Icefields Parkway Highlights & Secrets | Award-Winning Adventure

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Recommended by 100% of reviewers

Badge of Excellence | Banff, Canada

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8 hours (approx.)

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Overview

Embark on an unforgettable day exploring the world-renowned Icefields Parkway, often hailed as the most beautiful drive in the world.

Highlights:

Epic Exploration Minus the Crowds: Ditch the big bus tour groups and explore like a local at the highlights of Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Columbia Icefields & more.

Local Secrets & Wildlife Revealed: While the Icefields Parkway has its known jewels, our guides take pride in unveiling lesser-trodden paths and viewpoints to areas where we often see wildlife.

Active & Insightful Adventures: Guided by local experts, you'll embark on relaxed hikes to absorb the best views. Our guides' stories and insights blend the perfect mix of informed touring with free exploration.

Bespoke Itineraries: Daily itineraries are thoughtfully designed around weather conditions, recent wildlife sightings, and ensuring you evade the peak crowd timings. Your wishes matter; if there's a specific spot on your bucket list, let us know!

What's Included

Water refills (please BYO water bottle)
Upscale, modern & spacious transportation with large panoramic windows
Small group guarantee (Max 12 guests)
Onboard cooler to keep drinks & lunch cold
Exclusive access to areas with an expert & fun local guide with lots of local secrets to share!

Hotel pick-up in Banff or Lake Louise (please contact Radventures BEFORE booking for availability)
Premium upgrade that includes a picnic lunch (please contact Radventures before booking)
To inquire about adding the Ice Explorer & Glacier Skywalk please contact Radventures before booking
Park Pass
Guide gratuities (not mandatory but greatly appreciated)

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Railway Avenue
Banff, AB T1L 1A1, Canada

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Banff (Pass By)

This award-winning Radventures small-group adventure begins with a stunning drive from Banff, spotting wildlife and learning about it's rich Indigenous & European history.

Icefields Parkway

Widely regarded as the most scenic driving road in the entire world, the Icefields Parkway is punctuated by more than 100 ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, dramatic rock spires, and emerald lakes set in sweeping valleys of thick pine and larch forests.The abundance of wildlife along the drive through Banff & Jasper National Park will have you peering around every turn.As we take our time to explore, we'll stop for a short hike or two to a breath-taking view point, capture that stunning photo to share with friends and enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the splendour of the Canadian Rockies pristine wilderness. You can be rest assured that you're experiencing the Icefields Parkway the right way!

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Peyto Lake

The incredibly shaped glacier-fed Peyto Lake is one of the most visited and photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies for good reason.During the summer, glacial rock flour flows into the lake and these suspended rock particles give the lake its bright, turquoise colour.We'll take an easy walk to view the lake from Bow Summit, 2,088 metres (6,800 feet) above sea level.Bow Summit is the highest point on the Icefields Parkway and is the highest elevation crossed by a public road in Canada.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

Just as the name implies these glaciers or “fields of ice” straddle Banff National Park and Jasper National Park and are the largest south of the Arctic Circle!They are 325km2 in area and 100 to 365 metres (328 to 1,197 ft) in depth and receives up to seven metres (275 in) of snowfall per year.Here as a group we can walk right up to the foot of the retreating glacier and explore the area, following the receding path of the glaciers through the years.Please note, this tour does not include the Pursuit Skywalk or Icefields Adventure bus trip.Instead, we show our guests local secrets and viewpoints of the glaciers via the easygoing trail system, escaping the crowds and giving you a more sustainable and authentic experience.Guests who wish to opt out of the short hike to the toe of the glacier are welcome to enjoy the onsite facilities and immersive activities at the Columbia Icefields Centre until the remainder of the group finishes the hike.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Bow Lake

The neon blue Bow Lake is the headwaters of the Bow River, that big beauty of a river that you'll see running through Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary and across the country until it hits Hudson Bay all the way out in the east of Canada!The lake lines the Icefields Parkway and makes a perfect place to go for a walk down to the lake shore to see Crowfoot Glacier, Wapta Icefield, Bow Glacier, Crowfoot Mountain and Mount Thompson.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Children 5 and under are unable to join our small group adventures
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Icefields Parkway Highlights & Secrets | Award-Winning Adventure?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025