microwave & mini-fridge, and onsite restaurant and lounge. 100% smoke-free property.
Days 4, 5, 6, 7 • Banff
Banff Park Lodge
Banff is surrounded by the spectacular grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. The Banff Park Lodge is a full service hotel ideally located in the heart of Banff. You are one block from the Bow River and just two blocks from Banff Avenue shopping, dining and museums. The hotel has two restaurants, a bar, indoor swimming pool and hot tub, fitness room, hot plunge pool and eucalyptus steam room. Walking trails along the Bow River are a short stroll from your hotel. All guest rooms have balconies or patios. Internet access is available for a fee.
Please note: The tours that start on July 13 and 25, August 2, 10, 18, 22 and 30, and September 19 and 23 will stay in Canmore, a popular mountain town 12 miles east of Banff. All other tour dates will stay in Banff.
Movies
Movies
Living Mountains02:15- Banff and Jasper03:28
- Columbia Icefield02:21
Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers
Arrival Transfers
Caravan’s hotel in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport, provides arrival transfers from the Calgary Airport (YYC). Upon arrival, please collect your luggage and then call the hotel directly at 1-403-717-1999 to request a pick-up. If you do not have a working phone, please go to one of the Information Desks located at the airport. You can ask them to make the call for you. Please allow 30-60 minutes for the shuttle to arrive. The drive to your hotel takes 20 minutes. For International Arrivals, pick-up is located at Bus Bay #37, outside of door #16. For Domestic Arrivals, please go to Bus Bay #17, outside of door #4. Taxis cost approximately $30-35 (Canadian Dollars).
Departure Transfers
Caravan's hotel in Calgary, Canada, the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport, provides departure transfers to the Calgary Airport (YYC) every hour. Please allow up to 20 minutes for the drive. Taxis cost approximately $30-$35 (Canadian Dollars).
Airfare is not included or sold by Caravan.
Passports & Visas
Passports & Visas
U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Canada must carry a passport, valid for at least six months past your entry date into Canada. Non-U.S. citizens, please check your passport and visa requirements. Canada requires non-US citizens and Visa exempt foreign visitors to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to travel to Canada. The most up-to-date information can be found at www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html. Children under 18 years old, traveling internationally without both parents or legal guardians, should carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). See Travel Tips for more details.
Weather & Clothing
Weather & Clothing
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Calgary | Banff | Pincher Creek | Jasper Park | Columbia Icefields | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | |
| Jan | 27/16 | 0.5 | 22/14 | 1.2 | 31/16 | 0.2 | 28/17 | 5.4 | 14/-10 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 32/21 | 0.6 | 32/22 | 0.9 | 35/18 | 0.2 | 35/22 | 3.6 | 21/-8 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 39/29 | 0.8 | 38/28 | 0.9 | 41/24 | 0.3 | 49/29 | 2.6 | 29/0 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 52/40 | 1.0 | 48/38 | 1.3 | 52/32 | 0.7 | 59/35 | 1.6 | 37/13 | 0.1 |
| May | 62/50 | 2.1 | 57/46 | 2.3 | 61/39 | 1.9 | 68/41 | 1.4 | 47/21 | 0.3 |
| Jun | 68/57 | 3.2 | 65/54 | 2.4 | 68/46 | 2.8 | 74/48 | 1.3 | 53/28 | 2.3 |
| Jul | 73/61 | 2.6 | 71/59 | 2.0 | 76/50 | 1.4 | 80/50 | 1.0 | 59/31 | 1.9 |
| Aug | 73/60 | 2.2 | 70/58 | 2.0 | 75/49 | 1.2 | 77/48 | 1.3 | 58/29 | 2.2 |
| Sep | 64/51 | 1.6 | 61/49 | 1.7 | 66/42 | 1.2 | 68/43 | 2.4 | 49/22 | 1.5 |
| Oct | 54/42 | 0.7 | 50/40 | 1.2 | 53/34 | 0.7 | 54/38 | 5.1 | 37/14 | 0.7 |
| Nov | 37/26 | 0.6 | 32/25 | 1.2 | 39/24 | 0.4 | 39/31 | 5.4 | 21/0 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 30/19 | 0.6 | 22/15 | 1.4 | 30/16 | 0.3 | 30/23 | 6.6 | 12/-10 | 0.1 |
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | ||||||||||||
| temp | 27/16 | 32/21 | 39/29 | 52/40 | 62/50 | 68/57 | 73/61 | 73/60 | 64/51 | 54/42 | 37/26 | 30/19 |
| rainfall | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Banff | ||||||||||||
| temp | 22/14 | 32/22 | 38/28 | 48/38 | 57/46 | 65/54 | 71/59 | 70/58 | 61/49 | 50/40 | 32/25 | 22/15 |
| rainfall | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| Pincher Creek | ||||||||||||
| temp | 31/16 | 35/18 | 41/24 | 52/32 | 61/39 | 68/46 | 76/50 | 75/49 | 66/42 | 53/34 | 39/24 | 30/16 |
| rainfall | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Jasper Park | ||||||||||||
| temp | 28/17 | 35/22 | 49/29 | 59/35 | 68/41 | 74/48 | 80/50 | 77/48 | 68/43 | 54/38 | 39/31 | 30/23 |
| rainfall | 5.4 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 6.6 |
| Columbia Icefields | ||||||||||||
| temp | 14/-10 | 21/-8 | 29/0 | 37/13 | 47/21 | 53/28 | 59/31 | 58/29 | 49/22 | 37/14 | 21/0 | 12/-10 |
| rainfall | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
Clothing Tips
This is a casual tour. Casual wear is suggested for sightseeing and daytime travelling. Dress code for evenings is casual. Suit jackets for men and dresses for women are never required. See Travel Tips for more details.
