Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Our team are destination specialists with many years experience in creating holidays and can tailor make to suit you.
| Mon-Fri | 8am-6pm |
| Saturday | 9am-5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
For a truly otherworldly experience, you need to visit Canada’s Columbia Icefield. Ancient and ethereal, this striking landscape is the amalgamation of thousands of years of the earth’s movement.
It has become a popular destination for visitors to Canada, who are looking for a different kind of excursion. Here, are some of the questions asked about the Columbia Icefield and how you can make the most of your trip.
A room with a view. Take in Vancouver from above by hopping aboard an iconic floatplane and ogling at splendid views of the City, Stanley Park, and the gorgeous Gulf Islands.
Canada is home to a massive number of glaciers. Predominantly located in Arctic Canada and the western mountain ranges – with 17,000 in BC and Alberta alone, few of them are as accessible as those in the Columbia Icefield where six major glaciers come together to form a place of wonder and beauty.
The Columbia Icefield is located in the Canadian Rockies. It sits on the continental divide along the border of British Columbia and Alberta. Part of the icefield sits on the northwestern edge of Banff National Park the southern edge of Jasper National Park. It is 125 square miles (325 square kilometres) and the glaciers can reach up to 1,198ft (365 metres) deep.
There are six major glaciers that make up the icefield – Athabasca, Castleguard, Columbia, Dome, Stutfield, and Saskatchewan. The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in North America south of the Arctic.
Mainly size – an icefield is generally larger than a single glacier as it usually a combination of multiple glaciers. Where the landscape is flat, an icefield can form. Glaciers form when layers of snow compress over many years, creating a thick sheet of ice; they often form towards the edge of an icefield.
It’s fine to walk on a glacier as long as you have the proper clothing and equipment and with an experienced guide. The main issue insofar as safety is concerned is that crevasses can form underneath the snow, which could lead to a fall. This is why a lot of glacier tours use a rope to connect walkers so that if someone should fall they can be easily helped back up.
With a Discover the World tour, you will have an experienced driver-guide who will not only teach you how to safely traverse the glaciers, they can also give you fascinating information about the history of the glacier itself.
You can, however, it’s not something you can do on your own. You will need to have a knowledgeable guide and the right equipment to enjoy this walk safely. You will need to bring warm clothes, even during the summer months, food and water if the walk is a long one, and sunglasses to help protect your eyes not just from the sun but the reflective glare, even on a dull day.
For a totally different view of the icefield, the Skywalk is a fantastic attraction. At a kilometre long, it will take as long as it would normally take you to walk this distance, with a few moments to stop and take in the view. Situated 918 ft (280m) above the ground, the glass-bottomed walkway is presented in a story format, so you can learn about what you see while you traverse this incredible path.
The award-winning piece of engineering sits over the Sunwapta Valley. With just glass between you and the world below, it can be quite daunting but will give you a truly memorable view of the stunning environment.
The Ice Explorer Glacier Tour takes one and a half hours, and operates between April and October. During the tour, you’ll enjoy a ride on a specially designed vehicle, called the Ice Explorer. You’ll be taken across the icefield atop 333 metres of ice, where you can see incredible views of the ice stretched out around you.
Blues, greys, and sparkling whites give the icy world around a beautiful colour palette that make for an unforgettable excursion during Canadian adventure.
The Columbia Icefield is located one hour south of Jasper and two and a half hours north of Banff along the Icefields Parkway. This is hailed as one of the most scenic drives in the world. From the road, you can see glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls. There are also many spots along the way where you can stop for a picnic or just to have a moment to take it all in.
This trip offers unparalleled hiking opportunities amongst the spectacular Yukon landscape alongside superb comfort and service at Dalton Lake Lodge.
From £1719 Excluding Flights
Experience the best of Atlantic Canada on an all-encompassing self-drive trip incorporating all four of the regions provinces.
From £2668 Excluding Flights
Experience the magnificent Canadian Rockies on an incredible ten day adventure, using helicopters to reach areas few get to visit. Witness some of the world’s most glorious mountain scenery on guided hiking and walking excursions.
From £5044 Excluding Flights
Immerse yourself in the wild west's rugged landscapes and colourful history.
From £1129 Excluding Flights
Take in the highlights of winter in the Yukon at Southern Lakes Resort, ideally located for northern lights viewing.
From £1166 Excluding Flights
Experience the best of Canada’s winter wonderland in the Yukon, with its natural beauty and snowy landscapes coupled with gracious hospitality.
From £1714 Excluding Flights
Delve deeper into Alberta’s rich history, culture and varied landscapes on this off the beaten track self-drive itinerary taking in the Canadian Badlands and provincial parks.
From £1424 Excluding Flights
From the Rockies to the Badlands, this epic Canadian adventure encompasses glaciers, mountains hoodoos and dinosaurs, with a choice of activities to appeal to kids of all ages.
From £1427 Excluding Flights
This week-long self-drive holiday takes in the highlights of Nova Scotia, from the historical splendour of Halifax to the stunning scenery of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
From £875 Excluding Flights
Klahoose Wilderness Resort offers a fascinating base from which to discover this region’s abundant wildlife and rich indigenous culture.
From £2660 Excluding Flights
With 2025 on the horizon and new adventures pending, we’ve delved into the data to see what’s trending when it comes to destinations and experiences.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Icehotel 35 opened its doors on 13 December 2024 revealing a collection of magnificent new Art Suites created around the iconic main hall.
With 5% of the world's biodiversity found in Costa Rica, it is a wildlife lovers dream destination. Travel writer, photographer and zoologist, William Gray picks five of his top wildlife destinations in Costa Rica…
Among the most bio-diverse counties on the planet, Costa Rica is a heady mix of weird and wonderful wildlife, luscious landscapes and colourful culture. As we launch our collection of holidays, we've put a few of the most asked questions to our Costa Rica specialists. Read what they had to say...
Australia is a land of contrasts and pairing two or three states is a great way to experience its diversity. That's just what Travel Specialist, Phoebe, did on her recent visit Down Under combining northern Queensland with the Red Centre. Read highlights of her reef and rock adventure...
Having put the finishing touches on the latest destination to join the Discover the World growing collection - Costa Rica - we've taken a behind the scenes peak at what goes in to launching a new holiday programme.
From wilderness escapes to adventurous self drives, ways to catch the start of aurora and polar bears watching in Canada, we name our top trips to take in autumn.
So prevalent and conspicuous are the birds that live in these remote and extreme locations that you simply fall under an avian spell.
Iconic moments come thick and fast in New Zealand. This was certainly the experience of Travel Specialist, Trudy’s, recent trip. As one icon followed another, she recalls her highlights...
Bathing culture runs deep in Iceland’s national psyche. Swimming pools, or Sundlaugar as they are called in Icelandic, are an inherent part of local life. Find out as we take a deep dive into swimming pool culture.
