Calgary to Columbia Icefield: A Chilly Day Tour Review

Planning a trip from Calgary to the Columbia Icefield, and also figuring out the best way to see it all in just one day? Very well, that full-day tour to the Columbia Icefield from Calgary, and too it also takes in Canmore and Banff, might just be what you’re after. This is, I believe, a deep look at the tour, what’s good, what’s, like your could be better, and also if it’s seriously worth the investment of your time and cash. Now, buckle up for a trip – through words – into the very heart of the Canadian Rockies!

What’s Included in This Day-Long Excursion

So, what, actually, can you expect when you book one of these trips? The package, usually, covers transportation in a, what they call, comfy coach, stops in both Canmore and Banff, admission to the Columbia Icefield Adventure, and a chance to step out onto the Athabasca Glacier. That’s just a little taste. Most packages also add in a ride on the Ice Explorer, that’s the special bus built to go on the glacier. In some respects, the Glacier Skywalk is bundled too. Lunch and drinks are, typically, on you, just so you know, which means you might want to plan accordingly, and maybe also pack a snack or two.

First Stop: Canmore – A Quaint Little Mountain Town

The day almost always starts bright and early in Calgary, then heads, that, like your heads straight, too it’s almost to Canmore. Canmore is that cool, smaller town that is, seemingly, next door to Banff, very. Now, some tours only give you a pretty fast drive-through, while others allow you to stretch your legs, visit the local shops, and grab a quick coffee. Seemingly, It really depends on which tour company you pick, and too the schedule they’re keeping, so, that could be what sways you in your decision. The views in Canmore are almost as amazing as Banff, and the town has a far less crowded feel, right? It can be a chill intro to the mountain scenery coming later.

Banff: The Jewel of the Rockies

Banff, clearly, it has got to be on the itinerary! Here you are getting time to roam the town, shop around, maybe peep the Banff Avenue, and certainly also take in views like Cascade Mountain. As I was saying, some tours pack in, potentially, a visit to the Banff Gondola for a lookout from Sulphur Mountain – but, clearly, that always costs extra. Others provide, probably, a trip to Lake Minnewanka or the Bow Falls, you. Basically, the time spent in Banff is what you make it, you know. So, think of this place as an awesome place for pictures and also a pretty nice place to soak up the mountain vibes, and of course don’t buy the tacky souvenirs!

The Columbia Icefield Adventure: Walking on a Glacier

Here is, arguably, the real star of the entire show. Very well, the Columbia Icefield. So, after a longish drive, and you do get views that are cool along the way, very cool! Anyway, that big sheet of ice will appear. As a matter of fact, you’re transferred onto this beastly Ice Explorer vehicle – imagine a monster truck mixed with a bus – and it takes you out right onto the Athabasca Glacier. Now, walking on that ancient ice, it might be a little unreal. Now, you’ll have, just, some time to wander around, take pics, and, naturally, also fill up your water bottle with water from the glacier. It is, arguably, cold. No suprises there, right?

Glacier Skywalk: A Bird’s-Eye View

Near the Icefield is also that Glacier Skywalk, that’s just a platform with a glass floor which is suspended high above the Sunwapta Valley. I mean it. The views are, admittedly, stunning, I really mean it! So too it might be quite a test if you are very scared of heights. Arguably, it gives you a unique point of view on the landscape, but you will hear some claim it is only ‘okay’, specifically because they have, possibly, similar viewpoints, but with no see-through floor and too less of an entry fee, yet I mean it, in a way that means for free. Keep in mind that time here is, certainly, limited, depending on the tour, of course. I do think that’s how it is supposed to go.

What I Enjoyed on This Trip

Alright, let’s look into the pluses of a Columbia Icefield day tour like this. What about the landscapes, which, actually, are, literally, incredible. The trip also manages to pack in a handful of, probably, the biggest sights in the Canadian Rockies into a single day. I will say that it’s, potentially, easier than driving yourself, especially when that includes dealing with mountain roads and parking, very well. If, unlike someone like me, and perhaps your friends, too it seems you aren’t keen on doing planning and also driving yourself, now this trip is possibly a good way of kicking back and also enjoying the vistas. In some respects, you should check out those vistas!

Potential Downsides

Very well, now it’s time for reality. The main setback with day tours such as this can often be the schedule. Of course that has something to do with spending a good deal of your time on a bus, with what amounts to, probably, limited time at each stop, that, is like your rushed. A trip which attempts to see quite so many great locations can seem a little shallow. You might only get an hour or two at some very stunning places! Likewise, be set for crowds, especially throughout summer. It will make the views harder to completely love.

Suggestions to get the most out of Your Tour

Alright, if you do book one of these trips, then just how, I mean like, do you make the most of it? I have a couple of ideas. Very well, do dress in layers. Mountain weather? It’s fickle! Do not overlook things, for instance, that sunscreen, sunglasses, and also a hat, even if that appears stupid as you get dressed. Taking a packed lunch means you are spending way less on quite expensive tourist-trap food – do this in particular, just so you know! Ultimately, choose, carefully, that tour operator: very few give you lots of time at specific stops. And of course be prepared for lots of people. That will come as a big shock. So, alright, this helps your enjoyment of all that beauty!

So, is it worth it?

Therefore, the big question: Should you consider that Calgary to Columbia Icefield trip? The truth is this depends. If you’re pretty pressed for time, or maybe you just do not wish to drive, basically it’s certainly is a handy way to tick off the main attractions. On the other hand, travelers should, definitely, weigh what is most valuable for them. Which is a slower pace that provides time for seeing places fully. Also, for people who dislike being rushed the experience could actually be sort of annoying, and then some travellers prefer a do-it-yourself trip. So, at the end of the day if you have enough time, then maybe plan this road trip yourself!