Travel Tips & FAQs
Travel Tips & FAQs
These are only the first 15 Travel Tips. Read all 53 Travel Tips Meals included in the land price are indicated at the beginning of each day by B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner). Dinner, when included, is served at your hotel except when, as indicated in the itinerary, it is at a special restaurant outside the hotel. Coffee or tea is provided at all included meals. Included meals for each tour are listed at the end of each day. Meals are shown by B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner). Full, buffet, or deluxe continental breakfasts are included everywhere. Free bottled water is provided on the motorcoach. Alcoholic beverages are not included unless specified. Virtually everything! Hotels, many meals, all of the activities described in the itinerary pages, airport transfers in select cities, gratuities to hotel porters, restaurant staff and local guides. Caravan’s professional Tour Directors and local guides will be with you every step of the way, ensuring a worry free vacation. Prices do not include air travel, country entry or departure fees, airport porters, visas, phone calls, valet, laundry, all items of a personal nature, extra food and beverages not on the regular menu, and tips to the Caravan Tour Director, driver, and local guides. Usually, you find a mix of different age adult travelers on a Caravan Tour. Children age five (5) and older are welcome, and children usually join tours offered during Christmas holidays, summer vacation and spring break vacation. A well-paced and unhurried itinerary is our goal, after all, you are on vacation! Touring days begin and end at reasonable hours and include frequent stops. While the occasional early morning departure is necessary, we do our best to ensure a leisurely vacation. Group sizes will vary depending on the reserved rooms at the hotels and the capacity of the boats and motorcoaches used. Usually, group sizes range from 30 to 44 passengers. Caravan has been offering fully guided tours worldwide under the same family ownership and management since 1952. Caravan understands and truly cares about your great expectations. The farther in advance that you book, the more likely it is that your preferred tour will be open. Late bookings are welcome if the space is still available. Families are always welcome on any of our tours, but we do not have any programs specifically for or limited to families. Families can make specific requests for connecting, adjacent, triple or quad rooms, when available. Children must be at least 5 years old. Caravan accepts payment (in U.S. funds only) via MasterCard, Visa, or Discover. Caravan Travel Protection offers peace of mind if you cancel for any reason whatsoever prior to the departure of the tour. The travel protection plan also includes air, baggage, evacuation, medical, and quarantine coverage. The cost is $129. Children age five (5) and older are welcome on tour when accompanied by an adult. Usually, children travel during the school vacation months of June, July and August, and also during spring and winter school breaks. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day (3rd Monday in May), Canada Day (July 1), Labour Day (1st Monday in September), and Thanksgiving (2nd Monday in October). Most provinces celebrate a civic holiday on the first Monday in August. If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.Meals
Are meals included?
My Tour Price Includes
My Tour Price Does Not Include
Age of Travelers on a Caravan Tour
A Well-Paced Itinerary
Size of Tour Group
Fully Guided Tours Since 1952
Many Tours Sell Out Each Year
Family Trips
Forms of Payment
Caravan’s $129 Travel Protection
Children on Tour
Canada’s National Holidays
International Travel with Minors
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews
These are only the first 7 Customer Reviews. Read all 199 Customer Reviews "The activities and excursions were very carefully planned. We saw some of the most beautiful scenery we have ever seen—something that my husband and I would never have planned so well on our own." "Taking the Caravan tour of the Rockies was an excellent way to enjoy the beauty of these mountains and the culture of Alberta. We were able to sit back and enjoy the trip without all the planning and hassle of driving it ourselves." "The tour itself exceeded our expectations. Words can't describe the scenery; you must see it to believe it." "The varied activities allowed us to see different vantage points of the Rockies and experience its grandeur from the water to the peaks." "The hotels we stayed in were very nice and the staff was always very helpful, professional and accommodating." "I really enjoyed the raft floating trip on the Bow River. Very relaxing and senior friendly." "Top tour director, top driver, top coach, & top Banff accommodations; each day included visits to so many outstanding Canadian Rockies locations."
Read All 199 ReviewsClick Here to Read All 199 Customer Reviews
Why Travel with Caravan?
Why Travel with Caravan?
Excellence Since 1952
You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.
Caravan Care
For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received. See Caravan’s Covid-19 Terms of Travel.
Caravan's Proud History
In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.
Great Hotels
Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.
Meals
Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.
Complete Sightseeing
Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.
Fully Guided by Tour Directors
All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.
All-inclusive
Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.
Shopping Freedom
Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.
Great Value, Book Early
Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. In a typical year, most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best air fare.
How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?
Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.
Trade Association Memberships
Caravan is a member of NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Commerce Marketing Association).
