Small Group Tours
Icefields Parkway Tour from Banff or Lake Louise to Jasper
Travel the Icefields Parkway on this small-group tour, one of the world’s most scenic drives. Your tour guide will pick you up from your chosen location in Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise, as this tour can start from any of these locations.
From May 3 to October 13: This tour features numerous scenic photo stops along the route to Jasper, including Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, and Athabasca Falls. A stop at the Columbia Icefields allows you to climb aboard an Ice Explorer—a specialized vehicle that travels directly onto the Athabasca Glacier.
From October 14 to May 2: This tour features numerous scenic photo stops along the route to Jasper, including Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, and Athabasca Falls. The Columbia Icefields stop is not available during this period. Instead, this will be a six-hour tour, and you will arrive in Jasper two hours earlier, allowing you to beat the setting sun during the shorter days.
At the end of the tour, your guide will drop you off at your chosen location in Jasper. Please bring your luggage with you.
CAD $250 per person
Duration: 8 hours
Maximum: 9 people
Sightseeing Locations
- Lake Louise
- Bow Lake Viewpoint
- Peyto Lake Viewpoint
- Saskatchewan River Crossing
- Weeping Wall Viewpoint
- Columbia Icefield Adventure (Seasonal)
- Tangle Creek Falls
- Athabasca Falls
Top 3 Reasons to Book Our Small Group Tours
- Enjoy small group experiences at large group tour prices. Our small group tours are available exclusively when we charter guides for Canada Rail Vacations and have unfilled seats.
- These tours provide a more personalized experience, allowing deeper exploration of Banff compared to larger tours with up to 50 guests.
- These tours often coincide with Rocky Mountaineer arrivals or departures, offering an excellent opportunity to see the Banff townsite and surrounding area, particularly for those who only have a short stay in Banff booked and do not have their own vehicle.
- Guided tour of the Icefields Parkway with an interpretive guide
- Small group size
- Pick up and drop off from Banff or Lake Louise
- National Park entrance fees
- Columbia Icefield Adventure (seasonal)
- Lunch stop (meal not included)
What to bring: We recommend bringing an extra layer of clothing, as mountain weather can be unpredictable and temperatures may vary significantly between stops on this tour. For those joining the Columbia Icefield Adventure onto the Athabasca Glacier, be prepared for winter-like, cold conditions while on the glacier.
Disclaimer: From November to April, the Icefields Parkway may experience periodic road closures due to avalanche risks. If the route is closed, an alternative route may be required to bypass the closure. However, these alternative routes often result in longer travel times and may not offer the same level of sightseeing opportunities.
Please be ready at the front of your hotel 5 minutes prior to your listed pick-up time. Look out for a black or silver Ford Transit van with the Alberta Blue Sky Tours logo. Just let the tour guide know your name to join the tour!
Please allow for 5 minutes of leeway if your tour guide has not arrived exactly on time as they may held up picking up other guests.
Can I join this tour in one place and end in another?
Yes! This tour is designed to start in Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise and end in Jasper. Return transportation to your starting location is not available, so please bring your luggage with you.
When is the Columbia Icefield Adventure included on the tour?
This experience is available and included on tours between May 3 and October 13, 2025.
Is the Columbia Icefield Skywalk included on this tour?
No, the Skywalk experience is not included on this tour. Including this stop would extend the tour to 10+ hours, and we have found that guest satisfaction is higher without it.
How long is the stop for the Columbia Icefield Adventure?
This stop takes approximately two hours, including a ride on the Ice Explorer bus onto the Athabasca Glacier.
Is lunch included on the tour?
Meals are not included on this tour. However, we will make a stop at either the Saskatchewan River Crossing or the Icefield Information Centre, where you will have time to purchase your own lunch.
Will I see wildlife on the tour?
There is always a chance of seeing wildlife between Banff and Jasper, but sightings are not guaranteed.
Availability Overview
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Popular Banff Tours
We may be sold out or not operating this tour on your travel dates. Check out our collection of Banff and Lake Louise small group tours that may be operating on this date, or book a private tour instead!
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Small Group Tours
Icefields Parkway Tourbetween Banff/Lake Louise and Jasper
Your tour guide will pick you up from the location of your choice in Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise. Please bring your luggage with you as this is a one-way tour. The Icefields Parkway is known as one of the world’s most scenic drives so you don’t need to venture far from the main highway to see some spectacular sights.
From May to October, the tour will have many scenic photo stops along the route to Jasper including Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, the Columbia Icefield – featuring the Ice Explorer buses visiting the Athabasca Glacier, and Athabasca Falls.
From December to March, the Icefields Parkway sees much less traffic and turns into a beautiful drive of solitude and wonder. The roadside stops feature endless views of snow-capped mountains and ancient glaciers that make it a true winter wonderland. During this time, you’ll have stops along the way at Bow Lake, the Athabasca Glacier, and Athabasca Falls.
Pick-ups for this tour typically range from 15 minutes before, or 15 minutes after the listed start time in Banff, or 1 hour after the listed start time for Lake Louise. Your exact pickup time will be confirmed a few days prior to the tour as the timing is dependent on where the other guests in your small group are staying.
CAD $250 pp
Find Your Dates
*From mid-May to early-October you’ll have the chance to ride an Ice Explorer bus on the Athabasca Glacier. When the attraction is not open during the winter months, a shortened version of this tour will allow you to arrive at your hotel for the evening before sundown.
Top 3 Reasons to Book Our Small Group Tours
- You'll pay large group tour prices, for a small group experience.
- Our small group tours are only made available to the public when we have chartered our guide services to clients of Canada Rail Vacations and all seats have not yet been filled. By joining one of these exclusive group tours, you'll get a more intimate tour experience, and get to see more of Banff than would otherwise be possible when traveling with a larger group as similar tours in the area may include up to 50 people.
- Many of our tours align well with Rocky Mountaineer arrivals or departures in Banff. This tour offers a great way to see the highlights of the Banff townsite and surrounding area, particularly for those who only have a short stay in Banff booked and are without their own vehicle.
What's Included
- Guided tour of the Icefields Parkway with an interpretive guide (8 hours total)
- Small group sizes (up to 9 people)
- Pick up and drop off from Banff or Lake Louise
- National Park entrance fees
- Columbia Icefields Ice Explorer (Seasonal)
- Lunch stop (meal not included)